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Foreign Currency Cards - Robin Hood Airport Guide

These new foreign currency cards are being rapidly adopted by many foreign currency exchange providers and their customers due to their ease of use, and the great rates that you can get by ordering them online. They work in much the same way as a debit card does, load them via bank transfer or phone and spend using Chip and Pin technology.

Currency Card Benefits

  • Best online exchange rates
  • Convenient to use and carry
  • Secure and safer than cash
  • Lower fees than most credit & debit cards
  • Fixed rate upon loading card

Currency Card Drawbacks

  • No section 75 purchase protection
  • Cheapest cards need to be ordered in advance
  • Some have cash withdrawal & currency convert fees

To get the most from your money be sure to order your card online and dodge those hefty fees added to purchases made at the airport. Either have your currency card delivered to your home the next day or choose from our cards available for pick up at Robin Hood Airport.

Foreign Currency Cards - Home Delivery

These cards have come out on top for exchange rates compared, fees charged (against other cards and other forms of foreign currency exchange) meaning that you will pay much less by loading money onto one straight from your bank account than you will by using a credit or debit card or by changing cash at a bureau de change. However, these cards are only suitable for those who have time to order the card for home delivery. The cards will usually be ready to use within 7-14 days.

Fair FX

  • Get a free Fair FX card
  • 0% currency convert fee
  • 0% transaction fee
  • SMS top up / balance enquiry
  • Protection for your money

Fair FX are the market leaders for currency card and cash exchange rates, and offer 0% on most fees apart from the cash withdrawal fee which is the lowest of any currency card and lower than most credit and debit cards too. You normally have to pay £9.95 for the purchase of the card but Airport Guide visitors can get a Fair FX card for free. Fair FX cards are only available for home delivery so you will need to make sure that you leave enough time before your holiday to apply for one of these cards. You should have your card delivered the next day and ready to use within 7-10 days!

Caxton FX

Caxton FX offer a great home delivery currency card product with plenty of benefits to make sure you get the best deal on your foreign currency. They have just eliminated cash withdrawal fees abroad and are the only currency card to do so. You get protection for your money if you lose or have your card stolen and have maximum security with the Chip & Pin enabled on all cards. The currency convert fee is 2.75% on this so you will need to be careful about using the card for a different currency to the one you loaded it with. the card should arrive to your home within 7 days.

Moneycorp

Moneycorp Cash Card

Moneycorp have a great currency card offering either Euros or US Dollars at excellent rates, and with very competitive fees. They have a 0% currency convert fee, so you won't pay anything for using your card in a different currency to the one you loaded. Low cash withdrawal fees of just €1.50 or $2 mean you can save by making larger, but fewer withdrawals. The card is free, and has a minimum top up of just £25 so you can start low and use the card to save for your holiday!

ICE Travellers Cash Card

ICE have also entered the foreign currency card market and their offering is called the Travellers Cash Card and has many benefits including home delivery, and an uncommon 0% currency convert fee, plus a fairly low cash withdrawal fee and of course secure Chip & Pin technology. ICE also have no fee on purchases abroad. The card is free to order but the maximum load is just £2,500 so this is not one for big spenders. You will be charged if you use the card for transactions above the amount loaded on to the card so you need to be careful to check your balance.

Post Office

The Post Office's offering to the currency card market is not to be overlooked in a hurry. Their Travel Money card offers all benefits of carrying your holiday money in plastic rather than the less secure cash of less convenient travellers cheques, plus the additional benefits you would expect with a trusted and popular brand like the Post Office. You can enjoy a free card which can be picked up at a branch or delivered to your home even on Saturdays. You only need to load the card with a minimum of £50, and you will get their best rates when you

Last Minute Currency Cards

These foreign currency cards work in the same way as the cards above but they can be purchased and activated, ready to use at the last minute so are perfect if you want to have the convenience and security available from a currency card but have left your foreign currency exchange until the last minute. However they don't tend to compare as well on rates and fees as the home delivery cards above do, but they do offer better rates by applying online than they do if you were to purchase the same travel money in a branch, especially if you waited until you were at the airport!

Travelex Cash Passport

  • Order Free Cash Passport
  • Ready to use on purchase day
  • Free Money Protection
  • No Cash Withdrawal Fees
  • Minimum £50 load!
Travelex Cash Passport

Travelex has become a household name and for good reason. They offer good rates on worldwide foreign currency exchange and their new Cash Passport ensures that you have security and convenience for your holiday money. There are no ATM Cash Withdrawal fees on all Cash passports and your card can be ordered online to make sure you get the best rates and picked up in a high street branch or at selected airport bureau de change or even delivered to your home. The card will be activated and ready to use straight away!

Compare Currency Cards

It can be hard to find the best deal on foreign currency and walking into your local bureau de change for help will only mean they will sell you their product and you may not find the unbiased information you need on the different products available from various travel money providers. We have thoroughly looked into the small print each provider publishes, the fees, terms and conditions, availability and ease of use of each card so you don't have to and compared them all below for you. If you need help understanding the charges outlined below, we've covered that too in our Money Saving Tips page!

  Fair FX
 Caxton FX
 ICE
 Post Office
 Travelex
 Moneycorp
Price of card purchase Free offer here
(usually £9.95)		 Free Free Free Free Free
Home Delivery
Airport Pick Up
Branch Pick Up
Cash Withdrawal Fees €1.50/$2 Free outside UK £1.75/€2/$3 £2/equiv € and $ No ATM Fees €1.50/$2
Currency Convert Fee 0% 2.75% 2% on Sterling Card only 2.75% 5.75% on Sterling Card only 0%
Worldwide Exchange Rate Load 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
European Exchange Rate Load 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Secure Chip & Pin
Ready to Use Within 7-10 Days Within 7 Days Within 14 Days Within 7 Days Day of Purchase Within 5-7 Days
Lost/Stolen Replacement €9 Replacement Fee £5 Replacement Fee £3 Replacement Fee Up to £35 Courier Charge Free £4.99 Replacement Fee
Minimum Load £10 £100/€150/$200 £100/€100/$100 £50 £50/€50/$75 £25
Maximum Load €7,500/$10,000 £5,000/€7,500/$10,000 £2,500 £2,500 £5,000/€7,500/$9000 £5,000/equivalent €$
SMS Services
Negative Balance Fee N/A N/A £5/€7.50/$7.50 N/A N/A N/A
Payment Method Mastercard Mastercard Mastercard Visa Electron Visa Mastercard