Revolut help.

[tocpe321]

Hi

We are planning for our West coast trip and are intending taking FairFx card as in previous trips.
I have been reading a lot on here recently about Revolut and am getting a bit confused about what type of account it is. Do you have a choice of pre paying in actual currency e.g. Dollars to lock in a good rate or paying in pounds and getting Dollar rate at time of purchase? Is it better than a pre payment card?
Help please.
Thanks

[400ixl]

Looks like it works in the same way as most others. If you load in the foreign currency it is locked in at that rate. If you load in UKP then you will get charged their spot rate if you then spend in a different currency.

That is also how my Caxton card works.

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by 400ixl

Looks like it works in the same way as most others. If you load in the foreign currency it is locked in at that rate. If you load in UKP then you will get charged their spot rate if you then spend in a different currency.

That is also how my Caxton card works.

See more...

Many thanks for reply. Is Caxton good?

Has anyone else got any feedback, pros/cons etc between these cards and FairFx type card?

TIA

[daytonababe]

I have used Fairfx before and currently have Caxton and Revoult.

Cons.. Do not use them for hotels as a hold will be placed on funds and it can take up to 2 weeks to be released.. The same can happen in some restaurants..

Most ATMs will have a charge when you withdraw money. I use my Caxton card in Chase ATMs and never have to pay.

Pro's well you can use them like a normal debit card in shops etc,


Revoult is a bit different, it gives a better rate, basically you load up the card with £'s whenever you like (I top up via my bank card) then you exchange whenever you want. So for now I have £2000 in my Revoult account, When I want to I can exchange all or some of it into dollars.

Caxton etc you exchange as soon as you load the card with funds.

Revoult, tonight is $1.2493 , Caxton is $1.2211

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by daytonababe

I have used Fairfx before and currently have Caxton and Revoult.

Cons.. Do not use them for hotels as a hold will be placed on funds and it can take up to 2 weeks to be released.. The same can happen in some restaurants..

Most ATMs will have a charge when you withdraw money. I use my Caxton card in Chase ATMs and never have to pay.

Pro's well you can use them like a normal debit card in shops etc,


Revoult is a bit different, it gives a better rate, basically you load up the card with £'s whenever you like (I top up via my bank card) then you exchange whenever you want. So for now I have £2000 in my Revoult account, When I want to I can exchange all or some of it into dollars.

Caxton etc you exchange as soon as you load the card with funds.

Revoult, tonight is $1.2493 , Caxton is $1.2211

See more...

daytonababe

Many thanks for this in depth answer. Very helpful.



Revolut sounds really good. I had a brief scan of the site and it looked like you can only withdraw a certain amount before you incur charges at ATMs.

For restaurants and hotels is best way forward to take a lot of Dollars in cash to avoid the holds or maybe travellers cheques? Or is that when a Caxton card comes into its own, i.e no ATM charges at all, if you use the right bank?

Thanks.

[daytonababe]

Originally Posted by tocpe321

daytonababe

Many thanks for this in depth answer. Very helpful.



Revolut sounds really good. I had a brief scan of the site and it looked like you can only withdraw a certain amount before you incur charges at ATMs.

For restaurants and hotels is best way forward to take a lot of Dollars in cash to avoid the holds or maybe travellers cheques? Or is that when a Caxton card comes into its own, i.e no ATM charges at all, if you use the right bank?

Thanks.

See more...

I don't take a lot of cash because most people are only insured for a few hundred each.

I'd rather pay a few dollars if I had to , to use a ATM and withdraw cash, though as I said I use Chase banks and its free, That said I only know of one Chase bank near the Vegas strip which is near the South Outlets and the other I use alot is opposite my hotel in Phoenix , so its easy for me.

I also usually take some TC's , which I mostly change in the casino cages when I'm in Vegas, but I've used them in various parts of Arizona and California without issue so despite what some might say they are still widely accepted.

I am far too cautious to put all my money on to just one card in case there's a issue with it , So I'll split it this year between Caxton / Revolut, TC's and a few hundred in cash.

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by daytonababe

I don't take a lot of cash because most people are only insured for a few hundred each.

I'd rather pay a few dollars if I had to , to use a ATM and withdraw cash, though as I said I use Chase banks and its free, That said I only know of one Chase bank near the Vegas strip which is near the South Outlets and the other I use alot is opposite my hotel in Phoenix , so its easy for me.

I also usually take some TC's , which I mostly change in the casino cages when I'm in Vegas, but I've used them in various parts of Arizona and California without issue so despite what some might say they are still widely accepted.

I am far too cautious to put all my money on to just one card in case there's a issue with it , So I'll split it this year between Caxton / Revolut, TC's and a few hundred in cash.

See more...

Thanks again for the advice.

I do like the sound of these cards and so far have found FairFx good to use, so I will weigh up the options. I do like the flexibility of Revolut and the fact you can leave it in Sterling or commit to a reasonable Dollar rate.

We have to pay some of our hotels on arrival so hopefully they'll be OK if we don't want to use a card for actual payment or incidentals.

Just looking forward to seeing a new part of America!

[irvsax]

I use Revolut and it's been great. So easy to use.

I like being able to transfer to dollars at a rate I like the look of or just keep it in gbp and spend as required.

It will charge on ATM after a certain amount but it's not a big fee and to be honest I went for 5 weeks and only used about $200 cash.

I didn't find that any Restaraunt or anything did this hold payment that I was reading about. Only ever saw the final amount paid.

It also has good features like turning off the magnetic strip and online payments remotely and geotagging for your transactions via the app.

It's actually more sophisticated than my proper Barclays account.

Very impressed overall

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by irvsax

I use Revolut and it's been great. So easy to use.

I like being able to transfer to dollars at a rate I like the look of or just keep it in gbp and spend as required.

It will charge on ATM after a certain amount but it's not a big fee and to be honest I went for 5 weeks and only used about $200 cash.

I didn't find that any Restaraunt or anything did this hold payment that I was reading about. Only ever saw the final amount paid.

It also has good features like turning off the magnetic strip and online payments remotely and geotagging for your transactions via the app.

It's actually more sophisticated than my proper Barclays account.

Very impressed overall

See more...

irvsax

Many thanks for your detailed reply.

Sounds really good!

Security features appeal.

Thanks again.

[petetina]

Many thanks for the info--we have always used our caxton card but got a revolut card and have been loading it with £ s every week since we got it-----this info is invaluable ---thx