Quick Credit Cards

The cheapest way to spend money abroad, and to get cash from an ATM, is to use a credit rather than a debit card, says money guru Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com. But be extremely careful which credit card you use.

For regular travellers, the best cards are the Halifax Clarity (top pick); Post Office Platinum; Santander Zero; Saga Platinum (over-50s only); and Nationwide’s Gold Card – if issued before February 2011. Most others add 2.5%-3% to foreign exchange transactions. The cards above don’t apply this “loading”, meaning you get a “perfect” exchange rate – beating even the best bureau de change.

All the cards on the list, bar Nationwide Gold, allow load-free transactions worldwide. Nationwide gives load-free transactions only in Europe – a 1% fee applies elsewhere.

Lewis says there are a few caveats. You have to pay off the balance each month in full. Users

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