Wise debit card

[neils2004]

Hi,
Has anyone had experience using a Wise debit card internationally ?
Thinking of obtaining one for use in Europe and the UK.

 

[SYD]

Agree! Just boarding a flight to FRA myself, from MAD.

any observations to add to this?

M

Thread 'Madrid Airport homeless reports'

Sunday at 7:54 PM

Hello AFF Family.
Currently in Europe and reading reports about Madrid Airport Adolfo Suarez. Apparantly this airport is in public hands and about 200+ people who are homeless live there and there there is a stand off between who is responsible for managing. Apparantly T4 is worse, last fortnight a fumigation was undertaken due to bedbug infestation and cleaners who work overnight need escorts. As its a public space there has been reluctance to evict.

Does anyone have recent experience...

• MARTINE
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Destination Guides, Tips & Questions

 

[clifford]

If you need Euros, why not buy some before you go, or go to a currency exchange outlet at your destination. ATM's can be iffy.

 

[dajop]

Hi,
Has anyone had experience using a Wise debit card internationally ?
Thinking of obtaining one for use in Europe and the UK.

Have not used to withdraw cash at an ATM - I usually take some with me (but living in Singapore I have ready access to low fee FX literally 5 mins walk from home)

. But have used the debit card across Europe extensively - and in fact in UK cash can be difficult to use so worthwhile having a wise debit card or other low FX fee card when there. In Norway for 11 days used nothing but our Wise card - including for car rental deposit.

 

[SYD]

If you need Euros, why not buy some before you go, or go to a currency exchange outlet at your destination. ATM's can be iffy.

Buying or exchanging cash is almost certainly going to incur a ~3% fee in there somewhere.

I try and maintain a float of Euro cash (usually about 50€ +/- and then top up from ATM when I’m in a country that doesn’t gouge with fees (just use a regular DC).

Otherwise chuck everything I can on 28° MC when in Europe (and elsewhere).

 

[clifford]

Buying or exchanging cash is almost certainly going to incur a ~3% fee in there somewhere.

I try and maintain a float of Euro cash (usually about 50€ +/-

I agree. I have a cash "float" of several thousand EUR, but, unfortunately, in large denomination notes. But, if I needed to use an ATM there I'd use my Wise card.

 

[clifford]

in fact in UK cash can be difficult to use

As a UK citizen who has lived there for over 25 years (and visits often), I don't find this to be the case. A visitor who is looking for higher end spend may. You don't have to look far to spend the odd pound coin. In fact, there are many thieves that would love them.

 

[VPS]

Have not used to withdraw cash at an ATM - I usually take some with me (but living in Singapore I have ready access to low fee FX literally 5 mins walk from home)

. But have used the debit card across Europe extensively - and in fact in UK cash can be difficult to use so worthwhile having a wise debit card or other low FX fee card when there. In Norway for 11 days used nothing but our Wise card - including for car rental deposit.

I’ve been in the UK for three months and I haven’t found it hard to use cash

I agree. I have a cash "float" of several thousand EUR, but, unfortunately, in large denomination notes. But, if I needed to use an ATM there I'd use my Wise card.

I do have a float of some euros but it’s certainly not the thousands because I’d probably lose it. I like to have about €50-€75 in cash.

 

[dajop]

As a UK citizen who has lived there for over 25 years (and visits often), I don't find this to be the case. A visitor who is looking for higher end spend may. You don't have to look far to spend the odd pound coin. In fact, there are many thieves that would love them.

I’ve been in the UK for three months and I haven’t found it hard to use cash

Maybe it would be fairer to say London. Had more luck in small towns and villages. But in London various cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels all wouldn’t allow cash payments during my visits in the last 3 years. Maybe it’s improved this year? Or maybe we acquiesced too easily

Never a problem before 2020. But we had a fair bit of cash left after earlier visits that we got when GBP was low and really struggled to use it. And we don’t do high end, more low-mid. Luckily the hotel at Heathrow we stayed at did actually (reluctantly) accepted cash - exact change - so we did get rid of some of the GBP.

But in terms of advice to anyone visiting London - I would expect some instances of not being able to use cash so a wise or other low fee card would certainly be beneficial and be able to be used widely supplemented by some cash as necessary.

 

[Zero]

Not sure about Wise but I am using Cash Passport. Not the best but convenient. I belive Wise have a limit on cash withdrawals before their fees apply which Cash Passport doesn’t have, and which suits me best. Does the ATM charge a withdrawal fee using Wise? In Spain I haven't found a bank which doesn’t charge a Euro 7 fee so a large cash withdrawal is best.

From what I can see Cash Passport charges A$3.50 per withdrawal? And Cash Passport's exchange rates are 2.5% worse than Wise, so even if Wise had no free withdrawals you would still be better off paying the Wise ATM fee of A$1.50 + 1.75%.

I believe both Wise and Cash Passport are regarded as prepaid cards, so foreign ATMs are likely to charge the same fees for both.

 

[Beano]

any observations to add to this?

M

Thread 'Madrid Airport homeless reports'

Sunday at 7:54 PM

Hello AFF Family.
Currently in Europe and reading reports about Madrid Airport Adolfo Suarez. Apparantly this airport is in public hands and about 200+ people who are homeless live there and there there is a stand off between who is responsible for managing. Apparantly T4 is worse, last fortnight a fumigation was undertaken due to bedbug infestation and cleaners who work overnight need escorts. As its a public space there has been reluctance to evict.

Does anyone have recent experience...

• MARTINE
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Destination Guides, Tips & Questions

Passed through T4 four times during daytime in the last three weeks. No signs of any trouble. Usually between 6 am and 5 pm.

 

[Beano]

From what I can see Cash Passport charges A$3.50 per withdrawal? And Cash Passport's exchange rates are 2.5% worse than Wise, so even if Wise had no free withdrawals you would still be better off paying the Wise ATM fee of A$1.50 + 1.75%.

I believe both Wise and Cash Passport are regarded as prepaid cards, so foreign ATMs are likely to charge the same fees for both.

I realise that but use it for convenience. Not into Wise yet and they do have a cash withdrawal limit per month. My wife prefers cash in Italy and Spain because of card fraud.

 

[VPS]

Maybe it would be fairer to say London. Had more luck in small towns and villages. But in London various cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels all wouldn’t allow cash payments during my visits in the last 3 years. Maybe it’s improved this year? Or maybe we acquiesced too easily

Never a problem before 2020. But we had a fair bit of cash left after earlier visits that we got when GBP was low and really struggled to use it. And we don’t do high end, more low-mid. Luckily the hotel at Heathrow we stayed at did actually (reluctantly) accepted cash - exact change - so we did get rid of some of the GBP.

But in terms of advice to anyone visiting London - I would expect some instances of not being able to use cash so a wise or other low fee card would certainly be beneficial and be able to be used widely supplemented by some cash as necessary.

I still think you can spend cash in London if you want to

 

[SYD]

I still think you can spend cash in London if you want to

OT, but the UK has generally gone cashless - if that suits one’s preference but cash is still widely accepted. Yes, there are some places with signs alerting punters that they’re cashless.

Either way, bank ATMs in the UK are generally fee free with high withdrawal limits. So any international fee free DC is fine.