Travel Money

Bilimoria

@Kailash go for it, Yes it's fiver for delivery but it's worth it. Also you don't have to transfer money before you leave the country. You can transfer money anytime either from app or online banking. You can enable/disable or restrict functionality of the card from app. e.g. restrict use on ATM.

MarkyPancake

For the US, it's practical to have some cash for things like tips and parking meters.

Kailash

and can you withdraw cash at an ATM with no charges?

LV426

@Kailash No I do not.  As I say, I can't see why I should give my money away to someone (eg Revolut) before I spend it, when I can keep it in my bank account until after I've spent it, and then pay it off afterwards, with no fees (not even a fiver), no interest, no hidden costs or anything.  With nothing left over to change back, and no need to scurry about doing top-ups if I've under-estimated.

Kailash

is the credit card you use a specific travel one then, do you get it from your bank?

Bilimoria

Free ATM withdrawals to the equivalent of GBP £200 per calendar month. After that 2% fee.
There are couple of credit card they don't charge fee and give you good rate. e.g Nationwide, John Lewis (I think), etc.

Edit:
Or use Revolut as credit card if you have balance. I don't think there is limit to use as credit card. You can restrict spending on card as  security measure using app, which you can change yourself.

LV426

There are several card issuers that offer fee-free (for travel) credit cards.  Halifax Clarity, Post Office, SAGA (if you qualify) are examples.  For these, you get the wholesale exchange rate at the time of transaction; no commission or fee; no annual fee; no charge for the card itself; and, as long as you pay it off IN FULL when due (you can set up a direct debit to ensure this) zero interest on purchase transactions. In other words, it is a wholly free way to spend foreign currency.  Cash withdrawals DO attract interest, but even that can be almost completely avoided (with online access) - my last one cost me 11p.  

Most high street banks' credit cards are NOT free to use in this way; many do add exchange fees and/or shade the rate used in their favour.  

I would always, though, suggest more than one card.  You use one and keep the other safe and separate, both as you travel and whilst in resort.  Then, if you lose it (or suffer some other calamity) you have a backup.

mjn

Another Revolut user here. You can use automatic topup if you wish to keep no money on your card

Bobby2012

Halifax Clarity has been working nicely for me in Europe and USA recently.
(Paid off in full naturally)