ATMs Abroad

[PhilD]

I am going to Majorca in a few weeks and rather than taking cash / travellers cheques I was thinking of using the ATMs. Has anyone any experiences of using them. What exchange rate do you get compared to home? What commission do they charge? (I bank with the Halifax)

[stevie21]

Apparently Nationwide don't charge you for using your card abroad like this. If you expect to spend lots of money out there and be charged lots you might consider quickly opening an account with them.
I'd take some cash and possibly travellers cheques with you and try not to rely on the ATMs too much. I think you'll be charged about 2.75% (possibly also a minimum of �1.50 seems to be common) although Halifax should outline exactly how much on their website if you care to look.

[Dom Tuk]

I was in Majorca in Jan 2005 and my Natwest Card worked fine in Palma, Majorca and surrounding areas. The usual charge was about 70 p for 40 euros.....as seen on statement. The rate was also very good and i thought better than the airport exchange rates

[morg_monster]

stevie is right about nationwide. I went on a 6 month trip abroad and I reckon opening an account before i left saved me about �300!  They also still have very good exchange rates (so you don't just get screwed that way instead!)

[Chouchou]

Be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience of using an ATM, plus whatever commission your bank charges.  When trying to find out the commission our bank charges, we were told that information is not public.  Generally, they charged 5-8% above the current XE.com rate.  Traveller's Cheques are the best way to go.

[lauraking72]

whenever we have travelled to Spain we have used ATM's as the exchange rate cant be beaten, we are nationwide card holders and they only charge a very small amount. we used to use travel cheques but what with commision and the crud exchange rate we decided to use ATM.

[mrsann]

I live in mainland Spain for nearly 20 years and regularly used ATM machines successfully.I now travel a great deal and regularly use them all over the world.Nationwide not only give one of the best rates of all they do not charge anything for the use of machines.The one time I had my card "looped"(in South Africa) with a loss of over three thousand pounds the money was back in my account within 5 days of my reporting it .(I was easily able to prove fraud) They were kind reassuring and efficient which gives confidence to use again