Travel Advice

Pack these savvy money-saving tips, before you pack your suitcase

We all want to pay less for our holidays, without the need to sacrifice any of the fun. And you can kickstart that even before you set out to travel. Simply load currency on to your Caxton multi-currency travel card, when the market rate is at a high – instead of prior to travel or upfront payment in the local currency. Because when you use your bank to transfer the money, you incur a fees-laden expense; which proves costlier than when you send it in the right currency via an international payment. With that said, here are some of our savvy money savings tips to bear in mind before you even pack your suitcase.

1. Paying for accommodation

If you’re planning a city break to Barcelona or a two-week chill-out in Bali, you’ll need somewhere to sleep when you finally hit the hay. With many of us opting to tailor-make our holidays these days, it’s likely that your accommodation will need to be secured with a deposit in advance.

Larger tour operators usually accept payment in sterling, where FX rates are covered – we suggest securing the currency with a credit card, as you’ll receive purchase protection; should anything go wrong. However, boutique hotels and local rentals may require payment in the local currency – it’s always worthwhile to check before you make any kind of commitment. A bank transfer will cost more than sending it in the right currency, which is why an international payment is your more wallet-friendly option.

2. Airport transfers and taxies

Make sure you plan your airport transfers, taxi, or car hire in advance of your travels – the last thing you want to be doing on arrival at is lugging cases and flagging down transport in 40-degree heat!

Bear in mind that you’ll need to pay for your transport in the local currency, uness you pay for it in advance at the time of booking. The best option is to load your Caxton currency card before you fly and withdraw cash from an ATM on arrival at your destination.

Airports have plenty of ATMs and with zero fees*, you’ve saved pounds well before touchdown in your holiday accommodation. Caxton also offers a cash delivery service. So, if you still want to take cash with you for your airport transfers, don’t forget to order it ahead of your trip.

3. Excursions, retreats, and classes

Whether it’s a catamaran across the Mediterranean, sightseeing around the Colosseum, or a cooking class in Thailand, the need to plan what we want to do on holiday is just as important as selecting the destination itself.

If you book in advance, it’s likely that you’ll need to secure your trip with payment in full or, at the very least, a deposit. Depending on whether you’re going through a large tour operator or organising the trip yourself, it’s a good call to see if you can pay via an international payment in the local currency. You’re also likelier to pay more if going through an operator, as they’ll take their commission. But on the plus side, you’re guaranteed a place on your excursion.

If you choose to book on arrival, you’ll most likely be presented with an array of options and can probably haggle the price of your trip quite significantly - you’ll also save by paying in the local currency. Make sure you load your Caxton currency card ahead of your trip to secure the best possible rate – you can then pay via the card directly in the local currency or withdraw cash free from an ATM.

4. Sending money to friends and family

International payments are useful, if you have friends and family living abroad and you need to transfer some cash over on an ad-hoc or regular basis.

If you're visiting family on your next trip, maybe you want to send them money to withdraw for you upon arrival. Or, perhaps, they can book some or your planned trips in the local currency. International payments ensure you avoid costly bank fees, and will save you money on the current exchange rate.

5. Cruising and island hopping

If you’re an avid cruiser or island hopper, a visit to multiple destinations in one trip is the dream. But how do you keep on top of your currency requirements? It’s simple with a Caxton pre-paid, multi-currency travel card, as you can pre-load up to 15 different currencies in advance of your trip.

This way, you don’t have to worry about carrying around multiple currencies when you switch between destinations and you won’t lose out at costly exchange bureaus. And with our Buy Back Guarantee, there’s no need to worry about buying too much currency; because we’ll buy it back at the same rate we sold it to you. It's truly the little savings that all add up!

Whatever your holiday booking requirements, Caxton can support all of your payment needs. From loading your currency card, in advance and using it to pay locally when you are abroad, to using our international payments service to secure the deposit on your holiday villa, we've got you covered. With no hidden fees or charges, we’ll ensure you avoid wasting money.