Halifax is offering a £20 refund to new customers who withdraw their Clarity credit card on any purchase made within the first 90 days of opening an account.
The Halifax Clarity credit card is one of the best travel credit cards that doesn't charge fees for spending abroad, making it a good choice if you're looking for a cheap way to spend abroad.
Here, which one? explains what you need to know about the offer, how the card compares, and how you can save money on vacation if you're not interested in getting a travel credit card.
Be smarter with money
free newsletter
Get a firmer grip on your finances with expert advice in our Money newsletter - it's free weekly.
This newsletter offers free money-related content along with other information aboutWhich? Setproducts and services. Unsubscribe whenever you want. Your data will be processed in accordance with ourPrivacy Policy
What does the Halifax Clarity credit card offer?
The Halifax Clarity credit card is a common choice in our guide tobest travel credit cardsas it does not charge fees for transactions abroad or cash withdrawals. The card has a representative APR of 22.9% (variable) and uses the Mastercard exchange rate.
No interest will be charged on your expenses abroad as long as you pay your card in full each month. However, interest will be charged on cash withdrawals from the moment you make them. This means that you will still pay some interest even if you pay off the card in full.
Halifax is running a limited-time cashback promotion that allows new customers to get £20 cash back on any purchase (of any amount) made within the first 90 days of card ownership. The refund will be credited to your account within 180 days.
- To know more:read ourHalifax Credit Card Reviewto see how customers rate the provider for customer service, clarity of claims, and transparency of billing.
How is it compared?
The Barclaycard Rewards Visa is another competitive travel credit card.
You also have no foreign transaction or cash withdrawal fees and you get the Visa exchange rate. Unlike the Clarity card, it does not charge interest on cash withdrawals as long as your card is paid off in full each month.
The card also reimburses 0.25% of your daily expenses (credited annually or on demand) and has a hefty APR of 25.9% (variable).
Another benefit of the card is that you can get up to five months of free Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade.
- To know more:best travel credit cards
Compare credit cards
Find the right credit card and check the rates using the service provided by Experian.
How else can you pay abroad?
We've rounded up other ways to pay abroad if you don't want to get a travel credit card.
Use a free debit card
A free debit card is the cheapest way to spend abroad; you still get a near-perfect exchange rate through the Mastercard or Visa networks.
The main banks are Chase Bank and Starling, where both spending and cash withdrawals abroad are commission-free and unlimited. Chase also offers 1% cash back on purchases for one year.
All of these accounts take a few minutes to open, and while your physical card will take a few days to arrive, you can add a virtual card to Apple Pay and Google Wallet right away.
- To know more:The best debit cards to use abroad and on vacation
prepaid cards
While predicting exchange rates is extremely difficult, you can opt to exchange half of your vacation money for foreign currency ahead of time if you feel more comfortable.
Wise and Revolut are twoprepaid card providersThey allow you to do just that. You can exchange and store money in up to 50 currencies with Wise and 29 with Revolut, in one online account.
You won't pay fees to trade with Revolut on weekdays or 1% on weekends, although on the basic free plan you can only trade £1,000 a month.
When we checked, Wise charged 0.43% for converting from pound to euro or up to 0.86% for other currencies.
Keep in mind that you won't earn interest on your balance, and if you convert back unused currency, you'll have to pay the fee again.
Your money is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), but under e-money regulations it is protected from creditors should the provider go bankrupt.
- To know more:best prepaid cards
foreign money
The cheapest way to get foreign money is to withdraw it at your destination using one of the debit cards mentioned above. But in many cases, you'll need some cash on hand when you arrive, such as paying for a taxi.
Compare currency exchanges online: moneysupermarket.co.uk is one of the biggest comparison sites. Thomas Exchange is one of the more established providers, although occasionally you'll see supermarkets such as Asda, M&S, Sainsbury's Bank and Tesco with good rates.
It's usually better to order online (the larger the quantity, the better) than to pick up in store, to get better prices and avoid shipping costs.
- To know more:buy money to travel online
Which? money podcast
Join us on our weekly audio show for the latest money news and personal finance tips to help you improve your situation.
listen now
5 things to consider with vacation money
When choosing the best way to pay for your next vacation, keep this in mind.
car rental cards
Many car rental companies do not accept debit cards or prepaid cards to hold funds until you return the vehicle.
While you can use a regular credit card for pre-authorization, which in itself shouldn't incur any fees, using a credit card for travel means that if something goes wrong, you won't have charges on your card that hurt your business. the injury.
smartphone addiction
What all free debit card providers have in common, along with prepaid cards, is their reliance on smartphones.
If you don't have one, consider Metro Bank, which offers a credit card with free spending and cash withdrawals in most parts of Europe, and you can apply for and print the card at a branch.
double conversions
When paying with a card, always choose to pay in the local currency and, if you don't have that option, ask the shopkeeper why not.
Paying in pounds means a local bank does the conversion, not necessarily at the best rate, usually adding a fee.
Local ATM fees
Don't expect to find free ATMs abroad, but avoid high-cost ones like at airports and use ATMs at local bank branches.
Since fees are usually a fixed amount, it makes sense to pull out all the vacation money you think you'll need at once.
inactivity fees
The prepaid card providers listed don't charge inactivity fees, but many others do if you don't use your card for several months.
Which? money magazine
Find the best deals, avoid scams and increase your savings and investments with our expert advice. £4.99 per month, cancel anytime
register now
Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales at 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is a representative appointed by the introducer of the following: 1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of automobile pets, homes , travel and investment-free insurance products (FRN 610689). Inspop.com Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice on and purchase investment free car, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales in Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road , Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN 656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts, which are authorized and regulated by the FCA to advise and enter into Pure Protection Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales at 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386. 3.What? is an introductory appointing representative of Optimize Media Limited (FRN 313408), for filing of HSBC Group, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide credit brokerage activities. Optimize Media is registered in England and Wales at Exchange Street Buildings, 35-37 Exchange Street, Norwich, England, NR2 1DP and company number 04455319. We do not make, nor seek to make, recommendations in relation to financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as we are not regulated or authorized by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we include links to regulated brands or suppliers with whom we maintain a business relationship and, if you wish, you can purchase a product from our business partners. If you buy a product using our link, we'll receive a commission to help fund our non-profit mission and campaigns as a champion for the UK consumer.