Skyparksecure Travel Blog - THE TRAVEL BLOG by Skyparksecure

Currency cards are hogging all the headlines when it comes to exchanging your money for overseas travel.

Moneywise UK gave them a glowing report whilst cautioning against variable fees and charges.

We decided to put them to the test and so armed with the new Skyparksecure Currency Card our Marketing Manager Ken Foster, decided to test drive the system.

Ken takes up the story:

“Like most people, I usually exchange sterling for currency on the high street before I travel. I’d heard a lot about currency cards and was always a little sceptical about fees and whether or not I’d get a competitive exchange rate.

With Skyparksecure now offering a card I realised that it was the perfect opportunity to put one to the test. First I went to the Skypark currency card sign-up page. There are 3 cards to choose from. The Euro card (which I chose) can be used anywhere in Euroland, The US Dollar Card is (fairly obviously) for people travelling to the USA and the Global One card can be used worldwide.

I found that the sign up process was easy (You do need your passport number, so have that close at hand). The great thing is that you can get a fixed exchange rate when you sign up and load your card with money. I found the rate offered was extremely competitive when I booked (€1.23 = £1).

I loaded up the card online and the money was transferred. So far, so good – no fees and no joining or set up fee.

The card arrived through the post within 3 days (although the site does say to allow up to 7-10 days).

Next I had to activate my card. I phoned the number supplied (everything was automated and easy to do). Make sure to note down your pin number that they provide you with during the call. (this call does cost 10p per minute and I was on the phone just under 3 minutes)
You can change your pin (without cost) at any cashpoint displaying the mastercard sign. I changed mine to something more memorable before I left for the holiday.

You can use the card like a credit card to pay for goods and services once you are away but I decided to withdraw a little cash for the first few days once I arrived. So the big test was when I went to a branch of Credit Mutual Bretagne in Dinan and tried out the card. I noticed the Mastercard symbol (which most cash machine have) and withdrew €100. It worked perfectly and I wasn’t charged any fee for the withdrawal.

I did this another couple of times during the trip (as i don’t like carrying a large amount of cash) and can honestly say it was the smoothest and most convenient way of getting your spending money sorted out for overseas travel.

When we arrived back in the UK I decided to convert the money left on the card back to Sterling. This time I was charged a small transaction fee, but was more than happy with the rate and the £120 cash i got back to spend on our weekly shop!

Obviously this is just my experience but I’ll definitely use the card again. You can load the card up online or by phone the next time you travel.”

So one happy customer (even if he is an insider). You can apply for your currency card here. Please let us know how you get on so we can provide feedback to our customers.

Taking a well-deserved vacation is a fantastic way to relax and distance yourself from the stress and monotony of day to day life, but the excitement that comes when you wake on the morning of your holiday can quickly turn to stress and frustration if you realise you aren’t quite as prepared as you should be.

It’s no secret that tackling the airport travelling procedures can be challenging; there is no shortage of items to remember, and you only get one shot at getting it right. It’s all too easy to make the smallest of mistakes during preparation for your vacation, many of which can potentially ruin the trip for yourself and your entire group. Arriving at the airport check in desk, only to realise you have forgotten your passport, tickets or other essentials is sure to cause unparalleled levels of stress, especially if the only solution is to pay extra for new airline tickets. So with this in mind, we have constructed a handy checklist to help ensure your trip to the airport is as simple and efficient as possible!

Reaching the Airport

If you are planning to drive to the airport, be sure you have the route planned; leaving with little or no preparation can become problematic if you have not visited before. Motorway directions are normally very thorough when leading to airports, but it can be easy to miss signs and signals. Be sure to use an online route planner or Satnav to secure your route days before you travel. Remember, at SkyParkSecure we offer safe parking zones in a number of locations for airports nationwide; leaving your vehicle in our safe hands ensures it will be safely ready and waiting upon your return!

Airport Booking Voucher

Be sure to take along your airport parking voucher which holds all the details regarding your parking reservation. Keep this handy in your hand luggage for quick and easy access at any point. If you have lost the details regarding your parking reservation, be sure to head to the ‘My Bookings’ section on our Homepage for help recovering your details.

Check with Airline

It’s always a good idea to check the current status of your flight with the airline; any delays or problems are usually updated on the website, and calling the airline desk to double check can’t hurt either.

Passport and Tickets

It’s best to designate a location for these well before you leave; these items are a lifeline when you arrive at the airport, and you’re going nowhere without them. Place the correct tickets in the corresponding passports, and then keep all passports together, preferably in a zipped compartment in your hand luggage. Be sure to check all passports are present when you put them in and check again before you leave, placing them back in immediately after checking.

It’s always a good idea to check far in advance (ideally at least a month) that your passport will not expire during the course of your holiday; this may not immediately jump to mind but can cause plenty of issues if left unchecked for too long.

Purse/Wallet

It’s always advisable to keep these valuables with your passports until you arrive and unpack; it’s best to take extra care when heading abroad, as the repercussions of losing them in a foreign country can far outweigh the convenience of storing them in your pocket. Be sure all the credit and debit cards you need are present in your wallet/purse, and you have a few small bills ready to cover the cab fares each way; have a few small coins ready too, many luggage carts and trollies need require the insertion of a coin before they unlock. Lastly, be sure your driver’s licence and appropriate ID are in there too, if you wish to rent a car on your trip you’ll need this with you.

Money and Foreign Currency

Having your money exchanged into foreign currency before you travel is always a good idea; you’re much more likely to get better rates if you shop around before leaving, so don’t wait until you reach the airport to change your money over. It’s always good to keep an emergency supply of GBP separate from your wallet/purse too; if the bulk of your foreign currency were to go missing, you will have a backup supply ready to be exchanged.

Mobile Phone

It’s always wise to have your mobile on you at all times in case of an incident or misdirection. This allows for easy contact with others who are travelling with you and instant contact with friends and family at home (albeit potentially very costly). Take note to take your charger along too, mobiles can quickly run out of battery, so it’s best to recharge every day to ensure you can contact others at any time.

Be sure to check with your mobile service provider that your phone is able to make and receive calls abroad; you may need to make changes to your tariff or SIM card before the day of your trip.

Appropriate Documentation

Be sure to keep all travel insurance paperwork with you in case of an unfortunate incident, and a card that has an extensive list of emergency contact details, preferably containing mobile numbers of others who are travelling with you, as well as contacts back at home.

If travelling in Europe, it’s a good idea to apply for an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card); this will be of massive use if you were to have an accident while abroad and need medical treatment, stopping sizable medical bills ruining your holiday.

Miscellaneous Items

Not exactly essentials, but many people take extra items along for the ride. If you are taking a laptop, mp3 player or portable DVD player along for the flight, be sure to take the corresponding charger; this is a common mistake which can lead to extra costs on holiday after sourcing a power supply that fits.

If anyone in your group requires prescription medication, be sure to take along a good supply and store them in a safe and easily accessible area of your hand luggage. This will allow for quick access to the medication and will be easy to double check that it is on-hand. Ask your GP if you will need a letter of consent to take the medication with you, some countries have strict policies about travellers bringing certain drugs and medication with them, and require a letter from your general practitioner.

So there we are; a handy guide to help you remember those airport essentials!