Post Office Travel Insurance

The Post Office share their top tips for sorting your travel money.

Once of the biggest decisions when travelling abroad is how to pack your travel money. Should you take cash, Travellers Cheques or just rely on your credit card and keep all your holiday money on plastic? But what if it goes a bit pear-shaped and your money or card is lost or stolen? How do you make sure you’re not stranded without a penny to your name?

The first step is to find out the best currency to take to your destination. If you’re off to a Eurozone country, the United States or another major destination, you can exchange your money into cash, Travellers Cheques, or load up a prepaid card in the local currency before you go. Most Post Offices have major currencies available on-demand, and you can order online or over the phone and have it delivered to your home or local Post Office – easy!

If you’re heading off the beaten track, there may be restrictions on the type of currency you can take, or you may get a better deal by taking another currency like US Dollars. Check your holiday location on the Post Office Foreign Currency Selector to find out the local and recommended currency and any currency restrictions for your destination.

The Post Office can sort you out with up to 70 different currencies at 0% commission1 in cash, Travellers Cheques, or you can load up your holiday cash on to a Travel Money Card. Check out the guide to foreign currency products to see which one’s right for your trip.

A Guide to Foreign Currency Products 

Foreign Currency – Cash

• Before you go check whether there are any restrictions on the currency of the destination you are travelling to. Use the Post Office foreign currency selector to find the best currency option for the countries you are visiting.
• You can pick up over 70 different foreign currencies from the Post Office before you go, with 0% commission on all foreign cash, with a range of currencies available over the counter at many Post Office branches. Other currencies can be ordered over the phone or online
• The Post Office will buy back any unused currency when you’re back from your travels, even if you don’t have the original transaction receipt. Find out more about the buy back service

Prepaid Cards - Travel Money Card

Post Office Travel Money Card is a preloaded card which gives you the security of travellers’ cheques with the convenience of plastic. Travel Money Card offers an easy and secure way to take your money overseas

• Get a Post Office Travel Money Card and load or top up with Euros, US Dollars or Sterling for use in millions of shops and cash machines worldwide – anywhere that accepts Visa Electron ₁
• There’s 0% commission when you load or top up with Euros or US Dollars, plus there’s no fee on card purchases overseas if the currency is the same as the currency on your Travel Money Card (a transaction fee applies for cash withdrawals)
• If your card is running low on funds, just call to top up over the phone or reload your card with currency before you travel and use it again. You can even get someone at home to load it for you at the Post Office while you’re away (maximum amount per telephone reload is £350 over a period of 14 consecutive days)
• You won’t be stranded without money if your Travel Money Card goes missing – you can call a 24-hour helpline to have a new card sent to your destination with your card balance replaced ₃
• Keep your money safe from theft and fraud , as the Travel Money Card cannot be used by fraudsters or identity thieves to access your bank account
• Find out more or apply for a Travel Money Card online.

Travellers’ Cheques

• One of the most secure ways of taking your holiday money with you – travellers’ cheques can only be cashed by the person who originally purchased the cheque
• American Express travellers’ cheques are available, commission free (except for sterling travellers’ cheques), from Post Office branches or can be ordered online
• Travellers’ cheques can be replaced if lost or stolen, and if issued by the Post Office, are backed by an emergency replacement service from American Express.
• In some destinations, like America, Canada and Australia they are widely accepted as payment and can be used like cash in some shops, hotels and restaurants. American Express travellers’ cheques, issued by the Post Office, are recognised globally and accepted in over 200 countries around the world.
• The Post Office will buy back your unused American Express travellers’ cheques, or cash them for you if you’re visiting from overseas
• Even though some holiday cash may be covered by your travel insurance policy, it is advised to consider taking a mix of cash and cheques if you are taking large sums of money overseas to destinations where travellers’ cheques are widely accepted

For more information on all your foreign currency options from the Post Office, call us on 08457 22 33 44, or visit the Post Office website.

Post Office Travel Checklist

• Check what type of foreign currency is best to take to your destination. Some countries, such as India, don’t allow you to import or export local currency so you’ll need to take all your Travel Money in another currency and convert it when you arrive. Check out the recommended currency for a range of destinations on the Foreign Currency Selector
• Take enough money for your trip. Take your holiday money in a mix of cash, Travellers Cheques or plastic so you’re not caught without access to your funds.
• Get adequate Travel Insurance. Depending on the policy you purchase, you can be covered for everything from small items (even your sunglasses and iPods), up to £10 million for medical expenses. Get Post Office Travel Insurance and you’ll even be insured for the loss of up to £250 in foreign currency. Get your travel insurance now
• Make sure you’ve got a valid passport. Some destinations require you to have at least 6 months validity on your passport when you arrive at your destination. The Post Office can assist you with your passport application.
• Did you know that you can access state provided healthcare while you’re in Europe? If you’re a UK resident you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that entitles you to some reduced or free emergency care while visiting a number of European countries. This is not an alternative to travel insurance though and it is recommended that you take both. You can apply for an EHIC through the Post Office.
• Make copies of your documents – passport, visas, airline tickets, travellers’ cheques and itinerary – and make sure your family and friends have a way of contacting you. You can usually find an internet café to check emails, even in the most remote places.
• Check the Post Office website for assistance with other holiday extras, such as Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service. Have your mail held for up to two months to stop it piling up on your doorstep while you’re away.

¹ You can use your card anywhere that accepts VISA Electron. **Cash withdrawal fees apply. Transaction fees may apply, dependent on the ATM order. Maximum withdrawal per day is £500 or the equivalent amount in US Dollars or Euros. You can withdraw money from any ATM machine displaying the VISA sign. note: atm charges/cross-border charges/exchange rate charges may occur if the Travel Money Card currency differs from that of the local currency.

² A fee of up to £35 (or $ or Euro equivalent) will apply if you request that the emergency replacement card be couriered to you

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