Travel Cash Cards: Which one's the best?

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I've heard many people talking about these travel cash cards and a few of my family members dubious of my travelling antics have suggested them because they know how much money I have to take with me. But with so many companies to choose from, which one's the best?

Moneysupermarket compares several of the bigwig cash cards for you, but doesn't include all of them out there and I personally found it didn't tell me the best one to use. The Guardian has written an article about travel cash cards; comparing the different companies (here) but it was a bit wordy and I found myself wishing someone could just put them in laymans terms.

So this is where I come in!

There are 9 main companies issuing Travel Cash Cards (as shown on moneysupermarket) and 1 that my dearest mother rang to tell me about. (The cards mentioned below are for a EURO € Currency card for use in Europe and not a Dollar $ or Sterling £. Because I am travelling to Europe and I live in the UK, I don't intend to spend my money at home, although you can find the benefits for these cards on the moneysupermarket website by clicking on the different tabs above the results shown).

1. My Travel Cash - Euro

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: FREE

> You also get £6 extra if you put on £600 or £10 when you put on £900. You also get 1% cashback on all purchases made with the card

2. Caxton(FX) - Euro Card

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: FREE

3. Escape Travel Money - Euro Card

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.*  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: FREE

> *You pay £9.99 for the card but this is added onto your card once you've put on £100 within 90 days of purchase.

4. Cashplus - Euro card

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: FREE in Eurozone

5. BreadFX - Euro

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: €1.50

> You also get €10 extra if you apply through moneysupermarket and put on £400.

6. FairFX - Euro Card

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.*  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: €1.50.

> If you apply through moneysupermarket you'll get £10 extra if you put on £500 or more.

*This card appears only to be free if you put on more than £60 - otherwise it's £9.95.

7. Virgin Prepaid Travel Money Card - Euro

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: €1.50 

8. ICE Travellers Cashcard - Euro

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: FREE.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: €3.00

9. Kalixa - Euro

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: £6.95.  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: £2.25

10. STA Travel Mastercard Prepaid Cashcard

Monthly fee: FREE.  Cost to buy: £9.95.*  Cost to use in shops/on Internet: FREE

Extra fee to withdraw from an ATM abroad: £2.25

> *You pay £19.95 but it comes with £10 already on it.

I’ve ranked these with 1. being the best for me (when I go to Europe) and considering how much money I am going to take. It may be different for you depending how much you’re going to put on the card. As you can see, some cards are entirely free, others cost to buy and charge for transactions abroad – so it’s best to check first! Ironically the card my Mum suggested is ranked last and as it wasn’t listed on moneysupermarket I had to dig around a bit for the extra information, and it’s not easy to find! In fact, it was right at the bottom of the terms and conditions that you accept before you buy it and a lot of people don’t read the t&c’s (myself included I must admit!) so it’s so easy to be caught out!

Ranked number 2. is the Caxton(FX) card, which is one my friend uses, and I quote “it’s brilliant, I defo recommend getting one!” – whether or not I’ll choose that one is another matter though!

Whichever card you choose to get, take the time to read all the small print so you don’t get caught out, and make sure you check to see how long it takes to get to you (as some cards take up to two weeks to arrive) and order it long before you leave!