In a shop, bar or restaurant
Check the terminal before entering your PIN or approving contactless. Choose EUR. When GBP has already been selected, ask the merchant to cancel and run the payment again in euros.
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Spend smarter
Money, cards and cashpoints
Pay in the right currency, understand cash-machine charges and compare popular UK cards before relying on them in Salou.
The most important rule
Choose euros and decline conversion
Let your own bank or card provider convert the payment. A shop, restaurant or cash machine offering to charge you in pounds normally sets its own rate.
At a cash machine
Reject wording such as “guaranteed rate”, “convert to GBP” or “accept conversion”. Continue in EUR without conversion. A separate cash-machine operator fee can still apply.
En euros, por favor. Sin conversión.In euros, please. Without conversion.
What a fee can cost
Small percentages add up
A mainstream card charging 2.99% adds the following amount before any cash-machine fee or poor merchant conversion rate.
| Holiday spending | Foreign-use fee | Added cost |
|---|---|---|
| £500 | 2.99% | £14.95 |
| £1,000 | 2.99% | £29.90 |
| £2,000 | 2.99% | £59.80 |
Compare travel cards
Find the type that suits how you spend
No single account is right for everyone. Compare card fees, exchange methods, cash allowances and the important drawback before applying.
General information, not financial advice.Product terms, rates and eligibility can change. Check the provider’s current terms before applying. Some links may later become affiliate links; where used, Adam in Salou may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Chase
Chase Current Account
Debit card / current accountA current account with no Chase fee for card spending abroad and comparatively generous cash limits.
May suitTravellers who want straightforward debit-card spending and a larger overseas cash allowance.
Account cost£0 monthly account fee
Foreign purchases£0 from Chase
Exchange methodMastercard exchange rate when paying in local currency
Cash allowanceUp to £500 a day and £1,500 per calendar month abroad
After allowanceNo Chase withdrawal fee; withdrawals stop when account limits are reached
Daily cash limit£500
- No Chase foreign card fee
- Mastercard conversion rate
- Large daily and monthly cash limits
ImportantA foreign cash-machine operator can still charge its own fee. Chase cashback is not earned on purchases outside the UK or Channel Islands, or when paying in a non-GBP currency.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Eligibility applies.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Eligibility applies.
Starling
Starling Current Account
Debit card / current accountA no-monthly-fee current account that does not add Starling fees to spending or withdrawals abroad.
May suitTravellers who want simple debit-card use without a separate travel wallet or monthly plan.
Account cost£0 monthly account fee
Foreign purchases£0 from Starling
Exchange methodCard-scheme exchange rate with no Starling markup
Cash allowanceNo Starling foreign withdrawal fee; normal account cash limits apply
After allowanceNo separate Starling overseas withdrawal fee
Daily cash limitCheck the current limit in the app
- No Starling fee for purchases abroad
- No Starling fee for cash withdrawals abroad
- Spending notifications in GBP and local currency
ImportantThe cash-machine owner may add its own access fee. Check the final ATM screen before accepting.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Terms and eligibility criteria apply.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Terms and eligibility criteria apply.
Monzo
Monzo Current Account
Debit card / current accountFee-free card spending abroad, with cash allowances that depend on how the account is used and the plan held.
May suitExisting Monzo users who mainly pay by card and understand their current cash-withdrawal allowance.
Account cost£0 for the standard current account
Foreign purchases£0 from Monzo
Exchange methodMastercard exchange rate
Cash allowanceSpain and the EEA: £400 every 30 days if Monzo is not your main bank; higher allowances may apply
After allowance3% after the applicable fee-free allowance
Daily cash limitCheck the current card limit in the app
- Fee-free card purchases abroad
- Mastercard exchange rate
- Cash allowance shown in the app
ImportantFee-free purchases and fee-free cash withdrawals are separate benefits. Main-bank use and paid plans can change the cash allowance.
UK residents aged 16 or over for a personal current account; eligibility applies.
UK residents aged 16 or over for a personal current account; eligibility applies.
Revolut
Revolut Standard
Multi-currency cardA free plan for holding and exchanging currencies, with defined exchange and cash-withdrawal allowances.
May suitTravellers who want to manage euros separately and monitor exchange allowances inside an app.
Account cost£0 subscription; physical-card delivery may cost extra
Foreign purchasesNo separate card-use fee within the plan rules
Exchange methodRevolut rate; £1,000 monthly exchange allowance, then 1% fair-usage fee
Cash allowanceFive withdrawals or £200 per rolling month, whichever comes first
After allowance2% per withdrawal, minimum £1
Daily cash limitSeparate security and account limits can apply
- Hold and exchange multiple currencies
- Free Standard plan
- Clear rolling ATM allowance
ImportantExchange charges can vary by plan, amount and timing. The app shows the fee before exchange. Third-party ATM fees can also apply.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Terms apply.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Terms apply.
Wise
Wise Card
Multi-currency cardA multi-currency card using the mid-market rate with a separately displayed conversion fee when conversion is needed.
May suitTravellers who want to hold several currencies and see conversion pricing separately.
Account cost£0 subscription; physical card £7 and digital card free
Foreign purchasesNo separate foreign-transaction fee; conversion fee applies when needed
Exchange methodMid-market rate plus the applicable Wise conversion fee
Cash allowanceUp to £250 each month without a Wise withdrawal fee
After allowance2.69% on the amount above £250
Daily cash limitAccount and card limits apply
- Hold 40+ currencies
- Mid-market exchange rate
- Free digital card
ImportantConversion is not always free. Independent ATM networks may charge an additional fee.
Availability and verification requirements apply.
Availability and verification requirements apply.
Currensea
Currensea Essential
Linked travel cardA travel debit card linked to an existing UK current account, avoiding the need to open and fund another account.
May suitTravellers who want overseas spending collected from their existing bank account.
Account cost£0 annual fee and £0 first card under current terms
Foreign purchases0.50% exchange-rate charge
Exchange methodCurrensea rate with 0.50% charge on Essential
Cash allowance0.50% charge on foreign cash withdrawals up to £500
After allowanceAdditional 2% above £500
Daily cash limitYour linked bank may also apply limits
- Links to an existing bank account
- No separate balance to preload
- No annual fee on Essential
ImportantThis is not fee-free: the Essential plan currently adds 0.50%, and larger cash withdrawals cost more.
Requires a compatible UK current account and successful verification.
Requires a compatible UK current account and successful verification.
Halifax
Halifax Clarity Credit Card
Credit cardA travel credit card with no Halifax foreign-currency purchase fee and no Halifax cash-withdrawal fee.
May suitEligible travellers who prefer credit-card protection and intend to repay purchases responsibly.
Account cost£0 account fee
Foreign purchases£0 on Clarity
Exchange methodVisa or Mastercard exchange rate
Cash allowanceNo Halifax cash-withdrawal fee
After allowanceInterest applies from the day a cash withdrawal is made
Daily cash limitYour personalised account limit applies
- No non-sterling purchase fee
- No Halifax cash-withdrawal fee
- Credit-card purchase protections may apply
Personalised rate shown during eligibility check
ImportantCash-machine operators may charge. Cash withdrawals start attracting interest immediately, even though Halifax does not add a cash fee.
UK resident, aged 18 or over, employed with regular income, and subject to credit assessment.
UK resident, aged 18 or over, employed with regular income, and subject to credit assessment.
Virgin Money
Travel Credit Card
Credit cardA travel credit card with fee-free purchases worldwide and a current introductory purchase offer.
May suitEligible travellers looking for no foreign-exchange purchase fee and an introductory purchase period.
Account cost£0 annual account fee
Foreign purchases£0 on purchases worldwide
Exchange methodMastercard exchange rate
Cash allowanceCash withdrawals are not fee-free
After allowance3% cash-advance fee
Daily cash limitYour personalised credit and cash limits apply
- No foreign-exchange fee on purchases
- Current 9-month purchase offer
- Eligibility checker available
Current offer0% interest on purchases for 9 months from account opening · Offer may change or be withdrawn
27.9% APR representative (variable), based on £1,200 borrowing
ImportantCredit is subject to status. Minimum payments must be made on time or the promotional rate can be withdrawn. Cash withdrawals incur a 3% fee.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Credit subject to status.
UK residents aged 18 or over. Credit subject to status.
No cards match that filter.
Choose Show all or another card type.
Using money in Salou
Avoid the common extra charges
Withdrawing euros
- Prefer a cash machine attached to a recognised bank where practical.
- Read the operator fee before confirming.
- Choose EUR and decline conversion to pounds.
- Cancel when the displayed fee is unacceptable.
- Cover the keypad and put away the card and cash before leaving.
Cash and exchange shops
Compare the final number of euros received, not only a “0% commission” sign. The provider’s margin can be built into the exchange rate.
- Count the money before leaving the counter.
- Keep the receipt for a substantial exchange.
- Do not carry all holiday cash together.
Card lost, blocked or retained
- Freeze the card in the official banking app.
- Check pending and completed transactions.
- Contact the provider using its app or official number.
- Report unauthorised transactions immediately.
- Ask about emergency cash or cardless withdrawal.
Check before relying on a product.Charges, offers, allowances and eligibility can change. Cash-machine operators can charge separately from your card provider.