Cash Machines

Nisha Williams · Post by **Nisha Williams** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:06 pm

Hi. I am off to Tobago at the end of June with my boyfriend and am a little concerned whether I will be able to use my cash card abroad. It is solely cash card (with Solo) issued from Nat West and has Cirrus and Maestro symbols on the back. The reasom I am worried is that whenever I have tried to use my cashcard in trinidad (this is my first trip to Tobago) it has not worked. Can anyone recommend a particular bank (if any) to use my card in please. Many thanks

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:14 pm

Hello Nisha

Welcome aboard!

Sorry, but I can't help personally as I have no personal experience of Solo cards. Hopefully another reader will be able to answer that, but it could well be worth having a word with your bank. If it didn't work in Trinidad, then I'm afraid it almost certainly won't work in Tobago.

Lina Mallon · Post by **Lina Mallon** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:19 pm

Hi Nisha,

I have no experience of Solo cards either but I have an irish Laser card which I think is very similar with only Maestro and Cirrus on it and that worked fine for me in Tobago.

Lina

Nisha Williams · Post by **Nisha Williams** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:25 pm

Thanks for your responses.

Steve - A Solo card is similar to a Switch card the difference being that a Switch card has a creidt facility whereas a Solo card is a debit card/cash card (i.e. you can only spend what you have). It has been 5 years since I was last in Trinidad and am positive I couldn't use it there but I was able to use it last year in ATMs in Cancun.

Lina - Thanks. I think I will take the bulk of my money in cash and not rely on money in bank just in case my card doesn't work.

Clyde Alleyne · Post by **Clyde Alleyne** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:25 pm

Nisha, if you have a credit card that would be better than travelling with a lot of cash. Most restaurants accept visa or mastercard, and you could also take out cashadvances from the credit card.
Clyde

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:04 am

Nisha,ask at your bank if they issue prepay Visa cards.This a card where you load with money and can use it as a normal credit/debit card,until you have emptied it.I know the PO used to issue them and some Building Societies.
http://www.visaeurope.com/personal/choo ... dvance.jsp
David

Nisha Williams · Post by **Nisha Williams** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:50 am

Clyde - I do not have a credit card unfortunately

David - I think I will takea visit to my local Post Office and enquire about a pre-paid Visa card. Thanks for advise

Jo B · Post by **Jo B** » Thu May 10, 2007 12:12 pm

Nisha

I have a Natwest Maestro debit card that I have used in cash machines in all sorts of places, including Tobago. I do also have a Nationwide Visa and a credit card too, but you should be OK with the Maestro. Perhaps look into the pre-paid Visa as a backup, or some sterling travellers' cheques?

Jo x

Nisha Williams · Post by **Nisha Williams** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:44 pm

Jo B - thanks for advice. I think I am going to take a minimal amount in actual cash and put the rest on a pre-paid Visa/Maesteo card. I get paid halfway through my holiday so will check and see if I can use my cashcard for extra spends!

Paul Makin · Post by **Paul Makin** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:09 pm

i use only my royal bank of scotland uk card in the local atms (rep bank nd rbtt, never tried a scotiabank) and have never had a problem drawing on a uk account. its cirrus/maestro

regards
paul

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:28 pm

Nisha,

It may help you to read this article about prepaid visa cards.

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/cards/p ... guide1.asp

Jill

Tiff Lynch · Post by **Tiff Lynch** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:48 pm

Nisha,

i have a natwest maestro and had absolutely no probs with any of the banks. So if you do need those extra funds then you should be ok. God girl how puncheon are you going to be bringing back......