In general I am a fierce protector of all that is local, traditional and unique, but I sometimes just wish we’d obliterate national currencies for some kind of universal McMoney (TM). On last week’s trip to New York, I nearly missed the plane to buy some dollars so I didn’t have to pay big surcharges at ATMs abroad. Then I was too busy to spend any of them, so I had to buy back my pounds in cash, resulting in a loaded wallet that’s a glowing beacon to every mugger in London.

And that was just a four day trip. Long journeys can be a nightmare of fluttering travellers’ cheques, no ATMs, hotels that only take MasterCard, and endless phonecalls to try and get my mum to impersonate me so she can transfer funds between my accounts.

However, I’ve noticed a few online rumblings of approval for the new STA Travel Cashcard, a prepaid card that is accepted worldwide as a Mastercard, and which can be remotely topped up by friends and family back home as well as by you. After debating the problems of using credit cards in Europe, sampizzacat has opted for ‘a cash card from STA travel that wont charge a lot’.

And in this Student Room discussion about debit cards abroad, BrummyMan is full of praise:

Look at the sta travel cash card, that is what i used and i got a better rate than any online or high street retailer would offer me. I actually loaded my card with money then drew it all out and got a higher rate then i would changing money at the shops or online. Well worth it, check it out!

Costing £9.95 for the initial card, they’re a pretty new product, so let us know if you’ve used one, if you’re planning to get one, and what you think. In the meantime, I’m off to hide some fifty pound notes in socks.