About 46% of British holidaymakers spend more than they budgeted for whilst they enjoyed themselves abroad*. What’s more, a high proportion of holidaymakers are pretty unsure about the cost of using a cash machine overseas.

But a prepaid card could help keep spending under control and help in many other ways.

Firstly, if the holidaymaker tops up the card with just the amount that they can truly afford to spend, there’s little chance of blowing the budget.

Secondly, with a prepaid currency card, such as the US Dollar card and Euro card, customers can avoid fees for withdrawing cash in the local currency, having to pay commissions or purchase fees. And customers can enjoy excellent exchange rates – making money go further on holiday.

This currency card is linked to a GBP card that can be used around the world. And once the holiday is over, any cash left on the currency card can be transferred back into its GBP account with just a few clicks of a mouse. Or the cash can just be left on the currency card ready for the next trip!

Thirdly, there’s the safety issue. Carrying large amounts of cash around is a real risk – it can easily become lost or stolen, with little chance of getting it back. But with a prepaid card, as long as it has been used responsibly, in line with the terms and conditions, the card and the money on it can be replaced.

Getting a prepaid card is very quick and easy, applying usually takes just a few minutes online. And as long as the customer is 18 or over and lives in the UK, approval is guaranteed, with the card arriving in five working days. So anyone that’s rushing around getting ready for their break can at least rest easy when it comes to having a way to pay once they’re abroad.

Prepaid cards can be used at any place around the globe that displays the MasterCard acceptance sign – that’s 30 million locations, from hotels and airlines to restaurants and stores.

Lastly, it’s well worth booking flights with a prepaid card, because if the airline goes bust, certain cards provide free purchase protection, which can help get the money back.