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Urgent. Last chance to apply for cheapest way to spend abroad, in time for summer holidays?
8 travel-money must-knows so you don't overpay to pay (ole!)

Summer holidays are getting close - many schools in Scotland have already broken up, and it's only weeks away for the rest of the UK. If you're tripping abroad at some point, there's nowt more frustrating than paying too much for foreign exchange. So this week we've how to get the most buck (or euro, lira, dong or baht) for your bangs.

1. Urgent. Apply NOW for a top overseas card for near-perfect exchange rates for this summer and beyond. Not only do the top specialist cards give near-perfect exchange rates, we think they're by far the easiest, least hassle and most convenient way to spend abroad.

Crucially though the Chase* card - a top pick for many - has an up-to three-week waiting list once you've applied. And the Halifax cashback bonus ends today (Wed). So speed is needed...

- Which wins? Chase is easiest to get, and that 1% cashback is a winner for UK spending too (plus its linked savings account is top for easy access at 1.5%). So if you'd spend over £2,000 on it - home and abroad - in 12 months, it beats Halifax's cashback. Yet its cash withdrawal limits are lower and you must load it before spending, plus you may need to wait up to three weeks to get it.
With the other two, you just use them and are billed later (only do it if you'll pay off IN FULL each month - preferably by direct debit - or these aren't for you). Halifax Clarity's boon is the simple £20 cashback on your first spend.

One more thing to consider - Halifax and Barclaycard have been top picks for years, but Chase is much newer. Only time will tell if its no-fee overseas offer is a loss leader to acquire new cardholders or is here for the longer term.

- I've already got a cheap overseas card, is it worth switching? There's a range of other cards that give top rates including Virgin Money and Starling debit cards, and Santander Zero, Nationwide and 118 118 Money credit cards.

All these do really well abroad, but are pipped by the cards above for cashback or cash withdrawal fees, so whether to apply depends on how much you want to push for perfection.

2. Want cash for budgeting? TravelMoneyMax compares 16+ bureaux in seconds. The top cards above are usually the best way to spend overseas, and these days cards are much more widely accepted. Though some people prefer cash in their pockets, and find it helps them budget.

If you do want cash, the cheapest bureau depends on what currency you want and how much, and changes by the hour. So our TravelMoneyMax (TMM) tool quickly compares 16+ bureaux to find you the best rate for delivery or collection.

3. Want to LOCK IN a rate? Use a top prepaid travel card. The cards above give you the top exchange rates when you spend. But, like getting cash, specialist prepaid cards let you load on to them in advance, so you choose the day the currency's converted. Though of course this does mean taking a punt on how you think rates will move.

The top-pick prepaid card is app-only Revolut*, as it gives near-perfect rates during the week on up to £1,000 exchanged per month (0.5% fee above, 1% fee at weekends). Yet you're limited to £200/month of fee-free ATM withdrawals.

You can download the app and then link the virtual card to Apple / Google Pay for free, but if you want a physical card - which many may do to use abroad - there's a £4.99 charge. Revolut won't credit-check you, but you will be ID-checked. Our full review and more options are in Prepaid travel cards.

4. Should you beware your DEBIT card? Some debit cards not only add about 3% to the exchange rate and charge an ATM fee, they also charge up to £1.50 if you use them to spend outside the UK/EU...

GOT ONE OF THESE DEBIT CARDS?
Bank of Scotland | Clydesdale/Yorkshire | Halifax | IF | Lloyds | TSB
Use our What does my card charge abroad? tool to check yours

ANY other card, including a credit card (if repaid IN FULL), is cheaper to spend on outside Europe than these. See beware debit cards info.

5. What you should say when they ask: "Do you want to pay in pounds?". This is now very common, both at overseas cash machines and in stores - they'll pressure you to pay in pounds, but is it the right thing to do? See Martin's 'Pay in pounds?' video & blog to find out what to do and why.

6. Beware cash machines' own fees. When we talk about fees for withdrawing cash above, we're talking about fees charged by card providers. But it's becoming more common for the actual cash machine to charge you too.

There's no way round this - but don't assume all ATMs charge the same. While making a film on this for his ITV show recently, Martin found cash machines within 200 metres of each other ranging from a €2 fee to a €7 fee, so it's best to try a few.

7. Don't use a credit card to buy cash or load a prepaid card. Most credit card providers count these as a cash transaction - and thus charge fees and interest. It's always better to use a debit card if you can. More info in don't buy travel cash with a credit card.

8. Withdrawing cash abroad on a credit card could hurt your credit record. On the right card it's cheap, but there may be a possible minor impact on your ability to get credit in future. See why in credit card ATM withdrawals.