HOW TO GET A GAP YEAR ON A SHOESTRING

• Get the most bang for your buck as you go around the world

• Save up to £183 with the FairFX.com currency card

Students relishing thoughts of ‘schools out’ and who are about to embark on a gap year trip need to consider how to stretch their cash as far as possible if they want to be able to stay the distance.

Naturally there are many considerations, such as where to go, what to see and how to pay for it. For travellers or parents confused about the spending options available, FairFX.com has some handy tips

Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “There is no point sticking your head in the sand and hoping for the best when it comes to financing your gap year away. If you are travelling on a shoestring budget as you hop around the globe the FairFX.com card can help you get the best return for your money.”

For example, a student spending $5,000 could save up to £183 if they used a FairFX.com currency card rather than getting their cash at the airport.

Prepaid currency cards work just like a debit card but can be topped up via the internet or by text. The FairFX.com currency card offers rates for Euros and US dollars at less than one per cent margin above wholesale rates which means all users benefit from the most competitive foreign exchange rates.

Stephen added: “The FairFX.com currency card is the ideal choice for young people about to embark on a gap year. The top up facility means you or your parents can top up your card online as and when you need to. And because you can only spend what you put on the card you might be able to avoid slipping into unnecessary debt, unlike spending on a credit card or going into your overdraft.

“By using a prepaid currency card you are automatically protecting yourself from fraud. The chip and PIN technology makes it much harder for fraudsters to clone cards and the fact they are pre-paid, with no credit facility beyond that which is loaded onto the card, means potential losses are limited.”

How does the FairFX.com card work? The FairFX.com Currency Card is a MasterCard chip and pin enabled prepaid debit card. It differs from regular debit cards in two ways. Firstly, the cards are issued in either Euros or US dollars and secondly, funds must be loaded onto the card before they are available to spend. The currency to be loaded is obtained simply by logging on to www.fairfx.com and can be paid for by any sterling debit or credit card or internet bank transfer.

Monday 16 June 2008, 03:48pm

Tags: gap year, opodo, round the world, students, summer holiday