Latest news with #abroad
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
International Students Fear Leaving the U.S. as Trump's Visa Threats Mount
Schools extend housing and legal support as many students from abroad cancel plans to go home this summer.
Gizmodo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Only $3.39/mo for the Best VPN + Free eSIM: Hurry, This Deal Won't Last!
NordVPN is available at a bargain price, and on top of that, you get a free eSIM for data while traveling abroad. Treating yourself to a latte a few times a month is a simple way to indulge in a bit of hedonism. But you can be as much of a hedonist as you want—until your online privacy has holes. Luckily, NordVPN is here to patch those up for just pocket change each month. This new sale shines brightly, but the glow won't last forever. You have a limited time to grab NordVPN on sale—and score a great freebie along the way. Speaking of limited time, here's what the VPN provider offers before this deal runs out. Check Out NordVPN Deals Security Meets Savings: NordVPN Deals Are Live Your digital privacy doesn't have to be poked by the prying eyes of your ISP, data brokers, and various agencies. NordVPN allows you to stay off the radar with its solid encryption and other features available at as low as $3.39/mo. The Basic plan at this price is almost all you need. However, if you feel like you could do better with more, NordVPN Plus is easily the best-value plan at only $4.39/mo — still cheaper than an overpriced latte! With Threat Protection Pro, this plan keeps ads, malware, and trackers at bay. It also solidifies your online security with NordPass, allowing you to properly manage and create impenetrable passwords on all devices. Complete and Prime plans are slashed by more than 70%, as well. The former comes with NordLocker that offers 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. The latter is superior to all others with NordProtect for added online privacy. We shouldn't forget that each plan now comes with a free eSIM offer. Basic offers 1 GB, while Plus comes with 5 GB of data. The latter two have a whopping 10 GB of eSIM data allowance for seamless communication wherever you are. Don't Like It? Get a Refund! NordVPN makes it easy to recall your decision if you don't end up satisfied. Thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee, all purchases are fully refundable within the first 30 days. This leaves ample room to test NordVPN, enjoy it for a while, and decide if you want to settle for it. Let's remind the audience that NordVPN is a world-class VPN with millions of users around the world. It offers 7,600+ servers, unlimited bandwidth, streaming-ready apps, rock-solid privacy, ironclad security, and more. It's also famous for a Double VPN function that doubles the user's encryption and prevents tracking. Look at it as an all-in-one security bundle. With some free eSIM data and a spectrum of VPN features, it's odd that the price is comparable to a latte. The only thing in common is that they don't last long, so act without hesitation. Try NordVPN Risk-Free
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Holiday warning to millions over button you should NEVER press when paying abroad
HOLIDAYMAKERS should be mindful to never push this button cash machine when heading abroad this summer. Travellers might end up losing cash and get stung by simply making the wrong choice at a foreign ATM or at tills. 1 Cash machines will usually give you the option to pay in the local currency or in pounds. It may seem like the obvious option to pay in pounds, as it's more familiar and the currency linked to your card. However, by choosing this option you could end up paying more for the cash coming out of the ATM or for the goods you're paying for at the till. That is because the overseas bank will do the conversion to pounds and the rates are unfavourable. However, if you choose to pay in the local currency your card will instead do the conversion which is usually much more favourable. So if you are keen to save cash when abroad, you should opt to pay in the local currency and not pounds. Your bank may also charge you for using your debit card abroad. For example, Lloyds Bank charges customers who use their debit card abroad a 2.99 per cent foreign transaction fee. This would cost you £2.99 for every £100 you spend. NatWest also charged customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad. That would add a £1.16 charge to the cost of a jacket which cost £42.16. The bank has a handy calculator for customers to help them work out how much they will be charged when spending abroad. You simply enter in the currency you will be shopping in and how much you intend to spend. This can help holidaymakers plan ahead not be blindsided by any unexpected costs. But some banks don't charge you for spending abroad. For example, Monzo does not charge its customers foreign transaction fees nor does First Direct. USING YOUR CREDIT CARD ABROAD Many credit cards also charge foreign transaction fees of around 3%, which would add £1.50 to the cost of a £50 meal out. But there are several credit cards that let you withdraw money from ATMs or spend in shops and restaurants fee-free. The Barclaycard Rewards Card does not charge you transaction fees when you are abroad. It uses Visa's exchange rate, so you will get the best value on conversions. If you are heading abroad, if may also be worth bringing some cash in case of emergencies. Many high street banks have currency exchanges within the branch, and you can also find the service inside airports or some train stations. Are there other options to for spending abroad? There are several specialist cards that can give you a great exchange rate. These cards include travel credit cards and pre-paid cards which can let you pay abroad without fees or at a set exchange rate. Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains all the options. Travel credit cards: Travel credit cards allow you to spend money abroad without being hit by any fees or hidden charges. But, they may still charge you for taking cash out. We recommend the Halifax's Clarity Card as it won't charge you for using it abroad, nor are there any fees for withdrawing cash. But you will be charged interest if you don't repay your balance in full at a rate of 19.9 per cent. And you will be charged interest on cash withdrawals until your balance is paid off too, at a rate of between 19.9 and 27.95 per cent depending on your credit score. In other words, just because you are using plastic abroad doesn't mean you don't have to pay these credit cards off like you normally would. Always pay off your balance before the end of the month with these cards to make sure that any money you saved isn't wiped away by paying interest. For more on travel credit cards you can read our guide here. Pre-paid cards: An alternative to carrying cash around is to get a pre-paid card. These cards allow you to put a set amount of cash on the card at a fixed exchange rate. So if the rate is good at the moment, you can put money on your card and it will stay that rate when you are on holiday. Just keep in mind that these cards can sometimes have hidden costs and charges so be sure to read the small print.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The best bank cards to use abroad
Before going abroad, it's important to make sure you have the best payment card with you, or your holiday spending could quickly start racking up hefty fees. Some providers issue fees of around 3pc added to all foreign purchases, and ATM withdrawals can also attract instant fees and interest. Fortunately, a range of debit and credit cards offer fee-free spending and cash withdrawals abroad. Some even offer additional perks including cashback, meaning banks will pay you to spend rather than the other way around. Rachel Springall, of financial analyst Moneyfacts, said: 'Holidaymakers looking to make their cash go further should apply for a credit card designed for use abroad, or open a current account with a debit card which does not charge for making withdrawals.' Here, Telegraph Money takes a closer look at the best bank cards to take on your next holiday. Top travel credit cards The key to finding a good travel credit card is making sure it doesn't charge foreign spending fees. You may prefer to use a credit card while abroad due to the Section 75 protection they offer. If something goes wrong, you can reclaim the value of purchases between £100 and £30,000 from your credit card provider. 1. Barclaycard Rewards Card Andrew Hagger, of personal finance website MoneyComms, said: 'Unlike most credit cards, Barclaycard Rewards doesn't charge any fees or interest charges on purchases overseas or cash withdrawals, provided you pay your statement in full by the due date.' As a small added bonus, you also get 0.25pc cashback on your spending. Applicants for this card must be over 21, and have a minimum annual income of £20,000. It has a representative APR of 28.9pc based on a £1,200 credit limit. 2. Halifax Clarity credit card. Halifax's Clarity card is another favourite with holidaymakers, as there is no exchange rate mark-up for purchases or ATM transactions. That said, you will pay up to 28.94pc interest on any cash withdrawals. This begins the moment they are made. Mr Hagger added: 'On a £100 ATM withdrawal, this will work out at around £2.30 over 30 days.' Top travel debit cards There are several debit card options to use abroad too; the best ones will also let you spend and withdraw cash fee-free. 1. Chase current account The debit card from Chase is fee-free for spending at home or abroad, and pays you 1pc cashback on most purchases, even when you're away. This means that for many, it's likely to be the best pick for which card to use abroad. Chase lets you take out up to £500 per day, and £1,500 per month. 2. Monzo current account Spending and cash withdrawals abroad are fee-free with Monzo, but there may be limits to the amount of cash you can withdraw before fees kick in. If Monzo's free account is not your main bank: £400 fee-free every 30 days in the UK and EEA, 3pc afterwards; £200 fee-free every 30 days outside EEA, 3pc afterwards If Monzo's free account is your main bank: Unlimited fee-free withdrawals in UK and EEA; £200 fee-free every 30 days outside EEA, 3pc afterwards Monzo Plus (comes with monthly fees): Unlimited fee-free withdrawals in UK and EEA; £400 fee-free every 30 days outside EEA, 3pc afterwards Monzo Premium, Perks and Max (comes with monthly fees): Unlimited fee-free withdrawals in UK and EEA; £600 fee-free every 30 days outside EEA, 3pc afterwards. 3. Starling current account Starling is another popular app-only bank. Again, no fees are charged on spending or cash withdrawals when you're abroad – but ATM withdrawals are capped at £300 a day. 4. Currensea If you don't want to take out a new credit card or open a new bank account, Currensea might be a good option. Mr Hagger says: 'Currensea provides you with a Mastercard that you link to your existing current account. The beauty is, you don't have to worry about pre-loading with euros or dollars before you set off.' According to its website you cannot yet link up with Co-op Bank, Metro Bank, Danske Bank or the Bank of Ireland. There are three price plans to choose from. The essential package has no annual fee, but charges 0.5pc foreign exchange charge on both purchases and ATM withdrawals. There are no additional charges for the first £500 cash withdrawals each month, but anything above this monthly limit attracts a 2pc fee. The premium plan is £25 annually and the elite plan costs £120 per year. Mr Hagger said these might suit frequent travellers as they come with lower foreign exchange rates and additional features. Are credit or debit cards a better option to use abroad? Both credit and debit cars are viable options for using abroad, but there are pros and cons for each. Credit cards are useful for deposits when preparing to travel, for example if you are renting a car. If you're travelling for business, a credit card may also be the better option thanks to the increased protection and insurance, longer payment terms and the opportunity to earn points. For all travellers, credit cards offer more robust protection against fraud and scams. However, if you have a debit card with one of the challenger banks, such as Monzo or Starling, you can spend fee-free. In this case, a debit card may be the better option but it's worht checking the terms before you jet off. How much could a travel bank card save you? Depending on how long your trip is, foreign transaction fees could potentially add hundreds of pounds to your holiday spending. There are three charges that could be added to your foreign transactions by your credit or debit card provider: non-sterling transaction fee ATM fee spending charge. Some might charge just one of these, while others will charge all three. For credit or debit card purchases – such as buying a meal at a restaurant – non-sterling transaction fees are usually around 3pc. This may be charged in addition to a spending charge, which is usually between 50p and £1.50. Paying £100 for a meal while you're away, for example, could therefore cost you up to £104.50 once the additional costs are added. These fees can seriously add up, especially when making smaller purchases. If you make five transactions in a day, you could be looking at £7.50 in spending charges alone, plus the non-sterling transaction fee. ATM fees vary between providers, but you could end up paying a cash advance interest – and in some cases this is charged every day until you pay it off. A non-sterling cash fee is usually around 3pc, with a minimum charge of £3. This means even a small cash withdrawal of £20 could cost £23 plus interest. The good news is, there are lots of ways to avoid these charges altogether – you just need to have the right card for the job. FAQs Are there benefits to using a prepaid travel card? Prepaid cards can work well if you want to stick to a strict budget on your trip, as you can load up the card before you go – either in sterling or your chosen currency – and then it's ready to spend while you're away. Some popular options include: Post Office Travel Money Card. It allows you to carry up to 22 currencies, and can be managed via an app should you want to move your cash around. It also syncs up with Apple Pay and Google Pay if you want to make transactions via your phone or smartwatch. You'll use the Post Office exchange rate and there are no spending charges. FairFX multi-currency card is another good alternative, as there is no exchange rate mark up for the 21 currencies available to load on the card. There is, however, a £1 fee on all ATM withdrawals. Another fee to watch out for is inactivity fees. This card charges £2 per month on any remaining balance if it's left loaded after its expiry date. EasyFX card doesn't charge for ATM withdrawals or to load your card. However, if you lose it and need a replacement there is a £6 charge, and it will also take £2 per month if the card hasn't been used for more than 12 months. Always spend in the local currency If you're given the option of paying in sterling, as opposed to the local currency, whether you're in a shop, restaurant or other outlet during your holiday, you should always say no. Opting to pay in sterling means you're giving the card payment provider the chance to decide the exchange rate, via a process known as 'dynamic currency conversion'. The rate is unlikely to be in your favour. Matt Sanders, of Money, said: 'In most cases you will get a better currency rate from your card provider, so if you are presented with the option of paying in pounds, opt against it, as it may cost you more.' Is it worth taking any cash with you? Wind the clock back 10 or 20 years ago, and hardly anyone would be considering regularly using your debit or credit card abroad – instead, travel wallets would be stuffed with foreign currency, and even a few traveller's cheques. Cash use is in decline in the majority of holiday destinations, but is it still worth taking at least a little cash with you? This will largely depend on the destination; you probably won't need as much cash if you're visiting Sweden than, say, a remote town that is yet to catch up with the contactless revolution. 'There's not a great need to carry a large quantity these days,' said Mr Hagger, 'although some people like to carry a little for tipping taxi drivers, room cleaners or in bars or restaurants.' What happens if my card is lost or stolen while travelling? It can be stressful if your card is lost while travelling, but you have options. The first thing to do is to tell your bank that it has been lost or stolen, to ensure no one else can access your money. Emergency phone lines are generally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But you may be charged for calls made outside of the UK. Many banks offer access to emergency cash while you're abroad. Barclays promise that funds will reach you within three days, for instance. It can be a good idea to tell your bank where you are going before your travels to prevent normal activity alerting fraud monitoring systems as suspicious.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
NYT ‘Strands' Today: Hints, Spangram And Answers For Sunday, May 18th
Today's NYT Strands hints and answers Credit: New York Times Looking for Saturday's Strands hints, spangram and answers? You can find them here: Forgive the late post, dearest Strandistarians. I'm traveling abroad and my sense of time is all messed up and I had an issue with scheduling this one. It (hopefully, probably) won't happen again! In any case, let's dive right in and uncover some words! Strands is the newest game in the New York Times' stable of puzzle games. It's a fun twist on classic word search games. Every day we're given a new theme and then tasked with uncovering all the words on the grid that fit that theme, including a spangram that spans two sides of the board, revealing more about the rest of the words on the grid. Spoilers ahead. Read on for today's theme and some hints to help you uncover today's words. Instead of giving you the first two letters of each word, today I'm giving out three hints instead of two. Today's Theme: Riding the wind Hint: Think nautically. Clue: Ship parts. Here are the first two letters of each of today's words: Remember, spoilers ahead! Today's spangram is: SAILBOAT Here's the full list of words: Here's the completed Strands grid: Today's Strands Screenshot: Erik Kain An easier-than-usual Strands today. Once you get the first word—MAST in my case—it becomes quite obvious what this is all about. Then there's the fact that most of the words are quite short: HULL, HELM, KEEL, etc. The slightly longer words are all pretty squared away in corners, like TILLER. All told, an easy breezy Strands. How did you do on your Strands today? Let me know on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to check out my blog for my daily Wordle guides as well as all my other writing about TV shows, streaming guides, movie reviews, video game coverage and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
