Withdrawing cash abroad

[mkjuk]

I'm going to Budapest in Hungary on Sunday for 6 days

I went to RBS this afternoon to ask them about the charges for using my highline debit card abroad. As i expected they didn't have a clue and after a lengthy wait they came back claiming that there would be a 1.5% transaction fee with no minimum charge and a maximum charge of �4 per transaction. I asked what the minimum charge was and they said there wasn't one but that i'd be best off taking out cash in large amounts with irregular frequency. IF there is no minimum this makes no sense at all. Am i right in assuming there is an ~�2 minimum charge? hence it would probably be best for me to take out about �150 at a time?

Also is this the cheapest way to get money to spend abroad? Bureau de change always seem to have massive commission charges

Had i knows sooner i would have asked nationwide for a replacement card since i've gathered they dont charge anything to use their cash machines abroad.

Lastly if i decide to use the RBS debit card, are there particular ATM's over there that will charge less than others. I Read something somewhere about cirrus machines charging more??

Any advice more than welcome

Thanks in advance

[factor-fiction]

RBS reply makes sense to me.
For example withdrawing four lots of �100 would cost you �6 whereas if you draw all �400 in one go the charge wqould be capped at �4.

[mirela]

have you heard cash passpot, it is cheaper way top use card abroad. you can load the card in dollars, euros and sterling. it is free to open from travelex. then u can use it for shopping and restraunant as long as they accept VISA ELTECTRON, no charge for it, if u need withdraw cash from ATM, there is 2.5 charge sama like other cards. when u back from holiday, you can get unsed money out from the card free of charge as well.

[mirela]

2*100 cash withdrawl bank charge
NATWEST9.80 HSBC8.5 TSB8.5 Brclay 8.5 halifax8.5
5*30 TRANSACTION CHARGE
natwest7.73 hsbc4.13 tsb4.13 barclay4.13 halifax11.62