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Hassle-free travel with my Net+ prepaid cards
Posted by We’re excited to welcome guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
As a travel writer, I need to book numerous hotels, sightseeing tours and tickets depending on where I’m traveling. Like many of you, I end up paying for all of these with credit and debit cards.
Protect your cash and pay with plastic
From a consumer standpoint, it is better to use plastic to pay, since you’re usually better protected than when you pay with cash or use a wire transfer service. Also, many hotels require a credit card upon check-in, though some will accept a cash deposit instead. But having your fun money tied up in a costly deposit may limit daily excursions or the number of times you dine out.
In most cases you’re not punished for paying with plastic, however, in some European countries like Denmark, Sweden and the UK, customers can be charged for paying with credit or debit cards, regardless of the issuer. National laws in these participating countries require stores to clearly display the added fee and are limited on how much extra they can charge. Rest assured, tourist-friendly stores rarely add any fees.
So what do you do if you aren’t able to get a credit card, or like me, don’t feel entirely safe spending on a card that comes with a high limit and interest charges?
Benefits of a credit card minus the risk
This is where the Net+ physical and virtual prepaid cards come in handy. For one, the physical prepaid card is accepted worldwide and protects you with chip and PIN secure technology. Plus, I have first-hand experience that NETELLER does indeed keep an eye out for suspicious transactions and thus minimizes credit risk even further. It also gives you the same benefits as a credit card that you would use in the “real world” to buy airline tickets, shop or book hotels.
The Net+ virtual prepaid card has added security in that it generates a one-time use number that can never be used again. That means your virtual card number is always protected and it becomes unusable or worthless to anyone who attempts to intercept your information online.
Traveling and transacting with my virtual prepaid card
I’ve really been enjoying the convenience that my Net+ virtual prepaid card offers me. For instance, it works well for reserving hotel rooms, although its expiry date means it’s only valid for around a month.
It’s also great to pay for tickets and tours online, but be careful as you may be required to show or swipe the physical version of the Net+ card you used for payment when picking up your tickets. The virtual card also works well for buying guidebooks online that you might want for your next big trip.
First class acceptance
I have used the Net+ prepaid card to buy several airline tickets and have had absolutely no problems. With that said, you should be able to buy tickets anywhere else the card is accepted. Hotels are more than happy to accept the card, as are most stores and ticket vending machines for public transit that you might come into contact with as a tourist.
Why cash is still good
Using a credit or debit card on your holiday can almost eliminate the need to carry cash, but not completely. The main reason is that not every store, restaurant or office accepts credit or debit for payment. For example, in Denmark some merchants won’t accept international credit cards, only the national DanKort.
When it’s time to make a payment, some online payment systems that handle credit card transactions may be temporarily offline. Again this has happened a few times in Denmark, as well as in other places, so always have some cash on-hand. With that said, still feel safe with your Net+ card in your wallet, knowing it’s a widely-accepted, secure method of payment and will enable you to carry less cash.
Tell me where you have used your Net+ physical or virtual prepaid cards.
Rally Isle of Man
Posted by Today, we have a guest post by Robert Fagg. Robert is a rally racer co-driver, sponsored by NETELLER, and has emerged as a fierce competitor as he’s raced across Great Britain and as far afield as China. You can learn more about Robert on his website or subscribe to the blog for further guest posts. And help us cheer on Robert while he races this weekend in the Isle of Man International Rally.
Following a short break after completing the RSAC Scottish Rally, my attention now turns to my home event and round five of the Kick Energy Fiesta SportTrophy—Rally Isle of Man. I am changing drivers for this round and the rest of the season. I am teaming up with joint Championship leader Matt Edwards.
Competing at home on the Isle of Man is a definite advantage, but there are always new challenges that the island has to offer and is famous for. I grew up here watching future world champions hurtle down the narrow lanes and being able to race on the very same roads is a great feeling. Plus, I get the opportunity to race in front of all those that have supported me throughout my rallying career.
Getting ready for a race
The rally is only a two day event, but for the racers it takes days building up to and following the event. 6 weeks prior teams submit their entries and plans have to be made for travel and accommodation—a task that I take on as part of my co-driving role. I also check the information sent from the event administrators to ensure that we know exactly what is going on and when. After reviewing everything that is required at an event, I produce a schedule for the team and that way all team members have vital information on hand.
Days before the event, Matt and I devote our time to reconnaissance of the stages. We have 160 stage miles to cover and we will check the pace notes to ensure that we will have the best description of what lays ahead to enable us to produce the quickest time.
After the reconnaissance is the shakedown. The shakedown gives us the opportunity to test our car on a closed public road—similar to that we will compete on during the event. Matt has not competed on the island before and this will prove vital in trying to set the car up for the tricky nature of the Manx roads.
Trusting a new driver
This will also be the first time Matt and I have sat in a car together. The shakedown gives us the chance to test pace notes and get to know each other better. The relationship between a driver and co-driver is one that requires complete trust from both sides. The driver must be completely happy that the co-driver can give him the information at the right time and commit to it. The co-driver must trust the skills of the driver to take the car as fast as possible through narrow lanes and sharp turns on the information the co-driver provides. Without trust the overall times will undoubtedly suffer.
Matt and I look to be on pace from the start but this is a tough rally with solid hedges waiting to punish any mistake we make. Wish us luck and good weather this weekend.
NETELLER sponsors rally racer Robert Fagg
Today, we have our first guest post by Robert Fagg. Robert is a rally racer co-driver or navigator and has emerged as a fierce competitor as he’s raced across Great Britain and as far afield as China. You can learn more about Robert on his website or subscribe to the blog for further guest posts. And help us cheer on Robert while he races next weekend in the Scottish Rally in Dumfries, Scotland.
Welcome to my first blog entry! I am Robert Fagg, by day a 29 year old Internet Hosting Technician, and in my free time an adrenaline junkie.
I am based in the Isle of Man. During the week I work for Manx Telecom with the Internet Hosting Team, a position I have held for 8 years. We provide a secure datacenter environment for IT companies including many gaming and payment companies.
Away from my day-to-day life, I am heavily involved in rallying—both as a competitor and club committee member, where for the past year I have held the position of Chairman.
I have taken part in a wide variety of sports, but motorsports have always been my biggest interest. During my school years, I would watch a wide range of motorsports on TV. Upon moving to the Isle of Man at the age of 11, rallying developed into my passion. Watching the Manx International Rally each year, it became a dream of mine to compete. In 2000, I got my chance.
I still remember my first race. It was on a disused airfield and I was very nervous prior to the start. This was my first real taste of competitive action. As we waited to start the first stage, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. Just as I began to wonder if this was my wisest choice, we were away, accelerating down the road. As I called out the directions for the driver, all my nerves were gone. The adrenaline was flowing fast and I knew this was the sport for me.
I have progressed right through the sport to the highest level in Britain. Along the way, I have won several championships, including being a two-time Isle of Man Champion, British Stars of the Future and Super 1600 Champion, as well as helping my team to win the Chinese Rally Championship Teams Cup.
In 2009, I am primarily contesting the UK Fiesta SportTrophy with the young Irish driver Kyle Orr, as well as selected other events with other drivers. Kyle and I currently lead the Fiesta series and hope to strengthen our position in the series when we contest the next round, the Scottish Rally which will take place on the 27th June.
One thing is for sure: I could not imagine my life without being able to travel at breathtaking speeds with trees or hedges on either side, pushing the car and ourselves to be the fastest crew and compete for victory and NETELLER’s sponsorship is helping me to do this.
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