Best ways to spend travel money in Tunisia: Debit and prepaid cards

The Tunisian dinar is what’s known as a “closed currency”. This means it is a criminal offence to either import or export the currency in or out of Tunisia. As a result, you’ll either need to take pounds sterling with you to exchange when you get there or you’ll need to use a debit, credit or prepaid travel card for your spending.

UK-issued credit and debit cards are accepted in some, but not all, of the larger shops, restaurants and hotels, but there can be problems authorising Mastercard purchases. There are also ATMs in tourist resorts and main towns where you can take out local currency.

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UK debit cards

Many places will accept debit cards in Tunisia and using your debit card for payments can be quick and convenient. You can also withdraw cash on your card to use in those places that won’t accept card payments.

However, you’ll need to watch out for fees. Debit cards can charge a foreign transaction fee of around 2.75–2.99% whenever you pay for an item. Some also charge a cash withdrawal fee of around 2–2.75% on top. This means they can quickly get expensive which is why it’s best to look for one that won’t charge you these fees.

Prepaid travel cards

A prepaid travel card is another option to consider. Here, you load your card with money before you set off which you can then spend abroad. Because you can only spend what’s on the card, this is a good option for budgeting – you’ll need to reload your card if you need more money.

Unfortunately, you won’t find any cards that let you load Tunisian dinar, so you’ll need to load it with pounds sterling instead. When you spend, your pounds will be converted to dinar at the exchange rate on that day. Prepaid travel card providers use either the interbank exchange rate or Mastercard or Visa’s exchange rate. In some cases, they might apply a fee on top.

Depending on the card you choose, you might get fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad.

Credit cards

You could also choose to spend on your credit card while you’re visiting Tunisia. One of the biggest benefits of this is that purchases costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 will be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

However, the downside is that you might have to pay interest if you don’t pay off your balance in full each month, plus foreign usage fees can be high. Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of between 2.75% and 2.99% and you’ll also be charged a fee on top of this for cash withdrawals.

Fortunately, there are a number of credit cards designed specifically for overseas use that won’t charge you these fees. However, be aware that cash withdrawals are still best avoided as you’ll be charged interest from the moment you get your cash, even if you pay off your balance in full that month, making it expensive.

Traveller’s cheques

Traveller’s cheques are accepted in some hotels and retailers in Tunisia, but not all. However, the major drawback with traveller’s cheques is that fees can be high for cashing them in.

How much dinar do I need to bring to Tunisia?

Although the country still enjoys a reputation among British tourists as a more affordable holiday destination, prices have risen considerably in recent years as Tunisia has grown in popularity. However, it remains affordable in comparison to European countries.

Find out some typical prices in Tunisia

	Budget	Mid-range	Expensive
	Hostels £5–£20 per night	2-star hotel £40–£80 per night	5-star hotel £90–£200+ per night
	Street food £1–£5 per dish	Dinner for 2 at a mid-range restaurant £15–£20	Dinner for 2 at a 5-star restaurant £60–£100
	Visit the Blue City for free!	Shopping in Nabeul Markets Zoo/Safari visit £10	Quad biking £25 per person Cammel riding £20 per person

_{*Prices are for example purposes only.}

Bottom line

Taking the right type of plastic with you on your travels to Tunisia is important considering you cannot bring Tunisian dinar into the country. However, whether you’d prefer to use a debit card, a credit card or a prepaid card is completely up to you – or perhaps you’d prefer to take a combination. The most important factor is checking how much you’ll be charged for foreign transactions and looking for an option that will keep these fees as low as possible.

Frequently asked questions

• What does dynamic currency conversion mean?

  This is when a retailer converts your purchase into pounds sterling rather than keeping it in the local currency. When this happens, the exchange rate is usually much worse, so you’ll end up paying more than you need to. This means that if you’re given the option of paying in the local currency or pounds sterling, always choose the local currency.

• What if I have leftover Tunisian dinar?

  If you have leftover currency at the end of your holiday, it is illegal to take it out of the country, so you must change it back before you leave, including coins. You will need to show the receipt from the bank where you first withdrew the dinars – receipts from cash machines are not accepted.

  It’s worth noting that most places at the airport will accept British pounds, euros and US dollars.

Written by

Rachel Wait

Writer

Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio