Visa TravelMoney

Having money wired from home using one of the companies we've listed is never convenient or cheap, and should be considered a last resort. It's also possible to have money wired directly from a bank in your home country to a bank in Spain, although this is somewhat less reliable because it involves two separate institutions. If you go this route, your home bank will need the address of the branch bank where you want to pick up the money and the address and telex number of the Madrid head office, which will act as the clearing house; money wired this way normally takes two working days to arrive, and costs around £25/$40 per transaction.

Money and the exchange rate

ATM cards and credit cards

Visa TravelMoney (www.visa.com)

Changing money

Wiring money

Youth and student discounts