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Optus international roaming

Heading overseas get international roaming with optus from $5 a day, with calls, texts and data for use in 100+ zone 1 countries..

In this guide

How does international roaming with Optus work?

What are the international roaming inclusions with optus, what countries are included with optus international roaming, optus international roaming payg charges, compare optus plans with international roaming.

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What you need to know

• Optus offers international roaming packs for both its prepaid and upfront mobile plans
• International roaming on Optus mobile plans start from $5 per day and are available in over 100 countries
• Prepaid international roaming packs start from $5 a day and are available in over 100 countries

International roaming allows you to use your device outside of Australia without needing to change your SIM card or number.

It's more expensive than using your usual phone plan but it's an easy way to get online and stay connected with friends and family back home as you travel around.

If you're with Optus , international roaming is automatically turned on for all eligible services when you start using your device in a Zone 1 destination .

• Watch out for : If you want to turn it off, you'll need to turn your phone on aeroplane mode. From there you'll need to connect to WiFi and go through the My Optus app to turn off international roaming.

Optus has international roaming inclusions across both its prepaid and postpaid mobile plans.

Which international roaming plan you sign up with will depend based on what type of customer you are.

If you are on an Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus family, Optus Plus Promo, Optus Plus Data, Business Choice Plus, Business Choice Data Plus, Business Teams Plus or Qantas plan you will use Optus' $5 roaming pass.

Those on other plans might need to go on the $10 Optus roaming pass.

$5 Optus roaming pass

• That's the per day cost for Optus Choice Plus customers
• You'll also get 5GB of data each day and unlimited calls and texts
• Can be used in 100+ Zone 1 destinations

$10 Optus roaming pass

• This is the per day cost for the pass
• You get 1GB of data and unlimited national talk and text

If you're on an Optus prepaid plan, you'll have 4 add ons available to you:

$5 Optus roaming

• This a per day cost
• You'll get 1GB of data ,100 texts and 100 minutes of calls
• These are available in Zone 1 destinations

$10 Travel credit

• This is a 14-day plan
• You'll get $10 in credit on international talk, text and international roaming
• You will be charged $0.02/ MB, $0.5/ minute and $0.20/ SMS in zone 1 destinations

$20 data only

• You'll get 10GB of data to use in 10 different destinations (no call or text inclusions)
• Rollover up to 100GB when you recharge before expiry

$35 Optus roaming

• This is the weekly plan
• You'll get 7GB of data, 700 texts and 700 minutes of calls

We've listed the 100+ countries (Zone 1) where you can use an Optus's roaming pass, accurate as of June 2023.

If you're travelling to a country outside of Zone 1, standard roaming rates will apply.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Faroe Islands
• French Polynesia
• Isle of Man
• Korea, Republic of
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Northern Marianas
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Russian Federation
• Samoa (Western)
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Taiwan, Province of China
• United Arab Emirates
• US Virgin Islands
• Vatican City (Holy See)

You can still roam in the majority of countries not included on the Optus Daily Roaming pass, but you will be charged pay as you go rates (PAYG) for calls, texts, and data which can get expensive.

Standard roaming rates are available on selected postpaid plans (that aren't Choice Plus), giving you the option to pay as you go. You will be charged per minute of calls, for sending SMS, MMS and by the MB of data you use.

It is broken down by the following:

• Keep in mind : PAYG rates vary depending on which country you visit, and costs can quickly add up if you're on your phone a lot. We recommend getting a roaming pack or looking into a travel or local SIM for better value.

If you're not yet an Optus customer but want to take advantage of Optus's international roaming add-ons, check out its range of postpaid and prepaid plans in the comparison table.

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Optus International Roaming: 2023 Guide

• August 15, 2023
• Travel Tips

Heading overseas with a phone that’s on an Optus Mobile Plan or Prepaid Plan? Here are your options for getting data overseas with Optus International Roaming.

How Much is Optus International Roaming

If you’re on a Optus Choice Mobile Plan, international roaming is $5 per day. This include 5gb of data and unlimited text and calls.

Some mobile plan customers won’t have access to the $5 daily roaming. This isn’t available on all mobile plans. Most customers however will have the $5 daily roaming option.

For plans that don’t have access to the $5 daily plan you can purchase a $10 daily pass which unfortunately includes just 1gb of data. These plans tend to already include a small amount of international data as part of the plan.

Prepaid customers on Optus can also buy a $5 daily pass or a $35 weekly pass. The daily pass gives you 1gb of data each day.

What’s Included in Optus Daily Roaming Pass

The $5 a day Optus Roaming Pass includes 5gb of data and unlimited talk and text. The plan is available in the following countries:

I’ve found that 5gb a day tends to be more than enough for travelling. While I wouldn’t use it for watching videos all day, it’s perfect for instagram, messaging, maps and browsing – and you don’t need to worry about going over any limits.

If you go over the 5gb, Optus will just charge you for another day ($5) and give you an additional 5gb. You will get alerts as you use up your data.

How to Activate International Roaming on Optus

The great thing about Optus’s international roaming is that it auto-activates. Make sure you have “roaming” turned on in your device’s settings.

International Roaming can be turned off in your Optus Account. You’ll need to make sure it’s turned on to get access to the Optus Daily Roaming.

You’ll know if international roaming has activated as you’ll receive and SMS message letting you know as soon as you’re in another country.

Is Optus International Roaming Worth it?

It’s definitely useful having access to international roaming on your existing device without needing to switch out sims or add an e-sim. The price of international roaming with Optus is now much more affordable. In the past it just wasn’t worth it.

$5 for 5gb is still quite expensive and may only be worth it, for shorter trips.

Cheaper Alternatives to Optus Roaming

For shorter trips $5 a day may be worth it. But for longer trips it can really add up. But thankfully there are cheaper alternatives to Optus Roaming.

Airalo Travel E-Sim

The easiest and often cheapest alternative is to use an e-sim. These days, you don’t need to physically pull out your existing SIM card and switch it with a travel sim. Using a service like Airalo you can add an e-sim to your existing phone which will work overseas. You can get a Sim for as little as $5 and it will last your 7 days. You can pay more for extra data and a longer travel period and there are sims available for all over the world.

I’ve tested out Airalo and it works really well.

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Optus International Roaming Review & Guide

Posted by Emma Bradstock 21/11/2023

Global roaming can really add up if you use your phone plan as you normally would in Australia, which can end up with phone bill of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You can always go with a travel SIM plan , but sometimes you want to still have access to your number and plan overseas. For Optus customers on a postpaid or prepaid phone plan, or if you’re considering signing up to an Optus plan, there are several roaming options available from Australia’s second largest telco.

So, if you’re wondering about the Optus international roaming costs, or you’re looking for an Optus international roaming plan, read on to find out more about Optus international roaming and how it works.

On this page:

What are the optus international roaming plans, pay-as-you-go international roaming, what are the optus international roaming countries, is optus international roaming right for me, faqs about optus international roaming, postpaid offers you might like.

The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.

Optus offers several international roaming plans and add ons, with plans and add ons only available to customers on certain Optus phone plans. If you’re unsure which phone plan you have, you may need to log in to your Optus account (online or through the app) or look at a recent phone bill. After these steps, if you still can’t find out what plan you’re on, you’ll need to get in touch with Optus.

Roaming plans and add ons are also typically an additional cost to your regular plan fees, so read on to find out more about the Optus international roaming costs and plans currently available.

Optus international roaming: $5 daily roaming

It might sound similar to Vodafone’s $5 a day international roaming , but what Optus offers is a little different.

• $5 per day (in addition to your plan fees)
• 5GB of data per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS in Zone 1 countries
• Auto activated when using call, text or data in eligible countries
• Manage on the My Optus app
• Available for Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family and Optus Plus Promo plans (along with Business Choice Plus)

Optus international roaming: Optus $10 roaming pass

For customers on postpaid plans that aren’t eligible for the $5 roaming, you’ll need to add on a $10 Roaming Pass.

• $10 for 24 hours of inclusions
• 1GB of data and unlimited calls and SMS to Optus Zone 1 countries (per 24 hours)
• Roaming activated through the My Optus app

The following table shows selected published Optus postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Optus prepaid international roaming

If you need Optus prepaid international roaming and you’re an Optus Flex Plus customer, you’ll need to add on one of the prepaid roaming packs, which can be purchased online or through the app.

• $5 per day 1GB of data, 100 SMS and 100 minutes of calls in Optus Zone 1 countries
• $35 for 7 days with 7GB data, 700 SMS and 700 minutes of calls in Zone 1 countries

Customers on other prepaid plans can add on a data roaming pack or travel credit pack, both of which can be purchased online or through the app.

• Data roaming: $20 for 14 days with up to $210 value (equivalent to around 10GB data), with data charged at $0.02 per MB, available in 10 select destinations
• Travel credit: $10 for 14 days, credit can be used for talk, text and data roaming in Zone 1 and Zone 2 destinations

The following table shows selected published Optus prepaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

If you’re a postpaid customer visiting a country in Zone 2, and therefore not covered by the Optus Daily Roaming or other roaming add ons, you’ll have to use pay-as-you-go (PAYG) roaming rates. PAYG means you’ll simply pay for what you use, with these charges added on to your mobile bill. For every call you make, SMS you send, and MB of data you use (although you’re charged per 10KB), you’ll be charged the rates for these services according to the country you’re in.

While the rates appear to be similar across most countries, it’s worth checking the Optus site before your head overseas to check the rates to your destination/s. For example, these are the rates for if you were to travel to New Zealand, which is a Zone 1 destination:

• Calls: $1.50 per minute to make and receive voice calls
• Texts: $0.50 per standard text message sent
• Data: $1.00 per MB, charged per 10KB

While these prices might not seem too expensive, keep in mind that these charges are per minute of calls, per text message and per MB of data used. If you were to use your phone as you normally would in Australia, these charges are likely to add up, meaning you could come home to a big phone bill. For example, going off the above rates, a 15 minute phone call would cost you $22.50, and using 1GB of mobile data will cost you $1,000. Looking at those costs, it’s easy to understand why travel packs are a much more affordable option for many of us.

Optus splits its international roaming countries by zones. The Zone 1 countries are compatible with all of the Optus international roaming plans and add ons, including $5 a day roaming. If you’re travelling to a Zone 2 country, your options may be more limited.

Optus Zone 1 countries

Here are the Optus international roaming countries in Zone 1 where you can use the Optus $5 a day roaming and many other roaming passes.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Faroe Islands
• French Polynesia
• Isle of Man
• Korea, Republic of
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Northern Marianas
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Russian Federation
• Samoa (Western)
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Taiwan, Province of China
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• US Virgin Islands
• Vatican City (Holy See)

While there are definite advantages to switching on global roaming with your existing Optus phone plan, even with a travel pack or add on, it’s still not the cheapest way to use your phone overseas. It can be useful to have access to your Australian phone number when you’re overseas, especially if you don’t plan on using your phone much and are using secure WiFi networks while on your travels.

If you want to be able to use your phone as you normally would in Australia, especially for using data when you’re away from a WiFi network, you might be better off purchasing a SIM card from the country or countries you’re visiting.

While you’ll most likely need to do some research into this before you head overseas, it could be better than relying on free and sometimes unsecure WiFi networks. The downside is that if someone wants to call or text you, they won’t be able to reach you on your Australian number. You’ll also have to juggle between two SIM cards, unless you have a dual-SIM or eSIM compatible phone.

Keep in mind that many services, such as online banking, rideshare apps, etc, may require a verification code sent to your phone via SMS. If you switch out your Australian SIM card, you may not recieve these verification codes while travelling. Using the dual SIM or eSIM capabilities of your phone (if you have it) could ensure you still get important texts to your Australian number.

Before you head overseas, you’ll need to assess which option will be best for you. Have a look at the roaming rates for your destination/s and think about whether a travel pack or add on will have enough value for you. There are also specific travel SIMs you can buy, and both Telstra and Vodafone offer global roaming options, with Vodafone’s $5 Roaming one of the more well-known offerings.

Roaming on cruise ships with Optus

If you’re about to head off on a cruise, you can use your Optus global roaming when out at sea: however as it’s not covered by either of the country Zones, these roaming charges are higher than you’ll experience on land.

• Calls: $4.00 per minute to make and receive voice calls
• Texts: $1.00 per standard text message sent
• Data: $2.00 per MB where data is available (charged per 10KB)

Keep in mind that your mobile device may be connected to the ship’s satellite when you’re roaming. As you can see from the above charges, using global roaming on a pay-as-you-go basis can be quite expensive, so it’s worth considering if this is really the right option for you.

What about an Optus SIM for visitors to Australia?

If you’re a visitor coming to Australia, there are lots of phone plan providers out there offering SIM cards to keep you in touch with friends and family on your visit Down Under. While there are many prepaid plan providers with some great options available to choose from (with some plans available on a short-term expiry), Optus has a special Traveller SIM made specifically for visitors to Australia.

Optus offers two different Traveller Mobile plans, with SIM cards available at Optus airport stores or available as an eSIM. Both plans are available with a 28-day expiry, up to 200GB of data rollover an international call inclusions to 20 select destinations are included (with 400 minutes on the cheaper plan and 800 minutes on the more expensive plan).

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We Broke Down Optus’ $5 Roaming Deal to See if It’s Worthwhile

Unlike Vodafone’s add-on, Optus’s take on $5 per day roaming gets you 5GB of data that you can use overseas. That data expires after 24 hours and is available to customers with a postpaid Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family, or Optus Plus Kids plan. When it comes to Optus’ new add-on, you can also pay $35 upfront and get 35GB to use over the course of a week. 

Customers on an older Optus plan will have to use the previous Roaming Pass instead, which costs twice as much and only includes 1GB of data plus overseas calls and texts in select destinations. All told, Optus’ updated arrangement isn’t quite as generous as Vodafone’s is. However, you could end up with many more inclusions in the plan itself, and that alone might make up for it. 

For example, Optus’ $89 Promo Plus is currently discounted to $69 per month. This plan includes 500GB of excess charge-free data, standard calls and text, 5G coverage where you can get it, unlimited international calls to 35 destinations, a discounted rate on Optus Sport and the ability to save on other subscriptions via the provider’s SubHub platform. 

Our pick of the lot here is Felix Mobile. While most MVNO providers offer poor value packs, expensive pay-as-you-go rates or nothing at all, Felix’s roaming add-on costs just $20. That sum scores you 4GB of international data, 100 texts, and 100 minutes of talk. Best of all, it comes with a 365-day expiry. 

Felix Mobile’s roaming offer doesn’t cover as many countries as what you get on Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone: it only works in 40 destinations. You should be fine for most popular destinations, though, and if you’re the kind of traveller that can sniff out public WiFi wherever you are, 4GB could be enough for your entire international getaway.

You can find a widget with the complete breakdown of Felix plans, which are eligible for international roaming below: 

Fergus Halliday is a journalist at WhistleOut, Australia’s phone and internet comparison website

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The best SIM cards for travelling across Europe

Travelling across Europe and don’t want to have to stay out of touch or keep swapping SIMS? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best international SIM cards and options for travelling in Europe.

Roaming in Europe

Best europe travel sim.

• Best Europe Travel eSIM
• Best Europe Roaming SIM

Europe is a super popular destination for Australian travellers, whether it’s for business purposes or simply to take in the hundreds of years of culture across the continent – not to mention all the very fine regional food options open to you. Which is great, right up until you want to call back to the office, check your messages or simply send a photo of that amazing meal you just had to social media.

That’s where having a smart approach to your travel SIM can save you serious money. While the really bad old days where watching one YouTube video could send you into bankruptcy on your return to Australian shores are (mostly) behind us, it’s still worth weighing up your options to get the best deal, whether you plan to use a full “Travel” SIM, a local SIM option or roaming from your existing telco.

It is worth noting that if your European travel is purely within the European Union (as distinct from the wider European continent) then the EU’s roaming rules around calls, texts and data apply – but it’s worth checking if a given provider has fair use provisions for roaming use in play for data, as those can sometimes obscure hidden fees.

• Bali Travel SIMs
• New Zealand Travel SIMs
• Japan Travel SIMs

Australia Post International Roaming

There’s a number of choices in the Japan Travel SIM market that you can order before you leave Australia from brands such as Sakura Mobile and B-Mobile, but if you are going the Travel SIM route it’s hard to overlook Mobal’s short-term tourist SIMs. Starting at ¥4,730 (~$50 AUD, depending on exchange rates) for an unlimited data-only 8 day SIM up to ¥7,920 (~$83) for a full 30 days with unlimited data.

It's worth noting that Japan allows a, shall we say, more “loose” definition of “ unlimited ” than you might think would apply, before you plan to start downloading the entire Netflix back catalogue to your tablet. Most plans are limited to 3GB of data per day, after which data speeds “may” be reduced. For most tourists being prudent 3GB a day is plenty enough, even if you are uploading most of your food and location snaps to Instagram at a frenzied pace.

Mobal’s SIMs work on the Softbank and Docomo networks in Japan with a claimed 99% population coverage, which should cover most places you’re likely to go on business or holiday within Japan.

Best eSIM for Europe

Airalo eurolink.

Airalo’s business model is entirely eSIM focused based around its own app. For European travellers across a number of countries your best best is one of its Eurolink packages, covering 39 countries with coverage periods ranging from 7 days to 180 days and data inclusions from 1GB up to 100GB. If your travel needs are more constrained, Airalo also offers single country packages that may offer you more data for less money, so it’s smart to check beforehand.

The big advantage here is that you can set up the Airalo app and an account all before you ever step foot on a plane, giving you peace of mind that when you land you’ll be able to message home with confidence. The downside, however, is that you must have an eSIM-enabled handset to use Airalo’s services, which cuts out many budget phones and some older premium models entirely.

Best Australian deal for Europe roaming

Vodafone $5 roaming.

Vodafone was the first Australian telco to really get on board with roaming charges that didn’t make you feel like you’d just been run over by a 747 when you returned home. Its $5/day surcharge to access your plan’s existing inclusions remains the gold standard for ease of use and ease of understanding, though it’s worth noting that its data capped speed plans do not include the endless speed capped data once you’ve gone through your primary provision. In those cases, you’ll get hit for $5 for each additional 1GB of data you need.

Here's a selection of Vodafone plans that support $5/day international roaming

The big catch with Vodafone $5 a day roaming is that it adds up over a lengthy European sojourn, so it’s best matched for when you might be quickly travelling through Europe for just a couple of days. Anything longer than that, and travel SIMs, local SIMs and travel eSIMs quickly become a more financially prudent option.

Vodafone aren’t your only option for roaming-friendly telcos within Australia, however. Here’s a range of alternative telco options that support roaming within Europe:

It can be highly beneficial to grab a local SIM in Europe for your travels, because typically local rates are cheaper and offer larger data inclusions than just about any travel SIM or roaming deal. There’s the added benefit for the EU specifically here too that member states (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) all support cross-border roaming at no additional cost. Look for deals from some of the bigger cross-European Telcos such as Orange or Vodafone to get the best deal for the right price.

You’ll find no shortage of local SIM providers in every single major European airport if you favour convenience, though often they sell “tourist” specific SIMs with a slight surcharge in return for that easy pickup.

If you’re staying longer in a specific country, it’s worth researching local options and storefronts to see if you can get a prepaid SIM through them. Be careful, however, as you don’t want to get stung by a monthly plan that’s no use to you once you’ve left Europe, and some providers in some countries won’t accept credit card payments for some mobile services if the credit card itself isn’t local.

If your current handset doesn’t support eSIM, then sadly, the answer is no. You absolutely need the internal circuitry for eSIM support to be present on your phone in the first place.

If your phone does support eSIMs, then it’s quite easy to set up your eSIM before you travel. We’ve got a handy guide to setting up eSIMs for Apple iPhone and Android here .

The absolute cheapest way to “roam” when overseas is to throw your phone into a canal the moment you land. But that’s environmentally unsound, so don’t do it.

The second cheapest way is to use public Wi-Fi where available. In Europe, that’s a lot of places, including most accommodation venues. Instead of throwing your phone into a canal, switch off its roaming data (or data altogether) and switch to using Wi-Fi plus services such as Facetime, FaceBook Messenger and WhatsApp as your temporary “phone” number while you’re travelling. Use the offline maps capability of services such as Google Maps for navigation, load up on offline streaming services and music, and you can survive without having to pay anything extra at all for data.

Bear in mind, however, that public networks sit outside your control, and you never know who might be doing a little not-so-idle-not-so-friendly packet sniffing to get hold of your data. If you’re planning on relying on public Wi-Fi while travelling, investing in proper secure VPN access is a must.

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Optus mobile plans review

How does australia's second largest telco stack up to telstra and cheaper alternatives.

Tom's Guide Verdict

While there's no denying that Telstra clearly has the lead amongst Australia's three major telcos, Optus isn't that far behind, boasting the country's second-largest network and the title for fastest 5G download speeds. It's also far more affordable than Telstra, with fairly priced plans that offer plenty of data. Of course, the telco has a long way to go to regain Australia's trust after suffering one of the worst cyberattacks in our history, alongside a nationwide outage that lasted more than half a day.

Plans offer good value

Fast 5G download speeds

Great roaming add-ons

Reputation in the toilet

Speeds capped on pre-paid plans

Still uses off-shore call centres

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Since its commercial arrival on the Aussie telco scene back in 1992, Optus has maintained its position as Australia's second-largest network operator, with Telstra consistently holding onto the number one spot in terms of number of subscribers.

A subsidiary of Singaporean telecommunications giant Singtel, Optus offers a range of mobile plans which offer big data at reasonable price points. It has both pre-paid and post-paid choices, as well as plans which include a handset.

Although Optus comes in second to Telstra with regards to its overall network coverage, the telco is still able to claim that its 3G and 4G networks reach 98.5% of the Australian population. 

And while Telstra seems to have a significant lead when it comes to 5G coverage (based on nPerf's independent coverage maps ) and is claimed to now reach 85% of the Australian population, it's worth nothing that OpenSignal has awarded Optus the 5G Download Speed crown for the last 4 years running. Of course, most users probably won't reach those top speeds unless they're right next to an Optus tower, and the network is relatively uncongested.

As for customer service, Optus still uses off-shore call centres in India and the Philippines, though it does operate local call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, too. 

However, the real elephant in the room is that Optus has had a rough couple of years — in 2022, Optus experienced one of the biggest cyberattacks in Australian history , resulting in the personal information of roughly 10 million customers being exposed. 

This was followed by a nationwide outage in 2023, which lasted approximately 12-13 hours, once again affecting around 10 million customers, including 400,000 businesses.

So while Optus has the second-largest network and a range of decently priced mobile plans, the question remains as to whether the telco can regain the trust of its customers — both existing, and potential.

Optus mobile plans and pricing

• Optus SIM-only plans far more reasonably priced than Telstra
• No lock-in contracts for Optus SIM-only plans

Of the three main network operators in Australia, Optus arguably sits in the sweet spot between Telstra and Vodafone when it comes to price and value. 

Telstra undoubtedly has the best coverage, but is by far the most expensive. And while Vodafone offers the most monthly data at prices which are on par with Optus, it ranks third in terms of coverage and download speeds. 

That leaves Optus with a range of plans which are well-priced and still data-generous, with coverage that's quite decent despite falling short of Telstra's reach. In other words, Optus is probably the telco that Goldilocks would choose.

Optus SIM-only plans start at AU$49 p/m for the Small Optus Choice Plus Plan , which comes with 30GB of monthly data, which means you're paying about AU$1.63 per GB. 

That's followed by the Medium Optus Choice Plan , which costs AU$59 p/m for 100GB of monthly data (a cost of AU$0.59 per GB). That's double what Telstra offers in terms of data on its entry-level Basic Upfront plan, which is more expensive at AU$62 p/m for 50GB (or AU$1.24 per GB).

Next is the Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$69 p/m for 220GB of monthly data, or around AU$0.31 per GB. Yes, you heard right: for a mere AU$7 extra p/m, Optus gives you 170GB more monthly data than Telstra's aforementioned 50GB Basic Upfront plan.

If that still isn't enough data for you, Optus also offers an Extra Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$89 p/m and includes 360GB of monthly data (about AU$0.25 per GB). 

Additionally, Optus currently offers an Optus Plus Promo Plan , which gives you 500GB of monthly data at AU$69 (a tiny AU$0.14 a gig) for the first 12 months, after which the price goes up to AU$89 p/m (a still very-reasonable AU$0.18 per GB). Note that this is technically a special offer, and while there's no end date on it at the time of this review, it will only be available until withdrawn.

Also worth noting is that there are no lock-in contracts on any Optus SIM-only plan, and each one brings uncapped 5G network access in selected areas (excluding Northern Territory), unlimited standard talk and text within Australia, and unlimited standard international talk and text to 35 selected destinations. You can also share your data across eligible plans on the same account, and donate your unused monthly data to Australians in need.

Although there are no lock-in contracts on any of the above Choice Plus plans, Optus also offers a range of prepaid Flex Plus plans for those who don't want to risk extra charges, or only need service for a fixed period of time.

Optus Flex Plus plans with a 28-day expiry period start at AU$35 and come with fluctuating amounts of data. For instance, new customers on this plan get 40GB of data along with a bonus 20GB of data for those first 28 days. After this, the plan loses the bonus data on the second and third recharge (a total of 40GB), then drops down to 20GB from then on. That means after the introductory period you'll be paying AU$1.75 per GB.

Similarly, a AU$45 Flex Plus plan provides 60GB + 20GB of bonus data (80GB in total) during the first 28 days, losing the bonus data on the second and third recharge, before landing on 30GB after that (or $1.50 per GB ongoing). Alternatively, you can opt for a plan which costs AU$55 for 80GB on the first three recharges, which then drops down to 40GB after that (a rate of AU$1.38 per GB).

Of course, there are other long-term 186-day and 365-day options for those who don't want to think about recharging for a while, though you'll have to pay a larger sum upfront.

Note that there is one caveat with Optus's Flex Plus prepaid plans; while all will get you access to the telco's 3G, 4G and 5G networks, download speeds on these plans are capped to 150Mbps across the board. It's also worth mentioning that every Flex Plus plan includes data rollover up to 200GB, which will be applied as long as you recharge before expiry or have an active auto-recharge set up.

Optus mobile coverage

• Excellent 3G / 4G coverage, but lags behind Telstra in 5G reach
• Optus awarded fastest 5G download speeds by OpenSignal

Given that Optus operates the second-largest mobile network in Australia, it probably comes as no surprise that it also offers the second-best coverage. 

Where Optus is closest to Telstra is in its 3G and 4G reach, with a claimed 98.5% of the Aussie population covered. However, while Telstra's 5G mobile network is said to currently reach roughly 87% of Australians , Optus doesn't currently make any specific percentage claims — and if nPerf's coverage maps are any indication, it still has a lot of catching up to do.

During our rundown of the various mobile plans offered by Optus, you may have noticed that 5G network access was only available in selected areas, and excluded Northern Territory entirely. Sure enough, a closer look at nPerf's coverage map for Darwin shows a complete absence of Optus 5G network coverage, and only a small 3G and 4G presence. 

Simply put, if you live in the Top End, you're better off going with Telstra or Vodafone — both of which offer a far greater 3G, 4G and 5G presence in NT. That said, if you live in any of Australia's major cities along the east coast, you should be OK. Optus does offer 5G network access in Perth, though the rest of the west coast is fairly barren in terms of coverage.

Optus mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers

• Big discount on Optus Sport access
• Discounts on streaming subscriptions with SubHub

In terms of extras, Optus postpaid SIM-only customers receive 3 months of Amazon Prime for free when they sign up via Optus SubHub. The latter lets you manage and pay for subscriptions in one place, which are added to your regular phone bill. 

Additionally, customers can save up to 10% on streaming subscriptions when they add three or more eligible subscriptions to SubHub. Supported services include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Binge, Paramount Plus and more.

Best of all, sports-lovers who sign up to Optus Sport via SubHub get a huge discount on the service's monthly subscription cost, bringing it down from AU$24.99 p/m to just AU$6.99 p/m.

Optus also offers very competitive international roaming add-ons — for AU$5 per day, you get 1GB of data, 100 minutes of talk and 100 texts per day to use in over 90 Zone 1 destinations.

Optus mobile plans: customer service and community reviews

• Support team still has call centres in India and the Philippines
• Optus reputation at an all-time low

While Telstra has drastically decreased its use of off-shore call centres since 2021, switching over to a mostly Australia-based support team, the Singtel-owned Optus still relies on call centres located in India and the Philippines. 

Of course, Optus also has call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, although you probably won't know whether you're connected to one of those or someone from an overseas branch. 

Thankfully, Optus has a huge retail presence in Australia, with over 350 branded Optus Yes outlets across the country, making it relatively easy for customers to receive face-to-face service.

Still, not everyone is happy with Optus, with the telco receiving mostly negative online reviews on sites like Product Review and Trustpilot , where it has earned overall customer satisfaction scores of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. 

With that in mind, it's important to note that both Telstra and Vodafone have achieved similar scores, which goes to show that most customers will only bother reviewing something if they've had a bad experience.

Even with that disclaimer, there's no denying that the telco's reputation is at an all-time low, following an immense cyberattack in 2022 which left the information of over 10 million Optus customers exposed.

This was not helped at all by a nationwide outage which occurred the following year, leaving 10 million customers and 400,000 businesses without mobile or internet access for around 14 hours. Not only did the outage leave vulnerable Australians without the means to contact anyone for help, it also left business owners who rely on EFTPOS twisting in the wind for an entire working day.

Given the extreme public backlash that followed these two disasters, it's no wonder that Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin went on to resign in November 2023.

However, the telco still has a long way to go in regaining Australia's trust — the market research company Roy Morgan named Optus as Australia's most distrusted brand in March 2024, suggesting the telco's black eye is going to linger for a while.

Optus mobile plans: Bottom line

Is an Optus mobile plan worth your money? In terms of value, Optus mobile plans are far more competitively priced than Telstra's, with SIM-only offerings that deliver big data and worthwhile perks. 

As Australia's second-largest telco, it's no surprise that Optus falls behind Telstra in terms of coverage. That said, its reach is still significant — particularly when it comes to 3G and 4G coverage.

Of course, there's no denying that Optus has made some significant blunders with regards to customer security and service over the last couple of years — some of which are hard to forgive. Optus has posted an open letter to customers that includes a commitment to "do better", but is that enough?

If you're willing to forgive Optus, you can at least rest assured that its mobile plans are good value and will likely satisfy most customers (outside of the Northern Territory).

• Best Australian phone plans with international roaming

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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Most Popular

This TikTok-Famous Travel Bag Has A Way More Affordable Doppelgänger

Shopping Writer for HuffPost

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

If you’ve been on TikTok at all, you are probably well aware of the hype surrounding the Béis Weekender , a thoughtfully designed travel bag meant to meet all your globe-trotting needs — for $108.

As is often the case with relatively expensive viral sensations, the internet found a way to deliver affordable alternatives that are loved and adored by the masses. In this case, the original has been most famously replicated by Sam’s Club and the Minkars brand on Amazon , both of which have completely sold out.

But before you get travel bag FOMO, you can still shop another popular and convincing lookalike on Amazon for nearly a quarter the cost of the luxury version. And it comes in about 30 colors.

One of the defining features of the Béis is the generous bottom zippered compartment meant to keep soiled clothing or shoes separate from the rest of the interior. This Amazon version from Etronik promises that same vented bottom compartment along with other signature features of the original, such as a trolley strap, an interior laptop pocket and three separate interior pockets for even more organizing potential.

There are also some differences and unique additions to the Amazon duffle, most notably a USB port that can be used to connect an external travel battery and your electronic device so you can charge up your phone without having to open up the bag and dig around for a charger. There are also two slip-in side pockets for storing a water bottle or umbrella, and a separate zippered cosmetics pouch also comes with the bag.

Although both options are made with a water-resistant material, the Etronik bag has less structured, softer sides compared the Béis, which is one thing to take into consideration.

Reviewers claim they love this bag for use as a travel carry-on, for taking short weekend trips and as a hospital bag or gym duffle. And for just a little over $33, you really can’t go wrong.

If you’re not fully convinced, keep scrolling to see some positive testimonials before taking the plunge.

Promising Amazon reviews:

“Used it for a weekend trip in the mountains and it was amazing!! Felt very organized with the different compartments/pockets. The extra shoe bags and toiletry bag were a huge plus! There was a bit of struggle to fit all the thick sweaters and snow pants, but if it zipped up all my snow clothing, it can zip up a summer wardrobe.” — Isabella Hinojosa

“I can’t even explain what fit in there. Well I can. I even placed my purse in there to use it as a personal item and it passed. I had makeup, shoes, a straightener and some bathing suits stuffed in and I still had room. The charger on the side is a plus. And can we talk about all the pockets? Yes please, send me another.” — Noelani Salvador

“I knew it would be a good size but I didn’t really know until I received it! This is the perfect traveling bag and it fits so much, the pockets and compartments it has are super helpful, and I have been questioning myself on where this has been my whole life. So worth it!” — T

“Brought it on United as a personal item. Fit well under seat with extra room left over. Looks nice [and is] comfortable to hold. [It] has a strap you can slide over suitcase handle so you don’t have to carry it. Fits a lot. Added my electronics, chargers, shoes, book, wallet, and liquids. Would recommend! It has a ton of side pouches and a bottom compartment.” — Jen

Before You Go

11 Luggage And Travel Bag Options That Are Flight Attendant-Approved

Popular in the community, from our partner, huffpost shopping’s best finds, more in shopping.

I Always Fly Business Class. Here's What I Look for When Booking My Flights

W hen you fly in business class, you want to have the best possible travel experience. That's what you're paying for, after all, and it usually isn't cheap. For international flights, business-class airfare often costs $3,000 or more.

I'm big on enjoying my travels, so I always book business class. It's probably worth mentioning that I don't always pay in cash. I usually book expensive tickets with points from my travel credit cards -- I highly recommend getting this type of card if you like to travel.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

Since I travel in business class often, I've figured out which perks tend to be the most important. If you're wondering what to look for, here's my list every time I book a flight.

Lie-flat seating

On long-haul flights, business class may have either lie-flat seats or large recliner-style seats (similar to the seats in domestic first class). I've experienced both, and let me tell you, it's a world of difference.

If you're booking business class on a long flight, make sure it has lie-flat seating. It's so much more comfortable when you can turn your seat into a bed, and it makes sleeping much easier. Recliner-style seats are better than economy, but they still get uncomfortable once you've been sitting in them more than a few hours.

You can see if an airline has lie-flat seating in business class when booking your flight. Or, go to the website SeatGuru. Plug in the information for the flight you're interested in booking, and SeatGuru will show you the seating plan.

Lounge options in the departure airport

A business-class ticket normally gets you into one or more airport lounges . You'll likely have access to lounges operated by the airline and/or its partners.

Lounge quality varies, but it's pretty much always more relaxing to be in a lounge than the boarding area. And if you're flying internationally, there may be some top-tier lounges available. The business-class lounges in international terminals are often far nicer than what you'd find before a domestic flight.

If you have multiple flight options, I'd recommend checking out each airlines' lounges in your departure airport. If one airline offers a lounge and the other doesn't, or if one airline has more highly regarded lounges, that can help you decide which to choose.

The most direct route possible

One of my flight-booking rules is to get there as quickly and directly as possible. Most of us have limited vacation time. The less time you spend on travel, the more time you'll have to enjoy your vacation. Also, there's more chance of issues on flights with layovers. Each connection is another opportunity for a delay, a missed flight, or for checked baggage to get lost.

Some travelers book flights with more stops to save money. But if you're booking a longer flight to make business class more affordable, you might want to reconsider. You could probably save even more by just booking economy or premium economy on a shorter flight. Trust me, it's worth it.

A reputable airline

It's more than fair to have high expectations for business class. Whether you pay in cash or miles, you're paying a premium.

When there are multiple airlines to choose from, I like to read up on them before I book. I'll check J.D. Power satisfaction rankings, and I'll read reviews from passengers who have flown business class on those airlines.

Problems can happen with any carrier. You can't guarantee you'll have the perfect flight. But you can at least improve your chances by choosing an airline with a reputation for arriving on time and delivering a good passenger experience.

A reasonable price in either cash or miles

Business class tickets are more expensive than economy, but prices can vary quite a bit. I've seen tickets for over $5,000, but I've found others for under $1,000.

The same is true if you're booking with miles. Some tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 miles each way. Others cost 100,000 to 150,000 miles each way, or more. For these award tickets, most airlines use dynamic pricing that's based on demand, so there can be a huge difference in prices for flights on different days or even just at different times.

There are business-class deals out there, especially if you have miles through a frequent flyer program or your credit cards . You're more likely to get a deal if you start shopping for flights early and if you're flexible about when you travel.

Business class has lots of perks, including many that I haven't mentioned here. For example, the food's better, but I don't base my travel plans around which airline has the best business-class menu. I've found that the items above have the biggest impact on my overall travel experience.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

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MORE FROM VAULT

Best Card to Pair with the Amex Gold: 4 Options to Consider

Melanie Lockert

Credit & Credit Cards Expert

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer with nearly a decade of experience in the personal finance space. She is the founder of the blog and author of the book “Dear Debt” and paid off $81,000 in student loans. She has an M.A. from New York University and is an LA native based in Brooklyn, NY.

Robert Thorpe

Senior Editor

Robert is a senior editor at Newsweek, specializing in a range of personal finance topics, including credit cards, loans and banking. Prior to Newsweek, he worked at Bankrate as the lead editor for small business loans and as a credit cards writer and editor. He has also written and edited for CreditCards.com, The Points Guy and The Motley Fool Ascent.

Updated April 23, 2024 at 2:29 pm

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The American Express® Gold Card is one of the best travel credit cards , with high earning potential on dining and travel. Earning 4X points at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, cardholders who spend in these categories can rack up rewards easily.

While the card can be a good standalone option, travelers who want to maximize their spending and rewards strategies can pair another credit card with the Amex Gold. Find out the best credit card to pair with Amex Gold and other solid alternatives.

Understanding the value of cash back is simple, but valuing airline miles or points redeemable for travel requires digging a bit deeper. At Newsweek, we’ve developed a common language to talk about the value of points and miles: our valuations.

Our valuations translate points into dollars and cents in a way that reflects reality. They are based on actual data across a balance of accessible redemption options, not just the aspirational first and business class redemptions that require a PhD in miles and points to book. The upshot is that our valuations help you understand the actual value you can easily get from your miles and points.

Vault’s Viewpoint

• The Amex Gold card is ideal for restaurants worldwide, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, but not other everyday expenses.
• Getting another credit card that offers higher earning potential in other categories can optimize your rewards strategy.
• The best credit card to pair with Amex Gold is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Amex Gold and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

While the Amex Gold has generous rewards for restaurants worldwide, U.S. supermarkets and flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, all other eligible purchases only earn 1X points. One of the best credit cards to pair with Amex Gold is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for several reasons.

Complementary Rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card fills the gaps that Amex Gold has and offers a minimum of unlimited 2X miles on all purchases. On top of the flat rate rewards , you can also earn 5X miles when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

So a good strategy would be to use the Amex Gold for restaurants worldwide, U.S. supermarkets and flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for all other everyday purchases as well as hotels and rental cars that are booked through Capital One Travel. For travel lovers, this can cover all your bases and ensure you’re optimizing your rewards and spending.

Lower Annual Fee

The Amex Gold card has an elevated annual fee clocking in at $250. While it’s not the most expensive travel rewards card on the market, it’s a step above many other mid-tier rewards cards.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card annual fee is more than 50% lower than the Amex Gold at $95, making it easier to stomach. Pairing a card with a higher annual fee with another that has a lower annual fee can balance out your strategy and ensure you’re not spending a good chunk of change on annual fees.

Extra Travel Perks

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with two major travel perks that the Amex Gold doesn’t offer as part of its suite of benefits:

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit. You can get up to a $100 credit on either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. To qualify, you must use your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card when paying either application fee and be in good standing with your account. You’ll get a statement credit, which you’re eligible for every four years.
• Travel Accident Insurance. Having both of these cards can round out your travel protections so you cover your bases. If you use your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to purchase your fare, you could have insurance kick in for a covered loss at no cost when you use your card to purchase your fare. These benefits go well with Gold benefits like the baggage insurance plan*.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

After spending $4,000 in first 3 months from account opening

Why Would You Want To Pair One Card With Another?

If you have a rewards-rich card like the Amex Gold, you might wonder why you’d want to pair it with another card. You might think getting another card is a distraction, but in reality, it’s a way to diversify your rewards. There are many potential benefits when you take advantage of each card.

Different Rewards Programs

The Amex Gold card offers users Membership Rewards Points, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns you miles. Having two different rewards programs can be advantageous as each card has a different reward structure and redemption value. When it’s time to take advantage of your rewards, you might find that one is more valuable than the other. Having both can help you assess the redemption value and decide which is most effective.

Pool Together Rewards With a Transfer Partner

Since the Amex Gold and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cards are from two different credit card issuers, you get different rewards and can’t pool them together. But both Amex Gold and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have transfer partners that overlap. For example, the following are transfer partners for both Amex and Capital One:

• Emirate Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore KrisFlyer

That means you can pool your points and miles together by transferring them to one of those eligible partners. Doing so can increase your rewards, which can help you book award travel faster. For frequent fliers on airlines associated with these rewards programs, this strategy can be particularly effective.

Fill the Gaps

All rewards credit cards have unique benefits, but also limitations. To optimize your rewards strategy, it can be a good idea to mix and match different credit cards. In this case, Amex Gold should be your go-to card for restaurants worldwide (plus on takeout and delivery in the U.S.), U.S. supermarkets, and flight purchases that are booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

But everything else, like subscriptions, utilities , gas, insurance, etc., should be on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. If you only had the Amex Gold, you’d earn only 1X points. But when using the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 2X miles. Having more than one card paired with another ensures you’re maximizing your rewards and being strategic with your spending.

Other Cards To Consider

While the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card may be the best credit card to pair with Amex Gold, there are other compelling options to consider.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is popular with travel lovers and rewards enthusiasts—and for good reason. The card has a significantly lower annual fee of $95 than its premium counterpart, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® at $550.

The card has an attractive welcome bonus and offers up to a $50 hotel credit each year in the form of statement credit for stays booked using the Chase Travel portal. Somewhat similar to the Amex Gold, you’ll earn 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out) and on online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

While you can earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com with the Amex Gold, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card offers 5X points on travel purchased using Chase Travel and 2X points on all other travel purchases. This is a great complement as Chase has an expansive definition of travel purchases including:

• Car rental agencies
• Discount travel sites
• Campgrounds
• Toll bridges and highways
• Parking lots and garages

Your Amex Gold would be ideal for purchasing flights (booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com) and your Chase Sapphire Preferred® for all other eligible travel-related purchases. When you get a Chase Sapphire Preferred® card you start earning Chase Ultimate Rewards. Your rewards are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel using Chase Travel, elevating the point value to 1.25 cents instead of 1 cent.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

If you want another American Express card, the best credit card to pair with Amex Gold is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express . While the card doesn’t earn you Membership Rewards like Amex Gold, you earn cash back through Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. This can help offset costs and lower your credit card balance. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Despite having two different reward types, this is a great pairing with the Amex Gold as it has significant earning potential in many categories that fall under everyday spending. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns you 6% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit, and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. For everything else you only earn 1% cash back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card has a higher redemption value for statement credits at one cent each for every Reward Dollar compared to the Amex Gold’s Membership Rewards which are worth 0.6 cents when used this way. Your best bet is to use your Amex Gold in categories like travel which have a higher redemption value while earning cash back as a statement credit with the Blue Cash Preferred Card.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

If you want to pair your Amex Gold with a premium card that can earn you more Membership Rewards and unlock more travel perks, The Platinum Card® from American Express is your go-to option. The card has a high spending minimum requirement to earn the welcome bonus but a high value earned that matches the spending. Though the annual fee is $695 ( see rates and fees ), there are numerous credits to take advantage of that help offset this cost including:

• Up to $200 hotel credit back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when charged to your card (two-night stay required on The Hotel Collection)
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit (up to $20 in statement credits each month) on eligible purchases made directly from one or more of the participating providers
• $155 Walmart+ credit to cover the cost of $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (plus tax) back in statement credit after you pay each month with your card
• Up to $200 Uber Cash that’s use it or lose it savings for eligible Uber Eats and rides in the U.S. annually, made up of $15 issued monthly and a bonus $20 in December
• Up to $200 airline fee credit in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged to your card by one selected qualifying airline
• Up to $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit back in statement credits each calendar year when you use your card to pay for membership
• Up to $300 Equinox credit in statement credits annually for cardholders who use their card to pay for an eligible membership
• $100 fee statement credit for Global Entry every four years when you pay with your card or $85 fee statement credit for TSA PreCheck application fee every four and a half years

Some credits may require enrollment and there are terms that apply. If you can take advantage of these benefits, the annual fee isn’t so bad. Through The Platinum Card® from American Express, you earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1X), 5X points on eligible prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.

This is a great companion with the Amex Gold because you can earn more Membership Rewards. Plus, the card has high earning potential for eligible flights and hotel stays through American Express Travel and provides premium benefits the Gold card doesn’t. The Platinum Card® benefits include lounge access at over 1,400 airport lounges through The Global Lounge Collection. Through the card, you’re also eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status which can help elevate your hotel experience and get added perks.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will applying for an amex gold card affect my credit score.

If you’re interested in applying for the American Express® Gold Card, you can go to the website and check your approval for the card with zero impact on your credit. You can submit an application, which will lead to a hard inquiry that can cause a temporary drop in your score.

Is It Hard To Get Approved for the Amex Gold Card?

As a rewards credit card, it can be more difficult to get approved for the American Express® Gold Card. Typically, you’re recommended to have at least good to excellent credit to qualify and sufficient income.

Does the Amex Gold Card Have Foreign Transaction Fees?

If you’re traveling abroad, there’s no need to worry as the Amex Gold card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees ( see rates and fees ). So that’s one less cost to think about when planning for international travel.

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.

Home » Travel Guides » United States » California (CA) » 15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA)

15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA)

Santa Clara is a city of nearly 125,000 residents that’s located in Santa Clara County, about 75 kilometers south of San Francisco .

The city was founded more than 200 years ago as a Spanish Mission. Now, it’s most well-known for its booming tech industry that’s commonly referred to around the world as Silicon Valley.

Though it’s common knowledge to most football fans, it’s a surprise to many to discover that the relatively small city is also the home of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers.

Visitors to Santa Clara have abundant activity options at their fingertips without venturing outside city limits, so staying engaged and entertained shouldn’t be an issue.

1. Levi’s Stadium

With a capacity of nearly 70,000, Levi’s Stadium on Marie P. DeBartolo Way in Santa Clara is one of the country’s premier professional football stadiums.

The 49ers play their home games here, and during the off-season, the stadium hosts a variety of annual events, including concerts featuring big names in the music industry.

Taking a family to a football game isn’t the least expensive activity option in the area, but for those who’ve never taken in a pro game, it’s an exhilarating experience that may be worth the cost.

Guided tours are also regularly available, and the bars and restaurants around the stadium are fun to visit year-round.

2. Ulistac Natural Area

Despite its large population and the overall hustle and bustle, the Bay Area features plenty of urban parks and natural areas that are convenient options for those interested in enjoying the great outdoors.

The Ulistac Natural Area is located on Lick Mill Road in Santa Clara. It is comprised of more than 40 acres that include a variety of distinct environments.

The natural area straddles the Guadalupe River and is home to an array of plants and animals that are well-suited to its riparian habitat.

A particularly popular attraction for bird watchers, it features a number of well-marked nature trails dotted with interpretive signs.

3. Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival

Californians take their art and wine seriously, and there’s no better way to combine the two than by visiting the Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival.

The event is held in the city’s Central Park and features nearly 200 vendors from across the country selling fine art and crafts, gourmet food, and a vast selection of California’s best wines.

Proceeds are donated to worthwhile causes that benefit residents in need. It all takes place in the early fall when the central California weather is perfect for outdoor activities.

Other highlights include live entertainment and lots of art-related activities for kids.

4. The de Saisset Museum

Though he’s not exactly a household name for those who don’t typically travel in West Coast art circles, Ernest de Saisset was one of the Bay Area’s most prominent artists in the 19th century.

Saisset was a French immigrant who enrolled in Santa Clara University and studied painting as a young man.

The museum that now bears his name is located on the university’s campus. It includes a collection of more than 100 of his most impressive works.

It’s as much a historical attraction as it is an art one, and it also has other works from European and American artists dating back hundreds of years.

5. Intel Museum

Intel is one of the titans of the tech world. Over the years, it has been responsible for some of the most significant technological leaps forward in computer hardware.

The Intel Museum is located on the campus of the company’s world headquarters in Santa Clara, and it’s regularly open to the public.

Even for those who don’t fall into the tech-savvy category, it’s a fascinating place that’s definitely worth an hour or two of time.

Though it may sound dry to technophobes, it’s packed with interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, so it’s great for kids with short attention spans too.

6. Santa Clara Farmers’ Market

There’s really no better way to rub elbows with locals, enjoy pleasant weather, and have access to tons of great products you won’t find elsewhere than by visiting a farmers’ market.

The Santa Clara Farmers’ Market is open year-round and features a little bit of everything – from seasonal produce and fresh baked goods to health and body products and prepared food items.

Held on Jackson Street near the downtown area, it’s common to find different items each time you go.

Spending a few bucks is a great way to support local farmers and entrepreneurs, and don’t be shy about asking them for suggestions for things to see and do while in town.

7. California’s Great America

There’s no shortage of theme parks in the Golden State, but there’s one clear choice for those visiting Santa Clara.

California’s Great America is located on Great America Parkway just outside of town. It features tons of rides, dining options, kid’s activities, and a water park that’s a huge draw during the hot summer months.

Though Great America can really draw a crowd during peak times when kids are enjoying their summer vacations, previous guests have noted that wait times for rides weren’t overly long.

Many families choose to spend an entire day on-site to avoid wasting valuable recreational time in the car.

8. Mission Santa Clara

Mission Santa Clara is one of the city’s premier historic sites, and it’s now conveniently located on the campus of Santa Clara University.

The mission was established by Franciscans in the 1770s to spread Christianity to the area’s Native American population.

Sadly, things didn’t go according to plan; due to several natural disasters, the mission was forced to move from its original site to where it is now.

Over the years, it was also run by the Jesuits. Though it’s no longer functioning in its original role, it now doubles as a museum and chapel that are open to visitors.

9. The Triton Museum of Art

Though guests tend to visit the Triton Museum of Art for the works in its collection, its stunning contemporary architecture usually makes a big impression as well.

The museum’s collection includes works from all over the country, but its emphasis is on pieces created by Bay Area artists using local people and scenery as inspiration.

The grounds also include a sprawling outdoor sculpture garden spread over nearly seven acres, and a home from the mid-1860s that’s among the most well-preserved examples of historic American architecture in the area.

The museum is located on Warburton Avenue, and most visitors spend a few hours on-site.

10. Santa Clara Players

The Santa Clara Players traces its roots all the way back to the early ‘60s, when a group of local performers began putting on small shows for the community.

Now nearly seven decades later, they’re still going strong. Their annual performances run the gamut from dramatic theater and mystery to satire and humor.

The players are part of a community theater group staffed by talented volunteers dedicated to providing high-quality, family-friendly entertainment at a reasonable cost.

They’re located on Don Avenue in Santa Clara and offer lots of volunteer opportunities for budding actors and stagehands.

11. Central Park

Featuring lots of wide-open spaces and massive swimming and community rec centers, Santa Clara’s Central Park is a go-to destination for activity minded visitors looking to make the most of their limited vacation time without traveling to more distant attractions.

The park is centrally located on Keily Boulevard, has ample parking, and features lots of outdoor amenities and recreational activity options.

From tennis and basketball to softball, lawn bowling, and a big playground, there’s really no excuse for getting bored while on-site. For those looking to spend a relaxing afternoon, there are a lake, built-in BBQs, and public restrooms.

12. The 49ers Museum

Even for those who won’t be in Santa Clara during the regular season, the 49ers stadium and museum are fun attractions worth visiting for sports-minded visitors.

The museum is located inside Levi’s Stadium and features nearly a dozen distinct galleries that are open to the public year-round.

It’s a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages. In addition to football, its exhibits touch on science, technology, and art in a way that engages and entertains young and old minds alike.

Most guests check out the introductory video in the visitor’s center before showing themselves through the impressive collection of trophies, balls, and Super Bowl memorabilia on display.

13. The Santa Clara Fire Museum

The Santa Clara Fire Department’s roots run all the way back to the 1850s when it was founded.

The museum is now located on Walsh Avenue in an unused training center behind the city’s new fire station.

It sports an impressive collection of equipment and historical memorabilia that give visitors unique insights into the lives of fire and rescue personnel in years past.

The museum’s highlights include a fully restored Model-T fire truck that served for two decades, beginning in the 1920s.

The knowledgeable local volunteer staff also offer regular programs geared at educating the public about fire safety and prevention issues.

14. Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History

The Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History is run by a local historical society. It is housed in the depot of a now-defunct railroad on Railroad Avenue in Santa Clara.

Like many local historical attractions, the museum is staffed by local volunteers who love answering questions and showing first-time visitors around.

The museum’s exhibits include a variety of railroad equipment and memorabilia, including signals, safety equipment, and historical photographs dating back over 100 years.

The museum is regularly open to the public. It maintains an extensive library of books relating to railroad development and local history as well.

15. Voyager Coffee

Though it has only been around since 2016, Voyager Coffee’s owner and staff are dedicated to the noble pursuit of making their customers happy.

They do this largely by providing world-class coffee, but also by offering a comfortable space in which guests have opportunities to build relationships with like-minded customers.

Many of their coffees sport internationally influenced flavors, and they’re often infused with things like orange essence and cherry blossom water.

Don’t worry if you prefer your coffee straight-up, because they’ve got more traditional brews as well.

They offer fresh pastry and baked goods, tea, and other non-coffee drinks too.

15 Things to Do in Santa Clara (CA):

• Levi's Stadium
• Ulistac Natural Area
• Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival
• The de Saisset Museum
• Intel Museum
• Santa Clara Farmers’ Market
• California's Great America
• Mission Santa Clara
• The Triton Museum of Art
• Santa Clara Players
• Central Park
• The 49ers Museum
• The Santa Clara Fire Museum
• Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History
• Voyager Coffee