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REVIEW: ING Orange Everyday – The Best Travel Card For Aussies? (Inc $50 Promo Code!)

Looking for the best travel card for Australians? After a year of bouncing around the world with my ING Orange account here’s my full review…

Picking the right travel card can make the difference between an easy, relaxing holiday and a financial nightmare – and finding a bank account that doesn’t totally take the p*ss with fees once you leave the country is a bit of a minefield, especially in Australia.

Having struggled with really bad exchange rates, fees and a clunky app whilst banking with Commonwealth I decided I needed to make a big change and did some solid research into the best Australian bank for travelling abroad.

And that’s how I came across the ING Orange Everyday Account…

REVIEW: ING Orange Everyday – The Best Travel Card For Aussies?

Aussie travel cards – not a lot of choice.

Unlike the UK – which has heaps of new ‘disruptor banks’ like Starling (who I use for my UK accounts) and Monzo which both offer awesome deals on fees and withdrawals abroad – Australia seems a LOT more limited for options.

The big banks like Commonwealth (who I also bank with in Australia) and ANZ both fell flat on their face for travel cards, especially for those heading out on a long term trip and more importantly bouncing through a a lot of currencies along the way.

After a heap of Googling and chatting to my Aussie buddies it seemed the ING Orange Everyday account is leading the way for Aussies travelling the world and is also epic as a day to day card in Australia too!

First off, setting up my account with ING was a breeze.

A simple online form that took less than 15 minutes to fill out and have my account approved (as long as you have your ID and stuff to hand!), and I did it all without having to step foot into a bank, super easy!

You physical debit card will then arrive within 2-5 working days and you’re good to go!

Download The App

As you’d expect from a banking app you can easily keep track of your transactions and easily make payments etc.

From a travel perspective you can also easily see your payments/ATM withdrawals in both local and AUD too.

Another handy travel feature is the “rebates’ tab – which gives you an instant overview of how much you’ve saved on both card and ATM withdrawal rebates – not essential but it’s good to see in hard $ how much the travel card is worth the money!

As an example, my recent tint in Bali I racked up over $140 worth of rebates – so it’s well worth it.

Notifications

The other huge advantage of the app is enabling notifications on your phone/ Apple Watch – for everyday banking its super handy to keep up to date with your spending and income, but once you’re abroad it’s a really convenient way to keep an eye out for fraudulent transactions and card skimming.

So make sure you get push notifications enabled ASAP!

How To Go Fee Free Abroad

The ING travel card offers both free ATM withdrawals abroad as well as great exchange rates and fee free on card transactions abroad too.

However, unlike Starling Bank in the UK , the ING Orange Everyday account has a few conditions to be able to to go fee free abroad;

• Make 5 transactions per month (completed, not pending)
• Transfer in at least $1,000 from an external bank account

Doing the above in the current month unlocks the free transactions/rebates the next month.

…something I’ve overlooked a couple of times which has been a bit annoying!

Also if you’re worried about the $1,000 a month restriction, you can sneak your way around that as there are no conditions on where it comes from or how long it stays in your account – so in theory you can simply transfer it in, then straight back out!

Once you’ve ticked those off the list the next calendar month becomes fee free!

You can also quickly check in the app whether you’ve unlocked these features for the following month too and your first month is already activated so you can hit the road right away as well.

Along with removing fees abroad, the card also covers rebates on ATM withdrawals from within Australia too , which is super handy if you’re also using it as a day to day card in Oz as well.

Oh…and there’s no monthly fee for the account either as an added bonus!

Customer Service

I’d also like to point out how epic my experience with ING customer service has been too.

When I headed to the Mentawais I took a large chunk of cash out from an ATM in Padang, which was well out of line of my patterns of spending and previous geo location. I then got a notification on the app saying my card had been restricted.

Initially my thoughts we “oh great, I’m going to be on hold for hours sorting this” .

But actually the whole thing was quickly resolved – and they also helped me put through an online payment which required an extra code (due to the payment size) as I didn’t have access to my Aussie SIM at the time either.

I also got my card skimmed at an ATM in Bali (yaaaaay!) and the ING team were super helpful with getting this resolved and refunded into my account as well – with an email update once it was all sorted.

So yeah, kudos to that and this has given me even more faith in them!

Want to sign up and earn $50 as well? Well use the promo code GYT174 when you setup your account!

Please note, this offer runs quite often, but not all the time, it’ll tell you during sign up though.

• Go to ing.com.au/everyday , open a new Orange Everyday and enter GYT174 in the promo box at the end of the online form
• Deposit $1,000+ (such as pay) from an external source into your new Orange Everyday account within a calendar month.
• Open a Savings Maximiser and make a deposit into this account.
• Make 5+ settled (not pending) purchases using your new Orange Everyday card within a calendar month.

Are you Aussie?

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I had a really different experience of this product when I moved to Canada for six months for study. I can’t recommend this card for trips longer than a few weeks.

I didn’t keep my Aussie SIM, as I got a local phone plan. BIG MISTAKE. ING requires an SMS authentication code for large credit payments, money transfers, new BPay or PayID billers, etc. Unlike banks like Westpac, ING won’t send that SMS to an overseas number. So I had to call them and they’d get a supervisor to manually authorise — ten minutes on the call, easily.

Second, unlike other banks, ING won’t issue you with a spare card. Only one card per account; if you want another one for peace of mind, open another account. But shiz happens when you travel. I got pickpocketed on the metro in Toronto—rookie mistake, putting my wallet in my overcoat because I couldn’t reach my jeans pocket. I couldn’t even get through to ING on the phone or via their website to put the card on hold. I called VISA instead and they issued me with a temporary card (stripe, but no chip, so no cash withdrawals at any Canadian ATMs).

When I did finally get through to ING, they said they would send a replacement card, and it could take up to six weeks. At the six week mark I called going ‘where is it’ and they finally admitted that their system would not send a replacement card unless I cancelled the temporary card — because, wait for it, only one card per account. So in their mind, it’s reasonable for a customer to go up to six weeks without any card access at all.

So—fee free payments and withdrawals are GREAT, but if you’re going to be travelling for long, keep your Aussie phone plan active to minimise inconvenience, and make sure you have a backup card from another bank or account, in case shiz happens, because ING will not be there for you if it does.

Hey Daniel, Oh geez, sounds like things didn’t go well for you hey? Good to know! I was also unaware about the singular card side of things too, so I’ll add that into the post. SIM wise I registered mine to a PAYG SIM (I swap through SIMS heaps when travelling), which is what I’d advice people travelling long term as well to avoid that side of things. With a lot of banks I find it odd that they can’t do those notifications as a push notification to the app on the phone – would make way more sense right?! Thanks for the feedback an input though – did you find another bank that worked well as a back up/your new travel card?

Unlock your ING account features

You could save on fees and more.

Get more of your money working for you with ING savings, Orange Everyday and credit card accounts when you meet the monthly criteria. Simply deposit $1,000+ from an external source to any personal ING account in your name (excluding Living Super and Orange One) each month and make 5+ eligible ING card purchases that are settled (not pending) each month, to get the benefits in the following month.

Get paid for paying bills with 1% cashback on eligible utility bills

You could get 1% cashback when you pay any eligible gas, electricity and water bills with your Orange Everyday account by BPAY, PayTo (when available) or Direct Debit using your BSB and account number (up to $100 per financial year). T&Cs apply.

Orange Everyday is a bit of an overachiever

Meet the monthly criteria and not only could you get access to our cashback offer, you'll also get access to:

• $0 ING international transaction fees on online and overseas purchases, plus
• Rebates on the ATM Withdrawals fee for the first 5 fee incurring ATM withdrawals (excludes international ATM operator fees).

Great ongoing variable rate, every month

You could get a great variable rate of % p.a. (incl. % additional variable rate) every month on balances up to $100,000 in your Savings Maximiser. When you also hold an Orange Everyday, meet the monthly eligibility criteria and grow your nominated Savings Maximiser balance each month (excluding interest). Available on one account.

What types of card purchases are eligible?

Shop for less with ing.

More value online and abroad at corner shops with an ATM, online stores based overseas and any store outside Australia.

Orange Everyday

The bank account that helps your pay go further.

Orange One Low Rate

The 'not like the others' One.

Orange One Rewards Platinum

The 'cashback' One.

Frequently asked questions

Need to know more about using your ING cards for international withdrawals and purchases? Try these.

Do I need to do anything to switch on these new global card benefit offers?

Which card purchases are eligible for my 5 settled transactions each month, how do i get the highest savings maximiser variable rate, how do i calculate the exchange rate.

• Disclosures

The Best Travel Credit and Debit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees (Updated 2022)

No matter where you go or how long you travel, using a credit or debit card with no foreign transaction fees is one of the easiest ways to save money while travelling, period.

Currency exchange booths at airports and banks can be convenient, but a lot of your money goes towards exchange fees (e.g. $10 per exchange) and hidden commissions padded into poor exchange rates (especially the booths advertising “no commissions”). With a bit of research and planning, you can save  hundreds , if not thousands of dollars in fees over the long-term!

Credit and debit cards with no foreign transaction fees are the cheapest, easiest ways to get money and make payments overseas.  Credit cards are accepted worldwide, and ATMs are internationally networked through the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks. You enter your PIN and withdraw your cash just like you would at home, while the exchange rates are automatically handled by the banks.

However, some credit and debit cards are better than others!  For the majority of cards, banks still try to add commissions and fees to each payment or ATM withdrawal made abroad. Even if you don't travel a lot, these fees add up quickly.

We've rounded up the best credit and debit cards around the world that minimize or eliminate these fees, putting more money back into your adventure funds!

NOTE: These are cards to be used overseas to avoid foreign transaction fees. For the best all around travel points cards, check out the travel rewards cards section of CardRatings , as well as our free guide “ How to Get Free Flights with Travel Credit Cards and Points “!

The best travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Credit cards have various features that can make or break your travel savings. Ideally, these are the features to look for in a credit card:

• Foreign transaction fee of 0%
• Competitive points or cash-back rewards program (at least 1% of the purchase price)
• Extra perks, like free car or travel insurance

The best travel debit cards with no foreign transaction fees

These are the ideal features to look for in a debit card:

• Foreign transaction rate of 0%
• International ATM withdrawal fee of $0
• Refund of third-party ATM withdrawal fees (This is rare, but it exists!)
• Competitive points or cash-back rewards program (at least 1% of the purchase price)

Many banks around the world have come together to establish the Global ATM Alliance . If your card belongs to a bank in the alliance, you can make withdrawals from banks at other alliance member ATMs around the world without paying additional fees . Here's our roundup of the best debit cards for travel.

Essential tips for using debit and credit cards while travelling

1. pay using a credit card whenever possible..

Foreign ATMs can still inflate their exchange rates and charge withdrawal fees, but a direct credit card payment only involves the credit card you signed up with in your home country. And with a good points or cashback program, this beats any other method of foreign payment.

Bottom line? Always pay with a credit card, but  NEVER withdraw cash from an ATM with one. Credit cards charge interest on cash advances from the moment you withdraw it at the ATM.

2. Never take the option of paying in your own currency

Card terminals at shops and hotels will often detect that your card is from another country and offer to bill you in your home currency. Never choose this option – always pay in the foreign currency!  The exchange rate offered will be inflated by the card terminal, so if you’re using one of the credit cards recommended above, you will receive a much better exchange rate.

3. Inform your debit and credit card providers of your travels

Credit and debit cards are frequently being monitored by security departments for suspicious activity. If you're from the U.S. and you make an ATM withdrawal in Thailand when they don’t know you’re overseas, this could appear suspicious to your bank, and your card might be locked the next time you withdraw. Give your bank or credit card provider a call and let them know when and where you’ll be travelling. Take it from us – you  do not want to be stuck without cash and a useless card!

4. Obtain at least one debit and credit card on each of the Visa/Plus and MasterCard/Cirrus networks.

Even if you follow the advice in tip #3, it’s possible your card could get locked anyway. On top of that, it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where an ATM accepts only one network and not the other. For example, when we travelled in Japan, the only ATMs we could find that would even accept international cards were at 7-Eleven, and they only worked with cards on the Visa/Plus network. I speak from experience – there’s nothing more stressful than needing more cash and not being able to withdraw it, so be prepared and bring multiple cards on multiple networks .

5. Consider a credit card with included insurance

The jury is still out on whether it's safe to rely on car and travel insurance that is sometimes provided by credit cards, and unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to file a claim after the accident has happened. If you're concerned about insurance, its best to be safe and purchase it from the car rental company, but if not, you might as well pay with a credit card that offers car insurance and hope for the best if you do end up in an accident. We generally try to use American Express cards when thinking about insurance, as they are managing the insurance on the cards worldwide, whereas Visa/Mastercard insurance is often handled by the card's issuing bank, and may not be as straightforward to redeem.

6. Keep backup cards in your hotel room

If you lose all your credit and debit cards while overseas, you're going to be in quite the pickle. Always keep at least one extra card back at your accommodation in case your main card or entire wallet is lost or stolen while you're out.

7. Bring $100 USD as backup cash

When all else fails, U.S. dollars are the closest thing to a global currency that we have today. It's the most commonly accepted currency, not only at exchange booths, but even at shops and restaurants in other countries. If there are no ATMs in sight or your cards have been stolen, an emergency backup of U.S. dollars will get you out an emergency situation.

Do you have another card recommendation? Know something we don't? Write it in the comments below!

Psssst : for more guides like this, Like Us on Facebook  and  follow us on Twitter !

Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author's alone. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Nice! This is really helpful thanks!

Great tips for travelers!

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What are the best U.S. debit and credit cards to use overseas?

Just got off a long phone call with HSBC Canada. They are unable to tell me what their card issuer exchange rate surcharge. I had just come back from Mexico and used my HSBC ATM card on a HSBC ATM machine and I calculated the fee to be about 2.1% based on that days interbank rate. Shouldn’t this fee be in the disclosure statements? There was a class action lawsuit I believe many years ago because the credit card companies failed to state their foreign exchange surcharge. From what I’m reading on the Global ATM website is that Visa is involved with the foreign exchange when using an ATM and it states they add a 2.5% foreign exchange fee. You didn’t show this in your nice graphics above. Is it berried in the base exchange rate?

We use Visa Avion, which is good in all categories but I believe they do charge a slight foreign transaction fee. But we have claimed through their default insurance, both car, health, and travel. All minor things, but ya, no issues. The card is not free however, and unless you spend a lot each month or travel frequently it’s not worth it. For us, the points for the business transactions transfer to personal, so it really adds up! (Currently we have more than enough to fly the entire family pretty much anywhere. ) When abroad we usually only use the card for car rental or nicer hotels and of course flights or trains and such (to access insurance benefits one must book the flight etc on that card…) But read the fine print, confirm with the agent. For example, usually to get car insurance you have to wave the rental companies insurance. (This saved us a ton in Africa!) The rental agencies will even phone and confirm if they don’t know the card. These cards were set up for frequent business travelers originally. But read the fine print too, I know our card covers 30 days from home, but you can add insurance to the card for longer trips too. It’s all through RBC, and like any blood sucking corporation there are advantages for the savvy but their ultimate goal is to get you to pay twice for the same thing. Read the fine print, phone your card agent, etc… But we honestly have found the Avion worth it for us because of the company points.

This info is super helpful! For Canadians, what about the Marriott Rewards® Premier Visa® Card? I’ve been looking into credit and debit cards for an upcoming trip to Southeast Asia, and came across this card today. From what I can tell, it seems pretty good (no foreign currency transaction charges and has perks). Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this card? Thanks!

so where do you find that tangerine thrive chequing account info? I have an account with tangerine and I can find no info on this animal on their website

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Disclosures Many of the listings that appear on this website are from companies which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The site does not review or include all companies or all available products. Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines .

The top 5 travel debit cards in 2024.

Debit cards make paying easier, but which is the best debit card for travelling overseas?

Using travel money cards overseas is extremely handy for paying for shopping, taxis, corner shops and withdrawing cash at ATMs.

It's a great option as long your bank does not charge fees for foreign transactions or ATM withdrawals.

So, how do you find out where to get the best travel debit cards?

To save you time, we've compared a large number of debit cards for overseas travellers to help you make the right decision.

The Best Travel Debit Cards:

Wise travel card.

• Revolut Australia Card

Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card

• HSBC Global Everyday Account Debit Card

ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card

Revolut Card Offer

Sign up and get a $15 top-up . For new customers only, T&Cs apply .

Best Exchange Rate

• 40+ currencies available
• Best exchange rates globally
• One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
• No international transaction fees
• No annual or monthly fees
• Extremely low costs to send money overseas

• Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
• Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
• Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
• Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
• It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
• Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted

The Wise Travel Card is great for frequent travellers as it offers over 40 currencies at the inter-market exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. In addition you can buy goods online from overseas with no transaction fee plus get the best exchange rate. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.

Our Wise Travel Card Review

Revolut - Low Fees

• 30+ currencies available
• One of the best exchange rates globally
• No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
• No initial card fee
• Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies

Read our Revolut Card Review

Revolut Travel Card

• No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
• Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
• Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
• Can be used wherever Visa is accepted

The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.

• No monthly fees
• No foreign transaction fee
• No ATM fees in Australia
• No ATM fees overseas
• Contactless limit with no PIN up to $200 per transaction
• Joint accounts available
• Discounts of up to 10% on eGift cards to use at over 50 leading retailers

• Simple and easy to work out costs for account
• Can be used in Australia as an EFTPOS card
• Instant transfers can be made using PayID and OSKO
• Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin
• Available to 14 year olds and older
• Easily lock and unlock your card in the app if your card is lost or stolen
• Multi award winning account including Mozo Best Everyday Savings for 2021
• $2,000 daily limit for ATM withdrawals
• Exchange rates are MasterCard exchange rates, which are normally 2% - 6%+ the market rate
• Added security with a mobile app that sends actionable push notifications for you to approve or deny online transactions and account activity
• Tools for spending each time you make a transaction, it’s automatically categorised into groups such as groceries, travel, leisure or technology. In addition you can see how you're spending at a glance and over time.

There's a lot to love about the Macquarie Bank Transaction account debit card starting with no fees, no foreign transaction fees, no ATM fees in Australia or overseas. In addition the only fee you will pay is the currency conversion charged by Mastercard.

The debit card works in Australia and the contactless limit is $200, which is super handy. It also works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin. Finally it has tools to help you track your spending, can be given to teenagers over 14 and is easy to lock or unlock your card through the app if lost or stolen.

HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card

• No initial card or closure fees
• No monthly or account fees
• No international ATM fees
• No cross currency conversion fees
• Lock in very competitive exchange rates before travel
• No maximum balance
• Earn 2% cashback

• 10 Currencies can be loaded are AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD, CNY (currency restrictions apply to CNY)
• Awarded 5 gold stars by CANSTAR in 2021 for Outstanding Value
• Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
• ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
• Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with Visa pay wave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100. With a maximum of $50 cash back per month. In addition you need to deposit $2,000 or more into your Everyday Global Account each calendar month.
• Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
• Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability

The HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card is a good option to take travelling and to spend money in Australia with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees. In addition there is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.

Finally it is one of the only travel cards that offers Chinese Yuan. To avoid ATM fees you need to find HSBC branches in Australia and only use ATMs overseas with a VISA or VISA Plus logo.

• No ATM fees
• No account keeping fees
• Can be used in Australia with no additional costs
• No fees for paying via bank transfer or Bpay
• Transfer limits can be set by user

• As long as you you deposit at least $1000 and make at least 5 payments each month ING will waive international transaction fees and refund overseas ATM withdrawal fees
• Can be used in all countries
• Can be used in Australia to buy goods overseas and not pay international transaction fees
• Works with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Visa currency conversion rates apply, which are normally 4% above market

The ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card is a good card for most Australians travelling overseas for ATM access, with no fees. It also allows you to to buy goods online without an international transaction fee.

Furthermore you can use it in Australia for free and there are no fees to get your initial card, for account keeping or to top up your card. A word of caution however, if you travel overseas for longer than 1 month, you still need to deposit at least $1,000 and make at least 5 payments each month to get the rebates.

Learn more about the best travel money, credit and prepaid cards for travel

Prepaid Travel Card

Best Travel Card

Credit Card

The difference between a debit card and a travel card is that you preload a travel card with foreign currency before you leave. The exchange rate is set for your time overseas. Most preloaded currency cards have 10 different currencies on them for you to choose from.

A debit card only has Australian dollars in it. You pay a currency conversion fee every time you make an online overseas purchase or pay with your debit card overseas.

Using a debit card overseas is similar to how you use it in Australia and you wave your card over the charging device. You might be asked to key in your pin, which will be the same pin as you use in Australia. It is always advisable to let your bank know you are travelling overseas as they might block the transaction.

A travel card is better for currency exchange rates and a debit card is better for convenience. Both are equally good for security. A travel card has a cheaper currency exchange rate around 2% however a debit card is more expensive at around 4%. A debit card can be used in Australia once your travels are over and if you choose Macquarie , Up Bank , Citibank , HSBC or ING you will not pay for foreign transaction fees.

A good travel debit card will save you lots of money and does not charge monthly or account keeping fees. It does not charge a foreign transaction fee or fees to withdraw cash from ATMs in Australia or abroad. It has good security and is easy to transfer funds into when overseas.

You can use most Australian debit cards overseas, if you advise your bank you are travelling overseas in advance. In some cases you can not use your Australian debit card overseas, so it is best to check before you depart Australia.

The first thing to look for are no foreign transaction fees, these can be between 3-5%. Second, you need to look for a debit card that does not charge for overseas ATM withdrawals, as these can be $5 per transaction plus 3%. Therefore a cash withdrawal of $300 will withdraw $314 from your account.

Third, you need to look for a debit card with no monthly fees or account keeping fees. Finally you need to choose a debit card with good security and is easy to transfer money into while you are travelling overseas.

The pros of using a debit card overseas is that they are very convenient as you can use them when you return to Australia to pay for everyday items like groceries and fuel. They are generally accepted in most places around the world especially if they are linked to Visa or Mastercard.

The cons of using a debit card overseas is that they can get expensive if you choose one with foreign transaction fees, monthly fees and fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Luckily the days of having to call an international number to report a stolen or lost card are gone. In most cases you should be able to notify your bank through the mobile app your debit card has been lost or stolen and they will deactivate your debit card immediately to stop unauthorised spending.

If you choose a Macquarie , Up Bank , Citibank , HSBC or ING debit card then you will not have any ongoing fees with an overseas debit card. If you choose the Commonwealth World, the NAB Platinum or Westpac Choice debit card you will have ongoing monthly fees.

It's simple. To move money to your debit card overseas, you login into the account you want to transfer money from and transfer your Australian dollars to the bank account that is linked to your debit card overseas. If your bank uses OSKO or Pay ID this should happen immediately, even if you are overseas at the time.

According to NerdWallet Mastercard gives the best currency conversion rates globally, giving better rates 70% of the time. This includes the major traded currencies such as the US dollar , Euro, Great British Pound , Australian dollar, Japanese yen , Hong Kong dollars, Canadian dollars , Singapore dollars , Swiss francs and New Zealand dollars . However Visa does give better currency conversion rate for Thai baht , Hungarian forint, Icelandic Krona and Tunisian dinar.

More Travel Card Guides

Learn more about the best travel money cards for your holiday destination.

ASIC regulated

Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.

• United States
• United Kingdom

ING International Fees

Got an ing credit card or debit card here's how you can get 0% international transaction fees..

In this guide

How can I save with 0% foreign transaction fees?

Compare ing credit cards, compare ing debit cards, does ing offer a travel card.

A lot of credit cards and debit cards charge international transaction fees when you use them overseas – including when you shop online with international businesses. This typically costs you 2% to 3% on top of what you've spent.

ING gives you a way to save on this cost, with 0% foreign transaction fees if you meet the account requirements and have an Orange Everyday transaction account , Orange One Low Rate credit card or Orange One Rewards Platinum credit card .

ING usually charges a 3% international transaction fee and an overseas ATM withdrawal fee of $5. To save with 0% foreign transactions fees, you just need to deposit at least $1,000 from an external source (such as a salary) into your Orange Everyday account and make at least 5 eligible card purchases every month to have the international transaction fee rebated. The 5 transactions need to be settled, not pending.

Just remember that if you're using an ING credit card, the cash advance fee of 3% of transaction amount or $3 (whichever is greater) will still apply when you use your credit card to make overseas ATM withdrawals.

No, ING does not have a dedicated travel money card. But you could use your ING debit card or credit card overseas instead, with worldwide acceptance through the Visa network.

If you qualify for the 0% international transaction fees on your ING card, it is similar to the features you'd get with a travel card anyway.

This feature was first launched by ING in November 2017 as a response to customers' increased international spend. Within the 3 years before this feature was launched, ING customers were spending 17% more overseas.

ING Australia's then-head of retail banking, Melanie Evans, said at the time: "We introduced no domestic ATM fees for qualifying Orange Everyday account customers in 2009. Fast forward to 2017 and we're taking it a step further for our customers who are now spending more internationally."

Want to compare other financial products with no foreign transaction fees? Check out our comparisons of credit cards with no international transaction fees and debit cards with no foreign transaction costs to get started.

Sally McMullen

Sally McMullen was a creative content producer at Finder. Sally wrote about credit cards for almost 5 years, authoring almost 900 articles on Finder alone. She has also been published in Yahoo Finance, Dynamic Business, Financy and Mamamia, as well as Music Feeds and Rolling Stone. Sally has a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies majoring in Journalism (Hons) from the University of Wollongong.

More guides on Finder

Find out how you can get up to $30 cashback every month and save on overseas transactions with the ING Orange One Rewards Platinum credit card.

ING's Orange One Low Rate credit card offers low ongoing interest rates, foreign transaction fee rebates and instalment plans for $0 annual fee.

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11 Responses

I think you should warn people about ING card use overseas. ATMs are good, using the card for purchases and payments are good provided the shop accepts international cards etc BUT you cannot purchase things online eg tickets, if it requires a security code being sent to a phone that is not your own eg an overseas SIM (Not sure about a phone on roaming) even if you tell them you are travelling and paying etc using their OWN app. .

Is ING changing this from August 2023?

Hi David, ING has removed its fee rebate for international ATM withdrawals. However it has not removed the 0% international transaction fee offer (as long as you meet the account conditions).

I just want a debit card for international travel now and then so I don’t have to expose my regular bank account. I would transfer money into the new debit card each time I travel but want to avoid international exchange rates and fees as much as possible. Would the ING debit cardbe the best option?

Hi Ros, In order to have the international transaction fees waived with an ING debit card you need to meet the ongoing monthly criteria. This includes depositing $1000 a month and making 5 purchases a month. If you meet this criteria one month, the international transaction fees will be waived the following month. So this account would require a little bit of pre-planning on your part before you travel in order to have the fees waived.

Can I use my ING card overseas

Hi Karlie, Yes you can use this card overseas. Some fees and charges may apply, especially if you withdraw money as a cash advance.

Hope this helps!

Hi travelling to Europe this year. Im elderly, can I use my ING Everday orange card when I leave Australia. I think the answer is yes, just let ING knoww before I leave.

Hi Jaril, Yes, you can use your ING debit card overseas. You aren’t required to let ING know beforehand for it to work overseas, but it’s a good idea to do it so that the bank doesn’t think the overseas transactions on your account are suspicious activity. Thanks, Alison

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5 Best Banks for International Travel

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Using the right bank can save you money when traveling abroad. When researching the best banks for international travel, features we considered included:

Low wire transfer charges.

Decent currency conversion rates.

International ATM fee reimbursement.

Foreign currency delivery to your home.

Here are our favorite banks for international travel.

Charles Schwab Bank: Best for using ATMs.

Capital One 360: Best on foreign transaction fees.

HSBC Bank: Best for expats with high balances.

Citibank: Best for wiring money.

Revolut: Best for nonbank multicurrency account.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure our coverage is fair and accurate, so you can choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions .

Best Banks for International Travel

Our pick for

Schwab Bank

Why We Like It

Schwab Bank customers who use the Investor Checking Account get fees refunded from any ATM in the world. That kind of perk is usually only available for premium checking accounts at other banks.

Plus, the bank doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Pros: - Refunds on all ATM fees worldwide. - No foreign transaction fees. - Account earns interest. - No minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee. - Free travel and emergency assistance services, including emergency messaging, medical and legal referrals, emergency translation and lost luggage location.

Cons: - Checking account must be linked to a Schwab One brokerage account (but the account doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement).

Foreign transaction fees

Capital One

Though it’s not the only bank that doesn’t ding you for international purchases, Capital One 360 is a NerdWallet favorite because its fees are low across the board.

Capital One 360 doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee for using your debit card outside the U.S. or for any transactions made in a foreign currency. If you want to use cash, the bank won’t charge you a fee for taking money out at an ATM (but it also won’t refund you if the ATM owner charges you a fee).

In comparison, many banks charge special fees when you make purchases abroad, or even if you buy something online from a retailer based outside the U.S.

Pros: - No foreign transaction fees. - No ATM fees. - No monthly maintenance fees.

Cons: - No refunds for fees charged by ATM owner.

Expats with high balances

In the U.S., HSBC only offers premium accounts that require a high balance to open. But for those who can swing the balance, this bank can be handy while living abroad. A few features make this bank handy for expats or frequent globetrotters: The bank doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on debit card purchases; it lets depositors monitor and move money between HSBC accounts in multiple countries; and if you lose your wallet while traveling, you can access up to $10,000 in emergency cash.

Pros: - Can access up to $10,000 in emergency cash in U.S. dollars or local currency if you lose your wallet while traveling. - No foreign transaction fee on debit card purchases. - Account holders can receive international wire transfers for free.

Cons: - In the U.S., HSBC only offers premium accounts with high minimum balance requirements. - Outgoing international wire transfers may come with a fee if the receiving account is not also an HSBC Premier account holder. - Mobile apps are poorly rated.

Wiring money

Citibank, N.A.

While many banks offer customers a way to send remittances directly without going through a third-party wire transfer service, few do it as elegantly as Citibank, which offers free international transfers to other Citi accounts through the Citibank Global Transfers service.

Plus, if you need cash while you’re abroad, Citibank offers free withdrawals at its ATMs in more than 20 countries. And if you often find yourself in a hurry before a trip with too much to do, the bank will deliver foreign currency by the next business day to a Citibank branch, your home or office.

Pros: - Foreign currency delivery before a trip. - Free international transfers to other Citi accounts. - Citibank ATMs available in more than 20 countries.

Cons: - Non-premium accounts are subject to out-of-network ATM fees from the ATM owner. - If you need to wire money internationally to someone who doesn’t have a Citibank account, the fee could be as high as $35.

Nonbank multicurrency account

The Revolut account lets you hold and send money in more than 28 currencies and uses a real-time exchange rate. Exchanges done in the app, exchanges for a transfer and exchanges for a payment use the same rates. One catch is that Revolut will charge an exchange fee for transactions on the weekends.

Pros: - Can withdraw up to $400, $800 or $1,200 fee-free per month at out-of-network ATMs, depending on your plan. - Can hold and send money in more than 28 currencies. - Account earns interest.

Cons: - Foreign currency exchanges made on the weekends incur a fee. - Premium accounts have a monthly fee of about $10-$17, which can’t be waived.

More top choices for best banks for international travel

BECU: No foreign transaction fee ( read full review ).

Axos Bank: ATM foreign currency conversion fee reimbursements with World Checking account ( read full review ).

Navy Federal Credit Union: Branches in just under 10 foreign countries ( read full review ).

Varo: No foreign transaction fee ( read full review ).

Wise (formerly TransferWise): Multicurrency account with a debit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees ( read full review ).

More strategies to keep banking costs down while traveling

Using money abroad can incur costs, but switching banks isn’t your only way to avoid them. Here’s a breakdown of different approaches and accounts to consider:

When spending money abroad:

Try a multicurrency account : Spend and hold different currencies in one account. This option is usually best if you live or work outside the U.S. for extended periods. Two mainstream providers are the financial tech firms Wise and Revolut .

Find a credit card with no foreign transaction fees : For everyday purchases when you can use physical cards or mobile wallets, a travel-friendly credit card can be useful.

When dealing with cash abroad:

Use a debit card with no foreign transaction or ATM fees : This is especially good for cash withdrawals, especially in countries where cash is heavily used. Generally, these debit cards, and the checking accounts they’re connected to, don’t have foreign transaction fees either.

Take advantage of currency exchange services from your bank : For cash you’ll bring on your next trip, see if your bank or credit union has this service since it’s cheaper than using kiosks at the airport.

When sending money abroad:

Consider nonbank money transfers : If you're sending a wire overseas while still in the U.S., companies such as Wise and OFX offer stand-alone transfers internationally that have competitive rates and low to no fees.

When managing wealth abroad:

Look into private banking : Private banking offers a personalized experience for high-net-worth individuals, which can include overseas considerations.

Open an offshore bank account : If you need help managing international business or investments, or if you'll be traveling long term, consider the merits of an offshore bank account.

Last updated on November 15, 2023

Methodology

We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm , All America Bank , Alliant Credit Union , Ally Bank , Amalgamated Bank , America First Credit Union , American Express National Bank , Andrews Federal Credit Union , Associated Bank , Axos Bank , Bank of America , Bank5 Connect , Bank7 , Barclays , Bask Bank , Bethpage Federal Credit Union , BMO , BMO Alto , Boeing Employees Credit Union , Bread Savings , BrioDirect , Capital One , Carver Federal Savings Bank , Charles Schwab Bank , Chase , Chime , CIBC U.S. , CIT Bank , Citibank , Citizens , Citizens Bank , City First Bank , Climate First Bank , Commerce Bank , Community First Credit Union of Florida , ConnectOne Bank , Connexus Credit Union , Consumers Credit Union , Current , Delta Community Credit Union , Discover Bank , E*TRADE , EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank) , Fifth Third Bank , First Foundation , First National Bank , First Tech Federal Credit Union , Flagstar Bank , FNBO Direct , Global Credit Union , GO2bank , Golden 1 Credit Union , Greenwood , Hope Credit Union , Huntington Bank , Industrial Bank , Ivy Bank , KeyBank , Lake Michigan Credit Union , LendingClub Bank , Liberty Bank , Live Oak Bank , M&T Bank , Marcus by Goldman Sachs , Navy Federal Credit Union , NBKC , One , OneUnited Bank , Pentagon Federal Credit Union , PNC , Popular Direct , Quontic Bank , Regions Bank , Revolut , Salem Five Direct , Sallie Mae Bank , Santander Bank , SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union , Security Service Federal Credit Union , Securityplus Federal Credit Union , Self-Help Credit Union , Service Credit Union , SoFi , State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina , Suncoast Credit Union , Synchrony Bank , TAB Bank , TD Bank , Truist Bank , U.S. Bank , UFB Direct , Upgrade , USAA Bank , Varo , Vio Bank , Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank .

How we rate banks and credit unions

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Banks for International Travel

• Schwab Bank : Best for Using ATMs
• Capital One : Best for Foreign transaction fees
• HSBC : Best for Expats with high balances
• Citibank, N.A. : Best for Wiring money
• Revolut : Best for Nonbank multicurrency account

Frequently asked questions

Banks that don’t make it expensive for you to use your debit card when you’re out of the country are best for international travelers.

Here are NerdWallet’s picks for best banks for international travel :

Some banks offer international bank accounts that U.S. citizens can open. International bank accounts generally require a high minimum balance.

Some banks allow you to make purchases and perform other transactions in other countries without charging a fee. Banks that don’t charge foreign transaction fees include Capital One 360, Discover Bank, HSBC Bank and Schwab Bank.

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Find the best credit card for you

Dreaming about your next vacation consider using a travel credit card to pay, many consumers are itching to travel again as coronavirus restrictions are loosened. consider what credit card you use to pay, so you can maximize rewards..

My 2020 travel plans were a bust, but I’m still dreaming about all the places I’ll go once it’s safer to get on the road again — and I’m not alone.

According to the American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report , 76% of travelers are creating their destination wish list for future travel, even though they might not be able to travel yet.

If you count yourself among those people, it's probably exciting to think about all of the places you plan on visiting. You may be planning a long-overdue trip to visit family or finally rescheduling a getaway with your significant other.

While you’re creating your destination wish list, you should also consider how you plan to pay for a vacation. The cost of travel can add up, and 61% of survey respondents plan to spend more than they normally would on a trip this year, since they couldn’t travel in 2020.

Using the right credit card can save you a great deal of money on travel and allow you to benefit from robust benefits, like airport lounge access and dining credits.

Below, we break down the best travel credit cards that can take your next vacation from basic to luxurious.

Best travel credit cards for 2021

Best overall, american express® gold card.

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

• Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
• Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
• Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
• Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• No introductory APR period
• $250 annual fee
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

• 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
• No introductory APR
• There’s a $95 annual fee

Best welcome bonus

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
• Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR

Best for luxury travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

• $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
• High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Best for low interest

Td first class℠ visa signature® credit card.

3X miles earned on every $1 spent on travel and dining, plus 1X mile earned on every $1 spent on everything else

• 25,000 miles when you spend $3,000 within the first 6 billing cycles

$89, waived for the first year

0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers

14.99% variable

$5 or 3% of transfer, whichever is greater

Terms apply

• 3X miles on every $1 spent on travel and dining
• 0% APR during the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
• No additional travel credits, like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application credit
• Points aren’t worth more if you book travel through a special portal
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $752
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,403

Bottom line

Dreaming about future travel can be exciting, but paying for a vacation can take some of the fun out of it. If you use one of the travel cards mentioned above, you can earn lucrative rewards that can offset the cost. And if you choose a premium travel card, you can save money on flights, hotels and food with annual travel or dining credits — helping you lower your total bill but hold on to the good memories.

Our methodology

To determine which cards will put the most money back in your pocket, Select evaluated 35 popular travel credit cards offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri . The company’s data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here .

Esri’s data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

We then estimated how much the average consumer would redeem over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee and assume that you are paying your credit card balance on time and in full each month so as not to incur interest charges.

It’s important to note the value of a point or mile varies from card to card and based on how you redeem them. When we calculated the estimated returns, we assumed that cardholders are redeeming points/miles for a typical maximum value of 1 cent per point or mile. (Extreme optimizers might be able to achieve more value.)

Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns, since it’s generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses.

While the five-year estimates we’ve included are derived from a budget similar to the average American’s spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your travel habits.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click  here .

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This is officially the world’s most stressful airport

I tested those new direct flights to the Margaret River region

Should Aussies stock up on the weak Japanese yen?

Would you recommend using a travel card overseas and, if so, which one is best?

I’m actually a big fan of using a debit card such as the ING Orange Everyday card, which you can use around the world without paying any international transaction or ATM fees. It’s accepted everywhere and you never have to worry about getting slammed with charges or being in a position where you’re unable to access your money due to lengthy load times. The downside? You have to keep your eye on your spending, as well as remember to provide the bank with details of your travel destinations and travel dates, otherwise stops could be placed on your card.

Travel money cards aren’t short of benefits, of course; you can lock in an exchange rate (although this can work against you, too, if rates improve after you’ve locked it all in). You can load multiple currencies, avoid currency conversion fees and, since you’re only spending what you’ve loaded onto the card, prevent yourself from shopping yourself into the red.

See also: I ditched my Qantas card and this is better

See also: Debit card led to 8-hour flight from hell

The downsides are just as plentiful. Often there are fees and charges associated with the cards, there are the long load times, where you may not have access to your funds, and some merchants will not accept them.

Not all travel cards are created equal, and if you want to use one, I would lean towards the Revolut Standard , which has a five-star rating on Canstar . There are no fees (unless you require a second card), but travellers are unable to use it in Vietnam or China or earn reward points.

Canstar also awarded a five-star rating to Wise Travel Money Card for its long list of features, so it’s well worth taking a look at this one too.

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Dilvin backpacked solo around Europe after finishing high school and has lived for adventure ever since. She’s fallen under the spell of Bora Bora, made multiple trips to Turkey and finally got to visit Antarctica. She is also a self-professed cruise convert after a trip around the Norwegian fjords.

Friends had warned me that it was intense but I naively thought as a seasoned traveller I would be fine. How wrong I was.

Fly into Busselton instead of Perth for your Margaret River getaway, and you can be on the beach in just half an hour instead of enduring a three-hour drive.

As we reported last week, the yen is currently at a 34-year low. So, if you're planning to travel there soon, should you be loading up on yen now? We asked the experts.

Online travel scams you need to look out for

Pickpockets and scammers are rife abroad, especially in European cities like Rome, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona. But despite bum bags tied to your chest and socks with secret compartments, thieves have found another point of entry. One they don’t even need to leave the house for. In fact all they need is an Internet connection.

Here Are the Four Best Travel Money Cards in 2024

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Co-Founder of Monito and money transfer expert, François has been helping Monito’s users navigate the jungle of money transfer fees, bad exchange rates and tricks for the last ten years.

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A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.

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From the multitude of bank fees and ATM charges to hidden currency conversion fees, there's no question that spending your money abroad while travelling can be costly — and that's saying nothing about the cost of the holiday itself!

As you prepare for your trip abroad, the golden rule is that you'll save the most money by using the local currency of your destination. This means withdrawing local cash at foreign ATMs and using a debit card to pay directly in the local currency. For example, if you're from the UK, using your bank's debit card that accesses your British pounds will likely lose you money to hidden fees at ATMs abroad and at local merchants.

In general, we rate Revolut as the best travel card all around. Its versatile account and card can be used to spend like a local pretty much anywhere in the world. ✨ Get 3 months of free Revolut Premium as a Monito reader with our exclusive link .

If you're from the EU, UK, or US, here are a few more specific recommendations to explore:

• Best for travelling from the UK: Chase
• Best for travelling from the US: Chime ®
• Best for travelling from the Eurozone: N26

If it's not possible for you to spend in the local currency when travelling abroad, then spending in your home currency while using a card that doesn't charge any hidden exchange rate markups from your bank (e.g. only the VISA or Mastercard exchange rates to convert currency) is still a good bet for most people.

In this guide, we explore cards that waive or lower ATM fees and that hold multiple currencies. Spend on your holiday like a local and enjoy peace of mind after each tap and swipe!

Best Travel Cards (And More!) at a Glance

Best travel money cards.

• 01. What is the best best multi currency card? scroll down
• 02. Are prepaid currency cards really it? scroll down
• 03. Monito's best travel money card tips scroll down
• 04. FAQ about the best travel cards scroll down

Revolut: Best All-Rounder

Revolut is one of the most well-known fintechs in the world because it offers services across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

• Trust & Credibility 8.9
• Service & Quality 7.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Revolut is available in many countries. You can double-check if it's available in yours below:

Here's an overview of Revolut's plans:

Revolut Ultra is currently only available in the UK and EU.

Like Wise, Revolut converts your currency to the local currency of your travel destination at an excellent exchange rate (called the 'Revolut Rate', which, on weekdays, is basically on par with the rate you see on Google), making it a good way to buy foreign currency before travelling abroad. As always though, bear in mind that Revolut's exchange rates might be subject to change.

Revolut's Standard Plan only allows currency exchange at the base mid-market exchange rate for transfers worth £1,000 per month. ATM withdrawals are also free for the first €200 (although third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee, and weekend surcharges may also apply). These allowances can be waived by upgrading memberships.

N26: Good Bank For EU Travellers

One of the most well-known neobanks in Europe, N26 and its debit card operate in euros only. However, N26 is a partner with Wise and has fully integrated Wise's technology so that you never have to pay foreign transaction fees on your purchases outside of the eurozone. While N26 does not have multi-currency functionality, N26 will apply the real exchange rate on all your foreign purchases and will never charge a commission fee — making N26's card a powerful card for EU/EEA residents who travel across the globe.

• Trust & Credibility 7.9
• Service & Quality 8.0
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.3
• Customer Satisfaction 8.1

These are the countries in which you can register for an N26 account:

And here is an overview of the various plans and account:

This low-fee option for banking is also ideal for travellers who do not belong to a European bank but frequent the Eurozone. For example, N26 is available for residents and citizens of Switzerland, Norway, and other European Economic Area countries that do not run on the Euro.

These citizens, who are in close proximity to the Eurozone, will save each time they spend with an N26 card while in Europe. N26 provides three free ATM withdrawals per month in euros but does charge a 1.7% fee per ATM withdrawal outside of Europe.

Take a look at our guide to the best travel cards for Europe to learn more.

Wise: Best For Multi-Currency Balances

Load up to 54 currencies onto this card at the real exchange rate, giving you access to truly global travel.

• Trust & Credibility 9.3
• Service & Quality 8.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
• Customer Satisfaction 9.6

These are the countries in which you can order a Wise debit card:

Unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs, Wise is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your home currency into up to 54 currencies. The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with Wise.

An industry-low commission fee per transaction will range from 0.35% to 2.85%, depending on the currency.

Chase: Great UK Bank For Travel

A recent arrival from the USA, Chase is one of the UK’s newest digital challenger banks and comes with a rock-solid reputation and no monthly charges, no currency conversion charges, no withdrawal fees, and no other charges for everyday banking from Chase. It’s a simple, streamlined bank account with an excellent mobile banking app and a great cashback offer. However, it doesn’t yet offer more advanced features like international money transfers, joint accounts, business banking, overdrafts and loans, and teen or child accounts.

• Trust & Credibility 10
• Fees & Exchange Rates 10
• Customer Satisfaction 8.7

Chime: Great Account For US Travelers

Chime  is a good debit card for international travel thanks to its no foreign transaction fees¹. Unlike multi-currency accounts like Revolut (which let you hold local currency), Chime uses the live exchange rate applied by VISA. This rate is close to the mid-market rate, and Chime does not add any extra markup to your purchases, although out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over-the-counter advance fees may still apply.

• Trust & Credibility 9.5
• Service & Quality 8.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.8

While Chime waives ATM fees at all MoneyPass, AllPoint, and VISA Plus Alliance ATMs within the United States, this fee waiver does not extend to withdrawals made outside the country. For withdrawals abroad, Chime applies a $2.50 fee per transaction, with a daily withdrawal limit of $515 or its equivalent. This is in addition to any fees charged by the ATM owner. Therefore, we recommend Chime primarily for card purchases rather than relying on it for withdrawing cash while traveling internationally.

• No  foreign transaction fees ¹;
• Uses VISA's exchange rate ( monitor here ):
• A $2.50 fee per ATM withdrawal made outside of the United States;
• More info:  Read our  Chime review  or  visit their website .

Best Travel Money Cards in 2024 Compared by Country

In the table below, see our comparison summary of the four best travel cards for 2024 by country:

Last updated: 8 January 2024

What's The Best Prepaid Card to Use Abroad?

Travel cards come in many varieties, such as standard credit cards or debit cards with no foreign transaction fees or cards that waive all foreign ATM withdrawal fees.

What is a Multi-Currency Card?

Multi-currency cards are a specific type of travel card that allows you to own all kinds of foreign currencies, which you can instantly access when you pay with your card abroad. By spending the local currency in the region of travel , you bypass poor foreign exchange rates. ATMs and cashless payment machines will treat your card like a local card.

We have already mentioned a few multi-currency cards in this review, but we will also introduce Travelex . Travelex's Money Card also allows you to top up several foreign currencies — albeit at exchange rates slightly poorer than the real mid-market rate .

Wise Account

Wise has one of the best multi-currency cards available on the market.

Read our full review for more details.

Revolut is impressive for its vast options in currencies and its additional services.

Our in-depth review explores Revolut's services in detail.

Travelex offers a prepaid travel money card that supports 10 currencies and waives all ATM withdrawal fees abroad.

• Trust & Credibility 9.0
• Service & Quality 5.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.1
• Customer Satisfaction 9.3

Travelex charges fees, which fluctuate according to the exchange rates of the day, in order to convert your home currency into the currencies that it supports. But once the currency is on the card, you'll be able to spend like a local. Learn more with our full review .

Don’t Let Banks, Bureaux de Change, and ATMs Eat Your Lunch 🍕!

Are you withdrawing cash at an ATM in the streets of Paris? Exchanging currencies at Gatwick airport? Paying for a pizza with your card during a holiday in Milano? Every time you exchange currencies, you could lose between 2% to 20% of your money in  hidden fees . Keep reading below to make sure you recognize and avoid them.

Currency Exchange Fees Eating My Lunch? What’s That?

You’re often charged a hidden fee in the form of an alarming exchange rate.

At any given time, there is a so-called “ mid-market exchange rate ” — this is the real exchange rate you can see on  Google . However, the money transfer provider or bank you use to exchange currencies rarely offers this exchange rate. Instead, you will get a much worse exchange rate. They pocket this margin between the actual rate and the poor exchange rate they apply, allowing the bank or money transfer provider to profit from the currency exchange. 

In other words, you or your recipient will receive less foreign currency for each unit of currency you exchange. All the while, the provider will claim that they charge zero commission or zero fees.

So the question now is… how can you avoid them? Thankfully, the best travel money cards will allow you to hold the local currency, which you can access instantly with a tap or swipe. Carrying the local currency avoids  exchange rate margins  on every purchase.

Top Travel Money Tips

• Avoid bureaux de change. They charge between 2.15% and 16.6% of the money exchanged.
• Always pay in the local currency and never accept the  dynamic currency conversion .
• Don't use your ordinary debit or credit card unless it's specifically geared toward international use. Doing this will typically cost you between 1.75% and 4.25% per transaction. Instead, use one of the innovative travel money cards below.

By opting for a travel card without FX fees, you can freely swipe your card abroad without worrying about additional charges. However, saving money doesn't stop there. To make the most out of your travel budget, consider using  Skyscanner , one of the most powerful flight search engines available that allows you to compare prices from various airlines and find the best deals.

With Skyscanner's user-friendly interface and comprehensive search options, you can discover cheap flights and enjoy your holidays with peace of mind and more money in your pocket.

Best Travel Money Card Tips

When you convert your home currency into a foreign currency, foreign exchange service providers will charge you two kinds of fees :

• Exchange Rate Margin:  Providers apply an exchange rate that is poorer than the true  "mid-market" exchange rate . They keep the difference, called an  exchange rate margin .
• Commission Fee:  This  fee  is usually a percentage of the amount converted, which is charged for the service provided.

With these facts in mind, let's see what practices are useful to avoid ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges you may encounter while on your travels.

Tip 1: While Traveling, Avoid Bureaux de Change At All Costs

Have you ever wondered how bureaux de change and currency exchange desks are able to secure prime real estate in tourist locations like the Champs-Élysées in Paris or Covent Carden in London while claiming to take no commission? It’s easy: they make (plenty of) money through hidden fees on the exchange rates they give you. 

Our study shows that Bureaux de Change in Paris charges a margin ranging from 2.15% at CEN Change Dollar Boulevard de Strasbourg to 16.6% (!!) at Travelex Champs-Élysées when exchanging 500 US dollars into euros for example. 

If you really want cash and can’t wait to withdraw it with a card at an ATM at your destination, ordering currencies online before your trip is usually cheaper than exchanging currencies at a bureau de change, but it’s still a very expensive way to get foreign currency which we, therefore, would not recommend.

Tip 2: Always Choose To Pay In the Local Currency

Don’t fall for the dynamic currency conversion trap! When using your card abroad to pay at a terminal or withdraw cash at an ATM, you’ve probably been asked whether you’d prefer to pay in your home currency instead of the local currency of the foreign country. This little trick is called dynamic currency conversion , and the right answer to this sneaky question will help you save big on currency exchange fees.

As a general rule, you always want to pay in the local currency (euros in Europe, sterling in the UK, kroner in Denmark, bahts in Thailand, etc.) when using your card abroad, instead of accepting the currency exchange and paying in your home currency. 

This seems like a trick question - why not opt to pay in your home currency? On the plus side, you would know exactly what amount you would be paying in your home currency instead of accepting the unknown exchange rate determined by your card issuer a few days later.

What is a Dynamic Currency Conversion?

However, when choosing to pay in your home currency instead of the local one, you will carry out what’s called a “dynamic currency conversion”. This is just a complicated way of saying that you’re exchanging between the foreign currency and your home currency at the exact time you use your card to pay or withdraw cash in a foreign currency, and not a few days later. For this privilege, the local payment terminal or ATM will apply an exchange rate that is often significantly worse than even a traditional bank’s exchange rate (we’ve seen margins of up to 8%!), and of course, much worse than the exchange rate you would get by using an innovative multi-currency card (see tip #3). 

In the vast majority of times, knowing with complete certainty what amount you will pay in your home currency is not worth the additional steep cost of the dynamic currency conversion, hence why we recommend always choosing to pay in the local currency.

Tip 3: Don't Use a Traditional Card To Pay in Foreign Currency/Withdraw Cash Abroad

As mentioned before, providers make money on foreign currency conversions by charging poor exchange rates — and pocketing the difference between that and the true mid-market rate. They also make money by charging commission fees, which can either come as flat fees or as a percentage of the transaction.

Have a look at traditional bank cards to see how much you can be charged in fees for spending or withdrawing $500 while on your holiday.

These fees can very quickly add up. For example, take a couple and a child travelling to the US on a two-week mid-range holiday. According to this study , the total cost of their holiday would amount to around $4200. If you withdraw $200 in cash four times and spend the rest with your card, you would pay $123 in hidden currency exchange and ATM withdrawal fees with HSBC or $110 with La Banque Postale. With this money, our travellers could pay for a nice dinner, the entrance fee to Yosemite Park, or many other priceless memories. 

Thankfully, new innovative multi-currency cards will help you save a lot of money while travelling. Opening an N26 Classic account and using the N26 card during the same US holidays would only cost $13.60.

Need Foreign Cash Anyway?

In many countries, carrying a wad of banknotes is not only useful but necessary to pay your way since not every shop, market stall, or street vendor will accept card payments. In these cases you'll have two options to exchange foreign currency cheaply:

1. Withraw at an ATM

As we've explored in great depth in this article, withdrawing money from a foreign ATM will almost always come with fees — at the very least from the ATM itself, and so it's therefore the best strategy to use a travel debit card that doesn't charge in specific ATM withdraw fees on its own to add insult to injury. That said, if you need cash, we recommend making one large withdrawal rather than multiple smaller ones . This way, you'll be able to dodge the fees being incurred multiple times.

2. Buy Banknotes (at a Reasonable Rate!)

As we've also seen, buying foreign currency at the airport, at foreign bank branches, or in bureaux de change in tourist hotspots can be surprisingly expensive. Still, not all exchange offices are equally pricey . If you're looking for a well-priced way to exchange your cash into foreign currency banknotes before you travel, Change Group will let you order foreign currency online and pick them up at the airport, train station, or a Change Group branch just before you leave for your holiday. A few pick-up locations in the UK include:

• London centre (multiple locations),
• Glasgow centre,
• Oxford centre,
• Luton Airport,
• Gatwick Airport,
• St. Pancras Station.

(Note that Change Group also has locations in the USA, Australia, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Austria, and Finland!)

Although its exchange rates aren't quite as good as using a low-fee debit card like Revolut, Change Group's exchange rates between popular currencies tend to be between 2% to 3%, which is still a lot better than you'll get at the bank or at a touristy bureau de change in the middle or Paris or Prague!

FAQ About the Best Travel Money Cards

Having reviewed and compared several of the industry's leading neobanks, experts at Monito have found the Wise Account to offer the best multi-currency card in 2024.

In general, yes! You can get a much better deal with new innovative travel cards than traditional banks' debit/credit cards. However, not all cards are made equal, so make sure to compare the fees to withdraw cash abroad, the exchange rates and monthly fees to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.

• Sign up for a multi-currency account;
• Link your bank to the account and add your home currency;
• Convert amount to the local currency of holiday destination ( Wise and Revolut convert at the actual mid-market rate);
• Tap and swipe like a local when you pay at vendors.

Yes, the Wise Multi-Currency Card is uniquely worthwhile because it actually converts your home currency into foreign currency at the real mid-market exchange rate . Wise charges a transparent and industry-low commission fee for the service instead.

More traditional currency cards like the Travelex Money Card are good alternatives, but they will apply an exchange rate that is weaker than the mid-market rate.

The Wise Multi-Currency Card is the best money card for euros because unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs,  Wise  is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your local currency into euros with them.

The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with  Wise . An industry-low commission fee will range from 0.35% to 2.85%. USD to EUR transfers generally incur a 1.6% fee.

Learn more about how to buy euros in the United States before your trip.

There are usually three types of travel cards, prepaid travel cards, debit travel cards and credit travel cards. Each have pros and cons, here's a short summary:

• Prepaid travel cards: You usually need to load cards with your home currency via a bank wire or credit/debit card top-up. You're then able to manage the balance from an attached mobile app and can use it to pay in foreign currencies or withdraw cash at an ATM abroad tapping into your home currency prepaid balance. With prepaid travel cards, as the name indicates, you can't spend more than what you've loaded before hand. Some prepaid card providers will provide ways to "auto top-up" when your balance reaches a certain level that you can customize. On Revolut for example, you can decide to top-up £100/£200/£500 from your debit card each time your balance reaches below £50.
• Debit travel cards: Some innovative digital banks, like N26 or Monzo, offer travel debit cards that have the same advantages than a Prepaid Travel Cards, except that they're debit card directly tapping into your current account balance. Like a Prepaid travel card, you can't spend more than the balance you have in your current account with N26 or Monzo, but you can activate an overdraft (between €1,000 or €10,000 for N26 or £1,000 for Monzo) if you need it, for a fee though.

Note that even if they're Prepaid or Debit cards, you can use them for Internet payments like a normal credit card.

• Credit travel cards: You can find credit cards made for international payments offering good exchange rates and low fees to withdraw money abroad, but you'll need to pay interests in your international payment if you don't pay in FULL at the end of every month and interest on your ATM withdrawals each day until you pay them back.

Why You Can Trust Monito

Our recommendations are built on rock-solid experience.

• We've reviewed 70+ digital finance apps and online banks
• We've made 100's of card transactions
• Our writers have been testing providers since 2013

Other Monito Guides and Reviews on Top Multi Currency Cards

Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

Monito is trusted by 15+ million users across the globe.

Monito's experts spend hours researching and testing services so that you don't have to.

Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.

Best travel credit cards with no annual fee for 2023

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Many popular travel credit cards come with flashy perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credits. The downside of these luxury perks is that they usually only come at the expense of a high annual fee. And with that, you’ll have the constant stress of making sure you’re using the perks enough to justify the fee .

Luckily, there are plenty of no-annual-fee travel credit cards. The benefits may not be as robust as you’ll find with premium cards, but you can get some travel-related perks without forking over an annual fee for the privilege. The best no-annual-fee travel credit card for you depends on your spending style, how you want to redeem your rewards and the travel benefits you are hoping to get. This guide highlights the best travel credit cards with no annual fee and everything you should consider before you choose one.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for beginners

Why we picked it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great way to ease yourself into travel rewards. You’ll earn 1.25X miles on all of your spending, along with 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can also earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 within the first three months. You can redeem your miles for travel, cash back, gift cards and more, but you’ll get the best value when you redeem for travel or transfers to travel partners (an uncommon feature with no-annual-fee travel cards).

• Generous rewards rate on select travel purchases
• Earn a bonus offer with a low minimum spending requirement
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to transfer rewards to Capital One travel partners
• Lower rewards rate than other no-annual-fee travel credit cards
• No major travel perks included

Who should apply: Consider this card if you want some flexibility when it comes to redeeming your rewards. A lot of travel cards require you to book through their sites, but the VentureOne gives you the option of booking with a third-party airline, hotel or travel service and later redeeming your miles for a statement credit to cover the cost.

Who should skip:   Capital One’s travel partners are good, but not great. If you’re looking for a credit card issuer with a fantastic list of airline and hotel transfer partners, you might be better off with a credit card from Chase or American Express, but note that you may have to pay an annual fee .

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines

Why we picked it:  With the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , you’ll earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and 2X miles on Delta purchases, plus 1X miles on everything else. The welcome offer is easily obtainable, too — you can earn 10,000 miles by spending $1,000 within the first six months of card membership.

• Earn bonus miles on dining and Delta purchases
• Get a 20 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases
• Frequent flyer perks are minimal (no free checked bags or priority boarding)
• The welcome offer may not be enough for a one-way flight

Who should apply:  Consider the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card if you want the chance to rack up miles in the Delta SkyMiles program but you don’t spend enough to justify paying an annual fee.

Who should skip:  If you travel with Delta frequently, you’ll benefit more from a Delta card that offers free checked bags , priority boarding , a better welcome offer and more miles for each dollar you spend.

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Best for American Airlines

Why we picked it: While you won’t get major frequent flyer benefits like a free checked bag or priority boarding with the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card *, you will get the chance to rack up miles through credit card spending: You’ll earn 2X AAdvantage miles on groceries, 2X miles on American Airlines purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases. Additionally, you’ll get a 25 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases, such as food and beverages.

• Earn 2X miles on groceries and American Airlines purchases
• 25 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases
• Charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee

Who should apply: Consider the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp if you prefer to fly with American Airlines but fly infrequently and don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Who should skip: If you fly with American or its Oneworld partners frequently, you may be better off with a co-branded credit card that offers frequent flyer perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding. For example, you may want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® *, which waives its $99 annual fee for the first 12 months. Also, consider a different card if you travel internationally and want to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for frequent Hilton stays

Why we picked it: Travelers who frequent Hilton hotel locations will find the Hilton Honors American Express Card to be a solid no-annual-fee option. This card offers a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first six months of card membership. You’ll also earn high rewards rates in numerous categories: 7X points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases.

• Comes with complimentary Hilton Silver status
• Earns a generous rewards rate on Hilton stays
• Minimal elite hotel benefits (for example, no room upgrades or complimentary breakfast)
• Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents apiece on average , so take the high rewards rates with a grain of salt

Who should apply:  Anyone who stays at Hilton properties regularly and isn’t interested in premium perks will get a fair amount of value out of this card.

Who should skip:  Hilton travelers interested in better perks like annual resort credits and free weekend nights should consider other Hilton credit cards, including options that come with a higher tier of elite status, annual travel credits and other premium perks.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for Bank of America customers

Why we picked it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good choice for earning travel rewards on each purchase, but it’s even better if you already do your banking with Bank of America. The card earns 1.5X points on every dollar spent, but you can bump up your rewards by 25 percent to 75 percent if you qualify for membership in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program .

• Earns a flat 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn 25 to 75 percent more rewards
• Flexible redemption options
• No major travel perks

Who should apply: This is a solid card for those who want to earn a flat rate of flexible travel points on each dollar spent. Bank of America customers with a considerable amount of savings will especially benefit due to the boosted rewards rates for Preferred Rewards customers.

Who should skip:  Skip this card if you want travel-related perks like free checked bags or elite status.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for pairing with a premium travel card

Why we picked it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn’t a travel rewards card, but it is a no-annual-fee card that you can pair with Chase’s premium travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , to boost your points value by 25 percent to 50 percent when booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Essentially, you can combine the points you earn with your Chase Freedom Unlimited with the points you earn with your Sapphire card. Then, with your Sapphire card, you can redeem your rewards for higher-value redemptions like transfers to Chase travel partners or travel through Chase.

• 5 percent cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 5 percent cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025); 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases; 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases
• Additional 1.5 percent cash back on top of all purchases’ original cash back rate (on up to $20,000) for the first year (exclusive offer through Bankrate)
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• 3 percent foreign transaction fee
• Can’t transfer points to Chase’s travel partners without a premium card

Who should apply: Consider this cash back credit card if you already have a Sapphire card and want to earn better-than-average rewards on drugstore purchases and non-category purchases.

Who should skip:  Skip this card if you need an option that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, or if you want travel perks that are specific to a frequent flyer or hotel loyalty program.

Discover it Miles: Best for flexible redemptions

Why we picked it: The Discover it® Miles is a flat-rate card that earns an unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases. Like all other Discover cards, the rewards you earn within your first 12 months will be doubled at the end of that year.

• A generous flat rate of 1.5X miles on all purchases
• Discover matches your first-year earnings
• No foreign transaction fees (this is true for all Discover credit cards)
• Redeem rewards for flexible travel options
• You have to wait a full year for the welcome bonus
• No travel perks

Who should apply: Consider the Discover it Miles if you want to earn flexible rewards that you can redeem for any type of travel.

Who should skip: Skip this card if you want travel-related benefits or if you want to earn a generous sign-up bonus within the first few months of account opening.

Compare the best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Benefits of no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

In general, no-annual-fee travel cards come with many perks:

• They’re great for beginners who are new to the travel card space.
• You won’t have to worry about recouping a high annual fee through spending or earning credits.
• With a co-branded card , you can earn rewards in a hotel or airline loyalty program through credit card spending.
• You may receive a 0 percent intro APR on purchases or balance transfers for a limited time.
• You’ll typically receive more travel-related perks than other no-annual-fee rewards cards, such as rewards on travel purchases or travel-related redemption options.

How to choose a travel credit card with no annual fee

As you review the best travel credit cards with no annual fee, there are a number of important factors to keep in mind. Here’s everything you need to think about as you choose your next card .

• Consider your spending style and habits. Ideally, you’ll find a no-annual-fee travel card that’s suited to your budget. Look for a card that gives boosted rewards on the types of purchases you spend the most on each month. If your spending is pretty scattered, a flat-rate card may be best.
• Compare welcome offers. Earning rates are important, but you should also consider welcome offers. Many travel credit cards with no annual fee make it easy to earn $200 or more in rewards right off the bat (as long as you meet the terms ).
• Pay attention to cardholder perks.  Airline cards and hotel cards with no annual fee tend to offer in-flight discounts or automatic elite status, while some general travel credit cards in this niche offer travel insurance benefits .
• Look closely at redemption options. Be sure to select a travel credit card that lets you redeem your rewards for the type of rewards you want. If you’re unsure, look for a flexible travel credit card that lets you redeem for statement credits to cover numerous types of travel purchases.

The bottom line

Many of the best travel credit cards charge annual fees, but there are plenty of good no-annual-fee options, too. Find a card that works with your spending habits and your future travel plans to maximize your earnings , then work to pay your balances off each month so you don’t take on added costs in the form of interest payments.

*The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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Best Travel Cards for Australians Heading Overseas in 2024

We compare the best travel money cards including prepaid cards, debit cards and credit cards. Whether you want ease of access to money at any cost or no-frills or fees cash, find the best money solution when you travel overseas.

Wise - our pick for travel card

• No annual fee, hidden transaction fees, no exchange rate markups
• No minimum balance requirements
• Allows you to make payments and withdrawals wherever you are in the world in over 40 currencies
• Local bank account details in Australia (AUD), the UK (GBP), the USA (USD), Europe (EUR), Canada (CAD) and New Zealand (NZD)
• Available in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand

Find out more about the Wise card .

With this card:

• It's very easy to set up and order
• You can receive foreign currency into a multi-currency account linked to the card
• Pay with your Wise card in most places overseas where debit cards are accepted
• Get the mid-market rate for currency conversion

Go to Wise  or read our  review .

It's not all good news though

• There is a 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw over $350 during a month
• It takes 7-14 days for delivery

How do I pick the best travel card for me?

Fed up with ATM charges when you travel overseas? Or running out of money when you need it the most? You probably brought the wrong card with you.

It can be tricky to choose the best travel card to use when you travel overseas. The best one for you will really depend on what you need from the card you're using.

You will generally use travel cards to make purchases online, in-stores and to withdraw money at ATMs. All travel cards have these basic capabilities. This means what you should really compare between travel cards are the following:

Exchange Rates and Fees

Compare exchange rates and fees

Conditions and limits

Spending conditions and max/min limits

Make sure your money is secure

Best Travel Cards for Australians Travelling Overseas

Wise is our pick for travel debit card.

• You can transfer money to a bank account overseas
• Currency conversion using the mid-market exchange rate

Click here to see the full list of cards and how Wise compares

Read the full review

• No annual fee, hidden transaction fees, exchange rate markups
• Local bank account details in Australia (AUD), the UK (GBP), the USA (USD), Europe (EUR) and New Zealand (NZD)
• It takes 7-14 business days to receive the card
• Can't always access local technical support depending on where you are
• Free cash withdrawals limited to under $350 every 30 days
• Only currently available in the US, UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand

Revolut - multi-currency travel card

• No purchase fee, load fee, reload fee, exchange rate margin or minimum balance requirements
• Unlike other Travel Cards, its free and easy to use the balance of your currency or convert it back to AUD
• Mid-market exchange rate, they add a mark-up for currency conversion during weekends
• For the free Standard account, there is a 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw over $350 during a month
• The premium account costs $10.99 a month, which can really add up if you are not using it often

Click here to see the full list of cards and how Revolut compares

• Very easy to use app
• Free to set up
• No hidden fees or exchange rate mark-ups (except on weekends)
• You can use it to transfer money to a bank account overseas
• Additional fees for using the card on a weekend
• 2% ATM fee once you withdraw more than $350 in any 30 day period
• 3-4 business days before you receive your card
• Ongoing subscription fee for Premium and Metal cards

Citibank Saver Plus - bank travel card

The Citibank Plus Everyday Account - bank debit card. With this card you can:

• withdraw money for free at over 3000 ATMs Australia-wide and overseas
• take advantage of no foreign transaction fees, monthly fees, or minimum opening balance
• transfer money to friends and family anywhere in the world for free

We think this is the ideal debit card whether you're staying local in Oz or travelling to destinations in Asia or Europe.

• No international ATM or transaction fees
• Fee-free international money transfers to any account worldwide
• SMS notifications through Citi Alert
• Cash deposits available within 24-48 hours
• Can't have two cards active at the same time
• $5 account closure

28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard - travel credit card

28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard - travel credit card. With this card:

• There are no annual fees
• No overseas purchase fee or currency conversion fee
• You get 55 days interest free on purchases
• Access to free 24/7 concierge service
• Emergency card replacement worldwide

The 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard has additional benefits including shoppers and repayments benefits cover. For more information read our review .

• Can have 9 additional cardholders
• No overseas purchase fee, or currency conversion fee
• No foreign transaction fee
• Free Replacement Card
• High interest rates after the initial 55 days
• Minimum credit limit is $6000
• No introductory offers or rewards

Learn more about the 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard

Travelex money card - prepaid travel card.

Travelex Money Card - prepaid travel card. With this card:

• There are no ATM fees so you can withdraw cash at no extra cost
• You can access Travelex's online rates
• You can lock in your initial loading cross currency rate
• Ideal for the organised traveller.
• Can load up to 10 currencies including AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, THB, SGB, HKD and JPY.
• Smartphone App & Free Wifi Cross
• $0 overseas ATM fees (Australia excluded)
• 24/7 Global Support
• Limited Currencies
• 5.95% currency conversion rate
• $100 minimum initial load
• 2.95% Australian ATM withdrawal fee

Learn more about the Travelex Money Card

What are the other travel card options.

Check our travel card comparison table for a comprehensive list of fees and features for different travel debit and credit cards available for Australians travelling overseas.

*ATM operators will often charge their own fees.

** Up to 5 ATM fees and unlimited currency conversion costs may be rebated if you deposit $1,000 and make 5 purchases per month.

***Account fee waived if you meet eligibility criteria, including depositing $2,000 per month

What are the different types of travel card in Australia?

There are 3 popular travel cards you can take with you on your trip:

Prepaid Travel Card

Travel Debit Cards

Travel Credit Card

1. Prepaid Travel Card

For prepaid travel cards, you're able to load the card with a set amount of money in the currencies you need. Ideally you do this before your trip, but often you can reload them as well.

Most prepaid travel cards allow for multiple currencies to be loaded onto the card. So it's important to know what currency you'll be using on your travels. Airlines also offer prepaid cards so the money you spend can earn you reward points.

With prepaid travel cards you need to be careful, as they can have numerous fees and charges which can make it more expensive than other options. But if you're organised and travelling to multiple cities a prepaid travel card is a good option. Read more of how to find the best travel card with no foreign transaction fees .

If you need more flexibility or you don't want to pay the multiple fees associated with prepaid travel cards, the HSBC and Citibank global accounts are better options.

• Exchange rate margins when you load your card
• Exchange rate margins when you close the card
• Flat or percentage-based fees to load the card
• ATM withdrawal fees
• Exchange rate conversion fee when you use the card
• Reloading fees
• Closing fees

Prepaid travel cards are best if:

• You want to lock in a rate
• You want to stick to a budget
• You lose it/it's stolen

Prepaid travel cards are not great if:

• You want the absolute best rates
• You need to hire a car, make payments on a cruise ship, or pay for a hotel

2. Travel Debit Card

An international card or your bank card offers the convenience of a credit card, but work differently. They draw money directly from your bank's everyday transaction account when you make a purchase. It's designed for everyday money transactions and means that you're not accumulating debt.

A debit card could make you stick to your travel budget, because you can't overdraw money from your account. And for daily purchases, we think a debit card can help you stick to your travel budget, because you can't overdraw money from your account.

We recommend bringing both a debit card and credit card for safety, flexibility and convenience on your trip.

• Currency conversion fee for overseas debit transactions
• Flat fee or percentage-based ATM withdrawal fees
• Foreign ATM owner fees
• Flat fee or percentage fee for debit card purchases via EFTPOS

Debit cards are best for:

• When you have time and you're happy to open a bank account to get one
• Fee-free cash withdrawals from ATMs

Debit cards are not great if:

• You switched from a better account to get one
• Or if you want to switch, but pick a costly travel debit card instead

3. Travel Credit Card

Credit cards have obviously been around for a long time. But now there are specialised travel credit cards. Generally, these cards give you longer to pay back what you've spent but the interest rates after this time can be quite high.

The main advantage with credit cards are the reward points you get in return for your customer loyalty when you spend. But it only works if you pay off the balance in full each month.

Credit cards are great to use for car hire, restaurants and accommodation - larger expenses that are easier for you to pay back over time. Some services only take credit cards to hold purchases so they can definitely be handy while you're travelling.

• Annual and reward scheme fees
• Cash advance fees
• Interest charges

Travel credit cards are best for:

• Getting the best spending rates
• If you have decent credit score and are legible for the credit card
• Frequent flyer points to help you get discounted or free flights
• Low or zero international transaction fees
• Complimentary travel and/or medical insurance offered with a lot of cards

Travel credit cards are not great if:

• Your credit score is poor
• You won't repay in full every month
• Can't afford high minimum credit and annual fees
• Want additional card holders (usually an extra cost)
• Your monthly salary minimum isn't high enough
• For some travel credit cards you have to be a permanent Australian resident

Best travel money card tips

Before you decide which travel money card will best suit your needs, it’s worth comparing a few, bearing in mind these handy travel money card tips:

• Exchange rate - check what rate is used to convert your dollars to the currency needed for spending in your destination. A card which uses the mid-market rate or as close as possible to it is usually the best value
• Coverage - make sure your card covers the currency you’ll need in your destination, as fees may apply if it doesn’t. Picking a card which covers a large number of currencies can also mean you’re able to use your travel money card on future trips.
• Safety - check the card’s safety features. Most cards are linked to an app which allows you to view transactions, check your balance and freeze or unfreeze your card if you need to
• Fees - read through all the possible fees associated with your card before you sign up. Costs may include a foreign transaction fee when spending an unsupported currency, ATM fees, a cash out charge or inactivity fees if you don’t use your card often for example
• Rewards - some travel money cards also offer some nice extras, like ways to earn rewards or discounts, or free wifi when you travel. Travel credit cards in particular have lots of rewards on offer, although you may have to pay an annual fee to get them

Travel card fees

The fees you pay for your travel money card will vary depending on the type of card you select, and the specific provider. 

Travel prepaid cards fees can include:

• Fees when you get your card in the first place
• Load or top up fees
• An exchange rate margin when topping up foreign currencies
• Foreign transaction fees if you spend a currency you don’t have in your account
• ATM charges at home and abroad
• Cash out, close or inactivity charges

Read more about prepaid cards here

Travel debit card can include:

• Card delivery fee
• International ATM fees
• Currency conversion charges

Read more about travel debit cards here

International credit card fees can include:

• Annual fees to hold the card
• Cash advance fees if you use an ATM
• Foreign transaction fees
• Interest if you don’t repay your bill in full
• Penalties if you don’t pay your bill on time

Read more about credit cards here

Conclusion - What is the best card to use while travelling?

There’s no single best travel money card - which works best for you will depend on your personal preferences and where you’re heading. 

Using a multi-currency debit card which supports a large range of currencies can keep your costs low and allow you to skip foreign transaction fees . Plus you’ll be able to use your card for online shopping in foreign currencies, or for your next trip abroad, with no ongoing fees to worry about.

Prepaid travel money cards are safe and easy to use , and you can often pick one up instantly if you’re in a hurry. You’ll be able to add travel money before you leave or top up as you travel, although it’s worth converting to the currency you need in advance, and looking for a card with mid-market exchange rates to avoid extra costs.

Generally using a credit card will come with the highest overall fees - but you’ll be able to spread out the costs of your travel over a few months if you need to, and you may also be able to earn rewards or cash back as you spend. Use this guide to compare different card types and options, and pick the perfect one for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions - Best travel cards to use overseas

Which is the best travel card for use in australia.

The Citibank Plus Everyday Account is the best travel debit card for use in Australia. It works as a normal debit account, with no ATM fees at 3000 ATMs across Australia and has no account minimums.

Which travel card is best for Europe?

The best travel card for Europe is Wise . Not only do you get a great rate when spending in Euros, You get a set of bank account details with which you can recieve EUR transfers, as if you were a local.

Which high-street bank has the best travel card?

The best travel card from an Australian high-street bank is either the Citibank Plus Everyday Account or the CommBank travel money card . While Citibank's card offers more as a travel card (fee-free ATM withdrawals and excellent exchange rates), CommBank has far more in-person branches in Australia if you're someone who prefers doing your banking in person.

What is the best card to use while travelling?

There’s no single best travel money card - which is best for you will depend on your personal preferences. Usually having a few different ways to pay is a smart move, so packing a travel debit card or prepaid card, your credit card and some cash can mean you’re prepared for all eventualities.

Which bank travel card is best?

Australian banks offer travel credit cards, and some also have travel debit or prepaid card options which can be worth considering. Which is best for you will depend on the type of card you’d prefer, so comparing a few options from banks - and from specialist providers like Wise or Revolut - can help you find the best deal for your needs.

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