Some travel card options to take overseas

When planning a trip overseas, most people want the answer to the same question: What’s the cheapest way to get travel money?

The short answer is that it depends on a number of factors, like the length of your trip and how you’ll be spending money. However, if you’re travelling for more than a couple of weeks and plan to make purchases and access cash frequently, a travel card could be a good option.

A travel money card can be preloaded with foreign currency before you travel. Some of the benefits include:

• Locking in an exchange rate before you go
• Loading multiple currencies onto a single card
• Avoiding certain transaction fees, such as a currency conversion fee

What are some of good travel cards to take overseas?

Whether you’re heading off on a backpacking pilgrimage or hitting the beach for some R&R, there’s a card for almost every traveller’s need. Here are some of the top travel cards for overseas spending.

NAB Traveller Card

Key features:

• $0 load fee
• $0 reload fee
• No overseas ATM fees
• 10 currencies available
• 24/7 global emergency assistance
• 4 per cent cross-currency conversion

With no fees charged by NAB for overseas ATM usage and no load or reload fees, you can avoid being hit with extra charges that cut into your spending money. Plus, 24/7 emergency assistance means you can get help whenever you need it.

Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card

Key features:

• $15 load fee
• $0 reload fee
• Variable ATM fees depending on currency
• 13 currencies available
• 5 per cent cross-currency conversion

The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card offers the largest number of currencies of any travel card currently on the market, making it a good option for people travelling to multiple countries. The $0 reload fee also makes topping up cost-effective.

Qantas Cash Card

Key features:

• $0 load fee
• $0 reload fee (1 per cent if using a debit card)
• Variable ATM fees depending on currency
• 11 currencies available
• 0 per cent cross-currency conversion
• Earn 1.5 Qantas Points per $1 equivalent spent overseas and 1 point per $4 spent in Australia

If you’re a fan of frequent flyer miles, you can earn Qantas Points for spending with this card to put towards future flights, upgrades and other rewards. The 0 per cent cross-currency conversion fee also means you can spend in multiple currencies without incurring a fee, even if you don’t have a particular currency preloaded on your card.

Velocity Global Wallet

Key features:

• $0 load fee
• $0 reload fee
• Variable ATM fees depending on currency
• 11 currencies available
• 3 per cent cross-currency conversion
• Earn 1 Velocity Point per $1 equivalent spent overseas and 1 point per $2 spent in Australia

Just like the Qantas Cash Card, the Velocity Global Wallet allows you to earn frequent flyer points for spending abroad and in Australia. It’s also a cost-effective option if you plan on topping up your balance regularly thanks to $0 load and reload fees.

Australia Post Load&Go Travel Card

Key features:

• $0 load fee
• $0 reload fee
• Variable ATM fees depending on currency
• 5 currencies available
• 3 per cent cross-currency conversion
• Not linked to your bank account
• 24/7 global emergency assistance
• Emergency card replacement

Because this card isn’t linked to your bank account, only your card’s balance would be impacted in the event of skimming, theft or other fraudulent activities. And, if you do need help for a lost or stolen card, you have access to 24-hour emergency assistance and emergency card replacement.

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