The most important features to compare are the foreign transaction fees, exchange rates and usability.
If you want to withdraw cash, a prepaid travel card or debit card will likely be cheaper than a credit card.
It is a good idea to have several travel money options in case of loss, damage or theft.
Travel cards are one option you can take with you overseas. Here, we go through what you need to know about them and how they compare to credit and debit cards, so you know whether it's the right choice for you.
A travel money card is a prepaid card which you can add multiple foreign currencies onto to use while you're travelling overseas. You can use it to make purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs.
Prepaid travel cards work similarly to debit cards as you can deposit a certain amount of money into the card and only spend what you've got available in the account. However, unlike a standard debit card, a prepaid travel card allows you to lock-in exchange rates before you travel.
You can also avoid some of the fees that you might be subject to if you were to use your normal bank card. Many transaction accounts have international transaction fees or other limitations, so getting a travel money card can save you money there. It can also feel safer to have a travel money card, avoiding the risk of losing your money if something were to happen to your bank card.
The pros and cons of different options
Prepaid travel money cards
Advantages of a travel money card
Pre-load your funds. Depositing your money on the card in advance can help you to stick to a budget, though you can always reload if needed.
Multiple currencies. You can convert Australian dollars into several supported currencies (great for a multi-country trip) and avoid currency conversion fees.
Locked-in exchange rates. Funds are converted based on the exchange rate at that time, so you avoid any exchange rate fluctuations while travelling. Caveat: this can be an advantage or a disadvantage.
Frequent flyer points. The Qantas Pay prepaid card means you'll earn frequent flyer points for your spending both overseas and in Australia.
Additional fees. Some card charge additional fees including ATM, reloading, account closure and inactivity fees.
Reload delay. Some cards may take a few days for the funds to be available.
Locked-in exchange rates. Funds are converted based on the exchange rate at that time, so you avoid any exchange rate fluctuations while travelling. Caveat: this can be an advantage or a disadvantage.
Acceptance. Travel money cards are not as widely accepted as debit or credit cards in some countries.
Debit cards
Advantages of debit cards
Card fraud protection. If you use your debit card, your money will be protected if you are a victim of fraud while you're away.
Easy access to your own money. Unlike a prepaid card or a credit card with a loaded amount of funds, a debit card gives you direct access to your transaction or savings account when you're in another country. This can save you time loading money on a prepaid card and can help you avoid interest charges that could apply on a credit card.
ATM availability worldwide. If your debit card is a Visa or Mastercard, you should be able to withdraw money from ATMs around the world.
Worldwide acceptance. Most countries accept both Visa and Mastercard debit cards.
Dynamic currency conversion. Paying in Australian dollars means the transaction will be processed using dynamic currency conversion, which usually adds between 6% and 8% to the transaction cost. Tip: when given the option, choose to pay in local currency to avoid this cost.
Daily currency exchange rate. You will receive the daily exchange rate for your withdrawal from Mastercard or Visa. Due to the uncertainty of exchange rates, this may be favourable or provide a lower rate than securing a rate with a prepaid travel card before you leave the country.
Credit cards
Advantages of credit cards
Flexibility. Credit cards allow you to borrow money up to the card's limit. So if you're travelling and don't have all the funds you need in your account, you can put your purchases on credit and pay it back over time.
Rewards. If you use a credit card you might be eligible for rewards or frequent flyer points such as access to airport lounges or flight upgrades.
Complimentary travel insurance. Some credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance. This can help you save on paying for additional travel insurance.
Security. Credit cards come with a range of security features including fraud-monitoring services and zero-liability policies that help protect you if your card is lost, stolen or used for fraudulent transactions.
Disadvantages of credit cards
Annual fees. Unless you have a $0 annual fee credit card, you'll usually have to pay an annual fee for the account.
Interest. If you aren't able to pay off your purchases within the interest free period, you'll end up having to pay interest on your balance.
Dynamic currency conversion. When you travel overseas with an Australian credit card, you could have the option of paying in the local currency or in Australian dollars. If you (or the merchant) choose Australian dollars, your transaction will be processed using dynamic currency conversion, which usually costs more than paying in the foreign currency.
What are the travel money card fees I should know about?
ATM withdrawal fees: Fees change depending on which card you have and which country you're in.
Initial load and reload fees: Some cards charge you when you first put foreign currency onto the card and/or when you add more money to your balance.
Currency conversion fees: Depending on the card, you can pay up to 5% or more in currency conversion fees. Tip: Qantas Pay doesn't charge a currency conversion fee.
Finder survey: Would you use a travel card again for a future trip?
Overall, almost all Australians who used a travel money card in the past would use one again in the future.
Response
Yes
96.52%
No
3.48%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1009 Australians, December 2023
There is no universal best travel money card as your options vary from country to country and person to person. In saying that, some of favourable features of travel cards include:
No additional fees: including ATM fees, reloading fees and card closure fee
The option to lock in exchange rates before you leave
The option to add multiple currencies onto the one card
Digital wallet compatibility so you can add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay
Low or no additional cost to convert your left-over money back to AUD
Security, including card pin
You should also consider exchange rates, conditions, limits and safety.
Top travel money tips
Here are our top travel money tips:
Pay for your purchases in the local currency. This will help avoid any currency conversion fees.
Keep an eye on your transactions. It's always a good idea to regularly check your transaction history to make sure there's no unauthorised transactions - and if there are, you should report them to your bank immediately.
Always take more than one travel money option. You don't want to be left stranded if you lose your card or it gets stolen. Consider bringing 2 forms of travel cards to avoid being left cashless in a foreign country.
Keep your travel money in a few different places. Having all your foreign cash and cards in a wallet means you'll have no backup if you lose your wallet. Instead, consider keeping some of your travel money in a separate place. For example, you could keep most of your cash in a hotel safe or a locked part of your luggage.
Inform your bank. If you're using your regular debit or credit card, let your bank know. You wouldn't want your card to be cancelled due to a 'suspicious transaction' while you're overseas because your bank thinks you're still in Australia.
Australian travel statistics
Australia is a nation of travellers. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 8,337,080 resident returns from overseas for the year 2022 - 2023. The most popular reason we travel is for a holiday, and the median trip duration is 15 days.
What is the Finder Travel Money Score?
At Finder we make complicated money stuff simple. One way we do this is with the Finder Score.
We crunch the numbers every month for 13 travel money card providers, scoring each product based on the 5 features most customers care about.
In exchange, you get a simple score out of 10 for each travel money card. The higher the better. It makes comparing simple.
We score travel money cards based on ATM withdrawal fees, daily withdrawal limits, inactivity fees, maximum load amount and the number of currencies you can put on the card.
The Finder Score methodology is designed by our insights and editorial team. Commercial partners carry no weight, and all products are reviewed objectively.
The Finder Score is designed to help you make a better financial decision faster, but there is no best product that fits every customer. We encourage you to consider your own financial circumstances when making a financial decision
Finder Scores explained
9+ Excellent - These are the best travel money cards in Finder's database, with low fees, high maximum load amounts and generous withdrawal limits.
7+ Great - Quality cards that offer a good mix of features with reasonable fees, but a bit short of the best in the market.
5+ Satisfactory - These travel money cards get the job done and may be well suited for certain customers, but the fees are higher and the cards have more limited features.
Less than 5 – Basic - These cards have higher fees than most options on the market and limited features.
FAQs about prepaid travel money cards
You can top up your travel money card if you need more money while you're on your trip. Depending on your specific travel money card, you can reload your card online, using BPAY, through your bank's app or via your bank's branch. Look into the card you are topping up because some methods do incur fees e.g. the Qantas Pay Card has an instant reload fee of 0.5% while its BPAY and bank transfers are free.
You can generally get your money back if you don't end up spending it all while overseas. However, you might encounter fees to get the remaining money back into your regular bank account.
The first thing you should do upon discovering that your card is missing is call your card provider. Reporting the theft or loss immediately will help protect the funds on your card.
Most of the card companies provide 24/7 customer service emergency numbers. Some even accept reverse charges, so it can be as simple as dialling the operator to connect your collect call. If you dial the number directly, you may be charged for the call.
Travel credit cards typically use the Mastercard or Visa network and use the daily exchange rates that the networks provide. You can find out the daily exchange rate by going to the Mastercard or Visa website. Prepaid travel cards allow you to lock in the exchange rate beforehand, so if you find a favourable one you can lock it in and not have to worry about fluctuations while you're away.
A cross currency conversion fee is charged when you use your Australian card with Australian dollars to make a purchase in a foreign country. The money is exchanged from Australian dollars into the local currency electronically. You can avoid this fee by choosing to pay in the local currency.
If you have a travel card that charges an inactivity fee (a fee that's charged every month when your account is inactive for a period of time), you will lose any remaining funds on the card, but your account won't go into a negative balance. Once the card has a zero balance, this fee will not be charged.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Joelle Grubb as part of our fact-checking process.
Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio
Amy's expertise
Amy has written 564 Finder guides across topics including:
The USA has a culture of credit, and it’s a society of card payments, read our travel money guide to find out which travel products to use and which to avoid using in the USA.
Hi,
I’m going on a 2 week Contiki Tour of Europe. I’ll be using the British pound, Euro and Swiss Franc. What type of card will be best for me?
Finder
ShirleySeptember 9, 2013Finder
Hi Peaches,
Thanks for your comment.
You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each form of travel money, which are listed in the above article. It really comes down to what you plan to do while you’re away. You may want to have a look at the currencies available on each travel card to minimise foreign transaction fees.
Hope this helps,
Shirley
DeeSeptember 4, 2013
Hello, I live in Canada and I will be travelling in Europe to London, Paris and Amsterdam. I don’t want to carry cash on me. What other method would you suggest would be the easiest/cheaper option?
Finder
JacobSeptember 4, 2013Finder
Hi Dee.
I can’t give a recommendation, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each form of travel money, which are listed in the above article. It really comes down to what you plan to do while you’re away. I wasn’t fussed about carrying cash overseas with me, so I took chunks of cash out from the ATM using my debit card. Someone who was opposed to this and paid for everything on their card would probably benefit from a travel card or a credit card with no currency conversion fee. Other people like chasing the best exchange rate they can get, so that can factor in too. The reality is that you’ll need cash somewhere along the line when you’re away, so ATM withdrawal fees can be a consideration too. Information about fees is listed above. I hope this helps.
Jacob.
BuddahAugust 24, 2013
Am travelling to UK and possibly Europe for 6 weeks in mid September.
What is the most efficient and economic means of gaining access to funds and purchase goods and services? Credit card, debit card, cash card etc.
Finder
JacobAugust 25, 2013Finder
Hi Buddah.
ATM fees are probably the greatest expense you’ll incur when you go to access your money, international and local ATM fees add up, and if you can find a product that doesn’t charge the earth to withdraw from an ATM, that’s half the battle. Some cards don’t charge this, while other banks have global ATM partners. Westpac customers, for instance, can make free withdrawals at Barclays Bank ATMs.
The next biggest expense is the currency conversion fee. Find a card that does not charge to convert from one currency to another. There are travel money cards and credit cards that don’t charge this fee.
The card that does not charge you to withdraw from an ATM or charge you for currency conversion is the way to go.
Thanks for your question.
JudianneAugust 22, 2013
Are there any cards that you can use in Vietnam with there currency? or Bali ?
Finder
JacobAugust 22, 2013Finder
Hi Judianne.
There are no travel money cards that allow you to load those currencies onto the cards. You can use a credit card or debit card in Asia; however, you will incur fees and charges for using a card in a foreign country. Have a look at the travel friendly credit cards and transaction accounts on this page. You may want to go for a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Thanks for your question.
KymAugust 22, 2013
In March 2014 my wife and i are flying to Singapore for three days and then doing a cruise on the Royal Caribbean Line (mariner of the seas) for 8 nights ending up in Shanghai for eight days. The cruise stops in Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; Xiamen, China; Baoshan (Shanghai), China Most things will be paid for prior to leaving Australia however there will be additional expenses both expected and unexpected.
Can you give advice as to the best cash card to use to ensure compatibility through out the trip – i know the currency on the ship will be in USD.
Finder
MarcAugust 22, 2013Finder
Hello Kym,
thanks for the question!
Unfortunately I can’t advise which is the best cash card, as there are so many options. Most of these cards operate on the Visa or MasterCard networks, so should be compatible at most, if not all the places you travel to. All of these cards will either convert automatically from AUD to other currencies, or in the case of travel money cards, will allow you to load a number of currencies onto the card before your trip, so you should have a problem being able to pay in foreign currencies.
Even if along your trip you need to pay for something in a currency which isn’t loaded on your travel money card, or you’ve run out of a particular currency on your travel money card, you’re usually still be able to pay if you have enough of other currencies on it – but you will pay a regular conversion fees which are normally around 3%.
Sometimes it’s also useful to consider taking a combination of these card types, as this will give you a back up in the event your cards are lost or stolen.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
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Hi,
I’m going on a 2 week Contiki Tour of Europe. I’ll be using the British pound, Euro and Swiss Franc. What type of card will be best for me?
Hi Peaches,
Thanks for your comment.
You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each form of travel money, which are listed in the above article. It really comes down to what you plan to do while you’re away. You may want to have a look at the currencies available on each travel card to minimise foreign transaction fees.
Hope this helps,
Shirley
Hello, I live in Canada and I will be travelling in Europe to London, Paris and Amsterdam. I don’t want to carry cash on me. What other method would you suggest would be the easiest/cheaper option?
Hi Dee.
I can’t give a recommendation, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each form of travel money, which are listed in the above article. It really comes down to what you plan to do while you’re away. I wasn’t fussed about carrying cash overseas with me, so I took chunks of cash out from the ATM using my debit card. Someone who was opposed to this and paid for everything on their card would probably benefit from a travel card or a credit card with no currency conversion fee. Other people like chasing the best exchange rate they can get, so that can factor in too. The reality is that you’ll need cash somewhere along the line when you’re away, so ATM withdrawal fees can be a consideration too. Information about fees is listed above. I hope this helps.
Jacob.
Am travelling to UK and possibly Europe for 6 weeks in mid September.
What is the most efficient and economic means of gaining access to funds and purchase goods and services? Credit card, debit card, cash card etc.
Hi Buddah.
ATM fees are probably the greatest expense you’ll incur when you go to access your money, international and local ATM fees add up, and if you can find a product that doesn’t charge the earth to withdraw from an ATM, that’s half the battle. Some cards don’t charge this, while other banks have global ATM partners. Westpac customers, for instance, can make free withdrawals at Barclays Bank ATMs.
The next biggest expense is the currency conversion fee. Find a card that does not charge to convert from one currency to another. There are travel money cards and credit cards that don’t charge this fee.
The card that does not charge you to withdraw from an ATM or charge you for currency conversion is the way to go.
Thanks for your question.
Are there any cards that you can use in Vietnam with there currency? or Bali ?
Hi Judianne.
There are no travel money cards that allow you to load those currencies onto the cards. You can use a credit card or debit card in Asia; however, you will incur fees and charges for using a card in a foreign country. Have a look at the travel friendly credit cards and transaction accounts on this page. You may want to go for a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Thanks for your question.
In March 2014 my wife and i are flying to Singapore for three days and then doing a cruise on the Royal Caribbean Line (mariner of the seas) for 8 nights ending up in Shanghai for eight days. The cruise stops in Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; Xiamen, China; Baoshan (Shanghai), China Most things will be paid for prior to leaving Australia however there will be additional expenses both expected and unexpected.
Can you give advice as to the best cash card to use to ensure compatibility through out the trip – i know the currency on the ship will be in USD.
Hello Kym,
thanks for the question!
Unfortunately I can’t advise which is the best cash card, as there are so many options. Most of these cards operate on the Visa or MasterCard networks, so should be compatible at most, if not all the places you travel to. All of these cards will either convert automatically from AUD to other currencies, or in the case of travel money cards, will allow you to load a number of currencies onto the card before your trip, so you should have a problem being able to pay in foreign currencies.
Even if along your trip you need to pay for something in a currency which isn’t loaded on your travel money card, or you’ve run out of a particular currency on your travel money card, you’re usually still be able to pay if you have enough of other currencies on it – but you will pay a regular conversion fees which are normally around 3%.
Sometimes it’s also useful to consider taking a combination of these card types, as this will give you a back up in the event your cards are lost or stolen.
I hope this helps,
Marc.