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.
I’m travelling to Chile, Argentina, Brazil & Peru in September for 3 weeks on a prepaid trip. My expenses will be modest, probably a few souvenirs and one meal per day plus the odd splash out here and there. I’m looking for advice regarding the best way to handle money.
Finder
SallyJuly 29, 2015Finder
Hi John,
The “best” option for your travel will depend on your financial situation and your travel spending habits. Not many Australian prepaid travel cards support many South American currencies, so you might want to either consider a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card that does not charge foreign transaction or currency conversion fees. However, some South American currencies accept USD, so in this case, a prepaid travel card could come in handy.
It’s always a good idea to have more than one travel money option. So you might want to consider a credit card that is designed for overseas expenses for emergencies and big purchases and a debit or prepaid card and cash for everyday expenses. You should never keep all of your money options on you at one time, try to leave one option in a safe place (such as your hotel safe or with your luggage) to ensure that you are not strapped for cash should you lose your wallet.
You may wish to look over our South America Travel Money guide to get more information.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
KittyJuly 12, 2015
I am travelling to China in August this year. I’ve been told that if I get a travel card it can only be loaded with US dollars & not China’s Yuan money is this correct?. Am I better to take Yuan cash purchased from a Sydney bank before I travel & keep my travel card for larger purchases?
Finder
SallyJuly 13, 2015Finder
Hi Kitty,
Thanks for your question.
Most travel cards allow you to load a variety of currencies (as well as USD). However, not many of them support Chinese Yuan. As such, if you load USD (or another currency, such as AUD) onto your card, you may incur a currency conversion fee when making a purchase in RMB using the funds loaded on your card. Travelling with large amounts of cash can come with certain risks, so make sure to secure your funds while you travel. Your best bet may be to carry some of your cash with you and keep the rest in the hotel safe or another secure location while traveling.
For further tips, you may wish to consult our travel guide to China, Hong Kong and Korea. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you travel.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
FelicityJune 25, 2015
I have heard that business owners do not like accepting these cards overseas. Is this correct?
Finder
SallyJune 25, 2015Finder
Hi Felicity,
Thank you for your question.
This will depend on the card you use and the merchant.
Many travel cards, whether they’re debit, credit or prepaid cards, are supported by Visa and MasterCard and are generally accepted at selected ATMs and EFTPOS terminals internationally.
Depending on whether you’re referring to a travel debit card, a travel credit card or a prepaid travel card, there will be different limitations and benefits on offer.
I hope this has helped answer your question.
Thanks,
Sally
AnneJune 18, 2015
What’s the best and cheapest way to access cash in countries where the currency is not available on a travel money card – eg Knoner and rubles?
Finder
SallyJune 19, 2015Finder
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your question.
If you are unable to find a travel card that supports your desired currency, you may want to consider a no currency conversion fee credit card.
You can select the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
RonJune 8, 2015
I am travelling to the UK and a number of European countries in a couple of months time. I have a Bankwest Platinum credit master card which is exempt of foreign transaction fees when used. If I was to load the card with my own money and use my own money for purchases and to withdraw cash would this be a better option to a cash/travel card? Because it is my own money being used will this attract any other fees or charges? Would the conversion of funds to AUS dollars be at the standard master card conversion rate for that day
Thank you
Finder
SallyJune 9, 2015Finder
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your question.
I can confirm that there are some fees and charges involved when using the Bankwest Platinum Credit Mastercard overseas. For example, there is a foreign ATM access fee of $5.00 for ATM withdrawals and balance enquiries. Please note that the foreign exchange fee is waived each time you use your card for purchases.
Yes, that is correct. The daily exchange rate is set by Mastercard. If you load money onto a prepaid travel card, you can only access the funds you load onto the card, so you are only using your own money with this option too.
Please review our travel money guide to compare some of your travel money card options. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you travel.
I hope this has answered your question.
Thanks,
Sally
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I’m travelling to Chile, Argentina, Brazil & Peru in September for 3 weeks on a prepaid trip. My expenses will be modest, probably a few souvenirs and one meal per day plus the odd splash out here and there. I’m looking for advice regarding the best way to handle money.
Hi John,
The “best” option for your travel will depend on your financial situation and your travel spending habits. Not many Australian prepaid travel cards support many South American currencies, so you might want to either consider a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card that does not charge foreign transaction or currency conversion fees. However, some South American currencies accept USD, so in this case, a prepaid travel card could come in handy.
It’s always a good idea to have more than one travel money option. So you might want to consider a credit card that is designed for overseas expenses for emergencies and big purchases and a debit or prepaid card and cash for everyday expenses. You should never keep all of your money options on you at one time, try to leave one option in a safe place (such as your hotel safe or with your luggage) to ensure that you are not strapped for cash should you lose your wallet.
You may wish to look over our South America Travel Money guide to get more information.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
I am travelling to China in August this year. I’ve been told that if I get a travel card it can only be loaded with US dollars & not China’s Yuan money is this correct?. Am I better to take Yuan cash purchased from a Sydney bank before I travel & keep my travel card for larger purchases?
Hi Kitty,
Thanks for your question.
Most travel cards allow you to load a variety of currencies (as well as USD). However, not many of them support Chinese Yuan. As such, if you load USD (or another currency, such as AUD) onto your card, you may incur a currency conversion fee when making a purchase in RMB using the funds loaded on your card. Travelling with large amounts of cash can come with certain risks, so make sure to secure your funds while you travel. Your best bet may be to carry some of your cash with you and keep the rest in the hotel safe or another secure location while traveling.
For further tips, you may wish to consult our travel guide to China, Hong Kong and Korea. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you travel.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
I have heard that business owners do not like accepting these cards overseas. Is this correct?
Hi Felicity,
Thank you for your question.
This will depend on the card you use and the merchant.
Many travel cards, whether they’re debit, credit or prepaid cards, are supported by Visa and MasterCard and are generally accepted at selected ATMs and EFTPOS terminals internationally.
Depending on whether you’re referring to a travel debit card, a travel credit card or a prepaid travel card, there will be different limitations and benefits on offer.
I hope this has helped answer your question.
Thanks,
Sally
What’s the best and cheapest way to access cash in countries where the currency is not available on a travel money card – eg Knoner and rubles?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your question.
If you are unable to find a travel card that supports your desired currency, you may want to consider a no currency conversion fee credit card.
You can compare some of your options from our no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees as well as the table dedicated to no foreign fees credit cards.
You can select the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Sally
I am travelling to the UK and a number of European countries in a couple of months time. I have a Bankwest Platinum credit master card which is exempt of foreign transaction fees when used. If I was to load the card with my own money and use my own money for purchases and to withdraw cash would this be a better option to a cash/travel card? Because it is my own money being used will this attract any other fees or charges? Would the conversion of funds to AUS dollars be at the standard master card conversion rate for that day
Thank you
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your question.
I can confirm that there are some fees and charges involved when using the Bankwest Platinum Credit Mastercard overseas. For example, there is a foreign ATM access fee of $5.00 for ATM withdrawals and balance enquiries. Please note that the foreign exchange fee is waived each time you use your card for purchases.
Yes, that is correct. The daily exchange rate is set by Mastercard. If you load money onto a prepaid travel card, you can only access the funds you load onto the card, so you are only using your own money with this option too.
Please review our travel money guide to compare some of your travel money card options. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you travel.
I hope this has answered your question.
Thanks,
Sally