I've just been reading about your travel advice and travel cards. I'm going to four countries in europe in a few weeks time and they all use euros (italy, spain, croatia and montenegro). Therefore I will only need one currency on my travel card. I'm deciding between the ANZ travel card, CBA travel card and Teachers Mutual Bank Multi-currency travel card.
If I were you, I'd go for the NAB traveller card, fee is only 1% of the transaction amount, with no fee for opening the card, and no fee for withdrawing euros at an atm in a country that uses them, just make sure that the ATM accepts Mastercard.
Card is a prepaid Mastercard, and isn't linked to any accounts (good in case fraud occurs), and depositing funds on the card either involves going to a NAB branch and placing funds on, or via Bpay (this takes 2 - 3 days for funds to show on card), and fee is still 1%.
NAB Traveller card is supposed to be good. Please note that Croatia does not use Euro, it has the 'kuna', although Euros are often accepted at tourist destinations.
This may not be new for some but just a word of caution with the use of travel cards.
When checking-in to hotels (especially in the USA) and you are asked to provide a credit card for the account DO NOT USE YOUR TRAVEL CARD OR DEBIT CARD.
As an example of what can happen, if you have a balance of $2,000 on your cash card (or debit account) and the predicted cost of accommodation is $1,000, the hotel will pre-authorise against the card the $1,000 plus possibly a couple of hundred extra dollars. Then when you actually check out and you go to pay the $1,000 accommodation bill, there's every likelihood the card will be rejected because of insufficient balance. It can take up to 7 days to have the pre-authorised amount released back to to your card.
This recently happened to my daughter who wasn't aware of the trap.
Te solution is to provide a credit card when you check-in and then when checking out offer up the cash card (debit card) as payment..
If you use the Commonwealth card - after you've used the "free" first fill up, make sure to just get a new card if you're ever putting more that AUD$1,500 onto the card in the future. Commonwealth take 1.5% off the recharge balance, so it's cheaper to get a new card if you're putting on a few $000s at any time.
If you know anyone who is a full time student, the Commonwealth Bank travel money card is free and there is no charge for the initial load.
Personally however, I have stopped using travel money cards and just use a regular credit card these days. Unlike travel money cards, if you are subject to fraud with a credit card, provided you weren't stupid about how you use your card I believe the bank is liable, not you.
If you plan on visiting Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia or any other country with a currency that is not supported by travel money cards, it is far more economical to use a normal card - especially if you are someone who pays off the card every month and earns decent reward points on the money you spend.
I would use a 28 Degrees credit card and load some AUD on prior. No fees when taking out cash at ATM,s and no currency fees when using as a credit card. Much better than a travel card.
28 Degrees Mastercard, are to introduce a cash advance fee from 1/1/2014, see copy of text of email recd yesterday:
Dear Colin,
This email is to inform you of changes to your 28 Degrees MasterCard.
Acash advancefee of3% of the cash advance or $4 (whichever is greater)will be charged to theaccounton each occasion on which you obtain acash advanceor make acash equivalent transaction(except that if thecash advanceis made by a direct transfer to a bank account nominated by you, this fee will not exceed $30 for that transaction).
Clause 45 of the Conditions of Use and Credit Guide is amended by:
Adding the following to the definition ofcash advance balance:
"cash advancerelated fees and charges debited to theaccount."
Amending the definition ofgeneral feesas follows:
"general feesmeans all fees and charges (included in thefinancial tableor clause 10), which are debited to your account,but excludingcash advancerelated fees andnon-interest bearing fees."
These changes will take effect on January 1, 2014. It's important to be aware of them, even though you may not be impacted.
WE have always been happy with 28 degrees but now they have caught up with those of us who pre loaded cash to withdraw and this 3% fee is going to be a pain! I have looked at Citibank plus and Bankwest zero platinum cards but any ideas as to how to avoid the 3% charged by all other cards would be appreciated.
BankWest have a gold credit card that has no fx transaction fees, but ATM fees still apply. I have used the Citibank Visa Debit card without any problems, I think these days its almost a given that some fee have to be paid. The 28 Degrees card is still without fx fees for purchases, so its become my "emergency card"
melly
melly
Member since 27 May 2013
Total posts 1
Hi,
I've just been reading about your travel advice and travel cards. I'm going to four countries in europe in a few weeks time and they all use euros (italy, spain, croatia and montenegro). Therefore I will only need one currency on my travel card. I'm deciding between the ANZ travel card, CBA travel card and Teachers Mutual Bank Multi-currency travel card.
Any suggestions or tips on which one to get?
Thanks
danielm873
danielm873
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Silver
Member since 15 May 2012
Total posts 30
If I were you, I'd go for the NAB traveller card, fee is only 1% of the transaction amount, with no fee for opening the card, and no fee for withdrawing euros at an atm in a country that uses them, just make sure that the ATM accepts Mastercard.
Card is a prepaid Mastercard, and isn't linked to any accounts (good in case fraud occurs), and depositing funds on the card either involves going to a NAB branch and placing funds on, or via Bpay (this takes 2 - 3 days for funds to show on card), and fee is still 1%.
Hope this helps!
danielm873
danielm873
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Silver
Member since 15 May 2012
Total posts 30
Oh, and you don't need to open a NAB account to get a NAB Traveller Card, just have a DL and Medicare card for ID purposes.
qantasfa
qantasfa
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 Mar 2013
Total posts 11
I'm a huge fan of 28 Degrees:
http://www.28degreescard.com.au/
No international transaction fees and been great for all my travels all over.
dragonfly
dragonfly
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 24 Apr 2013
Total posts 41
NAB Traveller card is supposed to be good. Please note that Croatia does not use Euro, it has the 'kuna', although Euros are often accepted at tourist destinations.
cssaus
cssaus
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
Member since 29 Jan 2011
Total posts 81
This may not be new for some but just a word of caution with the use of travel cards.
When checking-in to hotels (especially in the USA) and you are asked to provide a credit card for the account DO NOT USE YOUR TRAVEL CARD OR DEBIT CARD.
As an example of what can happen, if you have a balance of $2,000 on your cash card (or debit account) and the predicted cost of accommodation is $1,000, the hotel will pre-authorise against the card the $1,000 plus possibly a couple of hundred extra dollars. Then when you actually check out and you go to pay the $1,000 accommodation bill, there's every likelihood the card will be rejected because of insufficient balance. It can take up to 7 days to have the pre-authorised amount released back to to your card.
This recently happened to my daughter who wasn't aware of the trap.
Te solution is to provide a credit card when you check-in and then when checking out offer up the cash card (debit card) as payment..
drgmarshall
drgmarshall
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2012
Total posts 106
If you use the Commonwealth card - after you've used the "free" first fill up, make sure to just get a new card if you're ever putting more that AUD$1,500 onto the card in the future. Commonwealth take 1.5% off the recharge balance, so it's cheaper to get a new card if you're putting on a few $000s at any time.
Aarondavis1986
Aarondavis1986
VA
Member since 01 Mar 2013
Total posts 29
If you know anyone who is a full time student, the Commonwealth Bank travel money card is free and there is no charge for the initial load.
Personally however, I have stopped using travel money cards and just use a regular credit card these days. Unlike travel money cards, if you are subject to fraud with a credit card, provided you weren't stupid about how you use your card I believe the bank is liable, not you.
If you plan on visiting Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia or any other country with a currency that is not supported by travel money cards, it is far more economical to use a normal card - especially if you are someone who pays off the card every month and earns decent reward points on the money you spend.
russell
russell
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Nov 2011
Total posts 236
I would use a 28 Degrees credit card and load some AUD on prior. No fees when taking out cash at ATM,s and no currency fees when using as a credit card. Much better than a travel card.
colin5353
colin5353
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Jul 2011
Total posts 85
28 Degrees Mastercard, are to introduce a cash advance fee from 1/1/2014, see copy of text of email recd yesterday:
Dear Colin,
This email is to inform you of changes to your 28 Degrees MasterCard.
A cash advance fee of 3% of the cash advance or $4 (whichever is greater) will be charged to the account on each occasion on which you obtain a cash advance or make a cash equivalent transaction (except that if the cash advance is made by a direct transfer to a bank account nominated by you, this fee will not exceed $30 for that transaction).
Clause 45 of the Conditions of Use and Credit Guide is amended by:
These changes will take effect on January 1, 2014. It's important to be aware of them, even though you may not be impacted.
perversity
perversity
Qatar
Member since 30 Oct 2013
Total posts 4
WE have always been happy with 28 degrees but now they have caught up with those of us who pre loaded cash to withdraw and this 3% fee is going to be a pain! I have looked at Citibank plus and Bankwest zero platinum cards but any ideas as to how to avoid the 3% charged by all other cards would be appreciated.
colin5353
colin5353
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Jul 2011
Total posts 85
BankWest have a gold credit card that has no fx transaction fees, but ATM fees still apply. I have used the Citibank Visa Debit card without any problems, I think these days its almost a given that some fee have to be paid. The 28 Degrees card is still without fx fees for purchases, so its become my "emergency card"
perversity
perversity
Qatar
Member since 30 Oct 2013
Total posts 4
Thanks for that, we will apply for a citibank debit card and use the 28 degrees for purchaese etc