How to compare travel credit cards: 6 key questions to ask
1
What’s the foreign transaction fee?
It will be somewhere between 0% and 3% of the transaction value depending on the card. If you spend a lot overseas, it’s worth minimising this fee as much as possible.
2
Will the card be accepted where I’m travelling?
Mastercard and Visa are accepted almost everywhere. Amex is a bit more limited but still widely accepted in the countries Australians travel to in numbers.
3
What’s the interest rate?
Ideally you’ll be clearing the balance of the card within the interest-free period, but if not, a lower interest rate will help you minimise your travel costs.
4
What’s the annual card fee?
There are some credit cards with no annual fee that offer benefits for travellers, but most do come with a fee. If there is a fee, look carefully at what you’re getting in return.
5
Is travel insurance included?
A credit card that comes with travel insurance included could save you hundreds of dollars if it means you don’t need to purchase a separate travel insurance policy. Pay attention to what is covered by the policy and if it’s suitable for you.
6
Are there any other travel benefits thrown in?
Some travel credit cards offer lounge access (usually a limited number of passes per year), plus travel discounts and credits you can put towards flights, accommodation and dining. These can be a nice ‘cherry on top’ if the rest of the card fits the bill.
Expert tips for using your credit card while travelling
Cover as many of your costs as you can before you travel
As soon as you leave Australia (or buy from an overseas retailer) you become a much more profitable customer for your bank because of the fees they charge. Avoid foreign exchange fees by prepaying for as many expenses as you can (e.g. your accommodation) assuming you can do so in AUD.
Get clear on fees
If you’re going to be spending overseas regularly, it’s worth seriously considering a credit card with 0% foreign transaction fees. This could save you up to 3.65% on every transaction. This fee is often overlooked when people apply for a credit card. Also be clear on what you’ll be charged for using an ATM. Chances are it will be a lot.
Don’t accept the “Do you want to pay in Australian Dollars” option
When you’re making a card payment overseas, a lot of the time you’ll get the option to pay in the local currency or have the amount converted to Australian dollars. Paying the AUD amount shown would seem like the sensible choice here, but trust me, it’s almost always a rip off. That option involves what’s called dynamic currency conversion which means the conversion rate is determined by the merchant and it’s usually a much worse rate than what your credit card provider will give you if you pay in the local currency.
Don’t withdraw cash overseas using your credit card
Using a credit card to withdraw cash at an overseas ATM is going to be very expensive. You’ll be stung with a fee from the local ATM operator (unless it happens to be a Westpac card and the ATM is part of the Global ATM alliance), a foreign transaction fee, plus a cash advance fee. You won’t get any interest-free days, meaning you’ll immediately be paying a high rate of interest on the funds you withdrew. Basically unless it’s an emergency, don’t go near an ATM with your credit card.
Make sure you ‘trigger’ your card’s travel insurance
Even if your credit card comes with travel insurance, there’s a good chance it won’t cover your trip automatically. You usually need to trigger the cover, in many cases by booking the travel/accommodation using the card itself. If you pay in full with card points (e.g. with Qantas credit card points), that mightn’t be enough to trigger the insurance – you usually need to make an actual card purchase.
Have at least one backup payment option
When it comes to travel in particular, one card does not fit all. You might like the idea of using a single card for all your spending, but there are situations when a debit card will be better. Having a card from a different financial institution can also be a life-saver if your primary bank has an outage while you’re away.
Bonus tip: Bring the physical card with you
In Australia we’re very used to paying through a phone or watch using the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay. But that kind of payment is not as widely accepted overseas. You’ll need to use the physical card and, for a dose of nostalgia, you may even need to insert it into a card chip reader and enter a PIN. You will also likely need to have the physical card if you’re using your card for pre-authorisation when checking into a hotel or renting a car.
