Overseas Travel Money Card

activ8newbs on 06/01/2017 - 16:51

Hi all,

I'm going overseas to Vietnam and Singapore from late Jan - Mid Feb.

I've never travelled overseas. What's the best way to manage/spend my money?

I understand that the best option is some sort of Citibank Debit Card or a Westpac Travel Money Card (https://www.westpac.com.au/travel-centre/travel-money-card/)

Is that correct? I'm not sure what makes a "good" travel money card. Any recommendations/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I leave in 20 days so I'm in a bit of a rush.

Thanks

Travel

Comments

[Deactivated] on 06/01/2017 - 19:02

citibank plus card

thats all you need

thank me later
- activ8newbs on 06/01/2017 - 19:22
  
  but hwo long will it take to arrive?
  - [Deactivated] on 06/01/2017 - 19:24
    
    Apply now. I'd say max 7 business days
    - activ8newbs on 06/01/2017 - 19:24
      
      cool, Thanks. Applying online now.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 18:09
      
      -4
      
      @unistudent1:
      Bit late, but maybe you should check this out from " Product Review", before you pull the trigger.
      "Just received notification Citibank are introducing 2.5% international transaction fee for the Citibank Plus account (effective March 2017). I knew the fee free for international transactions could only last for so long. So disappointed… there is no reason to hold this account anymore."
    - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 18:16
      
      @Marble250: Not that misinformation again.
    - bluesky on 07/01/2017 - 18:50
      
      @Marble250: The 2.5% applies to other Citi cards, CitiPlus card exempted.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 21:01
      
      -2
      
      @greenpossum:
      Hey don't shoot the messenger!….I only reported a review posting
      http://www.productreview.com.au/p/citibank-plus.html
      and it's better to have all the information before you commit,no?
      
      If you know more than the the guy who posted the review…..you should include a link to the relevant section that refutes the claim and not some esoteric, nebulous crap about "misinformation again" and then neg someone who is trying to help!…shame on you!
    - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 21:04
      
      @Marble250: This has been discussed and debunked already, please see this comment and followup.
      
      Reviews from that website should be taken with a grain of salt for several reasons. Satisfied customers are less likely to post, so the reviews are skewed towards the unfavourable. Secondly it's subject to astroturfing.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 21:30
      
      @greenpossum:
      OK I don't disagree with your information, just the way you present it and please note that although, you haven't supplied any corroborating evidence to support what you are saying, I have resisted negging you!
      Get over yourself will ya!
    - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 21:36
      
      @Marble250: There was in fact a whole thread which dissected the Citi changes which you would have found if you had done a search. A crowd of diligent OzBargainers is more reliable than a single post in productreview.
      
      BTW that neg of your reply isn't mine. Somebody else also thinks you haven't been diligent enough.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 21:50
      
      @greenpossum:
      But the first one was!!! people like you take ownership on what isn't yours. You are a contributor to this sight not an owner and not being the font of all knowledge I reckon you make mistakes like we all do.
      
      It may be an idea for you to be a bit more forgiving when someone is supplying ANY sort of information to a posting whether (in your eyes) it is good….or bad!
    - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 22:02
      
      @Marble250: All I said was that your post was misinformation. Don't take that so personally.
      
      Actually the second neg was mine, not the first, if you are counting.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 22:08
      
      @greenpossum:
      And all I did was refer the OP to a comment/posting on a website, relevant to the posting. It warranted neither off hand comments, or a negging.
    - bluesky on 07/01/2017 - 22:33
      
      @Marble250: For the record, no negs from me. I hardly neg, and certainly not for a well-intentioned comment.
      
      But anyway, here is the doc for ease of mind re the fees. If you look at Clause 3, and the table that follows it; at the top of the table, it is preceeded with the description: "Excludes Citibank Plus Transaction and Citibank Online Saver Accounts". Hope this helps.
    - Marble250 on 07/01/2017 - 23:06
      
      @bluesky:
      Hallelujah!!!….thank you bluesky. As you have so adeptly realised, ….it is not the comments or even the negging that upsets me , but the unfairness of punishment for a well meaning act.
      
      To be honest, I am happy with the style of cards that I have and the only reason I posted a comment, was that I had noticed "the review" in passing (surfing) and thought wrongly …or rightly, it may help the OP.
      
      Although….you and greenpossum have peaked my interest (slightly) with the CB+ card and I will investigate further, to see if it suits my traveling purposes….is there a FF bonus to join?
      
      I agree, "the neg" should be used sparingly if at all!, I reckon it shows weak mindedness…although I guess I have been guilty myself, on occasion, but never to follow the pack, eh?
    - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 23:13
      
      @Marble250: I was probably exasperated with you because this was the second time in a week that a well-meaning person who doesn't have any skin in the game, because you wouldn't have gone searching productreview if you actually had a card and actually had worried about the changes in March, had quoted that erroneous post in productreview. I'll try to curb my exasperation in future.
      
      I wasn't just quoting that discussion thread, I do have this card and I scrutinised the documents on Citi's site and came to the same conclusion as the others did, even if I just made a post or two on that thread.
    - bluesky on 07/01/2017 - 23:15
      
      @Marble250: No bonus for joining, it is not even a credit card, but a debit card. It is linked to the Citibank Plus transaction account.
      
      If you open this account, good idea to also open a Citibank Online Saver - a savings account and link them up. That way, you get instantaneous transfers between the savings and transaction account during travel, which is especially helpful. So your funds keep earning interest, before you need to use it. The Online Saver gives 3% interest rate for 4 months; but of course goes to base rate after that.
    - Marble250 on 08/01/2017 - 11:18
      
      @greenpossum:
      Thank you for your perseverance and understanding, but may I suggest that before you visit your insecurities upon us well meaning bumbling yokels, that you, in your replies, simply refer to previous posts or fight the good fight with the astroturfers whom, we all disdain.
    - Marble250 on 08/01/2017 - 11:22
      
      @bluesky:
      OK gotcha, thanks for the info. I have been relying on my "which bank?" for far too long. I'll have a look today. appreciate your help.
    - retiredfeline on 08/01/2017 - 11:24
      
      @Marble250: Mmm, modern media, no fact checking, just post.
    - Marble250 on 08/01/2017 - 11:54
      
      -1
      
      @greenpossum:
      Ah geez, you just don't get it do you!?….and you probably never will!
      So to save a further waste of our time(s), I will terminate my part in this thread and wish you all the best for the future.
  - retiredfeline on 07/01/2017 - 18:18
    
    +1
    
    And don't forget to ring up to tell them where you're going. It will also take up to a couple of days for an e-deposit to reach your account.
    - bluesky on 07/01/2017 - 18:50
      
      Very true. Unless OP also applies for a linked savings account, say Citi Online Saver - the transfer between them are instantaneous. So have the funds in that savings account before leaving. Then, transfer only what is necessary before each ATM withdrawal. It gives 3% for first 4 months - pretty good rates.
bluesky on 07/01/2017 - 04:44

Bring some cash as well, even if it is AUD. You may want to have a little cash in the currency of the countries you visit, that is up to you. Otherwise, with AUD, you can still change after you land. Personally, I always prefer to have some local currency of the country before I fly; just so I don't have to waste time, finding a place to convert at the airport etc. These are small amounts, to pay for getting to the hotel etc.

The CitiPlus can be used to withdraw expenses while there. However, still a good idea to have a fallback of some sort (another card perhaps), as ATM machines have been known to malfunction and swallow cards.

Overseas Travel Money Card

Comments

New Forum Topics