Best Cash Card for Travel

simplyme on 25/05/2019 - 00:21
Last edited 25/05/2019 - 09:02 by 1 other user

Hi, my son is going to Vanuatu for his honeymoon and has till the 5th June to organise a card to take out Vanuatu's currency whilst there. He has heard it is better to use cash in Vanuatu rather than credit card. He has probably left it too late to apply for a Citibank card or a 28 Degrees card as a back up credit card, just in case.

The NAB suggested he get one of their travel cards and top it up as he needs to whilst overseas but I was wondering if their could be better cards out there that he should get. I am writing for advice as I assume the NAB charges for the card and then exchange rates and maybe ATM charges etc. and I have no comparison.

Thank you for any suggestions, recommendations or comments.

Financial

Comments

  • simplyme on 25/05/2019 - 01:17

    Thank you altomic. I think it is too late to apply for a bank card as such in case it does not arrive to the home address on time. He doesn't get much free time. That's why I was thinking of a travel card that you pre load.

  • Meho2026 on 25/05/2019 - 04:07
    +1

    Obviously he should've got his act together sooner.
    If hes old enough to get married can he not sort this stuff out himself instead of getting mum to do it?
    Anyway, just to help you out mum.
    There's a few tricks and charges with all those travel cards explained well in this article https://www.choice.com.au/travel/money/travel-money/articles…
    There's a useful comparison table in the article.
    He may be better off avoiding the pitfalls of a travel card and just taking some cash, using a credit card whenever possible and using his usual Australian transaction account debit card over there at an ATM. The fees for using the NAB visa debit at an ATM are $5 plus 3% foreign currency fee.
    The NAB currency travel card has a 4% currency fee.
    Now before your next trip mum, you need to get a ING orange everyday account or a citibank plus transaction account so you dont have the same issue.
    Are you still wearing the blue shoes to the wedding?

  • Randxyz123 on 25/05/2019 - 12:03

    I reckon he can get a Citibank card in a week. Get the NAB one as a backup.

    He should go to a Citi branch and do the ID check in person. He might even be able to do that at Aus post today.

    There are instructions on what to do on the wiki.

    • cwongtech on 25/05/2019 - 15:34

      I reckon he can get a Citibank card in a week. Get the NAB one as a backup.

      Hell to the no.
      I've seen many of my friends apply for Citibank cards… They take forever to come!

      If anyone has a citibank debit card (citibank plus transaction account), you could potentially borrow that.

      Not sure how long 28 degrees MC would take to arrive.

      Otherwise, the other bank accounts could potentially suffice

      The NAB suggested he get one of their travel cards and top it up as he needs to whilst overseas but I was wondering if their could be better cards out there that he should get. I am writing for advice as I assume the NAB charges for the card and then exchange rates and maybe ATM charges etc. and I have no comparison.

      ING transaction account does free withdrawals I think, but each month you need to do 5 transactions from memory.. need to check on the website

      • Randxyz123 on 25/05/2019 - 16:16

        Hell to the no.
        I've seen many of my friends apply for Citibank cards… They take forever to come!

        It depends if you get your ID check right. If you follow the instructions on the OzB wiki I think the OP has got a chance

        • cwongtech on 26/05/2019 - 13:21

          It depends if you get your ID check right. If you follow the instructions on the OzB wiki I think the OP has got a chance

          Even with successful applications, takes around 3 weeks for the card to come..
          I've never seen any banks as slow as citibank to issue out a debit card >=\

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