Up Card Vs Westpac Worldwide Wallet Vs 28 Degrees Latitude for International Travelling Needs

• 

  Shadowsfury on 24/08/2023 - 16:27

  +3

  I wouldn't bother using the Westpac Worldwide Wallet for any actual card usage or withdrawals as the exchange rate would be horrible.

  Other than that, Up and 28D should be identical in exchange rate since both are using Mastercard underneath. Obviously one is a credit card though so might be preferential to use.

  • 

    coolrunnings on 24/08/2023 - 16:55

    So, you're saying Up is better for cash withdrawals even if Westpac Worldwide Wallet has $0 ATM fees at Global Alliance ATMs because of the exchange rate?

    Up charges no fees of their own at foreign bank ATMs, but the ATMs themselves always have fees. It would appear that Westpac World Wallet claims ATM transactions will have no fees on either side if you use certain ATMs (but you're saying I would lose any benefit from using a no-fee ATM to the worse exchange rate. Is that correct?).

    [UPDATE] Nevermind, the countries I'm going to don't have the "Global Alliance" ATMs anyway.

    • 

      Stingo on 24/08/2023 - 17:11

      Haven't looked at the Westpac Worldwide Wallet but typically those products give you the option of locking in an exchange rate for a specific currency. That seems to me to be the only reason to consider them if you expect that exchange rates will go against you. However, they typically also charge load fees and/or have worse exchange rates so they are generally not very good value compared to ones that don't levy fees on OS transactions and use the schemes exchange rates. If you want access to the ATM Global Alliance then you can get that via any Westpac debit card. It's a fairly limited network.

• 

  Stingo on 24/08/2023 - 16:57

  +2

  28 Degrees also offer the delayed flight benefit from Mastercard as do various other issuers. IMO, the BankWest Platinum Zero is superior to 28 Degrees.They offer some complimentary insurance and offer a fee free alternative to direct debit for paying off card balances,

• 

  Jetkuma on 24/08/2023 - 17:22

  The last time I travelled to Asia, I used an ING Direct Debit card for ATM withdrawals. I used 28 degree card to pay for purchases. Sometimes, 28 degrees would act up so I use ING to pay. If all that fails, I have a Wise debit card to back me up in case I need more withdrawals than 5 that ING offers.

  • 

    Stingo on 24/08/2023 - 17:39

    Since ING stopped offering ATM operator rebates for foreign ATMs their product can not longer be recommended ahead of those that allow unlimited withdrawals without charging a fee. I think Wise also has some limit. I think UBank charge no OS fees themselves and use scheme exchange rates. I think Macquarie is the same too off the top of my head.

• 

  coffeeinmyveins on 25/08/2023 - 08:28

  i.e. would the same item be the same price in AUD regardless if I'm tapping the Up Card or the Westpac Worldwide Wallet

  No.

  If you're in the US then you're being charged USD. It's up to the bank to determine what the conversion (FX) rate is. Some credit cards do a cheeky and bake in a nice profit for themselves (paypal is the worst at this). eg if the current official FX rate for USD > AUD is 1.56 then some institutions will make it as 1.36 and make 0.2 profit on the conversion.

  UP does not do this. They just use whatever the current FX rate is from the mastercard/visa site, so you're better off using them if there's lots of purchases. They also don't charge for transactions overseas. I found them to be the best.