I'm heading to LA for a work conference then staying for another week. I currently don't have a credit card with no conversion fees for international transactions, so do you think it would be worth getting something like the Latitude 28 just for the trip? Any other cards that would be recommended?
Cheers
Worth Getting a No Conversion Fee CC for 2 Week Holiday to US
Smilesy on 14/05/2025 - 11:59
Comments
i personally use UP - also use it for dodgy looking places like those kids rides at the shopping centre or overseas websites that im suss on.
easy to move money around as transfer shows up instant.I hadn't heard of UP before. I'll have to do a bit more research on them. Cheers
I originally got it when everyone here was doing the free money promo some years back but it’s actually been handy for the reasons outlined above
Yeah Up or Bankwest. It's handy to have for whenever you need to make a FX purchase.
If you referred to Latitude 28 Degrees, they've introduced fees on that one.
- Ditch whatever credit card you have
Forget Latitude - thats a "has been"
Everyones switching away from that now.The Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard is the one to get
Zero annual fees and zero foreign transaction fees.
Fairly quick and easy to get and backed by a big bank.Or if you want an even better option….
get the Bendigo Bank (Platinum) Ready credit card which also includes Complimentary Travel Insurance!!!
Its been the credit card rave here for the last 12 months!Given both of these have no annual fee - get both !!!
if you phrase your question as follows you will have your answer,
is it worth paying conversion fees for 2 weeks or not?also check https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/818657
with the weak AUD, conversions will kill your budget
Just pay in USD…
I just pay cash….
So you pay the FX fee then.
No, I pay in USD…
You get paid in USD? Not sure if that's the case for the OP.
@jv: So any meaningful input from you to the OP is limited to change employment circumstances and obtain US bank account?
They'd be asking about ATM withdrawals
and I'm saying that it might be better to use cash instead.
Maybe they already have it?
Sure, whatever.
But I'm curious to know more about your USA based work. Do you travel there and work and get an envelope with bills?
@jv: Well if they do, it sits there until it can be withdrawn (hard to do if you don't travel there) or you pay a FX fee to get into AUD.
Seems to me like you pay a FX somewhere along the line. But I could be wrong as you haven't provided anything useful (ever) so will leave you to it, and apologise to the OP for stinking up his thread.
Seems to me like you pay a FX somewhere along the line
Not if you don't change currencies.
If you normally use a points earning card it's line ball
Until recently, I used 28 degrees for all overseas trips. I only stopped using 28 because of their fees.
Personally, yes, there's benefit for free conversion credit cards beyond the actual trip. Eg. I buy a lot from overseas merchants plus buy overseas gift cards (eg. Netflix) such that the free conversion is useful.
How much do you think you'll spend? Conversion fees are normally about 3%, so you'll save about A$50 for each US$1000 if you don't pay conversion fees.
You can get an international-fee-free debit card instead of a credit card. You'll need to make sure you have enough balance to cover temporary holds that might be placed on the card (e.g. hotel, rental car deposits) and your spending money.
The CBA Ultimate Awards is one I have which doesn't have conversion fee. Saved me a tonne when I travel.
Buy Trump coins?
Just get a fee free FX transaction free debit card, like Ubank or Mac Bank. Takes 5 minutes and you get a digital card, doesnt cost you anything. Yes its a debit not a credit card, but that has benefits (eg no one can steal more than is loaded on the card).
Car hire and hotel may need a credit card for holding a deposit. If you don’t pay any of that then any debit cards already mentioned or from wiki are fine. My personal favourite is the Macquarie debit account.
I use my regular credit card for hotel deposits. But close the bill out with Mac debit card . Win/win no fees
When are you heading to LA? If still weeks away register for Macquarie Debit or CBA Ultimate CC. If it is too close register for Wise, it is almost instant to get the virtual card.
I have a Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard, $0 foreign transaction fees and $0 annual fees, use it overseas and for overseas online purchases. Bankwest were pretty easy to deal with, it's great as a spare card. https://www.bankwest.com.au/credit-cards/no-annual-fee (you need to be looking at the Platinum card on this page).
Latitude started charging for the cc, I cancelled mine. Have a look at Bankwest Platinum excellent service.
Who do you bank with? For example if you have a mortgage with ING you can use their debit card with no international fees.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/cards_with_no_overseas_tra…