Best travel card for student on overseas trip?

[Deleted member 29185]

Hi all, I've done a search and it seems a lot of travel card threads are old and closed, so can I ask the brains trust, which are the preferred cards for a 21 YO student (works part time) to get to travel around Europe (mainly Spain/Portugal/Germany).

It doesn't need to have credit facilities, but rather something that limits the transaction costs and perhaps can be loaded in Euros now in case the dollar drops further (the travel is in November). We did have an Ozforex card, but that's now discontinued.

Also, what's the cheapest way to exchange AUD to Euros to put on the card?

 

[Cynicor]

Hi all, I've done a search and it seems a lot of travel card threads are old and closed, so can I ask the brains trust, which are the preferred cards for a 21 YO student (works part time) to get to travel around Europe (mainly Spain/Portugal/Germany).

It doesn't need to have credit facilities, but rather something that limits the transaction costs and perhaps can be loaded in Euros now in case the dollar drops further (the travel is in November). We did have an Ozforex card, but that's now discontinued.

Also, what's the cheapest way to exchange AUD to Euros to put on the card?

When using a travel card the way they make money is on the conversion, so there will be no "cheapest" way, there is only the card's way. That's where they sting you, as well as some assorted other fees.

You'd have to be a big bear on the Aussie to think we are going to lose too much vs EUR at this current level, especially enough to make back the fees on the card. I would suggest 28 degrees MC is the best choice in the short term but you may win or lose.

If locked into a travel card, I believe the Aus post card was offering ok value on a relative basis. All travel debit cards can be loaded in foreign currency, that's the point of them. Most limit the currencies on offer but you can get away with EUR in all of W. Europe really, including Czech Republic and lots of Switzerland but not UK generally.

If you are comparing all institution offered cards that people on this forum use for travel, then they roughly fall into 3 categories:

1. Credit card- either FX fee free or decent points for fx purchases. Recommend BW plat or 28 degrees for FX free. Citi sig or prestige for points.

2. Cash access, FX/fee free but not pre-converted. 28 degrees, ING and Citi debit plus. Citi card is the hands down winner, not locked into any $, no fees by Citi, direct on the day XE.com rate (not exactly but close enough). 28 degrees charges 3% fee for cash advance now, ING has a flat fee IIRC. Note that the Citi product is a savings card, not a CC so is very safe to use and not overspend. ING I would have to check, I've never used it.

3. "Travel cards". These are loaded in a foreign currency at a shockingly poor rate, with ++ fees all over the place. Benefit is that they do lock in the rate so if you bought at 0.9USD then you'd be laughing now that you just barely made your money back

 

[Deleted member 29185]

When using a travel card the way they make money is on the conversion, so there will be no "cheapest" way, there is only the card's way.

Thanks for the critique. As she doesn't work full time, I'm guessing she won't be eligible for a credit card so ruling that out, the Citi debit plus seems like the better option. I'm assuming you don't "load" that card, it's simply attached to a Citibank account where you deposit the funds? Correct? Provided she uses citi ATMs, it's fee free, but other ATMs are likely to be expensive. Are citi ATMs commonplace?

 

[david1]

With Citibank Plus, you pay no ATM fees unless the ATM itself charges a fee, so you can use almost any ATM. It's just a normal debit card attached to an account. She might be eligible for a 28 Degrees Mastercard which are great for purchases, not ATM's though.

 

[Ausbt]

I've been happy with my Velocity Global Wallet if you are in that program, but as a 20+ year Citibank customer Citi Debit all the way. I've had great service too from the telephone call centre - always found them very polite and helpful.

 

[Cynicor]

With Citibank Plus, you pay no ATM fees unless the ATM itself charges a fee, so you can use almost any ATM. It's just a normal debit card attached to an account. She might be eligible for a 28 Degrees Mastercard which are great for purchases, not ATM's though.

You would be surprised by CC approval. At the least I suggest having one available for emergencies and pre-auths.

The Citi card/account is a normal transaction account like any other, you deposit money into it and can only spend what you have. The way it differs is that it is fee free. Holding the account, local and foreign transactions and ATM withdrawals are all free. Citi ATMs are guaranteed free, but all ATMs worldwide are also free of Citi-levied fees. Some ATMs may charge an owner fee but they will always warn you before the transaction is performed. These are generally country specific and in Thailand most ATMs will charge a fee (Citi and Aeon fee free). Europe, esp the countries she is visit is and pretty much all fee free.

I would suggest 28 degrees are more strict with part-time employed incomes.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You would be surprised by CC approval. ....

I would suggest 28 degrees are more strict with part-time employed incomes.

Are you saying she's likely to get an approval, or unlikely? I guess applying is the only way of finding out and she has always worked (since she was 14 anyway) and has a good credit rating (she has had a car loan for the last 4 years almost and has never missed a payment).

I've sort of narrowed it down to the Citi Plus Debit and the 28 degree or Bankwest zero platinum. The last two obviously are credit cards which may not be possible. I'm pretty sure VA sent her a card with the global wallet so perhaps that may be a backup as well. She has a visa or mastercard debt card now, but I'm not sure which one it is and for sure it won't be a free free one like the citi is.

 

[Mattg]

Just to add my 2 cents, I have used the 28 degrees card all over Europe without issues and could recommend.

I was working part-time when I applied and was approved, so don't rule it out necessarily.

 

[robd]

Are you saying she's likely to get an approval, or unlikely? I guess applying is the only way of finding out and she has always worked (since she was 14 anyway) and has a good credit rating (she has had a car loan for the last 4 years almost and has never missed a payment).

I've sort of narrowed it down to the Citi Plus Debit and the 28 degree or Bankwest zero platinum. The last two obviously are credit cards which may not be possible. I'm pretty sure VA sent her a card with the global wallet so perhaps that may be a backup as well. She has a visa or mastercard debt card now, but I'm not sure which one it is and for sure it won't be a free free one like the citi is.

What about a supplementary card off parents? That's what I did for Jnr.

 

[Kangarucci]

I have done the same for my daughter.

 

[Cynicor]

Are you saying she's likely to get an approval, or unlikely? I guess applying is the only way of finding out and she has always worked (since she was 14 anyway) and has a good credit rating (she has had a car loan for the last 4 years almost and has never missed a payment).

I've sort of narrowed it down to the Citi Plus Debit and the 28 degree or Bankwest zero platinum. The last two obviously are credit cards which may not be possible. I'm pretty sure VA sent her a card with the global wallet so perhaps that may be a backup as well. She has a visa or mastercard debt card now, but I'm not sure which one it is and for sure it won't be a free free one like the citi is.

Sorry for the ambiguity. Possible to still get approved, yes.
No reason not to go for a 28 degrees and a Citi together. Citi for cash and purchases, 28 degrees for backup or purchases. Credit cards are great in iffy situations because they are slightly more universal than debit cards and you can do chargebacks.

 

[RTWtraveler]

Beware: For our US cousins, dual US/AU citizens, and green card holders beware the application does ask you if you are required to report earnings to the US Treasury.

 

[timster]

28 degs for purchases and Citibank debit for ATMs all the way. I've had more trouble with the big Australian banks' CC's sometimes not working in all overseas ATMs (when I used to use them) than with either of these.

Another good reminder for novice travellers using credit cards for payments is never accept the offer to pay in AUD$ ! Always play in local currency if you want to avoid getting stung. I've even had some vendors try to charge in AUD$ without asking. I just refuse to sign/PIN it when I see 'AUD' on the payment and get them to do it again in local currency.