Best Australian debit card for overseas cash withdrawals?

[bernardblack]

Is Citi Plus still the best option for overseas cash? Obviously I haven't done a lot of international travel since 2019.

If I have to open some other account it might be time to get started, since we depart in five weeks.

(I'm set for FX-fee-free purchases, with a US Amex Gold backed with a Coles Rewards Mastercard and a Bundll account which charges to my Dragon Visa.)

 

[aspro2]

But would my Aussie MC/Visa be accepted? Based on my experiences in Taiwan, I would fear not, so having cash would be the only option?

Although my experience does not align with yours, the answer is get cash from an ATM, put some of it on an Easycard for transit.

 

[SYD]

Although my experience does not align with yours, the answer is get cash from an ATM, put some of it on an Easycard for transit.

But otherwise, Oz CC/DCs widely accepted elsewhere?

 

[aspro2]

But otherwise, Oz CC/DCs widely accepted elsewhere?

As per my reply a bit further up, I have had no problems over a number of years -- but wouldn't try in small restaurants, sights, nightmarkets. However, @clifford obviously had more trouble with their cards. ATMs are plentiful. The only type I remember that does charge a foreign-card fee is the ones in 7/11, but IIRC there might be one or two banks.

Oh, I should add: TAKE CASH when travelling anywhere that is remote, even if touristy. Many homestay-inns (minsu) only take cash or local transfer methods, and some places like Jiufen only have (or had) one ATM, so when it broke down I was up cough creek with no way to pay for anything (because even the restaurants only took cash). (This was, however 11 years ago, so I would hope things have changed, given the enormous rise in foreign tourism since then.)

 

[clifford]

(This was, however 11 years ago, so I would hope things have changed, given the enormous rise in foreign tourism since then.)

I'm not sure if things have changed that much, so when I arrive at TPE in Feb I'll be withdrawing a fair bit of cash, to tide me over my stays.

 

[frodo]

and HKG Octopus card. Can’t speak for Taiwan, but the Octopus is not worth the cost and effort anymore for a casual visits with contactless payment now available on the MTR.

It really just depends what you do in HKG. You can get around on the MTR and buses using contactless, but many smaller restaurants take octopus or cash payment only.

Anyway back on topic, I've been using ubank debit visa /transaction account ever since citi/NAB fee free stopped being a thing but only because I had the account previously. If I were to open a new account now, I would probably choose macquarie.

That couple of % interest I'm missing out on doesn't bother me as it is very minimal for my circumstances.

 

[SYD]

It really just depends what you do in HKG. You can get around on the MTR and buses using contactless, but many smaller restaurants take octopus or cash payment only.

But you can get cash from an ATM fee free so Octopus wasn’t worth it. I believe there are some discounts using Octopus, so obviously if you’re there for a long time / local - then worth the effort.

Anyway back on topic, I've been using ubank debit visa /transaction account ever since citi/NAB fee free stopped being a thing but only because I had the account previously. If I were to open a new account now, I would probably choose macquarie.

That couple of % interest I'm missing out on doesn't bother me as it is very minimal for my circumstances.

The standard bonus interest on UBank Saver is actually higher than the standard Macquarie Bank Saver account but the downer now with UBank is the requirement to grow your total balance each month to get the full interest.
Rakes the sine off it. So I went to Mac Bank.