Cash or Cards?

[harvyk]

I don't think anybody here would be stupid enough to venture into any overseas country with zero cash in their pockets <snip>

Me, although I would only consider doing so for countries which I've been to many times (thinking USA / HKG / NZ / UK).

But to be honest, $100 in cash isn't going to save my rear end if my cards don't work. I'm going to have to sort something out asap. Luckily I've only had one occasion when my cards didn't work, and that was only via official bank of america ATM's (from memory, it was a few years ago, and ATM's at servo's still worked), and that happened on day 3 of our trip.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I use cash only when I can't use a card. I must admit that the need to advise the card co's when OS is a real PITA. As I fly in and out every few weeks, I don't bother with the notifications and regularly they freeze the card (at the most inopportune time) due to OS transactions!

 

[Astroboi82]

I used Credit Cards as much as possible, but I think there is always a need to have some local currency in cash.

 

[Monica932]

I always have currency in cash, but I am very traditional (or maybe old-fashioned?) I don't really like to use cards and I only do that when I have to.

 

[Cynicor]

I always have currency in cash, but I am very traditional (or maybe old-fashioned?) I don't really like to use cards and I only do that when I have to.

But the lost points opportunity!?! Oh, the humanity of it all.

 

[Buzzard]

On a recent overseas jaunt of around 2 months, +1 and I spent just under AUD $2k in cash.

 

[Skyhawk]

I'm surprised by the number of people using mostly cards. Don't you have concerns about the card being taken out of your sight? How do you deal with that?

 

[albyd]

On a recent overseas jaunt of around 2 months, +1 and I spent just under AUD $2k in cash.

Outside of restaurants, card has always been processed in front of me. Restaurants in most places now have mobile eftpos they bring to the table to process so a this is of less concern nowadays. I also regularly log in online to see what's being posted so I can report it quickly. So far so good.

 

[GSP]

It does depend upon where you go. Having done many holidays in Thailand/Bali and recently Vietnam I always used cash by bringing over AUD and changing it at the right spot. Other places such as US/Europe/NZ etc card as much as possible. However I wasn't clued up as much as I should have on using the right card O/S.

I now use the CBA Diamond Amex and BW Platinum Visa where possible, but like others have said it is still prevalent in many areas (particularly where I mentioned above) where credit cards aren't accepted or the fees are a bit on the nose so cash works a treat then.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm surprised by the number of people using mostly cards. Don't you have concerns about the card being taken out of your sight? How do you deal with that?

Yes, it is a risk. But mitigated by taking a spare card (also fee-free for emergencies). But then again my card with chip and pin was compromised at a major bank's ATM in London recently. And it all looked perfectly normal (and in a prime location with lots of passing traffic and CCTV, so I dunno how the scammers even managed to do it!). So you can be caught out anywhere

The savings from fee-free credit cards can be hundreds of dollars a year whether using ATMs or for regular transactions. For me that's enough to counter the risks.

 

[Cynicor]

The bank takes the risk from fraudulent transactions anyway, so the only real annoyance is being without a card for a short while. I always have up to 4 cards with me on holiday so this isn't an issue. Plus, it's rarely out of sight and most people aren't going to clone it. My cards have been fine for years and I travel to SE Asia all the time. It's mostly a non-issue.

 

[maia200]

Card. Use Qantas cash and MasterCard 28 degrees. Have my home cards as well but very seldom take cash anymore. If I need cash use the QC to draw some.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I recently had a further lesson with the need for cash. Obviously on our Kokoda Trail trek, we weren't even remotely assuming cards would be accepted (and they weren't of course) but the day we flew into POM, we tried to get cash through ATM's and none were working (obviously a communications issue with AU). We flew out the next morning and luckily, the ATMs at the airport worked, but like many (most?) ATM's, they spit out large bills. We were able to change to some smaller bills at a supermarket in Popondetta, but the result was we ended up giving many forced tips as, despite the concept of giving change being well understood in PNG, the villages on the track simply had no change available (or they weren't about to give it). So having cash is just part of the story ... having small denomination cash is sometimes as equally important.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I mostly use the CitiPlus debit card for both purchases and withdrawing cash at ATMs whilst overseas.

I have looked at the 28 degrees MC but from what I see it doesn't earn points; so I don't see any benefit over the CitiPlus card (am I missing something?).

I've also looked at the BW World but at $270 fee for 0.66 points per $, it doesn't do enough for me (as I wouldn't use the card anywhere in Aust). If I use my Amex or QCash overseas, I earn more points per $ for a higher cost, giving a slightly lower cost per point.

Perhaps if travelled OS more the BW World would be worthwhile; but for my current pattern, not so.

I guess there is no "one size fits all" and perhaps it depends on how much you need/value more points.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have looked at the 28 degrees MC but from what I see it doesn't earn points; so I don't see any benefit over the CitiPlus card (am I missing something?).

No real benefit other than it's a free card and offers fee free transactions for purchases... so it's a good credit card in that respect or a back up for a second card. Cash withdrawals are not fee free on 28 degrees.

 

[Jacques Vert]

No real benefit other than it's a free card and offers fee free transactions for purchases... so it's a good credit card in that respect or a back up for a second card. Cash withdrawals are not fee free on 28 degrees.

Thanks for the comments. I'm sure you will know that cash withdrawals are fee free at most ATMs for the CitiPlus so I'll stick with that. (I usually buy insurance separately.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the comments. I'm sure you will know that cash withdrawals are fee free at most ATMs for the CitiPlus so I'll stick with that. (I usually buy insurance separately.)

Unfortunately 28 Degrees started out that way many years ago (fee free) but has gradually eroded its benefits. First they started by changing the way they applied payments (anything you paid went off oldest debt first, not cash advances), then started charging a 3% withdrawal surcharge.

 

[OATEK]

Unfortunately 28 Degrees started out that way many years ago (fee free) but has gradually eroded its benefits. First they started by changing the way they applied payments (anything you paid went off oldest debt first, not cash advances), then started charging a 3% withdrawal surcharge.

Agree, but I kept on because it does not charge for currency conversion, and mainly use it for things like hire cars where i know it takes ages for the pre-auth to drop off.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So Citiplus is the preferred card by the sounds of it?

 

[theblank]

So Citiplus is the preferred card by the sounds of it?

it is the only ATM card product in Australia that is entirely free of fees world wide. So its not really a preferred card, its the only one.

Any other transaction account/debit card product either charges fees for using overseas ATM's or charges a foreign currency fee, or both.