Scam Alert: Dodgy Forex Dealers

This week a member recounts how they fell victim to a cunning scam while exchanging money in a popular overseas tourist destination. They estimate that 40% of their cash was lost in the bizarre experience. Deciding to take advantage of a good exchange rate, this member visited a small currency exchange office located “down a … Continued

Amex devalues rewards program

Some American Express cardholders are in for a nasty surprise in November. From 1 November 2015, Amex’s fee-free cards and a small range of corporate cards will no longer be a part of the popular Membership Rewards Ascent program. This program will instead be replaced by the Gateway program, resulting in a range of significant … Continued

Pros & Cons of Qantas Club membership

Complimentary lounge access is an included benefit for frequent flyers with Gold or equivalent elite airline status. However for infrequent flyers who don’t fly enough to earn such status, there is an option to purchase lounge access. There are a number of programs, such as Priority Pass, that offer lounge access for a fee. For … Continued

Stressful Travel Situations

Although travel is usually full of positive experiences, stressful situations are sometimes unavoidable. Delays, lost passports and cancelled credit cards are just some of the issues bound to boost the blood pressure of even the most seasoned travellers. This week our members share experiences that have stressed them out while travelling – and they have … Continued

“Dynamic Currency Conversion” rip-off

Ever been offered the opportunity to pay in Australian dollars while shopping overseas or on a foreign website? Chances are, you’ve been exposed to “dynamic currency conversion”. You might think that the merchant is doing you a favour by converting the price to your native currency, but the reality is that they’re probably ripping you … Continued