Mo money, mo mojitos: Travel money musts for Schoolies 2017

By Tom Watson · · 2 min read
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As year 12 students around the country enter the last stretch of their final exams, thoughts will soon be turning to celebrating their new found freedom which, for many, means just one thing - Schoolies 2017.

For thousands of Aussie teens their Schoolies trips will be an overseas travel adventure, with an increasing number of 17 and 18-year-olds heading out of the country to tropical hot spots such as Indonesia, Thailand and Fiji.

In fact, travel insurer Allianz Travel recorded a 63% increase in the number of of young Australians who took out travel insurance to Indonesia over the 2015-2016 Schoolies period.

But for many revellers, this will be their first overseas adventure, and with accommodation, food, activities and perhaps the occasional drink to pay for, it raises the question - which is the best way to pay while on an overseas Schoolies trip?

RELATED: Travel Money 101 - the Mozo guide to jetset spending

Thankfully there are plenty of travel money options for young Aussie travellers to choose from including travel debit cards, prepaid travel cards and good old cash, but the right option for your own adventure could depend on a number of factors.

Prepaid travel cards

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Last updated 24 November 2024Important disclosures
  • Personal Account

    Today's rates
    Purchase fee
    Overseas ATM withdrawal
    USD: 0.6498
    GBP: 0.5161
    EUR: 0.6204
    NZD: 1.1137
    $0
    $0 under AUD $350 or 5 withdrawals for Standard, AUD $700 for Premium, then 2% (AUD $1.50 min)

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  • Wise Travel Money

    Today's rates
    Purchase fee
    Overseas ATM withdrawal
    USD: 0.6513
    GBP: 0.5173
    EUR: 0.6218
    NZD: 1.1146
    $0 for virtual card, $10 AUD fee for a physical card
    $0 on first 2 withdrawals per month up to AUD $350/month, then 1.75% of withdrawn amount and AUD $1.50.

    Have access to over 40 currencies. Card automatically converts your money at real exchange rates. Transfer money worldwide at competitive rates. Spend instantly with Google Wallet and Apple Pay. Get cash from more than 3 million ATMs worldwide (free from Wise fees, up to 350 AUD per month).

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    Money Card

    Today's rates
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    Overseas ATM withdrawal
    USD: 0.6391
    GBP: 0.4965
    EUR: 0.6019
    NZD: 1.0676
    $0 Online and in-store.
    0 AUD

    The Travelex Money Card can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted online or in-store at millions of outlets around the world. $0 Eftpos and ATM fees, $0 currency conversion and online shopping fees. Better rates available on amounts over AUD$2,000.

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  • Platinum Prepaid Currency Mastercard

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    Overseas ATM withdrawal
    USD: 0.6222
    GBP: 0.4930
    EUR: 0.5925
    NZD: 1.0600
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    2.50 USD

    Get Free Global Wi-Fi when you travel with Cash Passport. The Platinum card has many beneficial attributes, including free global WiFi.

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So read on below for a few handy tips on some of the top travel money choices for your overseas Schoolies adventure, or check out the Mozo travel money hub to compare a range of travel money options for yourself.   

Schoolies 2017 overseas travel money options

Travel debit cards: For Aussie teens heading to a country like Thailand, a travel debit card could be a good payment option - especially if you’re going to be based in a town or city with plenty of ATMs or card payment facilities. Travel debit cards act just like normal debit cards, but the best often feature travel benefits such as fee-free ATM withdrawals and low currency conversion rates.   

Prepaid travel cards: If you’ve booked a trip that features more than one country, a prepaid travel card could be a convenient option given that it can be loaded up with multiple currencies. The only thing to bear in mind with prepaid travel cards is that you may have to pay an extra charge to recover any of the funds that are remaining on the card after the trip.

Foreign currency: An island destination like Fiji may be an appealing option, but with island life comes the pain of not having easy access to ATMs. So while it’s always a good idea to have a bit of foreign currency with you anyway, it becomes even more important in remote settings. Just remember that it’s always a good idea to shop around for currency before you leave, because airports are notorious for charging higher rates.

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