Mo money, mo mojitos: Travel money musts for Schoolies 2017
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 - rates updated daily
Revolut Account
Today's rates
Purchase fee
Overseas ATM withdrawal
USD: 0.6511
GBP: 0.5201
EUR: 0.6079
NZD: 1.0948$0$0 under AUD $350 or 5 withdrawals for Standard, AUD $700 for Premium, then 2% (AUD $1.50 min)Revolut Account
- Currencies available
30+ currencies
- Reload fee
- up to 1% using domestic cards (up to 2.5% from international cards)
- Closure fee
- $0
- Cross currency conversion fee
- 0% - 1.50% (depending on amount and time when transfer is made)
- Other benefits
- A Revolut account includes International Money Transfers, Share Trading and Multi-Currency Account features.
- Other restrictions
- Exchange fees apply on transactions made between Friday 5pm (New York time) and Sunday 6pm (New York time).
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Revolut Account
Money Card
Today's rates
Purchase fee
Overseas ATM withdrawal
USD: 0.6308
GBP: 0.5010
EUR: 0.5831
NZD: 1.0569$0 Online (greater of 1.1% of initial load amount or $15 in-store)0 AUDThe 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.
Money Card
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.
- Currencies available
AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, JPY, CAD, THB
- Reload fee
- $0 when booked via www.travelex.com.au, otherwise 1% using BPay (BPay fee applies when not loading via the website or app).
- Closure fee
- $10
- Cross currency conversion fee
- $0
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Money Card
Platinum Prepaid Currency Mastercard
Today's rates
Purchase fee
Overseas ATM withdrawal
USD: 0.6208
GBP: 0.4968
EUR: 0.5781
NZD: 1.0424$0 online (greater of 1.1% of initial load amount or $15 in-store)2.50 USDGet Free Global Wi-Fi when you travel with Cash Passport. The Platinum card has many beneficial attributes, including free global WiFi.
Platinum Prepaid Currency Mastercard
Get Free Global Wi-Fi when you travel with Cash Passport. The Platinum card has many beneficial attributes, including free global WiFi.
- Currencies available
AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, JPY, CAD, THB, AED
- Reload fee
- $0 online (free using BPay, 0.5% of the amount loaded per transaction using debit card)
- Closure fee
- $0
- Cross currency conversion fee
- 0%
- Other benefits
- Free global Wi-Fi at millions of Boingo hotspots, complimentary access to LoungeKey airport lounges worldwide upon a flight delay, and instantly transfer money from one Cash Passport account to another with Card to Card.
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Platinum Prepaid Currency Mastercard
Travel Platinum Mastercard
Today's rates
Purchase fee
Overseas ATM withdrawal
USD: 0.6143
GBP: 0.4879
EUR: 0.5647
NZD: 1.0282$0 when loaded at Australia Post or online. (1.1% when loading AUD)3.50 AUDTravel Platinum Mastercard
- Currencies available
AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, JPY, CAD, THB, AED
- Reload fee
- $0 online (1% using BPay, $5 using debit card)
- Closure fee
- $0
- Cross currency conversion fee
- 0%
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Travel Platinum Mastercard
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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