The top travel money cards to take on your next overseas holiday

Aussies are a globetrotting bunch, but we all know travel doesn’t always come cheap. And even if you bag discounted flights and watch your pennies, having a cost-effective way to spend while you’re overseas is key to a frugal holiday plan.

So if you’re dreaming of cocktails by the pool, sightseeing tours and a suitcase full of souvenirs from your end of year trip, check out the Mozo editor’s travel money picks to make it happen:

Top prepaid travel cards

Got a holiday budget to stick to? Prepaid travel money cards come with all the convenience of plastic without the chance of spending too much and winding up paying heaps in interest.

1. NAB Traveller Card

Currencies available: AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, JPY, CAD, THB

Key features:

• No NAB overseas ATM fees
• $0 purchase fee
• 4% cross currency conversion fee
• Mozo's Experts Choice Award Winner 2016

Where will it take you?

The real question is, where won’t it take you? The NAB Traveller Card is a great allrounder prepaid card, that allows you to preload up to 10 currencies from countries around the world. With few fees to worry about and convenient re-loading through the NAB mobile banking app, this plastic will keep you cashed-up around the globe.

2. ANZ Travel Card

Currencies available: AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, HKD, JPY, CAD, THB

Key features:

• Low ATM withdrawal fees
• No foreign exchange margin
• $11 purchase fee ($0 for existing ANZ customers who apply in branch)
• 3% currency conversion fee

Where will it take you?

This prepaid card is compatible with a range of currencies from all over the world and especially from Asian countries. In fact, it’s one of the only prepaid cards that will allow you to lock in Thai Baht before you travel. So whether you’re spending all your time at a Thai beach resort or backpacking through Southeast Asia, this is a piece of plastic worth having in your carry-on.

Head to the ANZ website to Apply Now.

Top travel credit cards

Prefer having access to credit while you’re overseas? These credit cards will give you great bang for your foreign buck - just remember to keep an eye on annual fees and interest rates!

3. ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures Credit Card

Key features:

• 20.24% interest rate
• Free return domestic flight each year
• Travel perks like free insurance and airport lounge passes
• $0 overseas transaction fees on purchases

Where will it take you?

The $225 annual fee attached to this card might seem steep, but the perks on offer more than justify its place in your travel wallet. Not only does the ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures card come with an annual free domestic flight, two Virgin Australia lounge passes and complimentary travel insurance, but you’ll also pay no overseas transaction fees on purchases and earn rewards points to boot!

4. American Express Explorer Credit Card

Key features:

• 20.74% interest rate
• 3% foreign exchange margin
• $400 travel credit each year
• 100,000 bonus rewards points (for new Amex customers, who apply online, are approved by Jan 30 2017 and spend $1500 on the card within the first two months)

Where will it take you?

For jetsetters who want some serious rewards earning power, the American Express Explorer is a value-packed option. Although there is a $395 annual fee to contend with, it’s easily cancelled out by the freebies on offer, such as the 100,000 bonus points and $400 annual travel credit to spend on things like flights, hotels or car hire.

Read more about the Amex Explorer Credit Card here, or head to the American Express website to Apply Now.

But that’s just the start of the great options for spending on your next overseas trip. Visit our travel money hub to compare travel money options including travel debit cards, travel credit cards and prepaid travel cards.