5 Top Travel Money Tips
Nothing can obliterate a post-holiday glow like discovering the damage you've done on your credit card. But with a few simple strategies, you might come back pleasantly surprised instead of suffering a cash-related comedown.
Looking for travel money cards? Check out our best offers below.
Travel Credit Card Comparison Table - rates updated daily
American Express Qantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020.
purchase rate
annual fee
balance transfer rate
20.74% p.a.$0No current offerQantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020.
- purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- annual fee
- $0
- balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Points per $ spent
- 0.75 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Spend req Syd-Mel flight*
- Spend $10,667 to earn
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Intro rate
- -
- Interest free days
- 44
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Bonus points
- Earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at government bodies, earn 1.75 Qantas Points per $1 spend on selected Qantas products and services.
- Flight options
- All rewards are redeemed via Qantas Frequent Flyer.
- Expiry
- Never
- Points earning
- 0.75 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Points required
- 8000 points buys a Qantas Sydney-Melbourne flight
110400 points buys a Qantas Sydney-London flight
19730 points buys a Myer $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Discovery Card
American Express Velocity Platinum Card
Receive 50,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members Only Enjoy a complimentary domestic return flight with Virgin Australia to selected cities, each year after your first card spend. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2020 ^.
purchase rate
annual fee
balance transfer rate
20.74% p.a.$375No current offerVelocity Platinum Card
Receive 50,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members Only Enjoy a complimentary domestic return flight with Virgin Australia to selected cities, each year after your first card spend. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2020 ^.
- purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- annual fee
- $375
- balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Points per $ spent
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Spend req Syd-Mel flight*
- Spend $6,240 to earn
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Intro rate
- -
- Interest free days
- 55
- Rewards program
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Bonus points
- Earn 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent at government bodies, earn 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spend on selected Virgin Australia products and services.
- Flight options
- Redeem Velocity Points with Virgin, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines and other partners.
- Expiry
- Never
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Points required
- 7800 points buys a Virgin Australia Sydney-Melbourne flight
119600 points buys a Velocity partner Sydney-London flight
19500 points buys a Myer $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Velocity Platinum Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 110,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. Access to 6 complimentary insurances when you make eligible purchases.
purchase rate
annual fee
balance transfer rate
19.99% p.a.$395 $295 in the first year0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 110,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. Access to 6 complimentary insurances when you make eligible purchases.
- purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- annual fee
- $395 $295 in the first year
- balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Points per $ spent
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to $5,000 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, up to $20,000 per month
- Spend req Syd-Mel flight*
- Spend $8,000 to earn
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Intro rate
- -
- Interest free days
- 44
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Bonus points
- Bonus points on selected Qantas products and services, including eligible Qantas flights.
- Flight options
- All rewards are redeemed via Qantas Frequent Flyer.
- Expiry
- Never
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to $5,000 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, up to $20,000 per month
- Points required
- 8000 points buys a Qantas Sydney-Melbourne flight
110400 points buys a Qantas Sydney-London flight
19730 points buys a Myer $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- 21.74% p.a.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card
Virgin Money Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Purchase Rate and Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers and 0% p.a. for up to 14 months on purchases. Pay only half the annual fee in the first year and enjoy an exclusive $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher yearly.
purchase rate
annual fee
balance transfer rate
20.74% p.a.$129 $64 in the first year0% p.a. for 6 months and then 20.99% p.a.Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Purchase Rate and Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers and 0% p.a. for up to 14 months on purchases. Pay only half the annual fee in the first year and enjoy an exclusive $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher yearly.
- purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- annual fee
- $129 $64 in the first year
- balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 20.99% p.a.
- Points per $ spent
- 0.66 points per dollar on Visa, up to $1,500 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Spend req Syd-Mel flight*
- Spend $11,818 to earn
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.30%
- Intro rate
- 0% p.a. for 14 months
- Interest free days
- 55
- Rewards program
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Bonus points
- -
- Flight options
- All rewards are redeemed via Velocity.
- Expiry
- Never
- Points earning
- 0.66 points per dollar on Visa, up to $1,500 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Points required
- 7800 points buys a Virgin Australia Sydney-Melbourne flight
119600 points buys a Velocity partner Sydney-London flight
21800 points buys a Myer $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- 20.99% p.a.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Purchase Rate and Balance Transfer Offer
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 55,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and meet the minimum spend criteria of $3,000 in the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new Card Members only.
purchase rate
annual fee
balance transfer rate
20.74% p.a.$450No current offerQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 55,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and meet the minimum spend criteria of $3,000 in the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new Card Members only.
- purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- annual fee
- $450
- balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Points per $ spent
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Spend req Syd-Mel flight*
- Spend $6,400 to earn
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Intro rate
- -
- Interest free days
- 44
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Bonus points
- Earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at government bodies, earn 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spend on selected Qantas products and services.
- Flight options
- All rewards are redeemed via Qantas Frequent Flyer.
- Expiry
- Never
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Points required
- 8000 points buys a Qantas Sydney-Melbourne flight
110400 points buys a Qantas Sydney-London flight
19730 points buys a Myer $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
Tip #1 - Put your kids on a leash!
Treating kids to snacks and souvenirs might keep them satisfied (and buy you a little more time shopping, museum-going, or oohing and aahing over art in peace), but it all adds up - and that series of forgettable nick-nacks and nibbles could tip you over the edge of your budget. To help rein things in, give young travellers a set allowance each day to blow on whatever novelty keyring or sugar-laden local delicacy they wish. But once that amount is gone, it's gone: no negotiations, and no needless extra-spending on your part.
Tip #2 - Dine in; stay out of debt
Eating out three (or more) times a day while on holiday is a surefire way to rack up the bills. Choose apartment-style accommodation with a kitchenette, and pick up supplies from a market to fuel up on breakfast instead of having to hunt down food first thing. Whip up some sandwiches to take on the road while sightseeing, or enjoy the occasional dinner in. There's no better way to experience a slice of local life than preparing your own spread of specialties - and some of the cash you'll save can go towards a bottle or two of regional red.
Tip #3 - Pick a card, but not any card
It's easy to become overwhelmed by the possibilities of overseas indulgence. And if you happen to have a deck of credit cards at your disposal, you'll be tempted to spread your spend - and dip in to more funds than intended while racking up an assortment of fees along the way. It's absolutely essential to check the fees for international cash withdrawals and credit payments on your card. And if you have more than one credit card, compare what they're offering and commit to bringing the best credit card deal. If you want to get really tough (or don't trust your willpower) consider lowering your credit limit too so you don't get swept up in a holiday spending frenzy you know you'll regret.
Compare travel credit cards now for the best deal on the market.
Tip #4 - Make yourself at home
So you've well and truly graduated from hostels to hotels, but if paying for the privilege of a minibar and turn-down service isn't high on the agenda, you might consider some of the various new alternatives. Savvy travellers are getting in on house-swapping, which allows you to stay free of charge in somebody else's property - while they stay in yours. It does require a level of trust and flexibility, but reputable websites can put you in touch with seasoned home-swappers ready to change scenes with you. Not quite comfortable with the idea of key-swapping? A global network of homeowners now offers the use of their property (often while they holiday themselves) at rates that might make you check out of hotels for good. These sites can hook you up with a place that offers all the conveniences of home, if you don't mind staying in someone else's.
Tip #5 - Dodge the duty-free dues
You really can't afford not to save on duty-free booze, perfume and exotic sweets. But you can definitely afford to turn down their latest trick: offering payment in your local currency. Naturally, you think you'll save money by paying in Aussie dollars. And, naturally, there's a hefty, hidden conversion fee - typically over 3% - which is usually higher than a good overseas debit card foreign currency rate, and will still incur all the usual overseas fees. Much better to use up the last of your cash - or a travel card deal.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Credit Cards Awards
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