Overseas Credit Card Woes - The Mozo Survival Guide
Arm yourself against excessive international fees, skimming, and the aftermath of card theft with our pre-holiday checklist.
Looking for a travel credit card? Look below for our top cards.
Travel Credit Card Comparison Table - rates updated daily
American Express Qantas Discovery Card
Receive 10,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply by online by 27 October 2021, are approved and spend $750 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Card Members only. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020.
purchase rateannual feebalance transfer rate20.74% p.a.$0No current offerQantas Discovery Card
Receive 10,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply by online by 27 October 2021, are approved and spend $750 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Card Members only. 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
19010 points buys a $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Discovery Card
- Apply By 13 December 2021
American Express Velocity Platinum Card
Receive 120,000 bonus Velocity Points and 120 Status Credits when you apply online by 13 December 2021, are approved and spend $4,500 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.
purchase rateannual feebalance transfer rate20.74% p.a.$375No current offerVelocity Platinum Card
Receive 120,000 bonus Velocity Points and 120 Status Credits when you apply online by 13 December 2021, are approved and spend $4,500 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.
- 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 rateannual feebalance transfer rate19.99% 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
19010 points buys a $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
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 110,000 bonus Qantas Points plus $200 back when you apply online by 27 October 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Card Members only. Plus, receive up to 40,000 extra Qantas points with Shop Small (T&Cs apply)
purchase rateannual feebalance transfer rate20.74% p.a.$450No current offerQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 110,000 bonus Qantas Points plus $200 back when you apply online by 27 October 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. Offer available to new Card Members only. Plus, receive up to 40,000 extra Qantas points with Shop Small (T&Cs apply)
- 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. Save the offer to your eligible Card and get 3 extra Qantas Points per $1 spent, in-store or online at participating Shop Small businesses by 31/03/2022, up to a maximum of 40,000 extra Points. Exclusions apply
- 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
19010 points buys a $100 Gift Card
- Interest rate on cash withdrawals
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
American Express Velocity Escape Card
Earn up to 1.75 Velocity Points. Have limited stress with the Velocity Escape with no annual fee. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2020^. T&C’s apply
purchase rateannual feebalance transfer rate20.74% p.a.$0No current offerVelocity Escape Card
Earn up to 1.75 Velocity Points. Have limited stress with the Velocity Escape with no annual fee. Credit Card Provider of the Year in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2020^. T&C’s apply
- 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 $10,400 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 1.75 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
- 0.75 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 Escape Card
Tip #1 - Touch base with your credit card provider
Credit card issuers are now clued up on the slightest signs of identity theft, and a sudden series of international transactions will raise a red flag. Problem is, your account might be deactivated or flagged for possible fraud. Such diligence is great if you do experience a thieving disaster, but if the only credit culprit is you, you might find your card being denied just as you're picking up a dinner bill or making that essential holiday purchase. Before you head overseas, contact your credit card issuer to let them know of your plans. Keep them in the loop, and you'll stay flush with funds.
Search the market in seconds for the best international travel credit cards.
Tip #2 - Establish proof of life
It's a worst-case scenario, but if you lose or have your credit card stolen, having it replaced will be much easier with ID. And if that gets swiped too, you'll need to fall back on some savvy planning. Scan your passport and driver's licence and email them to yourself, or place password-protected files on a USB drive so you can access copies in case your essentials are lost or stolen - you'll be able to re-establish yourself more quickly in an emergency.
Tip #3 - Know your limits
A credit card could genuinely be the best way to fuel your holiday fun, but do you know how many transactions you can make in a day - or whether there's a limit to how much you can spend over a certain period? Since you never know what you're in for overseas, it's important to get your head around any overseas transaction or ATM fees, as well as daily spending limits on your particular plastic.
Find an internationally friendly travel debit card or prepaid travel card now!
Tip #4 - Avoid withdrawal symptoms
Since making withdrawals on foreign ATMs and purchasing up a credit card storm all carries international charges, it can be much cheaper to withdraw more money than you might at home, store it in your hotel safe, and pay for those myriad daily expenses in cash - just make sure to mind your wallet.
Compare the best forex debit cards in minutes.
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