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 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 - 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.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Credit Cards Awards
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