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The 5 best travel money cards for bali in 2024.

Bali is a well frequented destination for many Australians and is high on the list when daydreaming of a beach holiday. With its sunny weather, long beaches, warm smiles and welcome hospitality it is no wonder Australians return year after year.

In Bali you are likely to pay for accommodation, food and entertainment as well as withdraw cash from ATMs with your card. So which is the best travel card to take with you?

It's easy, to save you lots of time, we have compared a large number of the best travel cards to take to Bali for Australians in 2024 and have summarised their best points.

Best 5 Travel Money Cards for Bali in 2024:

Wise Travel Card for the best exchange rates
Revolut Travel Card for low fees
Travelex as the best all rounder
ING One Low Rate Platinum Credit Card for no international transaction fee
HSBC Everyday Global for best debit card for ATM cash withdrawals

Wise Travel Card - Best Exchange Rates

40+ currencies available
Best exchange rates globally
One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
No international transaction fees
No annual or monthly fees
Extremely low costs to send money overseas

Wise Travel Card

Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise Card charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted

For Australians traveling to Bali, the Wise Travel Card presents a range of features that are particularly beneficial. Firstly, the card offers access to over 40 currencies at the intermarket exchange rate, which is renowned for being the most cost-effective globally. This is especially advantageous for Australians in Bali, as it allows them to convert Australian Dollars (AUD) to Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) at highly competitive rates. Given the exchange rate fluctuations, having access to the intermarket rate can lead to significant savings during their stay. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.

Revolut - Low Fees

30+ currencies available
One of the best exchange rates globally
No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
No initial card fee
Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies

Read our Revolut Card Review

Revolut Travel Card

No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
Can be used wherever Visa is accepted

The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.

Travelex Money Card - Best All Rounder

Best features.

Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
24/7 Emergency Assistance
Initial and replacement card are free
Lock in up to 10 currencies

Read our Travelex Travel Card Review

Travelex Money Card

Minimum load of $100 and maximum load of $100,000
Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
Fees include a $10 closure fee, $5 for an additional card and $4 inactivity monthly fee.
While Travelex don't charge ATM fees, some ATM operators may charge their own fees.
Currencies that can be loaded are AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, TH฿, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$
If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge
Boingo hotspots offer free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map

The Travelex Card is a good all rounder.

You can use it to take money out of the ATM, for merchant purchases like restaurants and even for online shopping in foreign currency. While the exchange rates aren't as good as the Wise or Revolut Card abroad , the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good.

ING One Low Rate Credit Card

No annual fee
No international transaction fees on purchases
Up to 45 days interest free on purchases
Lowest cash advance interest rate of 11.99%
Use instalment plans to pay off your purchases over time at a lower interest rate

11.99% interest rate on purchases
$6,000 minimum credit card
Make payments from your mobile with pay with Apple Pay and Google Pay
International ATM fee and Foreign currency conversion fee are waived when you deposit $1,000 into your Orange Everyday each month, and make 5+ card purchases that are settled. Otherwise they are the higher of 3% or at least $3
Put repayments on auto payment each month to pay the minimum balance or full amount

The ING One Low Rate credit card for travel is a great option to take to Bali for your next overseas trip as it has one of the lowest interest rates with no international transaction fee on purchases. These two features alone will save you lots of money abroad.

In addition, it has no annual fee, offers 45 days interest free on purchases and it offers the one of the lowest interest rates for cash advances. Finally, it's super versatile. You can make payments from your mobile with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card

No international ATM fees
No initial card or closure fees
No monthly or account fees
No cross currency conversion fees
Lock in very competitive exchange rates before travel
No maximum balance
Earn 2% cashback

10 Currencies can be loaded are AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD , JPY, NZD, SGD, CNY (currency restrictions apply to CNY)
Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with payWave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100. With a maximum of $50 cash back per month. In addition you need to deposit $2,000 or more into your Everyday Global Account each calendar month.
Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability

HSBC is very prominent in Asia and Bali so this is the best debit card for ATM cash withdrawals , as the ATMs only need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo for free cash withdrawals.

In addition the HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card has no international transaction fees and monthly fees. You can use this card as well in Europe, the UK, the US and New Zealand as well. Finally it offers a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.

Learn more about the best credit, debit and prepaid cards for travel

Credit Card

International Prepaid Cards

The best debit card for Bali charges no international transaction fees and offers intermarket exchange rates on currency conversion, this is the Wise Multi Currency card . It has no set up costs, no ongoing costs or fees for inactivity.

Yes, it is better to have a little bit of Indonesian Rupiah before you arrive. You need cash to pay for your visa when you arrive, cash to pay for transport and tipping in accommodation. The Indonesian exchange rate can be found at the Bank Indonesia page or our home page.

It’s not advisable to carry too much money into Bali, while there is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you bring into Bali, it's better to only bring enough for 2 days. You can work out how much money you need for a week in Bali in our useful guide.

You should take both cash and a card to Bali. A travel money card is better than cash for security reasons and that in most places in Bali you can pay with a card. No one can access your cash unless they have your 4 digit pin. If you lose your travel money card you can quickly report it lost or stolen to stop unauthorised transactions. Cash is better for tipping, on transport and in markets.

Yes Bali does take debit cards especially those linked to Mastercard or Visa, less so with American Express. Most debit cards issued in Australia will work in Bali and it's best to advise your bank that you are travelling to Bali before you leave so they don't cancel your card while you are away. Debit cards work in a similar way to in Australia, tap and pay or punch in your digits and pay. Always accept the local currency when the DCC screen appears to save money.

The currency in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah. They have 6 banknotes called rupiah and 5 coins called sen. The most common notes you’ll probably be dealing with are the blue Rp. 50,000 banknotes or the reddish-pink Rp. 100,000.

More Travel Card Guides

Learn more about the best travel money cards for your holiday destination.

ASIC regulated

Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.

Indonesian Rupiah card

Travelling from the UK to Indonesia? Spend effortlessly in Indonesian Rupiahs (IDR) with a multi-currency card.

40+ million worldwide customers use Revolut

Revolut offers so much more than a travel card. Exchange currencies, send money abroad, and hold 36 local currencies in-app. These are just some reasons why our customers rely on us for their travel spending.

How does a Indonesian Rupiah card work?

How to get your IDR card

Get your Indonesian Rupiah card in 3 steps

Get revolut.

Join 40+ million people worldwide saving when they spend abroad with Revolut.

Order your card

Order your free Indonesian Rupiah card. Top up your balance in GBP or 36 other currencies.

Spend like a local

Start spending in Indonesian Rupiahs.

Currency exchange fees subject to fair-usage limits and weekend markups. Currency exchange shown is only an indicative example.

Why should I get a Indonesian Rupiah card?

Where is the Indonesian Rupiah card available?

Spend confidently with a Indonesian Rupiah card

How to save money when spending in Indonesian Rupiahs

Tips for saving money in Indonesia

Don't exchange at airports or at home.

No need to exchange cash before you travel — use your travel money card to spend or withdraw money from an ATM.

Choose IDR as the local currency

Choose the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants.

Save with a travel money card

Spend in Indonesian Rupiahs like a local with Revolut.

How to avoid unwanted ATM fees

Need to make IDR withdrawals in Indonesia?

Fee-free Indonesian Rupiah ATM withdrawals

Fee-free atm withdrawals up to £200, fee-free atm withdrawals up to £400, fee-free atm withdrawals up to £800.

ATM withdrawals are subject to fair-usage fees depending on plan. Currency exchange fees may apply.

What are you waiting for?

Save when you travel with a IDR travel card

Rating as of 26 May 2024

715K Reviews

2.8M Reviews

Need a little more help?

Indonesian Rupiah currency card FAQs

Is it better to use a travel money card rather than cash in indonesia.

There is no 'best' way to spend in Indonesian Rupiahs, but here are some tips to help you save money:

Don’t exchange cash at the airport. It’s much cheaper to withdraw money from an ATM with your Indonesian Rupiah card.
Don't carry more cash than you need. When you return home to the UK, you’ll have to re-convert this cash back to GBP.
Always choose IDR as the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants.
Download the Revolut app, then sign up to get instant notifications on what you spend and manage your balance.

Are travel money cards safe and secure?

Where can i use my idr travel money card, how much can i pay using my indonesian rupiah card.

There is no limit to the amount that you can spend using your Indonesian Rupiah card. Just top up in-app with however much you want and enjoy your travels.

How can I avoid unwanted ATM fees in Indonesia?

There are tonnes of benefits to a Indonesian Rupiah card. Let’s look at a few:

Send and spend in Indonesian Rupiahs and 150+ other currencies.
No need to exchange or carry cash. Pay with your Indonesian Rupiah card, either contactless or with chip and PIN.
No need to wait for your physical card to arrive. Instantly add your card to Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Create single-use virtual cards for safe online shopping or travel bookings.
Enjoy fee-free ATM withdrawals between £200 and £2,000 monthly, depending on your plan.
Get instant payment notifications to keep track of how much you spend.
Stay in control of your card’s security, with card freezing and spending limit controls.
Easily manage your spending around the world with the free Revolut app.

How do I get a Indonesian Rupiah travel money card?

To order your Revolut debit card and start spending in Indonesian Rupiahs, simply:

Download the Revolut app on your Android or iPhone and sign up for free.
Order your free Indonesian Rupiah card. Top up your balance in GBP or 150+ other currencies.
Get your card in the post or add it to Google Pay or Apple Pay to use it immediately.
Start spending like a local in Indonesian Rupiahs.

Bali Holiday Secrets

Wise Debit Card: 7 Reasons Why it’s the Best Travel Card for Bali

updated April 1, 2022, 5:24 pm 24.9k Views 54 Comments

If you are looking for a sure-fire way to save money while travelling, the Wise Debit Card is a must-have. I’ve been using Wise (formerly Transferwise) to transfer money between bank accounts in different currencies for a couple of years, and I swear by it. But the addition of personal debit cards as well as their original business debit card makes this the best travel debit card by a country mile.

Why Wise Debit Card is cheaper than banks and credit cards.

The reason Wise can exchange currencies cheaper than your bank is that they process so much volume they acquire (formerly Transferwise) real-time foreign exchange rates without the markup your bank charges for the privilege of exchanging currencies.

Think of it this way – every moment there is a market between two commodities. The amount you are buying another currency (for example, the Indonesian Rupiah) and the rate someone else (your bank) is willing to sell that Rupiah. Your bank charges a fat margin – Transferwise has lower margins – therefore you get more Rupiah for your Dollar.

Check out the screenshot below showing the transfer of AUD$1,000 using Wise compared with NAB, PayPal and Commonwealth Bank.

The difference can be as much as IDR600,000, which is around AUD$60. The currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), and let me tell you, AUD$60 goes a long way in Bali.

Using Wise for sending money from Australia to Bali.

Many Australians have friends and family in Bali and need to send money from Australia to a Bali bank account.

Let’s use an example of sending AUD$100 from your Australian bank account to a friend’s bank account in Bali. Remember, the currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).

First, you register your own personal Wise account . Register on a desktop or laptop first, then download the smartphone apps for Android and Apple .

It’s very easy to confirm your identity (required by law, same as any Australian bank) using a passport or driver’s license, but the verification process is quite quick.

Next, you create a new Australian bank account complete with BSB Code and Account number. This account behaves exactly the same as any of your other Australian bank accounts. Now you have the new account number, it’s dead easy to transfer money from your current local bank account to your new Wise bank account .

So now you have an account within Wise in Australian Dollars. Next, you use the menu options to open an IDR balance . The difference between a balance and an account is that a balance is simply holding a foreign currency without a bank account attached to it — an account is a proper bank account with account numbers.

Now here is the fun bit — you can send IDR to your friend’s Indonesian bank account. All you need is the name on their account, the name of the bank and the account number. This makes it almost impossible to make a mistake and send it to the wrong person because the confirmation screen will display the name of the account holder, which you can check against the details they provided you.

Once confirming the transfer, you can track its progress online and also receive email notifications when it arrives in their account.

The difference when transferring from your bank directly to a foreign bank is huge.

You get charged an “administrative fee”, usually around $20-50.
The exchange rate they transfer your money is the retail rate , meaning they are making a significant margin off you.
A “delivery” fee is often charged. The recipient’s bank is literally charging them for receiving the funds being transferred.

Wise cuts out the middle-man , in this case, your bank, and withdraws the money from your account (without fees), exchanges it for the destination currency (which is where you save the most) and deposits it in the recipient account for a tiny fraction of the fee that your bank would charge.

The Wise Travel Debit Card.

If you apply for a Wise Debit Card , you can use it to spend Indonesian Rupiah while in Bali without any transaction fees at all .

Think about this. You go to dinner in a restaurant in Seminyak and in a fit of generosity pay the bill for your four guests. Maybe drinks and dinner come to IDR 4,000,000.

Using the rates in the above example, you will be charged around AUD$360 if you pay with your Visa or Mastercard. The bank decides what exchange rate it will charge you in Australian Dollars, and let’s be frank – the rate isn’t great.

On top of that they may charge you an “overseas transaction fee” because, well, they can. That’s just another bank tax. Since the consumer commissions in several countries made “overseas transaction fees” against the law, most banks simply sneak it in with an even worse foreign currency conversion rate.

Either way, they get you, and you end up paying a lot more than the original IDR4,000,000 bill.

I cannot thank you enough for this tip

I cannot thank you enough for this tip. I have used Transferwise in BALI last week and it worked perfectly without the horrible australian banks fees. also, it’s so easy to withdraw money from the many ATM’s around and I must say that I am now using it in Australia if and when I need to transfer money abroad. Best tip ever.

With a Wise Debit Card , you pay… Rp 4,000,000 for dinner. No extra fees, no transaction charges. That’s because the money you are holding in your IDR currency is used to pay just like a local would using their Indonesian debit card.

And the best feature is that whenever you make a transaction you get an alert on your smartphone telling you where the transaction was made and how much. That means whenever I use it (and I make several transactions a day) I get an instant confirmation showing the local currency transaction.

Not only does this give me a great sense of security but I can also confirm how much is left in the local currency account where I’m travelling.

Withdraw Local Currency with your Transferwise Debit Card

Other than using the card for purchases without any transaction fees while you’re on holiday in Bali, you can also withdraw cash from ATMs in Bali as well.

That means you don’t need to bring cash to exchange at a money changer or get hit with exorbitant bank fees by using your existing Visa or Mastercard.

Not all ATMs will accept the Transferwise Debit Card but many do — I’ve found several around Bali that allow cash withdrawals, with my favourite being the yellow-coloured Maybank (there’s one outside Biku in Seminyak ).

Maybank ATM - Transferwise Debit Card Accepted here

No leftover foreign currency at the end of the holiday.

One of the biggest pains when travelling is using up the local currency before you leave. Or conversely, for me, it’s not having any when I land in a new country.

Using the Transferwise smartphone app I can move money between currencies at the most competitive rate on the market. Which means if I’m a bit short because of a big splurge with a few days to go, I can exchange money from one of my other currency wallets into the local currency.

And when leaving, or anytime after I leave, I can move the leftover money into the currency I’m going to use next. Because the rates are better than I can find anywhere else, the stress of getting a horrible exchange rate for small or large amounts is no longer a factor.

It’s just one less friction point when travelling, so I can focus on making my Indonesian Rupiah, Vietnamese Dong, Malaysian Ringgit or Euro go further.

Save money by spending local currency during airport transits.

One of the pains of travelling far and wide is the transit times while changing flights at foreign airports. There’s not enough time to get outside immigration, but enough time that you may want some food or drink (always a good idea), or check-out the local airport shopping (never a good idea).

The problem is you don’t have any local currency, and using the currency exchange booths means paying either a commission or a shockingly expensive exchange rate , especially for small amounts.

My solution is to figure out what I’m going to get (usually food or drink while waiting for my connecting flight) and transfer that amount using my Transferwise smartphone app and then paying for it using my Transferwise Debit Card.

That way I get the most competitive rate even with small amounts, and paying for it using my card means it’s being transacted in the local currency.

So buying a laksa at KLIA doesn’t mean paying my credit card issuing bank an “overseas transaction fee” along with a grossly uncompetitive exchange rate. The last time I tested the difference I paid 54% more than I would with my Transferwise Debit Card using local currency. An AUD$8.20 curry turned into a $12.67 charge on my credit card.

And if you doubt this, or have had a similar experience, please leave a comment below.

Saving for a holiday made easy.

We all know that saving for a holiday is hard work. And when you go to change your hard-earned cash into the local currency you are at the whim of the prevailing exchange rate.

What I do is transfer money from my home bank account into my Transferwise Debit Card account and regularly exchange those dollars into my destination currency.

For example, for a holiday to Vietnam, I transfer a few hundred dollars a month into my Transferwise account and then swap those dollars for Vietnamese Dong regularly. That way I’m averaging the exchange rate over a length of time – which means I won’t get the best rate or the worst rate – but an average rate over the time I’m saving for the trip.

So there it is. Put funds into your Transferwise account, change it into any currency you like, and spend like a local. You can try it out by getting a Transferwise account, connecting it with your own bank account, putting in a small amount to try it out (that’s what I did) and testing the exchange rate by using the same amount as a foreign exchange transaction using your own own Internet banking, or asking for an over-the-counter transaction at your local bank branch (like that’s somewhere we go any more).

While most anyone can open a Transferwise account, Debit Cards can only be issued to residents of certain countries.

Disclaimer: Using the links from this website means I get a very small commission from anyone who signs up for a Transferwise account and makes a currency conversion. I’ve been using Transferwise for over two years and I love it. Ask any questions in the comments section below.

54 Comments

If I buy a local sim card on arrival in Bali, will my Wise App still work OK?

Hi guys someone mentioned Maybank no fees for previously converted idr. Is that even above the $350 a month? Thanks for confirming

Hi Michael, If I use WISE card for ATM Maybank for example, will there be a 3rd party card withdrawal fee?

Hi Michael. In my wise card I got balance of Indonesian rupiah and AUD. while iam in Bali if I want to spend some money with my wise card, how can setup my card to use the Indonesian rupiah not the AUD for the spend. Does the card will choose by it self ? How’s that work

It should automatically withdraw from the IDR balance when spending, since the transaction itself will ask for X amount of IDR. Just make sure you have enough IDR funds for the transactions via the app.

Safe travels, Michael.

Thanks micheal really appreciate

Can I ask I’m travelling to Bali from Aus so so I load the money onto the card as IDR (under the IDR account ) or do I load under Aud account ? I want to be able to withdraw in Bali or use my card to pay in restaurants etc..

I’d recommend loading up on IDR to make things more seamless.

Safe travels, Michael

Thank you! Didn’t receive my physical card before my journey, but got my virtual instantly. You can pay contactless at all upscale restaurants, shops and more. Used your link. The least I could do. Saved a lot.

Wonderful! Glad to hear you have a payment method sorted. Enjoy!

Hi Just want to say, I’ve been using Wise for quite a long time to send money overseas and it has saved me a huge amount of money. It’s fast, safe and fees are very low.

I was one of the first in Australia to get. Wise debit card and I no longer use a credit card issued by an Australian bank. Absolutely great service.

Hi, Which ATMs would be available at the airport in Bali upon arrival? Thinking about withdrawing money at airport with Wise card. I have to have enough money in IDR in my Wise account? Which Banks with ATMs at the airport, have highest limit, and lowest or no fees, or both? If I need to use the ATM to withdraw cash more than twice using a WISE card, would the total cost with extra fees and charges (including ATM fee, WISE ATMs withdrawal fees and fee once past free allowance) still be less than money exchangers in Australia for cash (eg Travelex), or withdrawing money at ATMs with Australian bank debit cards with their own fees and foreign exchange conversion rates?

Hi Fabian, that’s a lot of very specific technical questions to which I do not have the answer. I cannot tell you exactly what each bank charges in withdrawal fees.

Thanks Michael for the prompt reply. Michele

Hi Michael,

Have I just organised the wrong card to use as a debit card overseas? I went online and filled in the form. The picture they are showing me of the card says Wise then the word VISA at the bottom.

Hi Michele, if you signed up for a Wise card, then it will be a Visa Debit card.

Hi Michael, thanks for this post, and indeed many other pages on your website.

Do you know if Bali has Cardless ATMs for withdrawing cash? For example, can I use my digital Wise card to withdraw cash, or must I use the physical card?

Many thanks!

Hi Jenniffer, no, afraid not, or at least none that I’m aware of.

Hi Michael, Is there any need to exchange my AUD into local currency on the debit card i.e. can I just load AUD and let the conversion happen “in real time” at the time of purchase, transaction by transaction? Is the only reason to convert beforehand to lock in favourable exchange rates or is there some other financial saving i.e. cheaper fees/costs? Cheers, Grant

Hi Grant, you are correct. You can lock in a favourable rate, or allow the conversion happen in real time at point of purchase.

What banks in Bali do not charge an ATM fee when withdrawing cash using a Wise card?

Hi Mie, the banks all have different fees, and I am unsure of any that charge no fees for Wise withdrawals.

I do know that when using your Wise card in shops and cafes there are no fees when making payment in IDR if you have IDR in your wallet.

Thank you for your reply. I am in Bali now and tried the BNI ATM at the airport. It did not charge any ATM fee. ????

Hi Mie, that’s great intel, thanks for the heads up.

Be careful using the card at an ATM if you need to do more than 2 transitions in 1 day, as ATMs in Indonesia only give you 1 million Rupiah at a time. So if you need more that 2 Million Rupiah you will be charged a fee from Wise for ever Transition after that.

Hi Brent, thanks for your comment. Actually different ATMs have different transaction limits. I use BCA, which has a 3 million Rupiah limit.

Hi, I am wondering about the debit card to use for purchases and withdrawing money at atm’s. I see conflicting advice on this forum about which banks charge fees and accept the card. Could you please clarify? Thanks so much.

Hi Jen. I am unsure precisely what fees each of the banks charge for using any number of international debit and credit cards.

Could you be more specific? Which card will you be using, and what bank is it issued by? Which specific piece if advice is conflicting? Perhaps I can rectify this.

Say I save up some money in Indonesian rupiah in my wise account when I get to Bali and use my debit card will it take funds from the Indonesian rupiah account or from Australian account first. How does it know which one I want to withdrawl from

Hi Mark – it will spend local currency first by default. So when in Indonesia, it will spend from your Indonesian Rupiah balance automatically.

Does this work for online payment like on Grab app?

Hi Elisa, yes it does.

I recently returned from Bali and only ever used my TransferWise card. I can confirm the card works in the following ATMs (and possible other brands too):

– BCA – BNI – Maybank

In addition, I used to card to pay for services in restaurants and hotels – it worked 100% of the time.

Hi everyone,

How wide spread is the ability to pay with a card in your Apple Wallet in Bali these days in major venues and restaurants?

Hi Aaron – great question, and one I am unqualified to answer. While I use my debit cards here every day, I have never used Apple Wallet in Indonesia.

If you have any direct experience, a follow-up comment would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the tip! Just loaded up my Wise card with Indonesian Rupiah – easy as pie 🙂

You’re welcome! Safe travels.

Maybank charges an ATM fee. I juts tried it. And also you are limited to around 250usd per month before a lot of other fees kick in. Good for point of sale with good exchange rate.

False, Maybnk charges a fee, I just tried it.

You don’t need to exchange local currency on TW, it will be done automatically as needed when there is a transaction

That’s true, when you make a transaction using TW it will take funds from your default currency and change into the local currency automatically.

The reason I like to exchange currencies is to take advantage of high exchange rates before I travel, locking in a favourable rate rather than taking the current rate during my travels.

Thanks for the tip!

Safe Travels, Michael

I just got to Bali Canggu now. Will be staying for 26 days. Is it possible to have this debit card sent to my air bnb? I’m a Canadian citizen does it work for us? Thanks

Hi Sorriso, Did you click on the included links to check out how long a Candian issued card will take to be delivered? My AUD card was issued and delivered in 13 days.

That’s so great to hear! I often wonder if people take my advice, and so to hear about your positive experiences really means a lot. Thank you so much! 🙂

Safe travels (and shopping), Michael

Great info. Have you tried withdrawing money using your TransferWise debit card while in Bali? What sort of fee can we expect the local banks to charge?

Yes, I use my Transferwise Debit Card all the time. I have found it doesn’t work in some banks (BNI), some charge fees (Permata bank) but Maybank works and there are no fees whatsoever. That means I’m using local currency with no transaction costs whatsoever. Saves me a fortune.

Safe travel, Michael

Thank you for your advise. Much appreciated

Hi Michael, I just have one quick question, i’m only going on a very short trip to Bali (6 days) and was wondering if i should take just cash or a mix of cash and possibly this debit card?

Hi Giorgia, Cash and card are better . That way you can exchange your cash at a money changer and get the best possible exchange rates while using this travel card to spend in local rupiah and avoid expensive transaction charges, as well as transfer money in and out of your chosen currency at the absolute best rates on the market.

I’m currently in Vietnam, and I just travel with the card as I can withdraw local currency from ATM here.

What a clever and convenient concept. I can see all the advantages, with no obvious flaws. Must have taken a fair bit of experience and thought to put it together. We are still considering all the permutations and combinations of our proposed trip, this one being another possible link.However, as this could be our last overseas journey, perhaps another card in the wallet may not be necessary. Once again, many thanks for your past help and information. Your website is truly very helpful to all those who are fortunate enough to find it. Terima kasih, Karl.

Hi Karl, Thanks for the kind words, it’s very much appreciated. Hope you have a fantastic time on your Bali holiday.

Travel Money Guide: Indonesia

Get from the beach bar to surfie havens with the right access to your holiday money..

In this guide

Compare travel money options for Indonesia

Travel card, credit card, or debit cards, how much rupiah do i need to bring to the indonesia, exchange rate history (aud to idr), how the different travel money products work in indonesia, a guide to indonesian banknotes and coins, find cash and atms in indonesia, get travel insurance quotes for your holiday in indonesia.

Travel Money Cards

Whether it's Bali, Lombok or any of the 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia, you'll need to figure out the best way to access your money.

If you're sticking to a swanky resort in a built-up area like Bali, you'll be fine with a no-fee debit or credit card and access to some cash for any smaller purchases along the way, like souvenirs and quick meals. If you're doing it loval style in a villa or heading off the beaten track, then having more Indonesian Rupiah available in cash is a must.

Travel Credit Cards
Travel Debit Cards
Prepaid Travel Money Cards

What's in this Indonesia travel money guide?

A quick summary of travel money options for indonesia.

Stephanie’s trip to Bali
A guide to Indonesia Rupiah: banknotes and coins
Finding cash and ATMs in Indonesia
Find travel insurance for Indonesia

Whether you're on a quick business trip or taking a holiday, it's good to have an at least a couple of ways to access your money. There are currently no travel cards which allow you to load Indonesian rupiah. Compare travel credit cards and debit cards to take to Indonesia instead.

Choose a mix that suits your needs: for example a debit card for regular spending with a credit card for emergencies, or Indonesian currency supplemented by a debit card. Whatever mix you decide on, you want to have enough Indonesian currency in your pockets when travelling through Indonesia — even if it's enough for the first couple of days.

You're going to need to pay for a visa when you arrive in Indonesia. In places such as Denpasar airport, you have to pay cash, so make sure you have sufficient funds.

This table is a general summary of the travel money products in the market. Features and benefits can vary between cards.

*Prices are approximate and are subject to change.

*Exchange rates are accurate as of 3 September 2017

Today's exchange rate AUD to IDR

Using prepaid travel cards

If you're looking at taking a travel money card to Indonesia, think again. There are no travel money cards on the market that allow you to load and spend in Indonesian rupiah. Having said that, there are a couple of travel cards which may be suitable to take to Indonesia, including the CommBank Travel Money Card . One drawback, however, is that the CBA card charges the Visa or Mastercard currency conversion fee, plus 4.5%.

These cards should only really be considered if Indonesia is the first leg of your international holiday. The CommBank Travel Money Card offers up to 13 different international currencies and can be used all over the world. Furthermore, the Commonwealth Bank have a large number of ATMs and branches in Bali and Indonesia where you can use your CBA travel, debit or credit card and avoid the international ATM fee. However, due to the lack of support for Indonesian rupiah, the exchange rate margin when you load the card with funds and the fee structure, there are cheaper products to use in Indonesia than a travel card.

Travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fee

A credit card can be useful when travelling overseas – especially when it comes to big ticket items you may want to pay off over a couple of months, or hotel check-in where a deposit is required. Credit cards also give you access to emergency cash if you need it, and some credit cards have handy benefits like complimentary travel insurance when you charge the cost of your travel ticket to your account.

However, credit cards can be expensive, especially when it comes withdrawing cash at an ATM. Interest is charged straight away and you'll pay a cash advance fee. You may be able to avoid this keeping a positive balance on your card — each credit card issuer has different rules for keeping a positive balance. Read the FAQs section of our travel money page for more information.

Taking a debit card in Indonesia

Most debit cards on the market charge a 2-3% fee when you make a purchase outside of Australia. In fact, there's only one debit card available at the moment which waives the currency conversion fee: the Citibank Plus Transaction Account.

Using traveller's cheques

Traveller's cheques may not be as popular today as they used to be but they still offer some important advantages over other forms of travel money. When travelling to Indonesia, traveller's cheques have the added security of needing ID to be cashed. Plus, if they get lost or stolen, they can be replaced in a few days. There will also be a fee for purchasing and cashing traveller's cheques, so check these out too.

Stephanie's Bali Beach Holiday

CommBank Travel Money Card
Commonwealth Bank Low Rate Credit Card
Commonwealth Bank Smart Access Mastercard Debit Card

Why did you take these cards with you?

Stephanie says she already had a CommBank Travel Money Card from her last holiday with a little money left on it. She withdrew the remaining funds from this card from a Commonwealth Bank ATM in Bali and saved on ATM withdrawal fees. She didn't bother reloading this card even though there is no reload charge from the Commonwealth Bank.

She used the Commonwealth Bank Smart Access Mastercard Debit Card once the money from her travel card ran out. Even though she was paying a little more for the currency conversion fee, she only used her card a couple of times to withdraw cash from CBA ATMs and her debit card offered a slightly better rate than her travel card.

Stephanie had her CommBank credit card as a backup and only used it a couple of times on her trip — she paid the remaining balance of her hotel bill and shouted her friends to dinner one night. he paid it off when she got back to Australia (within the 55 day interest free period) and didn't incur any interest charges.

Did you withdraw from ATMs?

Stephanie says she withdrew from Commonwealth Bank ATMs around the Kuta area. When she used her travel card, she only paid a few dollars each time. When she used her debit card to withdraw cash, a currency conversion fee was applied to her transaction.

Were there any places where you had trouble using any of your cards?

Stephanie mainly used cash in Bali. The times she did pay with her card, she was at an upmarket restaurant and major hotel chain.

What's your recommendation for the best form of travel money to take to Indonesia?

Stephanie says one of her friends used the Citibank Plus Transaction Account, and she says she'll get this account next time she travels overseas. Citibank waives the international ATM fee and currency conversion fee and there's no monthly charge to keep the account.

What are your travel money tips for Bali?

She says do your shopping in the morning. The people who sell things at the markets in Bali will give you a better price in the morning compared to in the afternoon.

Card acceptance

You will be able to use your existing ATM card in most places where merchants display the same logo as the one on your card. Mastercard and Visa have wide acceptance in Bali.

Cheap ATM withdrawals in Indonesia

Westpac. Westpac Group cardholders (Westpac, St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne) can avoid the international ATM withdrawal fee by using CIMB ATMs throughout Indonesia. The local ATM operator fee may still apply. You can read more about Westpac's International ATM Alliance here.
Commonwealth Bank. CommBank have a presence throughout Indonesia — you can find a concentration of CBA ATMs around Bali, especially Kuta. You can avoid ATM withdrawal fees using CommBank products at these ATMs.
Citibank. You can make free ATM withdrawals using the Citibank Plus Transaction Account at Citibank ATMs in Indonesia. Citibank have an ATM in Kuta.

Indonesia has proved to be a dangerous destination for Australian travellers. From the dreaded Bali belly to contaminated alcohol, there are many risks lurking just below the surface. This is why travel insurance is so important. Travel insurance can cover:

Cancellations
Repatriation
Lost Deposits
Additional accommodation
Personal liability
Emergency dental and medical

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Indonesia is a favourite for holidaymakers from Australia. Bali is an especially popular spot for Aussies, it is virtually impossible to walk down a beach in Bali without hearing that distinctive Aussie twang. Do your research and save on paying unnecessary fees to your bank.

Read about travel money for Singapore
Find out how to take money to Fiji
Compare all your travel money options here

Jacob Joseph

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4 Responses

Hi I am about to head to Bali and I can’t decided on what to do about money. I am getting all different advice. I have CommBank MasterCard debit and ANZ visa debt… do I just use them to withdraw cash in Bali or use a prepaid multi-currency cash passport

Thanks for your comment.

The ‘best’ option will always depend on your unique financial situation, your travel budget and spending habits.

If you use a Commonwealth Bank Debit MasterCard, you will be charged overseas currency conversion fees and foreign ATM withdrawal fees. These fees vary depending on the ATM you use, so I have emailed you a copy of the product disclosure statement for further information. Also, the ANZ Visa Debit card unlimited ATM withdrawal offer does not apply to overseas withdrawals.

If you are looking to access your own funds overseas, a prepaid travel money card can be a valuable way to load funds on your card, transfer them to a foreign currency and access your funds overseas without the temptation of a line of credit. Unfortunately, not many Australian travel money cards support Indonesian Rupiah, so you might want to look out for a card that does not charge currency conversion fees. This way you can load your card with Australian Dollars and you won’t incur a fee when they’re transferred to Indonesian Rupiah while you’re travelling.

For example, the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card is one of few travel money cards that doesn’t charge currency conversion fees on either supported or unsupported currencies.

Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions of the card to ensure that you got everything covered before you travel.

I hope this has helped.

I have a multi currency travel card with Aus dollars on it only. Can the currency be converted into Indonesian currency when I use the card? Or do I have to do something in Australia 1st.

Thank you for your comment.

The Multi-currency Cash Passport does not currently support the Indonesian rupiah.

Although you can make payments using the Australian Dollars loaded on your card, you will incur a currency conversion fee of 5.95% plus the MasterCard® rate each time you complete a transaction in Indonesian rupiah.

I hope this has helped answer your question.

Thanks, Sally

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How does the Currency Pass work?

Load up to 10 x currencies

Load USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, THB & AUD onto your card.

Lock in your exchange rate

Meaning the day you load your currency, your spending money is set at that rate+

Use it globally

Wherever Mastercard is accepted, your card is accepted; including at ATMs.

Order online

Order Online

Once you're set up online (after an ID check and payment is processed!) you can manage your card, check your balance and transaction history and continue to load spending money all online too. To be safe, we won't take online orders if you're departing within 7 days as the card can take 2-7 days for delivery.

Already have a Currency Card?

If you already have a Travel Money Oz Currency Pass (or Key to the World Currency Card), log in to the Travel Money Oz portal to view your balance, reload and see your transaction history.

Please browse our FAQs .

*Important Information

Mastercard Prepaid Management Services Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 47 145 452 044, AFSL 386 837) arranges for the issue of the Currency Pass in conjunction with the issuer, EML Payment Solutions Limited ('EML') ABN 30 131 436 532 , AFSL 404131.

You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement for the relevant product available at Travel Money Oz's website and the Target Market Determination available at EML Target Market Determinations before deciding to acquire the product. Any advice does not take into account your personal needs, financial circumstances or objectives and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Exchange rates for initial loads and subsequent reloads made using methods available via Travel Money Oz's website will be set at the prevailing exchange rate set out at Travel Money Oz's website at the time of your request, provided you settle the transaction within four hours. Different exchange rates apply for loads initiated using other methods. If you initiate a load or reload other than via Travel Money Oz's website, the exchange rate applied will be the prevailing exchange rate at the time the payment is processed and the funds are received into your facility. For more information on how exchange rates are set and applied, please see the Product Disclosure Statement .

Tools & Services

Using currency pass and cash to pay bill

Why Travel Money

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Travel money card

Activate and manage your card Activate and manage your card

Are you an existing customer?

A smart and safe way to pay in foreign currencies

Features and benefits

Travel and shop worry-free Lock in your budget by converting your loaded AUD ahead of time and feel safe and secure from fraudulent transactions with Mastercard Zero Liability protection.¹
Lounge access if your flight is delayed You and a companion can get access to over 1,000 lounges² if your flight is delayed for 120 minutes or more. Visit the Mastercard Flight Delay Pass website to pre-register your flight. T&Cs apply.
Convenient options for you Pick up cards from any branch and activate them online, or order online from home and receive your cards in 5-8 business days.
Access unforgettable experiences and rewards Your Mastercard gives you access to Priceless ® Cities with unforgettable experiences in the cities where you live and travel.³ You can also get cashback when you shop overseas with your Worldwide Wallet, thanks to Mastercard Travel Rewards .⁴

How it works

Before you leave.

Order a Worldwide Wallet online or pick one up in branch
Activate your cards in Online Banking
Transfer AUD to your card and convert into your choice of up to 10 currencies to lock in your rates.

While you’re away

Pay for things using the local currency loaded on your card

Avoid ATM fees at Global ATM Alliance partners 5

Reload your card as you go using the Westpac App, with no load or reload fees.

When you get home

Convert leftover currency back to AUD or another available currency, with no unload fees
Remember , you can avoid foreign transaction fees while shopping online by paying with your Worldwide Wallet.

Save on fees

Avoid ATM withdrawal fees Through our Global ATM Alliance and overseas partner ATMs which you can easily find using the ATM locator in the Westpac App
No foreign transaction fees Avoid a 3% foreign transaction fee whenever you use your Worldwide Wallet to shop online or in person.
No load or unload fees Reload your account on the go, whenever you need.
No account keeping fees You won’t pay any inactivity or account keeping fees, so any funds left in your account will be there ready for your next trip or purchase.

Other fees may apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDF 307KB) for full list of fees.

Like to shop online?

Use your Worldwide Wallet for online purchases in foreign currencies and avoid a 3% foreign transaction fee.

You can also shop worry-free from fraudulent transactions with Mastercard Zero Liability protection. 1

Complete visibility and control

All in one view

See your account balance and transactions in the Westpac App or in Online Banking.

Move money easily

Transfer money to and from your Worldwide Wallet and convert AUD into foreign currencies while you’re on the go in the Westpac App.

More ways to pay

Add your Worldwide Wallet to Google Pay™ or Samsung Pay™, or use your card to tap and go.

A spare card for peace of mind

Both cards give you access to the same funds and can be locked and unlocked instantly at your convenience via Online Banking or the Westpac App. 6

Add up to 11 currencies

Lock in your rate head of time by converting currency in advance.

You'll still be able to spend in currencies not listed here and avoid Westpac's 3% foreign transaction fee.

To view our latest rates, see our currency converter .

Order online or pick up in branch

Order online.

You can open your travel money card account online and we’ll mail your cards to your address in 5-8 business days.

Pick up in branch

If you need your cards within 8 business days its best to pick them up in branch and activate them online.

Already have your cards? Activate now

A Westpac Worldwide Wallet is a prepaid travel money card that can help you save on foreign transaction fees and give you control over your spending. With the Westpac Worldwide Wallet, there are no load, reload or unload fees, or ATM withdrawal fees at Westpac Group or select Westpac Group partner ATMs in Australia and Global ATM Alliance partners. 5

Before you shop or travel, you can also choose to convert your loaded AUD into any of the following currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY, THB, ZAR, SGD, NZD and HKD. By locking in your exchange rate in advance and knowing exactly how much of a foreign currency is loaded on your card, the Westpac Worldwide Wallet can make it easy for you to stay on top of your spending. When you sign up to a Westpac Worldwide Wallet, you’ll also get access to exciting Mastercard travel and shopping perks - Flight Delay Pass , Mastercard Travel Rewards and Priceless Cities.

With the Westpac Worldwide Wallet, you can avoid a 3% foreign transaction fee when you shop online in available currencies.

You can shop safely by loading only what you need into any of the following currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY, THB, ZAR, SGD, NZD and HKD. By knowing exactly how much of a foreign currency is loaded on your card, you can stay on top of your spending.

You’ll also benefit from Mastercard Zero Liability protection, 1 so you can shop worry-free from fraudulent transactions.

To apply for a Westpac Worldwide Wallet, you must be aged 14 years or older and be an existing Westpac customer who is registered for Online Banking. If you haven’t registered for Online Banking, see this helpful guide to learn how to get started. If you’re new to Westpac and would like to apply for a Worldwide Wallet, you’ll need to become a customer first by opening a Westpac savings or transaction account and meeting our identification requirements. You can visit westpac.com.au/aml for more information on how we identify you.

If you have insufficient funds to complete a transaction in a currency loaded on your account, or the transaction is in a currency not loaded on your account, the transaction will be automatically processed by drawing down from another currency in your account (provided that there are sufficient funds available in one or more other currencies to complete the transaction). Funds will be withdrawn according to the drawdown sequence, and the applicable exchange rate will apply. See the Product Disclosure Statement (PDF 307KB) for the drawdown sequence.

Yes, you can withdraw money or check your balance at overseas ATMs using your Worldwide Wallet. The balance displayed will be in the currency of the country you are visiting. You won’t pay an ATM withdrawal fee when using a Global ATM Alliance ATM. 5 However, fees may apply if you use an ATM outside of the Global ATM Alliance network.

We recommend you download our app as we may send you important notifications about your Worldwide Wallet while you are travelling. Using the Westpac App makes it easy for you to get these notifications while you’re on the go. You can also use the app to:

Instantly transfer AUD between your savings and transaction Westpac account/s and your travel money card
Convert between your loaded AUD and up to 10 different foreign currencies at any time to lock in your exchange rate
View your currency balances and transactions
Access your Worldwide Wallet account’s BSB and account number as well as your eStatements
Block your card/s if they have been lost or stolen

If you’re new to the Westpac App, learn more about how to get started .

See all FAQs

Get started

Order online and have your cards delivered to you

Worldwide Wallet 24/7 support in Australia

1300 797 470

Find a branch

Visit a branch and pick up cards

Things you should know

Westpac Retail and Business Banking Financial Services Guide and Credit Guide (PDF 238KB)

Investing & super
Institutional
CommBank Yello
NetBank log on
CommBiz log on
CommSec log on

Help & support

Travel Money Card: How to manage multiple currencies

If your holiday is looking more like a round the world tour, then you’re going to want to look at loading multiple currencies on to your Travel Money Card.

A Travel Money Card lets you lock in exchange rates for multiple currencies onto one card, so you can easily manage and access your money while you’re overseas.

How does a Travel Money Card work?

If you’re in a country that uses a currency you’ve already loaded on your card, that currency will automatically be used for any purchases or withdrawals you make with your card.

If you’re in Europe, for example, and you have Euros, United States Dollars and New Zealand Dollars loaded on your Travel Money Card, your Euros will automatically be used as the local currency, provided you have enough in that currency for your transaction.

If you don’t have enough, the next currency in your currency order with a sufficient balance will be used. For example:

You have 20 Euros (EUR) and 100 New Zealand Dollars (NZD) left on your Travel Money Card and are paying for a meal costing 30 EUR. Since you have insufficient EUR for the full transaction, but sufficient funds in NZD, your Travel Money Card will automatically convert NZD into the equivalent of 30 EUR to pay for your meal (leaving the original 20 Euros on your card), instead of declining the transaction.

With our Travel Money Card , you can easily load up to 13 currencies online:

United States Dollars (USD)
Euros (EUR)
Great British pounds (GBP)
Australian Dollars (AUD)
Japanese Yen (JPY)
New Zealand Dollars (NZD)
Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)
Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Singapore Dollars (SGD)
Thai Baht (THB)
Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Chinese Renminbi (CNY)
Emirati Dirham (AED)

If we need to automatically transfer money between the currencies on your card to complete a transaction, we'll use the Visa exchange rate at the time of conversion, plus a margin. The margin is subject to change from time to time. For the current margin, see Travel Money Card fees and charges .

To avoid additional fees, always make sure your card is topped up with the local currency by reloading in NetBank or the CommBank app.

Set the currency order on your card

If you have multiple currencies loaded on your card, even though the local currency for where the transaction takes place will automatically be used (assuming you have the currency loaded on your card and sufficient local funds), you may want to set your own order for the currencies loaded on your card. This is especially important if you reload your card via BPAY ® , because the funds will automatically go to the first currency in order.

This is the default currency order which you can change:

To find out more about setting the order of currencies on your card, or to change your current order, log on to NetBank or call (+61) 1300 660 700.

What to do in an emergency

Lock, Block, Limit your CommBank credit card or lock your Travel Money Card for added security
Cancel and order replacement CommBank cards in NetBank or the CommBank app
Call us 24/7 on +61 2 9999 3283 to report lost or stolen CommBank cards

For 24-hour travel insurance emergency assistance, call Cover-More in Australia direct and toll free on +61 2 8907 5641. You can also call from:

Canada on 1844 345 1662
New Zealand on 0800 632 031
UK on 0808 234 3737
USA on 1844 345 1662

Charges apply if calling from a pay phone or a mobile phone.

Take your next step

Order a Travel Money Card online

Things you should know

This article is intended to provide general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as financial product advice. Insurance issued and managed by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 241713, ABN 95 003 114 145) on behalf of the insurer Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (AFSL 232507, ABN 13 000 296 640) for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (‘CBA’) (ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945). CBA and its related bodies corporate do not issue or guarantee this insurance. It does not represent a deposit with or liability of either CBA or any of its related bodies corporate. Terms, conditions, exclusions, (including for pre-existing medical conditions and persons aged 80 years or over for international travel insurance included with an eligible CommBank credit card or persons aged 74 years or over for CBA Travel Insurance) limits and excesses apply. Before making a decision, refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for full conditions at commbank.com.au. You need to activate your international travel insurance included with eligible CommBank credit cards before each trip in order to have comprehensive level of cover. If you don’t activate, you’ll receive personal liability cover and overseas emergency medical assistance and overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses cover only. We (CBA) do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. If you purchase or upgrade a policy, we (CBA) receive a commission which is a percentage of your premium.

Buy Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Buy Indonesian currency online to get our best AUD to IDR exchange rate. Free collection at Travelex Stores. Free at Australia Post for orders over $2,000. Zero commission when buying online.

1 AUD = IDR

Buy Indonesian rupiah

How much would you like, what is indonesia's currency.

By 1971, the rupiah (IDR) had become the official currency of all of Indonesia’s 34 different provinces. Sen are to rupiah what pence are to pounds. One rupiah equates to 100 sen, but since even one rupiah does not carry much value, you will find next to nothing is priced in terms of sen.

Bargaining is a very typical practice in Indonesia, so never be afraid to negotiate the price on the items you want to buy. Before midday, you might be able to pay a ‘morning price’ for your goods – up to a 30% discount!

Notes are used a lot more frequently than coins in Indonesia – even though 1,000 IDR equate to less than one British penny, you will still find small bills paid with cash made up of 1,000 IDR notes, rather than the coin for the same amount. Any notes that are dated 1998–1999 are no longer legal tender, although you can exchange these until 2018 for current currency.

Easy Currency Options for your Trip

Special offer : load aud on your travelex money card and spend in indonesia and bali. 1 -->.

What to spend your rupiah on:

Entrance to the National Museum in Jakarta

Refreshing soft drink in a restaurant

Taxi from S-H International Airport to Jakarta city centre

Guided trek around Mount Batur, Bali

Scuba diving in Tulamben, Bali

How many rupiah will I need?**

Please select your budget above.

Total spending money needed:

Discover Where to Buy IDR in your City

You can buy IDR online or in-store at any of our branches around Australia. Check our full list of branches, or click the links below to find stores around major cities and lock in buying IDR at a great rate today.

Must-sees in indonesia

A hub for tourists, you’ll get the most out of Bali by going off the beaten path. Hot springs in the middle of the jungle sound good? Visit the Banjar village.

This island paradise is like a less commercialised Bali. If you go in February or March you’ll have the chance to witness the island’s mesmerising fishing festival.

The city of Bandung is 150km from Jakarta and features incredible architecture, like St. Peter’s Cathedral, as well as the natural beauty of Cimahi Waterfall.

Exchanging Indonesian Rupiah is Easy

Order Indonesian Rupiahs online, lock in the rate and collect at your local store, at the airport before you fly or have it delivered at home

1. Click the ‘Buy Rupiah Now’ button below

And tell us how much you need for your trip in Cash or Travel Card.

2. Choose where to get it

Collect at more than 3,600 pick up locations.

3. Pay online

You can pay online using either PayID, BPAY, Visa or MasterCard®

Bali travel Money Guide

A holiday in Bali is synonymous with beaches, temples, parties, culture, food, and more. As one of the world’s premier beach holiday destinations, this Indonesian island attracts thousands of holiday makers each year. Find out all you need to know about the Indonesian Rupiah and how best to manage your money in Bali with our Bali travel money guide.

If you’re looking for Bali travel inspiration, check out our Indonesia Travel Guide .

Prepaid Travel Card
Debit or Credit Card
Indonesia, and as a consequence Bali, remains a predominantly cash-based society. You may need to carry cash on you in order to not miss out on local experiences.
There are no hidden fees with cash, unlike paying or withdrawing with a bank card.
If you plan on visiting more rural Balinese islands, ATMs and card payment systems may not be as common.

Things to consider:

Carrying large amounts of cash around with you in Bali may not be safe. Read our tips on how to keep your cash safe with you while you travel
It may be easier to lose track of your spending when using only cash.

Whilst card payments are accepted in major hotels, stores, and restaurants, Bali is still a cash-based island. Having cash on hand in Bali is recommended in order to not miss out on local street food, markets, and other attractions. Other cash-only services include paying for motorbike parking, buying petrol, and tipping. What’s more, if you plan on visiting more rural areas, ATM availability, power outages, and limited card payment facilities make cash essential.

Why prepaid travel card?

Many upscale restaurants and hotels will accept travel cards as a form of payment.
Prepaid travel cards allow you to load multiple currencies. This is handy if you plan on visiting any other Southeast Asian countries on your travels.
Prepaid travel cards allow you to lock in an exchange rate at the time of purchase, meaning you save money long-term*.

Discover how you can explore Bali with ease with our 5* award-winning Travelex Money Card!

There are still many experiences that are cash only in Bali. This includes sampling street food, buying small gifts, and more.
If you plan on travelling to more remote islands, cards may not be accepted, and ATMs harder to find.
There will be fees associated with withdrawing cash and paying on card in Bali 4 .

Cards are accepted as a form of payment across Bali. This, coupled with the prevalence of ATMs, makes travel cards an easy travel money option. What’s more, you can load multiple currencies onto your cards if you are planning on country-hopping around Asia. However, be aware of hidden costs when paying on foreign cards, and missing out on cash-only Balinese experiences.

Why debit or credit card?

More and more places are beginning to accept cards in Bali. This includes in restaurants, cafes, shops, and spas. Visa and Mastercard are the most popular.
Credit cards are a great way to provide a backup pool of funds in case of any emergencies.
You may need a bank card to pre-book experiences such as hotels and tours.
As Bali is a cash-based destination, there will be times when credit and debit cards are not accepted as forms of payment.
There will be fees associated with paying for items using a foreign credit card. These can range from 3%-5% surcharge on card transactions.

Bank card acceptance is widespread in Bali. They are accepted in most hotels, stores, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Keep in mind that there may be hidden costs when paying with a foreign card in Indonesia. If you plan on travelling to more remote islands or villages, it is always best to bring some cash along with you.

Foreign Currency ATMs in Australia
Using an ATM to Withdraw Cash in Bali

Why use Travelex ATMs in Australia:

FX ATMs make getting foreign cash before leaving Australia easy, as they have no forms to fill in, and are self-serve.
FX ATMs operate on a 24 hour basis, so you can withdraw cash no matter what time your flight is!
Visit our foreign currency ATM page to find out what machines dispense Indonesian Rupiah.
Not all FX ATMs will dispense Rupiah.
If your cash gets lost or stolen while you are on holiday, you may have trouble getting it covered by your insurance.

Foreign Currency ATMS are an efficient way of exchanging AUD before you fly. Found in many airports across Australia, Travelex FX ATMs are self-serve, and require no paperwork. However, not every FX ATM will dispense Indonesian Rupiah so make sure you research before you settle on this option.

Why withdraw cash in Bali?

ATMS are very common around Bali, so you won’t have trouble finding one to withdraw from.
Withdrawing cash as you need it can be a convenient way of ensuring you have cash on you if you run out.
If you plan on travelling to rural areas, or other more remote islands near Bali, you may not be able to find ATMS. So it is recommended that you stock up on cash beforehand!
There have been a few reported cases of pad skimming in Bali. Take care when entering your pin into a machine 4 .
Fees for withdrawing money with a foreign card in Bali sometimes cost upwards of $5 per transaction 5 .

ATMs are extremely common in Bali’s main towns, so finding one to withdraw cash from will never be an issue. As always, there will be fees charged to your account if you are withdrawing using a foreign card, and limits to the amount of cash you can withdraw 7 . Keep in mind that it may be harder to find ATMs in more rural towns and islands, so make sure you plan ahead and take some cash with you.

Travelex Tip:

If you do withdraw cash in Bali, opt for ATMs associated with major banks rather than those found outside convenience stores. These are usually privately owned and may come with higher fees 5 .

Ways to Get Indonesian Rupiah with Travelex

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Guide to Indonesia places and tips

General guide and tips to Bali, or going with kids

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* Rates are subject to change throughout the day. In-store rates vary compared to online.

** The figures provided are indicative only and are there to provide an idea of the amount of travel money you may need during your trip.

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^^Based on mid-market and Travelex Online AUD to FX exchange rates as of the date of the relevant social media post and/or email communication. Rates are subject to change throughout the day. Any rates and savings are quoted as a guide only.

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The 6 Best Prepaid Travel Cards for Australians 2024

Here is a list of the 6 best prepaid cards you can take with you on your travels and the positives and negatives for each one:

Wise - our pick for prepaid cards

Revolut - low fees

Citibank - good for use at home
Travelex - no fees for ATM withdrawals
Australia Post - lock in exchange rates

HSBC - no international transaction fees

Prepaid travel money cards let you load money - either in AUD or the foreign currency you need - in advance, which you can then use as you travel , for spending and withdrawals. Lots of cards let you top up and manage your account through an app, which means you can always keep up with your money, even when you’re away from home.

Picking the right prepaid card can mean you get more convenient ways to spend and withdraw when you’re abroad - and lower overall costs, too. Let’s look at some of the best prepaid travel cards for Australians , so you can pick your perfect match:

Wise - our pick for prepaid travel card

Top up for free in AUD using PayID or bank transfer
No annual fee, hidden transaction fees or exchange rate markups
No minimum balance requirements
Allows you to make payments and withdrawals wherever you are in the world in over 40 currencies
Local bank account details in Australia (AUD), the UK (GBP), the USA (USD), Europe (EUR), Canada (CAD) and New Zealand (NZD)
Available in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand

Find out more about the Wise card .

With this card:

It's very easy to set up and order
Available as a virtual card
You can receive foreign currency into a multi-currency account linked to the card
Pay with your Wise card in most places overseas where debit cards are accepted
You can transfer money to a bank account overseas

It's not all good news though

There is a 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw over $350 during a month
It takes 7-14 days for delivery

Go to Wise or read our review .

No hidden fees or exchange rate mark-ups (except on weekends)
Very easy to use app
Free to set up account and top up
You can use it to transfer money to a bank account overseas

Read the full review

No purchase fee, load fee, reload fee, exchange rate margin or minimum balance requirements
Unlike other Travel Cards, its free and easy to use the balance of your currency or convert it back to AUD
The exchange rates are unbeatable. They use the same rate you see on XE or Google with no hidden mark-up
For the free Standard account, there is a 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw over $350 during a month
The premium account costs $10.99 a month, which can really add up if you are not using it often
Additional fees for using the card on a weekend
2% ATM fee once you withdraw more than $350 in any 30 day period
3-4 business days before you receive your card

Click here to see the full list of cards and how Revolut compares

Australia Post Prepaid Travel card - lock in exchange rates

Load up to 11 different major world currencies
Spend and withdraw easily around the world
Get access to extras like free wifi when you travel
Manage your card in online and via an app
Transfer instantly to another Travel Platinum Mastercard

Load up to 11 different currencies for easy spending and withdrawals
Lock in exchange rates so you know what your travel money budget is in advance
Get extra perks like free wifi when you load 100 AUD or more
Get fraud protections from Mastercard
3.5 AUD international ATM fee, or 2.95% domestic ATM fee
Exchange rates to add money in a foreign currency or spend a currency you don’t hold are likely to include a markup
Some fees apply depending on how you top up your account

Travelex - no fees for international ATM withdrawals

Load up to 10 major currencies at a time
Spend and withdraw anywhere Mastercard is accepted
Contactless payments so you can just tap and go
No Travelex fees for international ATM withdrawals
Free to spend currencies you hold in your account
Order online and have it delivered to your home - or collect in store

Top up and hold up to 10 currencies at a time
View and manage your account online
Spend online and in person, and make withdrawals as you travel
No membership or account fees to pay
Get exclusive Mastercard discounts and perks
Inactivity fees apply if you don’t use the card for a year
Not all major currencies are supported for holding - double check they have the currency or currencies you need

Go to Travelex or read our review .

Citibank Saver Plus - best for use at home

No international ATM or transaction fees
Fee-free international money transfers to any account worldwide
SMS notifications through Citi Alert

With this card you can:

withdraw money for free at over 3000 ATMs Australia-wide and overseas
take advantage of no foreign transaction fees, monthly fees, or minimum opening balance
transfer money to friends and family anywhere in the world for free
Cash deposits available within 24-48 hours
Can’t have two cards active at the same time
$5 account closure
Hold and exchange 10 currencies: AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD, and CNY
No account opening or annual fees to pay
No foreign transaction fee and no HSBC ATM fee at home or abroad
Some cashback earning opportunity on local spending
Easy online overseas transfers - 8 AUD fee and exchange rate markups apply

Hold and exchange 10 currencies
No account opening fee, no ongoing fees
Get up to 2% cashback on eligible card spend
No HSBC ATM fee
No international transaction fee
8 AUD fee for sending money overseas
Cashback on low value transactions made in Australia only
Limits apply on how you can use CNY within your account

Read our HSBC Everyday Global Account review .

What are Prepaid Travel Cards?

Prepaid travel cards are a good international card alternatives to carrying cash. They look like credit or debit cards, but they function differently.

You're able to load the card with a set amount of money in the currency you need and can use it to make purchases online, in stores and to withdraw money at ATMs.

Most travel cards allow for multiple currencies to be loaded onto the card. So it's important to know what currency you'll be using on your travels. Airlines also offer prepaid cards so the money you spend can earn you reward points.

Find out how our 5 best prepaid travel cards for Australians compare in our best and worst travel cards article .

Looking for something different?

Read our guides on:

The best travel debit cards
The best travel cards for Europe
The Wise debit card review
Best virtual debit cards for Aussies

How does a prepaid travel card work?

Order a prepaid travel card online, through a provider app , or - in some cases - pick one up at a physical location or store. Generally to get your card you’ll need to show or upload some ID documents for verification - this is to keep your account safe and is a legal requirement.

Once you have your card account open , you can load funds . Different cards have their own supported methods for topping up, which usually include bank transfer, PayID, credit and debit card, and which may also allow you to deposit cash in some cases. Once you have funds on your card, you can switch to the currency you need for overseas spending. In some cases you can also leave your funds in AUD and just allow the card to convert for you - but do check that no additional fees will apply in this case.

Prepaid travel cards can then be used to tap and pay , make withdrawals and shop online . You can often also add them to mobile wallets like Apple Pay for convenient spending. Because your card isn’t attached to your everyday account it’s secure, and you can only spend the funds you’ve loaded, which means there’s no chance of accidentally blowing your budget.

Advantages and disadvantages of prepaid cards

Prepaid cards can be a handy addition when you’re abroad, as they are secure and convenient to use for payments and withdrawals. However, they’re not the only option. If you’re not sure about whether a prepaid card is right for you, check out these advantages and disadvantages to help you decide:

Advantages:

More convenient than carrying cash, with easy access to ATMs to withdraw when you need to
Not linked to your primary day to day account, which can be more secure and make budgeting easier
Some accounts let you buy currency in advance to lock in exchange rates when they’re good
You may be able to access better exchange rates and lower fees compared to using a regular bank card

Disadvantages:

Some prepaid cards have fairly high fees - including charges when you add money to the account. Read more on how to find the best travel cards with no foreign transaction fees
Not all prepaid cards support a broad range of currencies - check the currencies you need are covered
Prepaid cards aren’t always accepted for things like paying security deposits - so it’s safest to have a credit card as well

Who is a prepaid debit card for?

A prepaid debit card is handy for many different customer needs. For example, you may choose a prepaid debit card in the following situations:

You’re planning travel and want to set your budget in advance with no chance of accidentally overspending
You want to be able to hold and exchange a selection of foreign currencies all in the same account
You want to increase security by using a payment card that’s not linked to your main everyday account when you travel
Some cards also offer other perks like ways to receive foreign currency payments conveniently, or cashback

How can I get a prepaid travel card?

Different prepaid cards have their own order and activation processes. However, to comply with local and international law, providers will usually need to see some ID before you’re able to get a card - this verification step may be available online by uploading images of your paperwork, or in person by visiting a branch.

Here’s an outline of the basic steps you’ll take to get a prepaid travel card:

Pick the right card for your needs
Visit the provider’s website or app - or call into a branch if you’d prefer a face to face service
Complete a travel card order from, which will include your personal information
Get verified - usually this involves showing or uploading ID like a passport or driving licence
Add money to your card, which could be in cash, with a bank card, or by bank transfer
You can now get your card, and manage your account online or in the app

If you’re ordering a card in person you’ll be able to start using it right away. If you’ve ordered online for delivery, you’ll need to wait a few days, to a couple of weeks, depending on the provider you’ve picked, for your card to be available. You might be able to access virtual card details in the meantime, to start spending right away.

How to choose a prepaid debit card

There are many different prepaid debit cards on the Australian market - so picking the best one for you will require a bit of research. Starting with this guide, compare a few different prepaid debit cards based on features and fees. Here are a few pointers to think about:

Make sure you know about any opening or card delivery fee which will apply once you order your card
Check how long it’ll take to get your card if you’re ordering online for home delivery
Make sure the card you pick can hold a broad selection of currencies, so you can use it for more than one trip away
Check the fees for adding funds, making ATM withdrawals and converting currencies
Look to see if there are any account close, cash out or dormancy fees that apply once you stop using the card
Make sure the card is well rated by other users, and from a trustworthy provider

Where can I get a prepaid debit card?

Generally you can order your prepaid debit card online or by downloading your preferred provider’s app. Some cards, like the Auspost card, can also be collected in physical branch locations.

FAQ - 6 Best Prepaid Travel Cards

Are prepaid cards free.

Prepaid cards may be free to order, or you may pay a small one time fee, depending on the provider and card you pick. Once you have your card you may also pay transaction fees such as exchange rate markups when you switch currencies, and ATM withdrawal charges. Read the card’s terms and conditions carefully so you’re aware of the costs involved.

What are the best prepaid debit cards for international travel?

There’s no single best prepaid debit card - it’ll come down to your personal preferences, where you’re travelling, and the type of transaction you need to make. Pick a prepaid card which is easy to use, which supports the currency you need, and which offers a good balance of low fees and good exchange rates.

What is the best reloadable prepaid card?

There’s no single best reloadable prepaid debit card. Use this guide to compare a few options to pick the one that’s right for you, thinking about features, fees and the range of supported currencies you’ll need.

Should I use a Mastercard or Visa for overseas?

Both Visa and Mastercard are very broadly accepted globally. It’s often a good idea to have a prepaid, debit or credit card on each of these networks, so you’ll always have a backup if for some reason one network isn’t available wherever in the world you are.

Are prepaid currency cards worth it?

Picking the right prepaid currency card can help you save money on currency exchange and access low fee international transaction services. You might also get extra perks like easy ways to lock in exchange rates in advance, so you can get a good deal and fix your travel budget before you go away.

Your currency knowledge centre

5 Best Debit Cards for Australians Travelling Overseas

Travel debit cards are a good alternative to carrying cash. They also offer the convenience of a credit card, but work differently. Here is a list of the 5 best travel debit cards you can take with you on your travels and the positives and negatives for each one.

Read more ⟶

Wise Debit Card Review

The Wise Debit card give customers an easy way to spend their balances in multiple countries. With interbank rates and low fees, this product is available in Australia for both personal and business customers.

8 Travel Traps to Avoid If You're Heading to Europe

To help you avoid spending money unnecessarily, here are some pretty important travel money traps you want to avoid if you travel to Europe.

14 Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

Best travel cards main takeaways.

Money has evaluated hundreds of credit cards, comparing their fees, benefits, welcome offers, travel insurance policies and more.
The top credit cards for travel offer high rewards on travel purchases, which can be redeemed for airfare, hotel nights, cash back, statement credits or more.
Our picks feature the best travel cards for every budget and include no-annual-fee, low-annual-fee, premium and business cards.

Why Trust Us?

Our editorial team has spent well over a thousand hours analyzing, evaluating and comparing the top credit card offers in the market. We carefully vet each card’s fine print in order to understand their features, limitations and potential benefits for consumers. We review cards independently, ensuring our content is accurate and guided by editorial integrity. Read our full methodology to learn more.

46 travel credit cards evaluated
10+ data points used, including ongoing fees, reward programs and welcome offers
100+ sources reviewed

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings.com for our coverage of credit card products. Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. O ur top picks are listed strictly in alphabetical order.

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Credit Cards

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for flat rate rewards
Bilt Mastercard® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for paying rent
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee card for travel partners
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for domestic travel
Discover it® Miles – Best no-annual-fee travel card for simple rewards
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for everyday spending

Best low-fee-annual-fee travel credit cards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best travel card for flat-rate rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best travel card for flexible rewards

Best premium travel credit cards

American Express® Gold Card – Best travel card for dining
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best low-cost premium travel card
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best premium travel credit card
The Platinum Card® from American Express – Best travel card for lounge access

Best business travel credit cards

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Best business travel card

Best airline travel credit cards

United℠ Explorer Card: Best airline credit card

Best Travel Credit Cards Reviews

Our top picks are listed in alphabetical order.

Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Earns 1.5x points on all purchases
No bonus category for travel
Few benefits compared to other cards
Limited redemption options

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is an easy-to-use card best suited for travel reward beginners or those who are already Bank of America customers.

Some cardholders can earn up to 75% more points if they are Bank of America Preferred Rewards members — that’s up to 2.62 points for every dollar spent.

However, the card doesn’t offer hotel and airline point transfer partners, travel insurance or extended warranty and purchase protection. Additionally, you can only redeem your points as statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases.

All information about Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com

No annual or foreign currency conversion fee (Click herehttps://www.wellsfargo.com/credit-cards/bilt/terms/">here; for rates and fees)
Use it to pay your rent and earn rewards without incurring any processing fees
You can earn double points on all purchase categories (except rent payments) on the first of every month (up to 10,000 points)
Earn 2x points on travel (when booked directly through an airline, hotels, car rental agencies and cruise lines)
No welcome bonus or introductory APR period
Points redeemed for statement credits are worth 0.55 cents each
You must make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn points
Rent payments can only be made to one rental property per month

Why we chose it: The Bilt Mastercard® lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments without incurring any processing fees — unlike most credit cards that typically charge around 2.5% to 2.9% per rent payment.

You can use the card to pay rent without worrying about surcharges. Once you get approved for the card, all you have to do is set up an account through the Bilt app or website and use your assigned routing and account number to pay rent through your usual payment portal. You can also use your card even if your landlord only accepts checks, and Bilt will send a check on your behalf.

Additionally, Bilt doubles the card’s rewards rates on the first of every month, which means you can earn 6x points on dining, 4x points on travel and 2x points on other purchases (up to 10,000 points per month). However, this bonus doesn’t apply to rent rewards.

On the downside, the Bilt Mastercard® doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, and points redeemed for statement credits are only worth 0.55 cents each.

Can transfer your miles to 16 travel partners
Earns 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Doesn't earn bonus points on airfare
No domestic travel partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking for a no-annual fee travel credit card with a simple rewards structure.

You can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal or as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies and more.

You can also transfer your points to one of Capital One’s 16 travel partners, which include international airlines such as Avianca and British Airways. This option is notable since travel credit cards with no annual fee don’t typically offer the option to transfer your reward to airline and hotel partners.

However, the card’s list of bonus categories is limited compared to some other no-annual-fee credit cards, and Capital One doesn’t offer bonus points on airfare booked through Capital One Travel.

Includes trip cancellation/interruption and car rental insurance
Features a high flat cash back rate combined and popular bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fee

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the best credit card for traveling domestically. It offers a 1.5% flat cash back rate on most purchases plus it has several appealing bonus categories, including travel and dining.

This card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, that is, on any transactions made in currency other than US dollars. However, if you mostly travel within the U.S., this card is an excellent option.

For one, you’ll earn an additional 1.5% on each of the card’s bonus categories during the first year of card membership (or up to the first $20,000 spent).

Also, although using this card abroad is not recommended, you can still use it to book international trips while you’re home, and you’ll earn 5% cash back if you book it through Chase Travel℠.

You can redeem your rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and even transfer them to other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. It’s also worth noting that this card is one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards with rental car coverage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

No annual or foreign transaction fees
Discover matches the total miles you earned at the end of the first year
Earns 1.5x miles on all purchases
See your FICO score on the Discover mobile app, online and on statements
Few benefits compared to other travel cards
Doesn't include extended warranty or purchase protection

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a no-frills card ideal for travelers who don’t want to keep track of bonus categories, earning caps or redemption values.

The card earns a flat 1.5x miles on all eligible purchases without any annual caps. You can redeem your miles for statement credits and account deposits at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also use your rewards through Amazon and PayPal checkout with the same value.

Also, the card’s welcome bonus is easily one of the best in the market: Discover matches every mile you’ve earned at the end of your first membership year — without any spending requirements.

However, while the Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a great starter travel card, its lack of bonus categories could hinder your reward-earning potential in the long run. Additionally, Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted internationally as Visa Signature and World Mastercard, for example.

All information about the Discover it® Miles Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Earn 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, select streaming services and cell phone plans
Includes cell phone protection plan
No airline or hotel transfer partners
Doesn't include travel insurance
Netflix and HBO are not eligible for streaming bonus

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is the best travel reward card for everyday spending, offering high rewards on several popular spending categories, including travel, dining, gas, streaming services and cell phone plans.

Its travel bonus category is particularly noteworthy because you can earn points regardless of where you make your reservations, whether it’s directly with an airline or through a third-party travel site like Booking.com. (Most travel credit cards limit travel rewards to bookings made exclusively through the card issuer’s travel portal.)

The card also includes rental car insurance and a cell phone protection plan when you use it to pay your monthly bill.

All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Low-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

Earn 2x miles per dollar on most purchases
Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
Includes travel accident and car rental insurance
Fewer bonus categories than other cards with a similar annual fee ($95)
Doesn't offer travel rewards for flights
Car rental insurance is secondary

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture Rewards is ideal for those who want to get the most out of their spending without worrying about tracking bonus categories and spending caps.

You can redeem your miles on the Capital One travel portal and as statement credits to cover travel purchases at a value of one cent per mile. Additionally, you may transfer your miles to more than 15 airline and hotel partners.

However, keep in mind that Capital One doesn’t have domestic travel partners, which can be a drawback if you mainly travel within the U.S.

Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase TravelSM
Receive a point bonus each account anniversary
Includes primary rental car insurance
Earn 3x per $1 on dining, including eligible delivery and takeout meals, select streaming services and grocery purchases
$95 annual fee
Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck(R) application fee credit

Why we chose this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best travel credit card for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards while paying a low annual fee.

The card features six reward categories that offer outstanding rewards on flights, hotels, restaurants and more. You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through Chase Travel℠, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can also transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners at a 1:1 ratio (one Chase point equals one hotel point or airline mile). These include popular airlines and hotels like JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt.

Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

Earns 4x points on restaurants worldwide, takeout and food delivery within the U.S.
Up to $120 in annual dining credits, issued as a $10 statement credit per month for select restaurants (enrollment required)
Up to $120 as Uber Cash annually ($10 per month) for food delivery orders and rides in the U.S. after you add the American Express(R) Gold Card to your Uber account
Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
High annual fee ($250)
Includes few travel perks and insurance policies compared to similarly priced cards

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

Why we chose it: The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies, offering a high reward rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, takeout and food delivery. (Terms apply.)

The American Express® Gold Card also offers statement credits worth up to $240 combined — almost enough to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. These include:

Up to $120 every year in dining credits ($10 per month) for select restaurants and food delivery services. The list includes Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and Shake Shack (Enrollment required)
Automatically get $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use on Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (after you add the American Express® Gold Card to your account)
$100 credit for dining, spa services and other activities when you book a two-night minimum stay at a hotel from The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel
Terms apply

However, note that the American Express® Gold Card offers fewer travel perks than some other premium cards — for instance, it doesn’t offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance or TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR® Plus fee credits.

10,000 bonus miles every year
Statement credit of up to $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel
Up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
Skip the line and get car upgrades when renting a car with Hertz
High annual fee ($395)
Fewer bonus categories than other premium cards
No domestic airline transfer partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture X also includes noteworthy perks such as:

10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on your first anniversary)
$300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ Select and Plaza Premium Group
Authorized users at no extra cost (many cards have an annual fee of $75 or more for each additional user)

All in all, the Venture X is a solid option that can easily compete with other premium travel cards, especially considering its more affordable annual fee.

Up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year to cover travel purchases
Transfer your points to 14 travel partners (including United, Southwest, JetBlue and Marriott)
Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel expenses through Chase TravelSM
Comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including emergency dental insurance
High annual fee ($550)
Doesn't include a cell phone protection plan

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best credit card for travelers looking for a high reward rate on travel and additional benefits like comprehensive travel insurance and airport lounge access worldwide.

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This means each point is worth 1.5 cents per point instead of one cent, like most travel cards. Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides several high-end benefits such as:

$300 annual travel credit to cover travel-related purchases like airfare, hotels, car rentals, rideshares, buses, trains, tolls and/or parking
Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide (after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select)
Statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus

The Sapphire Reserve does have a $550 annual fee. But if you take advantage of the $300 annual credit and other perks, the benefits can definitely outweigh its cost.

Access to the widest network of airport lounges of any card
Complimentary elite status in the Marriott and Hilton hotel loyalty programs
Hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for travel, dining and more
High annual fee ($695)
Doesn't include baggage delay, travel accident and primary rental car insurance
Limited bonus categories

Terms apply. Click here for rates and fees.

Why we chose this card: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a list of premium benefits that no other travel card offers, including the widest network of airport lounges and room upgrades at Hilton and Marriott hotels. (Terms apply.)

The Platinum Card® from American Express features an impressive list of high-end travel benefits, including:

Complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including Priority Pass, Delta SkyClub and Amex’s own Centurion lounges (enrollment required)
Gold status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs, which makes you eligible for room upgrades, free breakfast and late checkouts (enrollment required)
$200 back each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel and paid with your Platinum Card® (Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay)
Up to $200 per year when incidental fees, such as checked bags, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® (with one selected qualifying airline)
Complimentary premium status in Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and/or National Car Rental® Emerald Club (must enroll through your Amex online account using your card)

The Platinum Card® from American Express does have a hefty $695 annual fee. However, for people who travel often and will take advantage of its annual credits and travel perks, it might almost pay for itself.

Best Business Travel Credit Cards

5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
Around $1,000 in yearly statement credits for select business purchases
Access to a wide network of airport lounges (terms apply)
Around $600 in perks in Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) locations booked through American Express Travel (for stays of two nights)
Secondary rental car coverage**

Why we chose it: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features an extensive list of benefits that make it an ideal travel and business credit card.

With this card, you can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance and extra amenities at hundreds of hotels, like daily breakfast and free internet access. Additionally, you get a $200 credit to cover baggage fees, in-flight refreshments and more and up to $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck® every four or 4.5 years respectively. (Terms apply.) (Enrollment required.)

The card also offers several yearly statement credits for business-related purchases that include up to $400 per year ($200 between January and June and $200 between July and December) for U.S. purchases with Dell.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express does have one of the steepest annual fees ($695) among travel credit cards, but its extensive list of benefits makes it a no-brainer for business owners who travel frequently.

Best Airline Travel Credit Cards

Free first checked bag for you and a companion
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) or NEXUS every 4 year
25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights
Complimentary priority boarding for you and companions traveling on the same reservation
$95 annual fee (after the first year)
No intro APR period
Rewards are only valuable when used with United

Why we chose it: The card_name has a low annual fee and gives you valuable benefits that make up for it, such as priority boarding for everyone on the reservation and a free checked bag for you and one companion.

Other perks the card includes are:

Two one-time passes for United Club℠ airport lounges each account anniversary year
25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases like food, beverages and Wi-Fi
Up to $100 every four years to cover the cost of TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or NEXUS
Comprehensive travel insurance (auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement)

The United℠ Explorer Card earns miles on United purchases, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and more. You also earn rewards at restaurants and select hotel stays.

You can use your miles to book flights on United Airlines or its partners, including Avianca, Lufthansa and Air Canada. You can also redeem them for seat upgrades, inflight Wi-Fi passes and more — although United miles are usually more valuable when used for airfare.

Travel Credit Cards Guide

The best credit cards for travel do more than offer high reward rates on flights and hotel stays. They also provide rewards for everyday spending and perks such as travel insurance , airport lounge access and annual statement credits.

Here’s a rundown of how these cards work:

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards offer benefits and rewards geared towards individuals who travel frequently or want to earn travel benefits.

They provide high rewards for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars and dining. You can then use these rewards (in the form of points or miles) to book travel reservations. Some cards also let you transfer your rewards to hotel and airline partners or redeem them for statement credits, cash back, gift cards and more.

On top of the rewards, these cards often feature several travel-related perks, such as no foreign transaction fees, hotel discounts, travel insurance, free checked bags and airport lounge access.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards give you a certain number of points or miles per dollar on eligible purchases. They often offer around 5x points or more for airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more. Some cards may also count parking, bus fares, taxis, tolls and ferries as travel purchases.

Besides travel, you’ll typically get bonus points in additional spending categories. For example, some cards may offer 3x points per dollar on dining, groceries, drugstores or streaming services. All other eligible purchases usually get at least one point (1x) per dollar.

You can then redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. Card issuers also usually let you redeem your points for non-travel options like statement credits, cash back or gift cards.

How to use credit card points for travel

Travel credit cards have rewards programs through which you can earn points (or miles). Well-known point programs include Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.

To redeem your points, go to your travel card’s rewards program portal. The process may differ across credit card issuers, but you’ll usually be able to access it through your online account on the issuer’s website or app.

Points are usually worth one cent each. However, some issuers increase their value if you redeem them for travel. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 1.25 cents when used to book flights through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Points may also be worth less than a cent, depending on how you redeem them. For example, some cards allow you to use your points at Amazon checkout. While this might sound convenient, this option may bring down the value of points to around 0.8 cents.

Some cards also allow you to transfer your rewards to select airline and hotel partners. Typically, you can transfer rewards to these loyalty programs on a 1:1 ratio, meaning that 1,000 credit card points are worth 1,000 loyalty program points.

Difference between points and miles

You’ll earn points or miles depending on which travel credit card you have. For example, Chase travel credit cards earn points, while Capital One travel cards earn miles. Miles and points typically have similar value (around one cent each) and redemption options.

However, keep in mind that several cards that earn miles are tied to a specific airline — like the United℠ Explorer Card. In this case, you can only use your rewards for purchases with the issuing airline such as flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining and more.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Some cards offer up to 10x points per dollar on travel purchases.
Many have additional bonus categories for dining, grocery shopping and more.
They may include travel benefits like priority boarding, airport lounge access and late hotel checkouts.
Points or miles can also be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards and more.
Highest reward rates are usually limited to purchases made through the card issuer's travel portal.
They might not offer high rewards on spending outside of the travel category.
Some of the best ones can have steep annual fees and require good to excellent credit
Redeeming points or miles for anything other than travel can reduce their value to less than one cent per dollar.

Types of travel credit cards

Here’s a rundown of the differences between the three main types of travel credit cards:

Airline credit cards

Airline credit cards are ideal for people who regularly fly with the same airline. These cards earn miles you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining, airport lounge access and other travel-related purchases but typically only with the issuing airline.

Some of the best airline travel credit cards include benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases.

Hotel credit cards

With hotel credit cards, you can only redeem your points for stays, discounts and other benefits with one particular hotel chain.

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns points for Hilton’s loyalty program, which you can redeem for free nights in the company’s properties, including Hilton Garden Inn and Waldorf Astoria hotels.

Hotel credit cards may also offer complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkouts and bonus points for purchases made during your stay.

General travel credit card

General travel credit cards are more flexible than airline or hotel cards. They aren’t affiliated with a single airline or hotel chain, so their points can be used to book flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more from different companies.

These cards may also offer useful perks for frequent travelers, like airport lounge access. They can also cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, which allows you to skip the long lines at airport security or customs.

How to choose a travel credit card

Picking the best travel rewards credit card boils down to how often you travel, which cardmember perks you’d benefit the most from and the categories you spend the most on.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing the best card for you:

Do you travel often? A travel rewards credit card offers high reward rates on travel spending, and you’ll get the most bang for your buck when you use their points on flights, hotels and car rentals. If you don’t take trips often but want to pile up rewards, a cash-back credit card might be a better fit.
Assess your everyday spending. Many travel cards have additional bonus categories other than travel, like dining, supermarkets, streaming services and drugstores. Consider your day-to-day spending habits and pick a card with bonus categories that fit your lifestyle.
Consider the card’s annual fees. No-annual-fee travel cards usually have few travel benefits. The best travel credit cards charge annual fees of at least $90 and can go as high as $700. However, these are often best for those that travel enough to take advantage of their benefits.
General travel card vs co-branded cards. General travel cards have more flexible redemption options. On the other hand, co-branded cards are often tied to a specific airline or hotel, which can limit your options. Still, they do provide valuable perks like free checked bags, in-flight discounts and hotel upgrades.
Compare extra travel perks. Some cards offer extras like annual statement credits for flights and hotels or upgrades when renting cars. Take the time to compare each card’s roster of add-ons and pick one that will best suit your travel plans.
Compare insurance policies. The best credit card travel benefits include insurance policies that cover travel accidents, rental cars, trip cancellations and more. These policies can vary widely based on the issuer and the card’s annual-fee tier.
Beware foreign transaction fees. Most travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Some cash-back cards may offer outstanding rewards for travel purchases but charge around 3% fees on purchases outside the U.S.
Look beyond welcome offers. A 60,000-point welcome bonus can be enticing. However, it shouldn’t be your deciding factor, especially if you’ll end up paying a high annual fee without getting your money’s worth.

How get the most out of your travel credit card

To get the most out of your travel credit card, you need to use it as often and strategically as possible. This way, you can earn points or miles with each purchase, which you can then redeem for free or discounted flights, hotels and more.

Use your travel card to pay most of your purchases and bills and then pay your card off in full each month. This will help you earn points while avoiding interest charges and high credit card debt , which can impact your credit score.

Here are some other tips to maximize your rewards and benefits:

Consider adding an authorized user to your account. They’ll earn points with every purchase they make, and those will get added to your overall total. However, make sure to pick someone who will use the card responsibly since you’ll be legally liable if they ever fail to pay their monthly bills.
Redeem your rewards for travel through the card issuer’s website. This redemption option usually offers the highest value compared to gift cards or merchandise, for example.
If your card offers travel protections (like travel accident or luggage insurance), use it to pay for your passenger fares. This way, you could be reimbursed in the event of an accident or lost luggage, for example.
Use your airline or hotel card to sign up for the company’s frequent flyer or frequent guest loyalty program. You’ll often earn extra points or miles when you’re a member and use your co-branded card to pay for flights, hotel stays and more.
If you can transfer points from other credit cards to your travel card, take advantage of this feature. This way, you can accumulate extra points for travel booking and sometimes even increase their value.

Best Travel Credit Cards FAQs

What is the best travel credit card, what is the best credit card for international travel, how to travel for free with credit cards, what is the best credit card for travel miles, what is a welcome bonus on a credit card, how we chose the best travel credit cards.

We ranked the best credit cards for travel based on their annual fees, benefits, reward rates and redemption flexibility.

Fees: We compared interest rates and foreign, cash advance and balance transfer fees for more than 50 credit cards. We also considered their annual fee, looking for those that offered the most for the money.

Ongoing benefits: Intro APR and bonus offers are attractive, but they can only get you so far. We focused on cards with year-round benefits such as travel insurance or cell phone protection plans.

Reward rates: We preferred cards that allow you to earn extra points from travel expenses, as well as those that provide significant bonus rewards in popular spending categories, like dining, supermarkets or streaming services.

Redemption flexibility: Our picks don’t limit your redemption options to just travel. Some let you use your points for Amazon purchases, for example. We also preferred issuers that allowed cardholders to transfer their points to airline and hotel partners.

Summary of Money’s Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

Discover it® Miles Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for simple rewards

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Money.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

To see rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

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Your 2024 Credit Card Checklist for Summer Travel

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Checklists are a key step in travel preparation for many people. Passport — check. Phone charger — check. But have you checked to make sure you’re fully utilizing the travel perks offered by your credit card?

Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or a novice traveler seeing the world for the first time, benefits from the right credit card can make a trip more convenient and more comfortable. That’s good news for the 50% of Americans who plan to travel more in 2024 than 2023, according to a survey by IPX1031, a Fidelity National Financial Company.

Here’s a credit card checklist to review before you hit the road this summer.

1. Bring a card

First things first — be sure to bring a credit card! Many airlines, and even entire airports, are now cash-free. That means you’ll need a card to pay for that pre-departure drink or in-flight snack. You might even earn bonus rewards.

For example, if restaurants are a bonus category for your card, sit-down establishments within the airport will usually still earn that higher rewards rate. If your card earns a bonus on travel purchases, you'll usually earn that bonus for in-flight purchases.

2. Register for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear

Airports are more crowded than ever, with air passenger growth up 6% and foreign travel up 24% year over year, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.

To ease the burden of long lines, check if your card offers a credit that covers the cost of TSA PreCheck , Global Entry or Clear . These programs allow you to speed through the line at security or customs, but since they all require a background check and an in-person interview, you'll need to register well before your trip. Even if you haven’t been verified for this trip, register today to prepare for your next trip.

3. Register for lounge access

Airport lounges offer a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal, with most offering free food and drinks. If your card offers access to Priority Pass lounges, you’ll need to register for that benefit before you hit the road.

Don’t forget your physical membership card, or even easier, download the Priority Pass app and use your phone to access the lounge.

4. Notify your issuer of your travel plans

Few things can create issues like having your card unexpectedly stop working when you’re away from home, especially internationally. With rates of credit card fraud increasing, it’s possible your card could stop working if you’re spending outside of your normal patterns or locations. To preempt this, notify your issuer before you travel. Often you can do this online or through the app, but just in case, be sure to travel with at least two cards .

5. Avoid paying foreign transaction fees

If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you have a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees . If your card does levy those fees, try to get a different card before you leave the country.

6. Pay with your most rewarding card

Be sure to identify opportunities to leverage your trip and earn outsized rewards. For example, if you know you’ll be staying at a Hilton brand hotel, you might consider applying for one of the Hilton credit cards offered by American Express and earn up to 14 Hilton points per dollar you spend at the hotel. Those points can stack up fast and easily defray costs for your future travel.

But you'll need to bring the physical card with you. Many hotels aren't able to accept digital wallet payments, so if you can't swipe your card, you'll miss out on those heightened rewards.

7. Check your card’s money-saving offers

Many issuers have programs, such as AmEx Offers, Chase Offers and BankAmeriDeals from Bank of America, that let you add rotating promotional offers to your card and earn additional points or cash back for making purchases at specific merchants. Be sure to review these offers for any merchants where you might spend during your travels. Just be aware of the fine print — often these offers exclude, or only include, international merchants.

On a similar note...

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

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While only a tiny handful of travel cards in the UK allow you to preload Indonesian rupiah, travel credit cards and debit cards will allow you to access and spend your funds conveniently in Indonesia. ... (IDR) 2020: 18641.2657: 2021: 19683.6033: 2022: 18338.7638: 2023: 18957.8126: 2024: 19905.5969 *2024 price is an average up to 18 April 2024 ...
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With our Travel Money Card, you can easily load up to 13 currencies online: If we need to automatically transfer money between the currencies on your card to complete a transaction, we'll use the Visa exchange rate at the time of conversion, plus a margin. The margin is subject to change from time to time. For the current margin, see Travel ...
Destination Indonesia all Travelex products
All you need to know about IDR, how much things cost and how much you need ... Travel SIM & eSIMs. International SIM cards and eSIMs for Indonesia/Bali with no lock in contract. Get Your SIM. Find a Store. Purchase IDR cash or conduct a Money Transfer in-store. More Info. About Indonesia. Guides to Indonesia and useful tips.
Australia Post Travel Platinum Mastercard®
Travel smarter with our Australia Post Travel Platinum Mastercard, a reloadable, multi-currency prepaid card that's accepted wherever Mastercard is, worldwide 1.Easily swipe or tap in-store, use online and withdraw money from ATMs 2. 2.
Buy Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Order Indonesian Rupiahs online, lock in the rate and collect at your local store, at the airport before you fly or have it delivered at home. 1. Click the 'Buy Rupiah Now' button below. And tell us how much you need for your trip in Cash or Travel Card. 2.
The 6 Best Prepaid Travel Cards for Australians 2024
HSBC - no international transaction fees. HSBC. - no international transaction fees. Prepaid travel money cards let you load money - either in AUD or the foreign currency you need - in advance, which you can then use as you travel, for spending and withdrawals. Lots of cards let you top up and manage your account through an app, which means you ...
14 Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - Best travel card for flat-rate rewards. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Best travel card for flexible rewards. American Express® Gold Card - Best ...
Your 2024 Credit Card Checklist for Summer Travel
5. Avoid paying foreign transaction fees. If you're traveling abroad, make sure you have a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. If your card does levy those fees, try to get a ...