Best Travel Cards For Non-Americans

Looking for the best travel cards for non-Americans? I got you!

I have a guide on the best travel cards for Americans since I’m American myself, but I asked some of my non-American friends what cards they use when they travel.

Here’s what they had to say…

Best Travel Cards – Australia

ING Orange Everyday Debit Card – Bank Card

Recommended by Emily from Wander-Lush

Australians don’t have many options when it comes to travel cards – especially debit cards. ING Bank has one of the best products in their Orange Everyday account. This is a regular old bank account that can be set up online in minutes, but the debit card you get is perfect for frequent travelers.

Normally ING charges a $2.50 AUD fee when you withdraw cash from an international ATM. But if you meet specific criteria, that fee is instantly credited back to your account in full. (You can only do this a maximum of five times per month, so you need to be a bit strategic.) Another thing to mention here is that ING’s foreign exchange rates are always top-notch, so you barely lose anything when using the card to get cash.

The same applies to international transactions: Normally, the fee is 2.5%, but this is refunded in full on every international transaction (no monthly cap) when you meet the criteria. Whether it’s a small purchase such as a cup of coffee or something more pricey such as your Angkor Wat tickets, not having to worry about paying anything when you tap to pay is a huge weight off your shoulders.

What are the criteria you need to meet? To unlock the benefits, you need to do two things: 1) deposit a minimum of $1000 AUD into your account; and 2) perform five or more card transactions. Do this within 30 days, and the following month, you will be completely fee-free. If you’re planning to travel, remember to make sure you meet the criteria for the 30 days before you depart.

One more little ING perk I love is the ‘round-up’ feature. Turn it on, and all your card purchases will automatically round up to the nearest $1 or $5, with the remainder deposited into your high-interest savings account. It’s a terrific way to save without even thinking about it – and you’ll be surprised how quickly it all adds up, especially when you’re traveling and making lots of small purchases.

ING Orange Everyday Debit Card at a glance:

• Refund on international ATM fees up to 5 times per month
• Refund on foreign transaction fees
• The round-up feature puts spare change into a high-interest savings account
• Minimum deposit of $1000 per month
• Minimum of 5 card transactions per month

QANTAS Premier Platinum Card – Credit Card

Recommended by Sharyn McCullum from Live Work Play Travel.

Travelers travel with a variety of money options. One of the best options I have found is to use a credit card that offers points when you use it to buy things. These points can then be traded for things such as free flights or upgrades on flights.

My choice of credit card is the QANTAS Premier Platinum Card. There is an annual fee to pay for the card, but the benefits I am discovering far outweigh this.

I use my card in two ways. Firstly, I have a few regular bills I pay, and for every dollar I spend, I receive travel points. These points add up quickly, particularly with some of the bills I’ve had lately through the pandemic.

With my country opening up, I have been taking advantage of the QANTAS points I have amassed to fly to visit family in other states. As I had a lot of points, I was able to use them to get a free return flight. The process was way easier than I expected, and this positive experience has led me to venture further and book a trip to New Zealand.

Another positive about the QANTAS Premier Platinum Card is that QANTAS has alliances with other airlines, 27 at this time so I can use my points on those airlines too. I’m so pleased I applied for the QANTAS Premier Platinum Card because it took me places. And it could take you places too!

QANTAS Premier Platinum Card at a glance:

• Earn QANTAS points for every dollar spent
• Transfer points to 27 affiliated airlines
• 1.5 x points on overseas transactions
• 2 x lounge invitations per year
• Discounted companion fares on domestic flights

AMEX Platinum Card – Credit Card

Recommended by Jonny Melon from Jonny Melon Adventure Travel Blog

The Platinum Card from American Express Australia is the best credit card for travelers coming from Australia. The card comes with several benefits, including a $450 credit each year, which can be used to cover flight tickets, hotel bookings, and car rentals.

Additionally, the card offers access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. This can be an excellent perk for Australian travelers who want to relax before their flight or who need a place to work while they’re on the go.

The Platinum Card also offers several other advantages, including access to exclusive concierge service and complimentary benefits worth $700 at hundreds of hotels.

It’s also an excellent card for those who want to earn rewards on their spending. With this card, you’ll earn 5x points on flights and hotel stays, and you can also enjoy access to luxury airport lounges around the world.

Plus, you’ll get to transfer your points to 10 renowned airlines. Recently I booked a trip to Switzerland that cost me only $5.80 because I was able to use my AMEX points to book a flight with one of AMEX’s partner airlines!

So if you’re looking for a convenient way to use your points for travel purposes, The Platinum Card from American Express Australia is a great option.

AMEX Platinum Card at a glance:

• $450 annual travel credit
• Access to 1200 airport lounges worldwide
• Earn 5 x points on flight or hotel bookings
• Extra benefits at partner hotels with up to $700
• Transfer AMEX points to airline points on partner airlines

Best Travel Cards – UK

Starling Card – Bank Card

Recommended by Phil and Izzy from The Gap Decaders

Travelers from the United Kingdom should use a Starling card when traveling abroad. Whether you’re planning a road trip to Europe or a fly and flop to the Maldives, this card is completely free for purchases and cash withdrawals worldwide.

The card comes with the award-winning Starling Bank Personal Account and is easy to use when you’re on the road. With an intuitive app, where you can manage all your account admin and see up to the minute spending, it’s no surprise that this is considered the best personal account in the UK.

Most other UK cards restrict your cash withdrawals when abroad – limiting you to two or three ATM withdrawals a month. When traveling remotely, and cash is king, this limit is tough to work with. You face paying ATM charges or having to travel with large wads of cash – neither is a great option! With Starling there are no such limits – you can make as many withdrawals as you want.

I haven’t worked out what I’ve saved by using this card, but I do love not seeing any overseas charges when I check my transactions!

Starling Card at a glance:

• No fees on international transactions
• No fees on global ATM withdrawals
• Round-up feature adds spare change to a savings account
• Instant app notifications for all transactions

Monzo Card – Bank Card

Recommended by Joanna from The World in My Pocket

Monzo was the first online-only bank that offered British citizens a cheaper travel method. Before getting a Monzo card, I used to use my HSBC debit card when traveling abroad. Whenever I used it, no matter if it was in a shop or if I was paying for a ticket online using a different currency, I used to get charged an extra fee by my bank.

When I switched to Monzo, all these extra charges disappeared. Monzo also uses a good currency conversion and never charges extra for payments in other currencies.

When I use my Monzo card abroad, I can also withdraw up to £200 from any ATM, free of charge. This is very useful and saves me quite a bit of money, compared with the traditional banks that charge a double fee to use ATMs abroad.

As it is an online-only bank, the app allows you to freeze the card when you are not using it, which makes it safe in case your wallet gets stolen. The app also offers pots to sort out the money on the card and a default “piggy bank” that rounds-up payments.

Monzo also offers 24-hour customer support, which is extremely important when things go wrong. During my trip to Egypt, one of the ATMs I used didn’t release the money. I texted support, and they refunded me the transaction on the spot.

Monzo Card at a glance:

• No currency conversion fees
• Fee-fee withdrawals at ATMs in the EU
• Fee-free withdrawals up to £200 per month at international ATMs
• Freeze your card from the app in case of theft
• Round-up feature adds spare change to a savings account

AMEX Cards – Credit Card

Recommended by Paulina from ukeveryday

If you are looking for one of the best travel cards when traveling outside of the UK, look no further than AMEX. With so many benefits and global support 24 hours, seven days a week, you will be impressed by how much this card offers.

It takes only a few minutes to apply for one of the American Express cards. You can choose between Platinum, Gold, or Premium Plus Card. If you are 18 years old and have proof of address in the UK, a bank account, and a good credit score, you can apply for this travel card.

Every time you spend money during your travels, you collect points that you can use in so many ways. Whether shopping in one of over 1000 online stores such as Currys or Amazon, you will never lose your points.

Welcome offers for new cardholders are also excellent. You can earn from 20,000 to 60,000 points during your first three months of card membership. The best news is that membership rewards points will not expire, so you can use them whenever you want.

If you invite a friend, you can also get some extra points. However, some of the best benefits are room upgrades, late check-outs, or access to many airport lounges so your layover on your way to Cyprus or Greece can be a bit more comfortable. Check out the American Express travel card, it will not disappoint you!

AMEX Cards at a glance:

• Sign-up bonus of 20,000-60,000 points in the first three months (Gold and Platinum cards)
• Sign-up bonus of 25,000 Avios (Premium Plus card)
• Companion travel voucher (Premium Plus card)
• Airport lounge access
• Hotel benefits including late checkout or room upgrades
• Upgraded status for Hilton or Mariott rewards programs (Platinum card)
• International travel insurance on trips up to 90 days

Best Travel Cards – Europe and Worldwide

Revolut Card – Bank Card

Recommended by Yulia from Miss Tourist

Anyone from Europe, the USA, and Australia should use Revolut because it has been specifically created with travelers in mind. This card is perfect to keep in mind when planning a trip as it has so many advantages that benefit your lifestyle.

Revolut is super easy to set up, and everything is done online. No need to visit branches in person! Using interbank exchange rates means you won’t be charged any additional fees for converting your money. You can also spend directly in 150 different currencies while traveling abroad with the best exchange rate.

I love having different wallets in Revolut, and the conversion rate when I pay online/in stores is very, very close to a central bank exchange rate.

There are different personal, business, and company plans to choose from depending on your circumstances; however, the free plan is enough for most people. But if you would like insurance on your purchases of up to €1000 a year and an added 90-day return window, it will cost you just €3 a month for the Plus plan.

The Premium plan comes in at €8 per month and features the ability to earn interest on your savings and free airport lounge passes if your flight is delayed by more than one hour (it works, I used it myself!)!

With the top of the range Metal personal plan, you can even earn up to 1% cash back for just €14 a month, but if even that isn’t enough, check out the additional business and company plans they offer to find the best one for you!

Revolut Cards at a glance:

• No currency conversion fees (all plans)
• No-fee ATM withdrawals (limit varies with plan)
• Store 100+ currencies (all plans)
• Insurance on purchases up to €1000 a year and an added 90-day return window (Plus plan)
• Interest on savings (Premium plan)
• Airport lounge passes in case of flight delays (Premium plan)
• Up to 1% cash back on purchases (Metal plan)

Wise Debit Travel Card – Bank Card

Recommended by Alejandra from Tenerife-is

Wise Debit Travel Card (formerly known as TransferWise) is really the most “worldly” card for a traveler.

The Wise debit card is unique compared to traditional currency accounts: it lets you directly access the money you receive from abroad and spend that money with the card, without any restrictions, in many countries worldwide.

If you travel frequently, you know the costs associated with foreign transactions, currency conversion fees, ATM withdrawal fees, and many other fees. This card makes life easier for travelers, and most importantly, noticeably saves money. There are no annual fees nor hidden transaction fees. There are no minimum balance requirements.

You can enjoy free ATM withdrawals for up to £200 per month. If you withdraw more, the fees are much smaller than in traditional banks – 1.75% on anything over 200 GBP/EUR. And the exchange rates are unbeatable, as Wise offers the mid-market rate when you convert currencies.

With this card, it is easy and convenient to travel. You can use it everywhere – make hotel reservations online, pay for hotels at reception, pay for food in restaurants, buy airline tickets, and pay in offline and online stores.

The only thing you need to keep in mind, the Wise card comes only as a debit card. There is no credit card, which means you need to have the funds on your account to purchase something.

With the Wise card, you can travel to any part of the world without worrying about insane fees.  

Wise Debit Travel Card at a glance:

• Fee-free withdrawals up to £200 per month at international ATMs
• No annual fees or minimum balance requirements
• Store 50+ currencies and convert them as you need them
• Virtual card feature

RELATED: How To Plan a Trip: 13 Step-by-Step Instructions

Best Travel Cards – Canada

Various Banks

Recommended by Hannah Logan from Eat Sleep Breathe Travel

Unfortunately for Canadians, there is no single best bank for international travel that will waive all foreign fees. So instead, you have to work around it to avoid those pesky $5 charges on foreign ATMs or risk having them take a big chunk of your travel budget.

There are several options on how to do this. If you are lucky, your bank will have partner ATMs in the country where you are traveling.

Scotiabank is your best bet for this as they are included in the Global Alliance ATMs which are located in 40 countries. If that doesn’t work for you, you can use a prepaid card such as the KOHO Premium Prepaid Visa.

Another option is to discuss options directly with your bank. Some Canadian banks do have VIP-type account options where you can pay a monthly fee that will include perks such as waiving those foreign ATM charges. However, these packages can be pricey and aren’t necessarily the best long-term option.

In some cases, your best bet will be to take out a chunk of cash when you arrive, so you (hopefully) only have to pay the ATM fee once. Then use a credit card that charges no foreign transaction fees.

There are plenty of Canadian credit cards that don’t charge FOREX fees but if you are looking for a basic card then try the Home Trust Visa Preferred Card. It won’t get you anything fancy, but there is no annual fee so it’s handy to have in your wallet.

However, for collecting points, you will want to stick to a travel rewards card. I suggest American Express credit cards. I use and recommend the Platinum card as you can also transfer the points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio and get plenty of travel perks.

Keep in mind, that Canadian Platinum AMEX cards do not waive the FOREX fees. So to save the most money while still earning points, use your AMEX while home and on any major travel bookings in your local currency. Then when abroad shopping in a different currency, stick to the Visa Home Trust Preferred card.

American Express Cobalt Card – Credit Card

Recommended by Erica of Travels with Erica

American Express recently changed the points you earn with the American Express Cobalt Card, and it quickly became one of the best travel credit cards for Canadians. 

You used to only be able to transfer the points you earned with the Cobalt Card to hotel partners, but you can now transfer them to flight partners as well.  You earn points extremely quickly with grocery and dining purchases, and you’ll be able to book a trip on points in no time.

By earning MR points on the American Express Cobalt Card, I was able to transfer my points to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program and book a one-way business class flight from Istanbul to Montreal for just $50!

American Express Cobalt Card at a glance:

• Earn 5x points on grocery and dining within Canada
• Earn 3x points on eligible streaming services
• Earn 2x points on travel and transit
• Earn 1x points on every other purchase
• Earn 1 extra point when booking travel through Amex Travel Online
• Monthly fee of $12.99
• Earn up to 30,000 MR points as a sign-up bonus by spending at least $500 per month in the first 12 months
• Easily transfer MR points to a variety of partner programs including Air Canada, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Hilton, and Marriott

Visa Avion Cards – Credit Card

Recommended by Nicole from Go Far Grow Close

Using three different Visa Avion cards, I have saved thousands of dollars in flights and consistently fly business or first class. For example, every year, I transfer the points that I earn from RBC Infinite and RBC Infinite Privilege to British Airways. Then, I use the companion ticket to get two business class or first class tickets from Vancouver to London, but only have to use enough points for one ticket.

RBC British Airways Card

The RBC British Airways Card is great for two reasons. First, the points go directly to British Airways and its partners. It is often easier to find reward tickets when needed and for a reasonable amount of points compared to other airlines. Second, you can save points with the companion ticket by only having to use enough points for one return flight but getting two seats.

• Earn 1 Avios point (British Airways points) for every dollar spent and 2 Avios for every dollar spent on British Airways purchases.
• Receive a Companion Award eVoucher for a return flight on British Airways every year provided spend a minimum of $30,000 each year.
• 10% off British Airways flights.
• Avios points can be used for British Airways flights, upgrades, and any oneworld partner airlines (for example, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific)
• Annual fee of $165.
• Requires $60,000 personal income or $100,000 family income per year.

RBC Visa Infinite Card

A traveler from Canada should consider the RCB Visa Infinite credit card because it is easy to earn points and there are no restrictions. You can choose any airline to fly, on any flight, in any seat.

• One reward point for every dollar spent to be used toward different rewards, including flights.
• No blackout periods or seat restrictions. The only limitation is the cost of the flight. You can only use your points to purchase flights that cost less than $2000.
• Can convert points into other airlines’ travel points.
• Only $120 CAD fee per year.
• Requires $60,000 personal income or $100,000 household income per year.

RBC Visa Infinite Privilege Card

With the RBC Visa Infinite Privilege Card, it is very easy to earn points, and there are no restrictions. In addition, there are phenomenal extras such as lounge access and outstanding travel insurance.

There are many similarities to the RBC Visa Infinite Card, except you get more points for every dollar spent and more privileges. However, the card fee is more, and you require higher-income amounts to qualify.

• 1.25 reward points for every dollar spent.
• ​​Enjoy global airport lounge access, airport security fast track lanes, and dedicated airport parking at select Canadian airports.
• Comprehensive trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance, and emergency medical insurance.
• Extensive car rental insurance.
• Travel concierge to help book restaurants, hotels, and flights.
• Annual fee of $399 and minimum personal or household income of $200,000.

Best Travel Cards – New Zealand

Travelex Money Card

Recommended by Ashleigh from Ashleigh’s Atlas

If you’re from New Zealand, the Travelex Money Card is one of the best travel cards if you’re heading overseas.

You pre-load money onto the card in the currency you’re traveling to (e.g., you would pre-load pounds if you’re traveling to the UK). Then when you’re traveling, there are no conversion fees or ATM fees because you’re spending pounds (or whatever you have loaded). It won’t be affected by exchange rate changes, and you can log into the app to check your balance throughout your trip.

You can load nine different currencies: Euros, British pounds, Australian dollars, US dollars, Canadian dollars, Singapore dollars, Japanese yen, Hong Kong dollars, and New Zealand dollars. (Obviously, if you’re traveling outside these countries, it wouldn’t be suitable.)

While there are no exchange rate/ATM withdrawal fees, you have to pay an initial fee to load the currency. There’s also a fee if you want to convert any spare cash back at the end. But it was worth it for the convenience and not getting any fees during my travel.

There are also inactivity fees, so I canceled my card after each trip to avoid getting charged this (if you have regular travel planned, you may prefer not to cancel). Also, the local ATMs may still charge you local fees.

I traveled around Scotland and explored Dunnottar Castle, Craigievar Castle, Skye, the Isle of Harris, and Edinburgh for months without getting charged lots of conversion fees!

Travelex Money Card at a glance:

• No currency exchange fees
• No ATM withdrawal fees
• Store up to nine currencies
• Fees for adding money to the card

Hope this post helped you find the best travel card FOR YOU!

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