Best Travel Cards for Australians Visiting India
India is a large and mesmerising country that is rarely seen in one visit. Australians love travelling to India for its delicious food, cultural sites and difference in lifestyles.
In India you are likely to pay for accommodation, food, transport 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 cash cards for overseas travel in 2024 and have summarised their best points.
Best Travel Money Cards for India in 2024:
- Wise for best exchange rates
- Revolut Card for low fees
- HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card for use in Australia too
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card for lowest interest rate
- ING One Low Rate Credit Card with no annual fee
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
Fees and limits
- 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
Using the Wise card in India
The Wise Travel Card is an excellent option for those eager to experience India. It offers over 40 currencies at the live market exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. In addition you can buy goods online from overseas with no transaction fee plus get the best exchange rate. 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 international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
- No initial card fee
- Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
Fees and limits
- 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
Using the Revolut in India
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.
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card - Best Debit Card
Key Features
- Great exchange rates
- No fees at ATMs to withdraw cash
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card, closure, account keeping or monthly fees
- No cross currency conversion fees
Fees and limits
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are JPY, USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, CAD, NZD, SGD, INR and CNY (currency restrictions on CNY)
- No maximum balance for any currency
- 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.
- Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
- Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card is a good option to take overseas and to spend money with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees.
There is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card - Lowest Interest Rate
Key Features
- Lowest interest rate at 9.90%
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
- Low annual fee
- Complimentary international travel insurance
Fees and limits
- Free annual fee first year, then $69 annual fee
- Free international travel insurance that includes the basics but does not cover cancellation costs, pre existing conditions and travellers over 80
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then reverts to 9.90%
- 21.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances
- Cash advance fee of the higher of $4 or 2% of cash advance
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
The Bankwest Breeze Platinum is a great no frills credit card that offers ‘no foreign transaction fees’ and the lowest interest rate on the market, at 9.90%. These two factors alone will save you hundreds of dollars when travelling.
In addition it has a low annual fee and complimentary international travel insurance. Finally for its price point it is a great value credit card that will be accepted most places that take Mastercard.
ING One Low Rate Credit Card - No Annual Fee
Key Features
- 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
Fees and limits
- 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
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The ING One Low Rate credit card for travel is a great option to take 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.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
Why Choose a Travel Money Card for India?
India is a diverse and exciting destination, and managing your finances while traveling can be straightforward with the right travel money card. Here’s why you should consider using one:
- Convenience: Travel money cards are easy to use and accepted widely across India. Whether you're paying for meals, shopping, or transport, having a travel money card means you don’t have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash.
- Security: Travel money cards offer enhanced security features compared to cash. If lost or stolen, you can easily block the card and protect your funds.
- Cost-Effective: Many travel money cards offer competitive exchange rates and low fees, helping you save money on transactions and currency conversions.
Best Practices for Using Travel Money Cards in India
To make the most of your travel money card, keep these tips in mind:
- Notify Your Bank: Before you travel, inform your bank about your trip to avoid any issues with card usage abroad.
- Carry a Backup: It’s always wise to have a backup card in case of emergencies.
- Monitor Your Spending: Use your card’s app or online portal to keep track of your spending and balance.
- Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion: When given the option, choose to pay in local currency (INR) to avoid additional fees.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Travel Money Card
Selecting the right travel money card involves considering several factors:
- Exchange Rates: Look for cards that offer competitive exchange rates for INR.
- Fees: Be aware of any fees associated with the card, such as ATM withdrawal fees, transaction fees, and inactivity fees.
- Reload Options: Check how easy it is to reload your card and what methods are available (e.g., online, via app, etc.).
- Security Features: Ensure the card has robust security features, such as the ability to lock/unlock the card via an app and fraud protection.
- Customer Support: Consider the level of customer support available, especially in case of lost or stolen cards.
FAQs
The best way to take holiday money to India is through a Wise Multi Currency card, which offers the best exchange rate for Indian rupee, a Citibank Plus Everyday or HSBC Global card for ATM withdrawals and the BankWest Platinum Breeze or ING One Low Rate cards for credit purchases.
No you shouldn’t get Indian rupee before travelling to India, as non-residents are not allowed to bring or take Indian rupee in or out of India. It is considered a ‘closed currency’. Indian residents are allowed to bring in 25,000 Indian rupee into India, which is approximately $450.
Yes, the Wise Multi Currency card can be used in India and it offers the best exchange rate on the market and no international transaction fees. All other prepaid currency cards in Australia do not offer Indian rupee including Australia Post, Travelex, Travel Money Oz, Commonwealth bank, Westpac and Qantas.
You can use your Australian debit card in India and to avoid large fees we advise you to use the Citibank Plus Everyday or HSBC Global debit cards.
You can use both debit cards in Australia and India at ATMs without paying 3 types of different ATM fees.
ATMs from Citibank, HSBC, SBI, Axis, HDFC, IDBI, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra and Yes Bank are all banks in India that accept international credit cards. Not all banks accept international cards so you need to look for the Mastercard or Visa logo at the ATM.
The maximum amount per withdrawal is 10,000 Indian rupee or roughly $180. The maximum daily withdrawal amount is 40,000 Indian rupee or roughly $720. It’s important to withdraw as much as possible per ATM withdrawal in India to reduce the fees.
Yes you can use a Visa debit card in India wherever the Visa logo is shown. Be aware not all ATMs accept international cards, so you need to look for the Visa logo. In tourist areas Visa is readily accepted however in rural areas, Visa is less accepted and you are advised to take Indian rupee with you.
No you can not use Australian dollars or US dollars in India. The currency used in India is Indian rupee. It is recognised in shops with the letters ₹ before the numerals, for example ₹50. There are 6 banknotes each with a different colour.
