5 Travel Cards for Australians Travelling to the USA
Are you planning a trip to the USA and looking for the best travel money cards to manage your finances easily?
Whether you’re sightseeing in New York, exploring the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon, or enjoying the vibrant nightlife of Las Vegas, having a reliable travel money card can make a big difference to your travel experience. In this guide, we will explore the top 5 best travel money cards for the USA in 2024, helping you make an informed decision for your upcoming trip.
The USA is a favorite destination for Australian travellers, attracting thousands yearly with its iconic landmarks, cultural hotspots, and stunning landscapes. When traveling to the United States, you’ll need a travel money card that offers competitive exchange rates, low fees, and convenience for paying for accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, and withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Best 5 Travel Money Cards for the USA in 2024:
- Wise Travel Card - USA money card
- Revolut Travel Card - Best debit card for USA
- Travelex Card - All rounder
- HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card for a bank card
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card for lowest interest rate
Travel Card |
Exchange Rates |
Fees |
Limits |
Wise |
0.6216 | Service fee 0.37% | 2 ATM withdrawals per month under AUD350 |
Revolut |
Live Market | Account Exchange Fees of up to 1.5% | 5 ATM withdrawals per month under AUD350 |
Travelex |
Set daily | Closure fee ($10) Additional card ($5) Inactivity ($4) per month |
Maximum load of $100,000 |
HSBC |
HSBC Real Time Exchange Rates | Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000 | |
Bankwest Breeze |
Set Daily | Annual fee $59 Purchase interest rate 12.99% Cash advance fee 3% |
Minimum credit limit: $6,000 |
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 the US
You can use the Wise card all across the USA. You can convert any currency into US dollars and preload the card. Alternatively if you don't have a USD balance on the card, when you use it, the card will convert the currency which is loaded, each time you use it.
The Wise Card works just as well in the States as it does in Australia, the UK or the Japan.
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 the States
The Revolut Travel Card is one of the best debit cards to use in the States. 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 Support
Key Features
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Initial and replacement card are free
- No international transaction fees
- Lock in up to 10 currencies
Fees and limits
- 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
Using the Travelex Money Card
The Travelex Money Card is a good all-rounder no matter if you are heading to the hectic streets of New York or experiencing the Mardi Gras of New Orleans.
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 cards, the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good.
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.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
Travel money cards are great for several reasons.
- First, they provide security and convenience. Carrying large amounts of cash can be risky, and using a travel money card helps mitigate this risk.
- Second, travel money cards often offer better exchange rates than exchanging cash at a currency exchange booth. Third, they help you manage your travel budget by allowing you to load a specific amount of money and track your spending.
- Additionally, travel money cards can save you from incurring high fees on international transactions and ATM withdrawals. Many cards come with features like fraud protection, travel insurance, and emergency assistance, providing added peace of mind during your travels.
Why do need a travel money card?
Additional Tips for Using Travel Money Cards in the USA
Understand Your Card’s Fees and Limits
Before you travel, familiarize yourself with your card's fees and limits. This includes ATM withdrawal limits, international transaction fees, and any other charges that may apply. Knowing these details can help you avoid unexpected costs.
Keep a Backup Card
It's always a good idea to carry a backup card in case your primary card is lost, stolen, or declined. Ensure your backup card is from a different issuer to mitigate any network-specific issues.
Use ATMs Wisely
While many travel money cards offer free ATM withdrawals up to a certain limit, some ATMs in the USA may still charge operator fees. Look for bank-affiliated ATMs or use your card's app to locate fee-free ATMs.
Monitor Your Transactions
Regularly check your transaction history to ensure there are no unauthorized charges. Most travel money cards offer real-time transaction alerts and mobile apps to help you keep track of your spending.
Take Advantage of Additional Features
Many travel money cards come with additional features such as travel insurance, fraud protection, and emergency assistance. Make sure to utilize these benefits to enhance your travel experience.
Exchange Rates and Currency Conversion
When using your travel money card in the USA, pay attention to exchange rates and currency conversion fees. Some cards offer competitive rates and low conversion fees, which can save you money in the long run.
FAQs
The best travel card for the USA has excellent exchange rates (Wise Multi Currency), does not charge for international transactions (HSBC Global Everyday), does not charge for cash withdrawals at ATMs (Citibank Global Everyday) and you are able to use it within Australia as well.
We suggest taking at least one credit card, like the BankWest Platinum Breeze and the ING One Low Rate credit card which both have very low interest rates and no ‘international transaction fees’.
Yes you should, buying US dollars from S Money will be cheaper than withdrawing money from an ATM overseas. It is also more convenient to have cash on you before you arrive, one less thing to do in the airport when you arrive. Finally it’s handy to have cash to tip, for smaller purchases or transport. At the end of the day, both cash and cards are good ways to take money to the USA.
Yes you can if they are Mastercard or Visa and you will be charged with a lot of fees including the international transaction fee (3-5%), ATM withdrawal fee by the bank in the US ($5) and an ATM withdrawal fee by your own bank (up to $5).
You can use cards linked to Mastercard, Visa or American Express within the US. They have lots of ATMS to withdraw cash from all over the US and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept these 3 cards for payment.
Yes you can place US dollars on a prepaid travel card or you can have your debit account linked to currency accounts like with Wise, HSBC and Citibank. Most prepaid travel cards (Australia Post, Travelex, Travel Money Oz and Cash Passport) have hefty fees including initial card, loading, reloading, inactivity and ATM fees so while they are handy, there are cheaper alternatives on the market.
Yes Mastercard debit cards work in the USA and are one of the two cards most commonly accepted throughout the USA. If the ATM has a Mastercard, Cirrus or Maestro logo on it, two different coloured circles overlapping you can withdraw local currency with your Mastercard debit card.
As a general rule, working out how much money to take to the USA depends on where you go and your type of travel. If you travel on a budget to the USA it can cost US$50 – US$100 a day. If you travel in the middle range throughout the USA it can cost US$100 – US$200 per day. Finally if you travel with luxury throughout the USA it can cost anywhere from $200 per day.
Yes it is better to use a debit card in the USA as it is cheaper than using funds from a credit card which have an interest rate typically of 20%, they are accepted in most places for payment, they are secure and you can transfer money into the account easily overseas.
