Debit cards, prepaid cards and credit cards with Mastercard or Visa can be used in Europe in most places. Similar to Australia, American Express is also accepted but not as frequently, due to the costs American Express places on the seller. Best to avoid other types of cards as they might not be accepted.
Yes, ordering euro from S Money can be cheaper than withdrawing money from an ATM overseas. In fact, taking both cash and a card can be a great way to bring money to Europe. 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.
Yes you can withdraw cash from a travel card in Japan. However, depending on the travel card you can pay an overseas ATM withdrawal fee and international transaction fees when using a debit card overseas. It is more expensive if your travel card is a credit card because you will also pay higher interest on cash advances. Save $15 on a $300 cash withdrawal and choose the correct debit travel card or prepaid card for travel.
Mastercard, Visa and JCB are the three most common cards accepted in Japan. This includes Mastercard debit, Mastercard credit, Visa debit and Visa credit cards. American Express and Diners cards are rarely accepted because the cost is too high for the merchant.
Most travel money cards for Japan should be free of charge. On some prepaid travel cards you might have to pay for load, unload and inactivity fees, however if you choose a HSBC Global or Citibank Everyday card you will not have to pay these fees. You will also not have to pay an international transaction fee.
You should bring both card and cash to Japan. Japan relies heavily on cash and cards are needed to pay for big items like accommodation. We advise you to buy Japanese yen before you leave and take a prepaid card like Wise, a card to withdraw money from ATMs like HSBC or Citibank and a credit card as a back up like Bankwest Breeze Platinum.
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.
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