Got a Euro-Summer trip coming up? A Bali Bucks? Or perhaps an overseas visit to see family that you’re aggressively saving for?

Planning an overseas trip can be more stressful than sitting through the plot of Gone Girl. 

You’ve got to think about packing, accommodation, travel documents, and ear-plugs so you can still stay friends with the mate who snores on full volume.

You’ve also got to think about your budget, and how you’ll actually be spending money in a different country….It’s a lot.

Luckily knowing how to spend money when you’re overseas is actually easier than it looks.

Enter: travel cards

Rather than buying travel gimmicks on your local debit card and copping major exchange fees, travel cards have become an easy way to spend overseas

You load with a set amount of money in the currency you need, and then spend it like a debit card. Think of it like Timezone cards.

A lot of travel cards can look exactly the same, so it’s important to compare features across cards to pick the right one for you.

But if you need a place to start, these four are the hottest ones walking the travel card ramp right now according to Currency Shop and S Money.

1. Wise

Wise cards are beginning to become a bit of a cult purchase amongst travellers; they’re the airpods of the travel card world.‍

What’s great about it?‍

• Top it up for free via PayID or bank transfer
• No annual fee or exchange rate markups - you’ll be exchanging your money at the mid-market rate (the one you see on Google).
• No minimum balance needed to use the card
• 40+ currencies available
• Can transfer money to bank accounts overseas. (Need to pay back the random European you spent the day travelling with but got no cash? Wise has you covered)

‍What could be better?‍

• 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw over $350 during a month.
• The card takes 7-14 days to arrive, so if you’re looking for a last minute travel card, this might not be your best bet

2. Revolut

The Revolut card makes its way onto the list for its low fees.

‍What’s great about it?‍

• It’s insanely intuitive to use and you can open an account up in minutes - plus setting up your account is free
• No load fee, reload fee, exchange rate margin required
• The exchange rates are mid-market rate

‍What could be better?‍

• Similar to Wise, Revolut’s free account charges a 2% ATM withdrawal fee when you withdraw more than $350 a month
• The card charges additional fees when used on weekends
• The monthly fee for Revolut’s premium accounts can really add up if you’re not using it often

3. Australia Post Prepaid Travel Card

Apparently travel cards aren’t out of Australia Post’s wheelhouse. At this point, what doesn’t Aus Post sell?!

‍What’s great about it?‍

• Can load up to 11 major currencies worldwide
• Lock in an exchange rate, so there’s no hairy surprises to your budget
• Parks like free wifi when you load >$100 to your card
• Fraud protection from Mastercard

‍What could be better?‍

• You’ll be charged a $3.50 AUD international ATM fee or 2.95% domestic ATM fee each time you withdraw
• Adding money or spending in a currently you don’t hold will probably have an exchange rate mark up
• There are some fees with reloading your card with money

4. Travelex Money Card

BTW - you can order your Travelex card online or pick it up at one of their locations which could be handy if you’re picking a card last minute.

‍What’s great about it?‍

• Can load up 10 currencies at once
• Can spend and withdraw anywhere Mastercard is accepted
• No Travelex fees for ATM withdrawals
• It’s free to spend in the currencies you hold on your account

‍What could be better?‍

• Adding money or spending in a currently you don’t hold will probably have an exchange rate mark up
• Not all the major currencies are supported on this card
• There’s fees if you don’t use your card for a year

5. Up

Up is the digital bank owned by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. This one’s not technically a travel card but it's a very useful debit card for overseas travel.

‍What’s great about it?‍

• No account keeping fees
• No international transaction fees
• No ATM fees for withdrawals overseas

‍What could be better?

• Because it’s not a travel money card, you cannot lock in your exchange rate ahead of time
• The Up bank card is a debit card, so unless you only deposit your travel budget into it, you could be putting your money at risk.
• Your card takes 5-10 days to arrive