Credit Card, Travel Card - What Is The Best Option Overseas?

realsniper09 on 24/09/2014 - 14:16

Hi,

I am heading across the Tasman in a couple of months, for just under 2 weeks for a holiday. I have currently only a CommBank Debit Mastercard, and have never owned a credit card before.
Paying back any money I do incur on a credit card within a couple of days is no issue for me. I just don't need one daily - don't need liquidity and don't spend enough to get enough points to worry about.

Now, going away, there are a few things that I (think) will need a credit card for:

a) Pre-authorization on car the rental excess is required, and they need a credit (not a debit card with credit function) card for that
b) My employer allows me to claim my tax back on my accommodation, as long as I have a credit card statement identifying the actual cost of the accommodation in $AUD (and not $NZD in this case) - so I need a credit card for this along with a good statement with $AUD cost
c) A card that I can use so I don't need to use my CommBank Debit Mastercard (assuming fees here will be massive) for all the things I would normally use that card for
d) So I don't need to carry around a large amount of $$$NZD cash

I have limited knowledge of these things, but from my brief reading of the forums…

1) Will the 28 Degree Mastercard suit the purposes I outlined?
2) Is there even any need for a travel card in that case?
3) And just get a Citibank Plus everyday account with a Debit card in case I run out of cash in hand and need $$NZD?

Thanks.

Financial

Comments

  • ethereal88 on 24/09/2014 - 15:21
    -2

    This:

    https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/travel/travel-money-car…

    You will cop fees either way somewhere along the line. I wouldn't bother with a credit card. You don't need one.

  • adamren on 24/09/2014 - 15:34
    +2

    Not taking a CC overseas is just not worth the risk. If you don't use it, then OK, it's just one card you carried.

    Don't they require the CC to pick up the rental car anyways. Hotels do this also. You can always pay with something else though.

    • ethereal88 on 25/09/2014 - 15:36
      -1

      You don't need credit. At all. AT ALL. Why bother? Use something like a travel card if you must instead of continually contributing to the capitalism ponzi debt scheme.

  • captobvious on 24/09/2014 - 18:35

    If you are a qf ff then sign up for the qantas cash card. I use it quite frequently on my overseas travel and it has been great. Especially being able to pre purchase foreign currency.

    The only thing is hotels wont accept them. Need to use a regular credit card for that.

    • dasher86 on 25/09/2014 - 10:39

      In most cases hotels will place a holding amount on a credit card at time of check-in / booking.
      You can almost always choose to pay at check out with a different card.

  • polol on 29/09/2014 - 10:23

    you'd be covered for everything with a 28 degrees and a citibank plus. All your statements would show the equivalent AUD cost.

  • Dominic on 03/10/2014 - 14:24

    I use Bankwest Zero Platinum and Citibank plus. Made the switch from 28 Degrees.

    • hashtagbargain on 11/02/2015 - 19:11

      How is this better?

      • Dominic on 12/02/2015 - 15:14
        +1

        BW customer service and online user interface is miles ahead of 28 Deg and GE Money.

        • hashtagbargain on 12/02/2015 - 16:10

          Cool, thanks.

        • Rick Sanchez on 29/09/2016 - 18:52

          Not from my experience, Bankwest gave us incorrect advice (on fees not stated on their PDS) before a trip and it took a crazy amount of emails to get our fees refunded. Extremely bad experience.

        • Bronica on 30/09/2016 - 19:03

          @Rick Sanchez: What fees?

  • Peck on 11/02/2015 - 20:13

    'Citibank plus' debit card for all expenses and withdrawal of foreign currency at ATM , and any other credit card just for emergencies.

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