Load&Go Travel - Multi-currency Card

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  [Deactivated] on 06/11/2012 - 08:36

  +2

  Why not sign up for the Citibank plus account.

  posted here

  http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/61969

  and more in threads here

  http://www.ozbargain.com.au/search/node/citibank+plus

  Simply put. NO transaction fees and quite good exchange rate.

  Many 7/11's in the US have ATMs with Citibank (At least this is what I found on West Coast).

  NO cost to set up etc.
  Debit Visa as well, if you want make purchases. Plus you can top it up if you need to from an Australian account, as its a transaction account.

  BTW enjoy your trip

  • 

    arcticmonkey on 06/11/2012 - 09:39

    Thanks ozpete for your tips.

    Do you think the Citibank Plus account is a good option to withdraw money from ATMs/Eftpos in the US? I already have a 28 Degrees account for purchases in the US so I am just looking for an option to withdraw money in the US at a cheap rate.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 06/11/2012 - 16:51

      +1

      I have both.

      In the past I used to arrive, then withdraw the cash I loaded up on the 28 degrees card, then use the 28 degrees as a credit card.

      Now I know you have the 28 degrees card, you really dont need too much cash. Even Maccas and many fastfood restaurants accept credit cards, given there is no transaction fees its actually fairly cheap to use compared to the fees and poorer exchange rates that load and go offers.

      Goes like this.

      Make sure the 28D card has your money on it. Say $1000, then when you get there, withdraw the cash - ie $1000 (You'll obviously leave some money on it, so you dont find you have made a cash advance in error because of exchange rate - say $A1000 then take $US1000, that way you will be safe).

      Then spend away and use the cash for the incidentals.

      After 4 weeks I still have $US80 in cash, and thats after using $US300 cash to pay off the car rental, and I only took out $800.

      BUT the Citibank card option gives you greater flexibility and means you dont have to carry around too much cash. And NO fees like your load and go card, and you can use it for other trips. I used it in Malaysia earlier this year.

      So BOTH cards are the best way to go. 28D for credit use, Citibank for cash. Transactions made the same day about the same time were very similar in net exchange costs.

      BTW where are you going in the US and when.

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  arcticmonkey on 06/11/2012 - 19:01

  Thanks for your help, ozpete. All very useful information. I am going to LA, San Francisco, San Jose and Vegas as well as a few countries in Central America (2 of which use the US dollar).

  I'll probably take out the Citibank card based on your advice so thanks for this.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 06/11/2012 - 22:18

    +1

    Sounds like a great trip.

    San Jose Ca? - Check out the Winchester Mystery house, Tech museum, History Park and the Santa Cruz mountain area, there is the Railroad at Felton with a lovely trip through the Redwoods

• 

  PiStep on 11/11/2012 - 18:14

  +1

  I have travelled overseas a fair bit… and unless you want to lock in exchange rates, just use a ATM access card that you use in Aus. An online bank access card has low fees and will have cirrus and maestro for multiple ATM access.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_(interbank_network)
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_(debit_card)

  Last thing anyone wants when they are overseas is to have problems accessing money

• 

  Alyssalei on 19/11/2012 - 09:59

  Researched a lot of card this is the best for exchange rate, no load and reload fees however you are reliant on your own bank to authorise the post billpay if you want to reload by this method as the funds are available immediately. I especially liked this option. my bank is CBA however have restricted this use and advised me to use pay anyone via net bank. Unfortunately this will take 2 days and I need the money tomorrow to pay in nz $.