What’s the best way to manage your money when overseas? Here are our 9 tried and tested suggestions.
Before you go
Tell us where you're going!
Let us know you're going away before you leave, including dates and expected locations. It’s mainly so we can be jealous of where you’re off to but also for security reasons.
It’s a good idea to send us a secure email in the app or internet banking or call us on 132 888 when you’re booking your holiday to avoid your transactions being blocked by our fraud monitoring systems. This information can help in case of an emergency and help reduce credit card fraud while you’re overseas.
For more information, see our support page on travelling overseas.
Take a look at travel insurance
Sometimes things go wrong and when you’re overseas, that’s the last thing you want to happen. Travel insurance is important to help you avoid expensive costs in the event that something goes wrong. It’s important to find the right cover to suit you so take a look at all the different options and levels of cover
What to consider when booking travel insurance:
- cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits
- overseas emergency medical assistance
- overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses including dental
- luggage and personal effects cover
- rental vehicles
- cover for travel documents, credit cards and travellers’ cheques
- if you might be doing "extreme" activities like snowboarding or skiing
Organise your money
There’s two types of people who travel: People who put it all on the credit card and people who have a daily spending limit. Trust us, we’ve all been there.
You may spend more money than you think while you’re away, you never know what cool things or experiences you may want to purchase. It’s a good idea to plan a holiday budget well in advance and stick to it and we know that’s easier said than done. Don’t forget to factor in home expenses such as mortgage, rent,and bills that still need to be paid while you’re away. We always encourage a safety net of cash to come home to in case something happens while you’re away.
While you’re away
Keep your cards in sight
When paying for items overseas, make sure that you always keep your card in sight and check the balance before paying. Be mindful of people assisting you with transactions or at ATMs and always protect your PIN. If you have to, you can always lock your card from your app. If you happen to lose both your phone and your card, shoot us a message on social media and we can contact you overseas to get your cards sorted.
Daily limits still apply
While you are away it's a good idea to have some local currency on hand for those situations where EFTPOS or credit card payments are not accepted, such as airport transfers or small cafes. Remember that the same daily ATM limit of AU$1000 applies while you’re away. Visa Debit and credit cards are accepted at over one million ATMs worldwide.
Check your transaction fees
Make sure you're aware of transaction fees on your credit or debit cards. Foreign currency conversion fees and bank fees may be charged by foreign banks.
Report lost or stolen cards
If your card is stolen or lost, report it immediately to minimise the risk of unauthorised use. Call us on 132 888 from within Australia or +61 3 9854 4666 if you’re overseas. If you’re calling outside of business hours please listen to our after hours message for instructions. You can also message us on Facebook or Twitter and we can organise someone from our Contact Centre to call you overseas during business hours.
Look into travelling sustainably
There’s an infinite number of articles about the impact that travelling has on our planet. Whether it’s overtourism or the carbon output of each flight you take, there’s more to be done when it comes to sustainable travel.
Sustainable travel writer Louise Southerden spoke to Adventure.com to dig through the latest advice on how to travel better in 2020 and beyond.
Our last (and most important) tip. Have fun!
