Article: Best Credit Cards for Overseas Travel & Online Shopping

[Scarlett]

I have both 28deg and Coles Platinum.
When comparing them, it is really just a trade off of points versus annual fee:
Coles - $99 annually - some VFF points
28deg - fee free - no points

As I value a point at 1c I need to know that I’ll be putting $10K through the card to get any benefit back from it in terms of the points earned. At the moment I know I’ll do that so I’m keeping the card.

I also keep the 28deg as my o/s transaction spare as it doesn’t cost me anything and is good to use for pre-auths that would otherwise block up my Coles card. (but I do use the Coles card for the actual payment)

Will try out the Flexiroam thing in April/May in France and Italy.

 

[Chicken]

Best Credit Cards for Overseas Travel & Online Shopping is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Best Credit Cards for Overseas Travel & Online Shopping

Save on international transaction fees when you travel overseas or shop online with 28 Degrees and other Australian credit cards.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

That article is now so out of date.

Firstly 86400 is no longer, it's been absorbed into Ubank by NAB.

Then, all of the below are free transactions free ATM and 0% forex commission.

With cash deposits:
- Up (post office)
- Bankwest Easy Transaction
- Suncorp Everyday Options
- Citibank Plus (post office)

No cash deposit (no branch and no post office):
- ubank Spend

 

[AFF Editor]

That article is now so out of date.

Firstly 86400 is no longer, it's been absorbed into Ubank by NAB.

Then, all of the below are free transactions free ATM and 0% forex commission.

With cash deposits:
- Up (post office)
- Bankwest Easy Transaction
- Suncorp Everyday Options
- Citibank Plus (post office)

No cash deposit (no branch and no post office):
- ubank Spend

Thank you for your feedback on the debit cards featured.

You are correct about 86400, so I've removed it from the list of bank accounts with no forex or overseas ATM withdrawal fees.

I've also added the Bankwest Easy Transaction and Suncorp Everyday Options accounts to this list, and updated the name of the ubank account.

Up and Citibank Plus are already featured in the article.

 

[SYD]

The new Flexiroam arrangement is actually a broader MC deal. I stumbled upon it a couple of months before Latitude rolled out the change from Boingo to Flexiroam.

You can check your card eligibility here - interesting to hear if any other cards in the article work?

FlexiRoam Mastercard

mastercard.flexiroam.com

There‘s actually a bunch of other offers and promos here:

Offers and Promotions | Mastercard Singapore

Find exciting card offers, deals & promotions at Mastercard to make your experiences priceless each day. Explore the benefits & perks of being a Mastercard cardholder.

www.mastercard.com.au

Click through each category and select your card (at the top of the page) to filter applicable offers.

The cash back offers tend to be auto enroll. I received a cash back on my 28° card from IHG NZ recently. I didn’t know there was an offer until I went looking for it after the cash turned up!

 

[StingyGeek]

Recently returned from a trip to the USA. When using the free Macquarie Transaction account MC Debit card to purchase stuff from Walmart, you are offered the option to get cash out. The cash is provided fee-free and using the MC rate. Walmarts are everywhere, so very easy to get US cash if you need it.

 

[yojohnny]

It's been a few years.... which account do you normally have to select at an international ATM for a withdrawl from most Australian bank debit card (transaction) accounts? Bankwest and Macquarie state "credit"; is this the same for most other banks? I'm specifically interested in info for Revolut, Wise, Up, HSBC and Westpac.

 

[N860CR]

Sadly, the Coles card is dead;

What are the changes?​

•​ ​ ​ ​ •​ We are increasing the International Transaction Fee for Retail Purchases and Cash Advance transactions to 3.00%. The International Transaction Fee Waiver is being removed on the Coles Rewards Mastercard and Coles Rewards Platinum Mastercard.​

 

[knagelli]

Sadly, the Coles card is dead;

What are the changes?​

​ ​ •​ ​ ​ ​ •​ We are increasing the International Transaction Fee for Retail Purchases and Cash Advance transactions to 3.00%. The International Transaction Fee Waiver is being removed on the Coles Rewards Mastercard and Coles Rewards Platinum Mastercard.​

I also just received the comms around this. If the international transaction fee waiver is removed then it is no more a deal breaker to hold this card unless there is any sentimental value for someone.

What are your thoughts on this ? I am thinking if I have to cancel this card for good as it does not help me anymore with the announced changes.

 

[MattA]

Sadly, the Coles card is dead;

Yep. Just got the email notification too, and a real shame as that was my go-to for fee-free fx + points earn. It was always only a matter of time following the NAB acquisition of Citi though I guess.

 

[Blackswan]

Just got the notification, too. It was my daily "go-to", and I used it all the time internationally.

Will pay it off, and cancel.

 

[N860CR]

I also just received the comms around this. If the international transaction fee waiver is removed then it is no more a deal breaker to hold this card unless there is any sentimental value for someone.

What are your thoughts on this ? I am thinking if I have to cancel this card for good as it does not help me anymore with the announced changes.

Time to ditch it. Shame, it’s been a good card for many years now (even with the reduced earn)

 

[SYD]

Time to ditch it. Shame, it’s been a good card for many years now (even with the reduced earn)

Pity, apparently it was one card that was possible to get once retired.

 

[Human]

Time to ditch it. Shame, it’s been a good card for many years now (even with the reduced earn)

Agree that the foreign transaction fee makes it considerably less attractive. The one reason to keep it is that it still earns Velocity points (via Flybuys) at a pretty good rate for a Mastercard -- namely 1 point per $ (up to $3000/month I recall). When you consider that the annual fee is still only $99, that might be a reason to keep the card... maybe.

I'll use it for a trip to NZ next month, before the changes kick in, then I'll seriously consider cancelling. Shame, it was my only non-Amex card that I didn't churn.

 

[Fifa]

I have been using the Coles MC on all overseas transactions and on purchases when Amex is not accepted.
Now it’s time to look for a replacement!

 

[theblank]

well it is the first Credit card to withdraw the benefit of fee free overseas transactions, and considering that Coles is not the real provider of the service, i dont expect this is the beginning of a trend. Its possible they were absorbing the cost of this fee one way or another, and simply chose not to anymore.

There is too many cards offereing fee free overseas transactions now.

 

[N860CR]

well it is the first Credit card to withdraw the benefit of fee free overseas transactions, and considering that Coles is not the real provider of the service, i dont expect this is the beginning of a trend. Its possible they were absorbing the cost of this fee one way or another, and simply chose not to anymore.

There is too many cards offereing fee free overseas transactions now.

I’d say it’s just NAB slowly wrapping up the unique elements of the Citi products.

Outside of CBA/BankWest, there aren’t too many credit card options that offer rewards with no international fees.

 

[kamchatsky]

I’d say it’s just NAB slowly wrapping up the unique elements of the Citi products.

Outside of CBA/BankWest, there aren’t too many credit card options that offer rewards with no international fees.

NAB Rewards Signature will fit this category from 12 June 2024:

We’re changing NAB Rewards Signature

Learn about the improvements and new features that have been made to the NAB Rewards product range. Compare with the old NAB Rewards offering today.

www.nab.com.au

 

[theblank]

I’d say it’s just NAB slowly wrapping up the unique elements of the Citi products.

More likely Coles making changes, it was the only Citi white label credit card product that waived the fee.

 

[LA10]

I'll be using 28 degrees and the Macquarie transaction card for my upcoming trip, and will take the new nab (ex Citibank debit) card as back up.

 

[Ktan89]

Anyone still using the ANZ Travel card?
I still have this but don't know if this is the best way forward. Annual fee just posted $120 + $55.
I used to hold this + the citibank but now it is this and Wise.
Should I get rid of the ANZ ?