Where can I discuss pros and cons of the Qantas Travel Money card?

[Flying mermaid]

so let me get this right Briar,
Citibank Plus - if I'm overseas and I go to an ATM, to withdraw cash...
A) does it HAVE to be a citibank atm? that could be awkward.
B) if it's not a citibank atm, then have you been charged 3rd party fees?
c) and although my citibank plus is in AUD, I can withdraw Euros?
d) I couldn'twork out exactly which was the exchange rate, on thecitibank site, buy sell...no idea. I'd like to compare it to the mastercard or the XE exchange rates.
e) and I can just put money in the Transaction account (don't need a savings linked account) when i want to go overseas, use it, and then withdraw it on returning if I want to?giving it a zero balance, without any problems? Have you done that?

These are things I couldn't quite work out, in black and white' from their website.
Thanks, J.

You can go to any ATM, if you go to a Citi ATM, it’s free if you use a third party, then you are charged - usually around $5 to $6 I have found. So I tend to take out as much as I think I will need for that country. You can withdraw in whatever the local currency is, or whatever the ATM offers. The withdrawal is done from your Aus$ account, you get it in the local currency and I found the exchange rate is pretty close to the Xecom rate.

When I registered for the Citibank plus card it came with an account - I just do a BPay from my normal bank account with ANZ into that account. Everything is Fee free and there is no minimum amount I need to keep in it. When you come back to Australia just use an ATM to withdraw whatever is left. Because it has stayed in aus$ there are no conversion fees back again. We have been travelling a lot, so I tend to just leave money in there and top up before I go away again, but I don’t believe you need to.

 

[JennyMG]

You can go to any ATM, if you go to a Citi ATM, it’s free if you use a third party, then you are charged - usually around $5 to $6 I have found. So I tend to take out as much as I think I will need for that country. You can withdraw in whatever the local currency is, or whatever the ATM offers. The withdrawal is done from your Aus$ account, you get it in the local currency and I found the exchange rate is pretty close to the Xecom rate.

When I registered for the Citibank plus card it came with an account - I just do a BPay from my normal bank account with ANZ into that account. Everything is Fee free and there is no minimum amount I need to keep in it. When you come back to Australia just use an ATM to withdraw whatever is left. Because it has stayed in aus$ there are no conversion fees back again. We have been travelling a lot, so I tend to just leave money in there and top up before I go away again, but I don’t believe you need to.

That's amazing Flying Mermaid, thankyou. Everything I wanted to know.
I feel really great that you've'sorted' me all out.

I'm going to take a little bit of local cash.
Take the citibank plus card.
Take the BankWest Master card.

That's me done! (I bet I comeup with some other silly question before too long, though.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Contrary to flying mermaid's experience I have not been charged an ATM fee for using Citi at any ATM, with the following exceptions...

• some private ATMs (like you might find in a small convenience store in the New York) may change a USD2.50 fee. These are usually unbranded and pretty dodgy looking, so easy to avoid
• in Thailand, almost all ATMs charge a 'tousit tax' of between 180-220 Baht, per withdrawal. If you use a Citi ATM (of which there are only three in the whole of Bangkok), this fee is waived.

Otherwise I have used the Citi at dozens of banks and ATMs (including 7/11s in Japan) and never had a fee. You get an almost exact match with the going xe rate

 

[Peter D]

I use the Bankwest card overseas and also for online overseas purchases. It has no foreign exchanges fees but also gives me QFF points. Which more than compensates for the annual fee. Exchange rates seem to be the same for the other cards that add on the 3% F/x fees.

A big plus is the travel insurance which saves me hundreds a year.

For cash I use my normal debit card (Westpac current account) at an ATM just the same as at home. There is no ATM fee if using an associated O/S bank. Otherwise I just use what is convenient and pay the fee. Especially as I am now using cash less and less any ATM fees are becoming small change.

Special travel cards offered by banks and airlines, etc, seem to be too restrictive and have to many fees.

I have no ability to predict exchange rates. For everyone who locks in a good rate there will be someone who locked in a bad rate. The latter never tell you.

I am interested in the recommendations of Citi and should perhaps investigate it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Contrary to flying mermaid's experience I have not been charged an ATM fee for using Citi at any ATM, with the following exceptions...

• some private ATMs (like you might find in a small convenience store in the New York) may change a USD2.50 fee. These are usually unbranded and pretty dodgy looking, so easy to avoid
• in Thailand, almost all ATMs charge a 'tousit tax' of between 180-220 Baht, per withdrawal. If you use a Citi ATM (of which there are only three in the whole of Bangkok), this fee is waived.

Otherwise I have used the Citi at dozens of banks and ATMs (including 7/11s in Japan) and never had a fee. You get an almost exact match with the going xe rate

you’ve done well . But then a lot of my travelling has been in Africa, where you pretty much always get charged, except for EcoBank. In the USA I usually make an effort to find a Citi ATM, which is quite easy. Definitely been charged in the USA (San Francisco) at ATMs, which is why I make an effort to find Citi. Wells Fargo was particularly expensive. England didn’t have ATM fees - can’t remember others.

 

[burmans]

Contrary to flying mermaid's experience I have not been charged an ATM fee for using Citi at any ATM, with the following exceptions...

• some private ATMs (like you might find in a small convenience store in the New York) may change a USD2.50 fee. These are usually unbranded and pretty dodgy looking, so easy to avoid
• in Thailand, almost all ATMs charge a 'tousit tax' of between 180-220 Baht, per withdrawal. If you use a Citi ATM (of which there are only three in the whole of Bangkok), this fee is waived.

Otherwise I have used the Citi at dozens of banks and ATMs (including 7/11s in Japan) and never had a fee. You get an almost exact match with the going xe rate

I love the Citi card, ultimately anyone can charged whatever but in general my experience is extremely positive

 

[Steady]

I love the Citi card, ultimately anyone can charged whatever but in general my experience is extremely positive

Is the charge relevant? It would apply to any withdrawal- Qantas cash or Citi

 

[burmans]

Is the charge relevant? It would apply to any withdrawal- Qantas cash or Citi

Yes agree. There are always two parts to what you can be charged, by the card issuer or the ATM owner. You can control the first - not so much the second!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

you’ve done well . But then a lot of my travelling has been in Africa, where you pretty much always get charged, except for EcoBank. In the USA I usually make an effort to find a Citi ATM, which is quite easy. Definitely been charged in the USA (San Francisco) at ATMs, which is why I make an effort to find Citi. Wells Fargo was particularly expensive. England didn’t have ATM fees - can’t remember others.

Oh, I hadn't thought of Africa! I haven't been charged in America - but sounds like maybe I was lucky. Europe, UK, Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan, HKG, SIN) all without ATM fees (so far).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

JennyMG, only get the QTMC/former name QCC if you have got no other choices.
If you have other choices, ie, you already have card/s approved and are already in use, use those.
The QTMC (new name) is really only good for people who have been burned by debt in the past, or those who do work or have income sources, that other card issuers will not deal with, or will need more indepth navel gazing info.
If you, (for eg), have a low income from wages, but a lot from say, rental or investment income, and don't want to get into debt, then the QTMC is a choice.
In Aust, which you say you will most likely not use it for, its a very low earn, 0.33points per $1 earn.
Overseas, its quite good.
BUT, a lot of hotels will want a deposit/preauthorisation, of $100 or $150, and this can tie up your QTMC balance for days, before they refund, or if they refund it back to you.
There are some threads on TripAdvisor, that people wait days/weeks before a deposit/preauthorisation is refunded, and even on here, its said best not to use QTMC for hotels, or if you must, use another card for the deposit/preauthorisation, and then the QTMC for the final payment.
In Japan though, they are a cash based economy, to what I have read, and a lot of the smaller places only accept cash, though of course you could pay the final outstanding hotel bills, (larger hotels, I guess), with a QTMC.
You will also need to give them a copy of some id, passport or drivers licence to be able to put in a larger amount in the card, ((or was that only the VGWcard..., one of them anyway)).
You could get the BankWest mastercard debit, linked to QFF which will also earn you points, which is a debit card, so annual fees, and if you put in more than Au$2000 a month, you will not pay any monthly fees.
I think the earn rate for QFFpoints on the BW Mastercard debit is a bit better, as you earn points for having a balance with the card, which is good for money sitting in it, while/whereas QTMC you don't earn any interest for any plus funds in the account.
Edit: that Citibank Plus account does not earn QFF points, does it?
**One last one**, (I do realise your question has been answered, JennyMG), if you can, there is always ING who will refund you any foreign transaction fee (don't know about ATM withdrawal, never used that side, always tap and go in NZ), and the foreign transaction fee is always given back, no QFFpoints, and still have to deposit Au$1000 a month.