Finding the Best Travel Credit Cards
April 27th, 2010
Whether you are travelling for business or for pleasure, you want to make sure the trip is fun, safe and easy, and the choice of the best travel credit card can ensure that is a reality.
The best credit cards for travel will make it easy to use your money anywhere in the world, anywhere around Australia, at any time of the day or night – affordably.
Featured Frequent Flyer Credit Card
Make every point count with the ANZ Frequent Flyer Credit Card. You can earn unlimited Bonus Points* plus an uncapped Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards points so you can catch those dream flights faster and easier!
- $95 annual fee
- 19.74% p.a. on purchases
- Cash Advance Rate of 20.99% p.a.
- 44 days interest free
Features You Need in the Best Travel Credit Card
Your destination and the length of your trip will determine the type of credit card which will truly best suit your needs, however, some common features of credit cards used for travel can come in handy no matter how far you are travelling or for how long. Features to consider in the best credit card for travel include:
- Inclusive travel insurance. Many credit cards offer free travel insurance, but make sure you are covered internationally and domestically, and that you and your family will be protected if they are travelling with you.
- Affordable overseas transactions. It can be an expensive and time consuming process to have your money converted to traveller’s cheques, especially when you then have to hope the places you are going accept traveller’s cheques. Instead, compare the fees of overseas credit card transactions, and check the exchange rate used to make sure it is competitive and you get good value for money when you travel.
- Wide acceptance. It pays to have a variety of credit cards with you when you travel, or you can simply choose a card with wise acceptance such as a Visa or MasterCard. There are few places where a Visa is accepted but not MasterCard, and the other way around, so you will feel more secure travelling with one of these issuers, as compared to American Express for example.
- Can you easily phone home? Any number of reasons could have you needing to call your credit card provider when you are travelling. You may have lost your card, need to query a transaction or just need local information and the best credit cards for travel will include 24 hour, seven day a week concierge service anywhere in the world.
How to Compare the Best Credit Cards for Travel
To find the best credit card to take with you when you travel, you can now consider your needs, in relation to the best features of the top travel credit cards available. Before you choose a travel credit card, consider:
- How often you will be travelling. If you are planning a one-off trip then you may not mind about a high annual fee because it is not going to be an ongoing cost. Similarly, do you need to compare rewards programs if you’re not going to keep your card long enough to earn a meaningful points balance?
- What is your travel budget? This will help you determine the credit limit you need, because some travel cards have set maximum limits available, while other credit cards will not set a limit at all.
- Are you eligible? The credit cards with all of these sorts of features are typically gold or platinum credit cards. To apply for a gold or platinum credit card for travel, one of the main requirements is a minimum income of at least $50,000 for a gold card, and around $65,000 a year for a platinum card. This is an important consideration to look at in your comparisons, because while it is possible to find gold and platinum cards with all these features, which are not that much more expensive than a standard card, you may need to apply as a joint account holder to make up the income minimum.
Travel is an exciting time, no matter how many times you have jetted off. Whether you are a seasoned traveller or just getting your wings, with the best credit card for travel you will be able to feel safe and secure because you won’t have to carry cash or travellers’ cheques, and you can access your funds wherever you go. Find out more and apply for a travel credit card using our comparison tables.
Editors Choice: Featured Credit Card Deals
| Interest Rate (p.a.) | Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) | Annual fee | Cash Advance Rate (p.a.) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Westpac 55 Day Credit Card | 0% for 5 months (reverts to 19.59% ) | 3.99% for 6 months | $0 | 21.49% |
|
 Citibank Clear Platinum Card | 11.99% | 2.9% for 12 months | $99 | 21.74% |
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