revolut travel card uk

Travel money card

Spend like a local with a travel debit card for exploring the globe. Whether it's a virtual or a physical card, we've got all your travel money needs covered.

Need an international travel card? Take us all around the world

Exchange currencies, send money abroad, and hold 36 local currencies in-app. These are just some of the reasons why our customers love their travel debit cards.

Built-in security features

Set spending limits, get payment notifications, and freeze or unfreeze your card in-app.

Add it to Google Pay or Apple Pay

No need to wait for your physical card to arrive — spend instantly with a virtual card.

Withdraw without ATM fees

Get fee-free ATM withdrawals, up to £2,000 per rolling month, depending on your plan type.*

Manage travel money in-app

Manage everything for your holiday money card in the Revolut app, from top-ups to transfers.

*No ATM withdrawal fees within plan limits on a rolling monthly basis. 3rd-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee and ATM fair-usage fees. Weekend markups will apply. Currency exchange fees may apply.

Spend like a local in 150+ currencies

No ATM fees up to £2,000 per month*

*No ATM withdrawals fees within plan limits on a rolling monthly basis. Third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee and ATM fair-usage fees. Weekend markups will apply.

Spend right away with Apple Pay or Google Pay

How to get your travel money card in the UK

Get your currency debit card in 3 steps

Get revolut.

Join 40+ million people worldwide saving when they spend abroad with Revolut.

Order your card

Order your free travel money card to spend in 150+ currencies. Delivery fees may apply.

Spend like a local

Start spending around the world. That's your travel money, sorted.

Get instant payment notifications

Spend with confidence

Built-in security measures

How to save money with travel currency cards

Tips for saving with a money travel card

Don't exchange at airports or at home.

Don’t exchange cash before you travel — use your travel money card to spend or withdraw money from an ATM (just watch out for ATM fees).

Always choose the local currency

Choose the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants.

Save on travel spending with a Revolut card

Spend in the local currency at competitive rates on your next trip from the UK.

For life, not just for holidays

We're not a prepaid card you just throw away after your trip. Trust us, you’ll want to use Revolut for future adventures and everyday spending.

Rating as of 16 Apr 2024

699K Reviews

2.7M Reviews

Spend your holiday money in 150+ currencies

Need a little more help?

Holiday money card FAQs

What is a travel money card, what currencies can i spend with a travel money card, what are the limits for spending with a travel card, how can i manage my travel money card, is a travel money card safe and secure, how can i order a travel money card.

• Download the Revolut app : find it in Apple or Google Play Store
• Sign up to Revolut : apply for an account and verify your identity
• Add a debit card : go to Cards and follow the instructions to start your order
• Set your PIN : choose a PIN that you'll remember
• Arrange delivery : enter your delivery address, and select your delivery method before proceeding to checkout (Delivery fees may apply)

Is a travel money card better than travel money?

• Don’t exchange cash at the airport: it’s much cheaper to withdraw money from an ATM with your travel money card
• Don't carry more cash than you need: when you return home from your trip, you’ll need to re-convert this cash back to GBP, which can take time and cost you in fees
• Always choose the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants
• Sign up to Revolut so you can manage your balance and get instant notifications on what you spend

What is the best bank to use when travelling abroad?

• Exchanging currency before you go, or while you're there
• Withdrawing money from ATMs
• Using your card in shops, restaurants, and more

What's the difference between using prepaid travel cards or travel debit card for spending abroad?

Revolut - The Prepaid Card for The UK and Abroad

Revolut is one of the most popular prepaid debit cards in the world. Revolut launched in 2015 with standard, premium, and metal accounts available to make it simple for customers to use their debit card anywhere in the world, in whichever currency they like, in the easiest way possible.

Revolut stemmed from the founder’s frustration with traditional banks taking too long to roll out digital banking in a world where more and more customers prefer to manage their lives and their finances through their smartphone. Especially those who travel or who would enjoy the ability to switch currencies from within the same account.

Not only did Revolut solve this problem, it solved it with an innovative app with lightning-fast money transfers, simple currency switching, and automatic budgeting tools, along with a host of other standout features.

Today, Revolut has 7 million customers worldwide and processes over $5.7 billion worth of transactions every month. It is the fastest-growing FinTech company in Europe and is worth an estimated $1.7 billion.

How does Revolut work?

Revolut is a prepaid debit card that you manage directly from your smartphone. You can open an account online or through it's app within 60 seconds, with no paperwork.

A Revolut account gives you the ability to add money to your card, which you can then spend anywhere with no fees in over 150 countries with a contactless MasterCard or Visa debit card.

Using your Revolut card is easy and straightforward. Notifications arrive on your phone instantaneously whenever you make a payment, and payments to your friends and family arrive in seconds. Switching between currencies is just one tap of a button, and the Revolut app takes care of your budgeting without you needing to do a thing.

Additional benefits are available to each Revolut customer, such as phone insurance, travel insurance, cryptocurrency exchange, and more.

Premium accounts are also available for a monthly fee and come with some great additional benefits .

The Revolut app

The brain of every Revolut account is the Revolut app. It lives on your phone and gives you access to every single thing you need to manage your money and your account information.

Revolut secures the app with a password, facial ID, or fingerprint ID to ensure you, and only you can access your money no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

The layout of the app is easy to navigate , with just 5 tabs to take you to where you need to be

From the Revolut app, you can access all the features of your account, such as:

• Transfer money
• Request money
• Order a physical or virtual card
• Open additional accounts in any supported currency
• Open, view, and manage your personal or shared vaults
• View recent transactions
• View your balance
• View, create and review your budgets
• Access your Premium or Metal account benefits
• Block your card
• View your account information and card settings
• View real-time exchange rates across multiple currencies

Unfortunately, unlike the account offered by N26 you can only access your Revolut account with your smartphone, and so if you leave your phone at home, you won’t be able to access your account.

It is becoming the norm for mobile banks to provide innovative budgeting tools to help people gain a better understanding of their spending behaviour. Revolut is no exception to this and, within its app, it offers some excellent budgeting tools.

Every time you make a payment or send and receive money, the Revolut app will automatically determine what type of transaction you have carried out and what type of category it fits into.

The Revolut app automatically knows that the £20 you spent in Tesco is for ‘Groceries’ or that your Uber ride is for ‘Transport’, so you can see how much of your money is being spent on each category.

The key selling feature with Revolut is that you can set an overall monthly budget and individual budgets for each category. Revolut will notify you when you get close to reaching your budget, so you will know if you need to slow down on your spending

Direct debits

You can use your Revolut account to set up direct debits for your bills and expenses.

Similar to a traditional bank account, to set up a direct debit you just need to give your Revolut account number and sort code to the company or organisation you want to pay. They will set up the direct debit for you and it is covered under the direct debit guarantee.

Alternaively, you can set up a Standing Order to pay for your bills. This works in a similar way, except that with a standing order, you are in control of setting it up. You just need to get the following details from the company you want to pay:

• Account number
• Reference number

Once you have these details you can set up the payment within the Revolut app and set the amount you wish to pay, the date you want the payment to be made, and how often you want the payment to be made (weekly, monthly, or a specific date).

Other companies such as N26 and Monzo also support overdrafts and standing orders.

Who can open a Revolut account?

The great thing about Revolut is that anyone over the age of 18 can open an account.

Does Revolut do a credit check?

You do not need a credit check to open a Revolut account. If Revolut decides to roll out overdrafts or loans, then you would most likely need a credit check to apply for these services.

Is Revolut a bank?

Revolut is not a bank but a Financial Technology Company . However, it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority .

In 2018, it was granted a UK Banking Licence which means it will soon be able to roll out additional features and products.

Similar to traditional banks, when you open an account with Revolut you will receive:

• Virtual debit card

Is Revolut safe?

Revolut is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority , so it has to ensure it protects your money. All money held in a Revolut account is ring-fenced in a seperate account.

A ring-fenced account is a way for a company to keep your money separate from its main finances and assets. Revolut can’t use this money, and it is protected if Revolut were to go into administration. Think of your money as a herd of sheep in a pen. The sheep, or your money, is protected from whatever risks or threats are on the outside of the fence, including Revolut.

You have control over your account at all times. You can freeze your prepaid card instantly within the app, in case you lose or misplace it, and unfreeze it without having to order a new card if you eventually find it down the back of the sofa. If you lose your card for good, you can easily order a new card at the tap of a button.

In-app controls allow you to decide if you want to allow contactless, online payments, and ATM withdrawals. You can also turn on location-based security , which will block any attempted payments in a different location from where you are, and send a notification to your phone to let you know.

What is a Revolut card?

The Revolut Standard account comes with a plastic debit card, whereas the Revolut Premium comes in a choice of 3 colours. If you prefer a high-end banking experience, then the Revolut Metal card comes with an 18g metal card crafted from a single sheet of reinforced steel.

No matter which Revolut account you go for, you will receive the following benefits:

• Free Visa or MasterCard prepaid debit card posted to your home address.
• A virtual debit card that lives on your phone which you can start using immediately.
• Instant notifications sent to your phone whenever you use your card.
• A UK bank account number and sort code.
• Real-time transactions - purchases are only authorised when there are available funds in your account.

Revolut has many similar features that you also receive with Monzo, N26 , and Starling Bank . We have put together a handy guide ( coming soon ) comparing the features and benefits of these digital accounts to help you decide which is right for you.

How to order a free Revolut card

It is fast and straightforward to open an account with Revolut. It claims that it only takes 60 seconds to get your account opened.

To start the application process, you need to

• Visit the Revolut website.
• Enter your mobile phone number.
• Revolut will text you a personal invite to download the Revolut app for free.
• Click the link and download the app from the App Store, or Google Play Store.
• Open the app and enter the same mobile number you used on the website.
• It will prompt you to create a password and verify your mobile phone number.
• Enter your name, date of birth, address and email.

And that’s it. You’re up and running and can view your new account details straight away within the app, including your new account number and sort code .

You can upgrade your account to Premium or Metal by tapping on ‘Dashboard’ and then ‘Upgrade’ at the top of the screen

What is the application process?

Once you have completed the application, the only thing left to do is top up by £10 or more, and provide your proof of ID, which is all done within the Revolut app and takes a few minutes.

You will need to provide at least one piece of ID from the following list to complete the application process and have your prepaid card sent to you.

UK citizens

• A valid UK passport

Non-UK citizens residing in the UK

Depending on your country of origin, you will need to provide one of the following:

• Valid passport
• Valid passport card
• Identity card
• Driving licence
• Residence permit card

How to provide your ID Within the Revolut app, select your nationality, and the documentation you can provide.You will then need to take a clear photo using your phone's camera and confirm that the photo is readable. It will be sent securely for verification.

UK card payments and withdrawals

It is free to use your Revolut card in the UK, and there are no fees for cash withdrawals.

There are limits to how much you can withdraw from ATMs, depending on which account you have

International card payments and withdrawals

A great feature of Revolut is that you can spend abroad with no fees in 150 countries and you will only be charged at the Interbank exchange rate. This saves you money while you travel or go on holiday as the conversion rate is much lower, and Revolut doesn’t charge you for using your card abroad unlike most traditional banks.

The limits for withdrawing cash from an ATM remain the same as if you were in the UK, and are also fee-free.

What is a virtual Revolut card?

Revolut also gives customers a virtual card to help reduce online fraud . As the name suggests, these cards don’t come in a physical format and instead live inside your Revolut app .

Virtual cards work the same as your physical card but are used to shop online. As it is virtual, you can’t use this card in shops or to withdraw cash at ATMs. You aren’t required to use your virtual card, and you can use your physical card to shop online if you prefer.

Why use a virtual card?

The main reason is security . Online card fraud costs over €1.8 billion a year , and the UK is at the top of the list.

When you buy something online with your virtual card, you use different card details to your physical card, so if you end up buying something from a slightly suspicious website, it protects your physical card details.

Disposable virtual cards

To take security one step further, premium and metal customers have access to disposable virtual cards , where the card details change automatically once the card is used, and a new set of card details takes its place.

This means that when you shop online, you enter different card details every single time, so if anyone gets hold of your card details from an online purchase, those details will no longer exist, keeping you and your money safe and sound.

Is a Revolut card free?

The Revolut debit card is free with all of its accounts and can be used for free in over 150 countries . There is no fee to open the account or receive your card. There are some restriction with the standard account, which you can avoid with a Revolut Premium or Revolut Metal account, for a monthly fee.

There is a fee to replace lost or stolen cards depending on which Revolut account you have.

Can I use my Revolut card with Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Yes. Revolut supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay. As soon as you have received your card and activated it, you can add the card to your phone straight away.

Revolut reviews

While most traditional banks receive an average rating of 1.2/5 on Trustpilot, Revolut sit with a 4.5/5 rating, with 87% of customers rating them as good or excellent

Check out our hands on Revolut Review to see how we got on using Revolut, including opening a new account and using its range of features and benefits.

What types of Revolut UK accounts are available?

Revolut offers 3 different accounts to choose from, each with its own set of benefits.

• Revolut Standard - A standard account with no monthly subscription
• Revolut Premium - A premium account with a choice of card design, insurance products, and priority customer service
• Revolut Metal - A high-end account with a Metal debit card, cashback on purchases, and concierge access.

Compare the best bank accounts Still unsure if Revolut is the right account for you? Then why not compare the best bank accounts to see what other options are available.

Revolut Premium and Revolut Metal card

For a monthly fee, you can unlock some additional features. It is becoming more and more popular for digital banks to offer premium services and metal cards, and Revolut is no exception.

Premium features

From cashback to concierges, a Premium or Metal card gives you some bang for your buck. Let’s look at what your monthly fee will get you.

Revolut savings account and overdraft

There are many great savings accounts out there, and Revolut has some very handy tools to help you get saving, and although overdrafts aren’t for everyone, they can have their benefits

Revolut Vault

Vaults are what Revolut call its savings accounts . You can set up a vault within seconds directly through the Revolut app. You can set up multiple vaults if you have a few different savings goals, such as a Holiday Vault and a New Car Vault .

The money that you put in your vault isn’t invested and no interest is paid, so you get out what you put in. You can set goals for each vault and visually see in the Revolut app how far you are from reaching your goal.

One of the great features of a Revolut vault is the different ways you can pay money into your account. With each vault, you can transfer funds by

• Rounding up your spare change - Revolut will round up your purchases to the nearest whole number and automatically put the difference into your vault. Buy a coffee for £1.50 and 50p goes straight into your vault.
• Recurring payments - Set up a weekly or monthly recurring payment to automatically transfer money into your vault. A great way to put money aside after payday
• Buy cryptocurrencies - When you have spare change activated, you can automatically buy cryptocurrencies with the difference. So, that 50p spare change from your coffee could automatically buy you 50p worth of Bitcoin
• Transfers - You can transfer funds from and to your main Revolut account as much or as little as you wish.

With Revolut’s notifications, it always keeps you informed about the progress of your savings. Whenever a transaction gets rounded up and put into your vault, you will get an alert on your phone letting you know the amount transferred and what your total vault balance is

Joint Vault

If you have a joint savings goal, live with a flatmate or in a house share, you can create a joint vault. Anyone with their own Revolut account can join a joint vault and transfer money to and from it.

You receive all the same features of an individual vault, meaning everyone in your shared vault could choose to round up their individual transactions and have the difference transferred to your joint vault to go towards a shared bill, a holiday, or an end of the month night out.

Although not a fully-fledged joint account, shared vaults are a great way to pay bills or save for a shared goal, such as a holiday.

Revolut Overdraft

Revolut does not offer overdrafts in the UK at the moment. However, as it has recently been approved for a UK banking licence, this is something that could change.

There are alternative digital banks that support overdrafts if having one is an important feature for you.

Revolut Joint Account

At the moment, Revolut don’t support joint accounts. However, creating a joint vault is a great way of saving money together to pay for shared bills and payments.

Revolut Business Account

Revolut offers a wide selection of business accounts targeted towards freelancers, businesses, and enterprise users.

A Revolut business account is available for free or for a monthly fee depending on the size of your business and your requirements.

Learn more about Revolut Business and its range of accounts and features.

Revolut bank transfers and Revolut exchange rate

For an account that makes managing your money easy and straightforward, it is no surprise that you can also easily pay bills, and send money to friends and family with your Revolut app. It boasts fast transfers and low and transparent exchange rates when sending money abroad.

UK transfers

You can send and receive payments within the UK in seconds. No need for complicated passwords and clunky card readers, while still keeping your money and information safe and secure. It is free to send and receive money and there are no hidden charges or limits .

Sending money

• Tap on Payments.
• Select either Bank Transfer or tap the ‘R’ button if the recipient is a Revolut customer.
• Tap the name of the phone contact you want to send money to or enter their account details.
• Enter the amount and a message and hit Send.
• Money transfers arrive in their account in seconds.

Sending money to people nearby

If you are nearby another Revolut user but don’t have their number, then their name will pop up in your Revolut app thanks to GPS technology. Simply tap their name to transfer money.

Split bills and payments

Splitting the cost of a meal? With Revolut you can split a bill with anyone in seconds. Just tap on the transaction you need to split and select the people you want to split the bill with.

Transfer money abroad

Revolut was designed to be easy for people who travel, use multiple currencies, or have friends and family abroad.

Revolut makes life easy by using the same process to send money abroad as sending money in the UK. When you reach the part of the money transfer where you need to enter the amount you wish to send, you can select the desired currency and your money will be on its way.

You can use any supported bank details to send international money transfers, such as Account Numbers, Sort Codes, and IBANS

What is the Revolut exchange rate?

Revolut uses the Interbank exchange rate when you transfer money in a different currency or use your card abroad. This is the same dynamic rate that banks use to swap money between one another. The rate is real-time , so you are always getting the best rate available.

Send money during the week to save more money Interbank exchange rates have no markup if you send money Monday-Friday. If you send money over the weekend, the rates from the week become fixed to protect against any fluctuations, and so a markup of 0.5-1% is applied to the exchange rate.

Revolut benefits

Along with the great benefits that you receive with the Standard, Premium, and Metal accounts. Revolut also has some great additional benefits available to all customers.

You can apply for additional benefits from within the app within minutes, and Revolut will deduct any additional fees from your account balance.

Revolut Perks

Perks allow you to earn cashback rewards to use at select retailers every time you make your 10th purchase , such as 50% cashback on your next Starbucks order. The money earned from your perks goes straight into your Revolut account

Revolut phone insurance

You can add phone insurance to your Revolut account from just £1 per week which protects your phone instantly in the UK and around the world against

• Accidental damage
• Drops, breaks, screen damage
• Liquid damage
• Third-party damage
• Out of warranty breakdowns

Revolut cryptocurrency

You can instantly exchange any available currency into cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin , Litecoun, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and XRP. You can quickly set up alerts to let you know when your cryptocurrency has reached a certain value. You can also transfer your cryptocurrency to other Revolut users with no hidden fees .

Revolut travel insurance

Although the Premium and Metal accounts come with travel insurance included, you can opt to add pay-per-day overseas medical insurance from just £1 a day to your Standard Revolut account.

The Revolut app uses geolocation technology to activate your travel insurance automatically whenever you leave the country and disable it when you return home, so it only charges you for the days you are abroad. The Revolut app will send you an alert whenever your medical insurance gets activated or disabled.

It covers you for

• Emergency medical and dental treatment
• Access to an extensive network of medical centres around the world
• Rapid reimbursement paid directly into your Revolut account

If you travel frequently, you can opt to pay £30 upfront to get covered for the entire year. You can also add additional people to the policy from within the Revolut app.

If you require more complex travel insurance or would like to explore your options, you can check out our travel insurance guide .

Revolut donations

To do your part for charity , Revolut gives you the option to round up your spare change and automatically donate the difference to charity. You can also set up a recurring payment or donate periodically as and when you want.

With Revolut, you can donate to Save the Children, WWF, Rainforest Alliance, and ILGA-Europe

Charities receive 100% of your donations and Revolut deducts no fees

We receive a commission for some of the products and or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide. All of our content and opinions are non-biased.

Revolut Review 2022 - Discover the Pros and Cons

Revolut Metal Card Review - What is it & is it worth it?

Revolut Business - The Complete Guide

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Revolut Travel Card Review: Is Revolut Good For Traveling?

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Dec 5, 2023 | Travel Finances , Travel Tips

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably already heard about the Revolut card. Revolut is a digital bank that was launched in 2015.

One of the main reasons it has gained so much popularity in such a small window of time is primarily due to the fact it has everything you would need from an online bank in a simple, modern, and easy-to-use app.

Before we do a complete Revolut review and how travelers can use the Revolut travel card abroad, let’s first look at the basics.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Revolut is good for traveling, especially if you choose a paid plan.
• You can use Revolut safely abroad, and you can block and unblock your card as much as you want. This can be helpful if you think an ATM or a shop seems a bit dodgy.
• The Revolut Premium and Metal plans offer travel medical insurance options and discounts on airport lounges, which are ideal for travelers.

Revolut Card: The Basics

Revolut has three different card types and four main plans, including Standard, Standard Plus, Premium, and Metal.

The Standard card has no fee and offers some basic benefits.

However, the Premium and Metal cards provide some exciting features, especially if you are a frequent traveler.

Here is a quick breakdown of the main benefits/prices of each of the cards:

**Revolut also has Revolut Business for companies, big and small, that do business beyond borders.  

Get Revolut Now

Another major advantage of the Revolut card is that it takes minutes to open an account.

All you need is a working phone number, and with that, you’ll be able to open an account and get a virtual bank card.

To get a physical card, you’ll need to order one, and it takes around 14 days to deliver. You will also need to veri f y your identity . 

One of the disadvantages of Revolut is that, at the moment, it isn’t available to residents of all countries.

Currently, only legal residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States can download the online bank.  

Once you have your card and your identity is verified, you are ready to take full advantage of your Revolut card. This is where the fun begins.

If you are a meticulous traveler who loves planning and budget travel , then the Revolut travel card is the perfect solution for you.

Revolut Travel Card: Spending, Budgeting & Saving

The best part of the Revolut card is that the account section grants you the ability to look at all of your transactions by day, week, and even month.

You can also group transactions into specific categories. So, for example, if you budgeted 200 dollars for restaurants at X location for June, you can track all those costs in the app. 

You can also download statements, upload receipts and add notes to each transaction to keep track of your spending.

You can even split the bill if you are traveling with someone or send them money by scanning their QR code.

If you are traveling abroad, the app allows you to create multiple accounts in various currencies.

This means that you can exchange your US dollar for Euro and have two separate accounts in two different currencies.

This also means that whether you are traveling in France or the US, you can pay in the local currency. Be aware that not all currencies are currently available.

Nevertheless, if you are paying for something in a different currency, Revolut converts your account balance into the local currency using the real interbank exchange rate.

This allows you to avoid being charged a fee and a mediocre exchange rate set by the ATM provider or merchant acquirer.

Another great feature is that the app sends you a notification the second you pay with your card, even before the receipt has finished printing (as long as you are connected to the Internet).

The app also has vaults, where you can save money for travel . You can create multiple vaults, like a “travel to Egypt” vault or a “weekend spa getaway” vault.

You can fund the vaults with a one-time transfer, recurring transfer, or something the Revolut card calls spare change.

Spare change means the app will round up the spare change from your Revolut card spending and place it in this vault. 

Using Revolut Abroad

Can Revolut be used abroad? Yes! 

Now, you may be wondering “Is Revolut good for traveling?” It is!

I’ve been using Revolut abroad for a few years now, and it’s my go-to card.

So, how does Revolut work abroad?

With the Revolut travel card , you can transfer money abroad in 30+ currencies with the interbank exchange rate , with a small 0.5% fee for anything above €1,000 each month during the weekdays.

However, one disadvantage is that when markets are closed on the weekend, fees are charged at 0.5% and 1% on currency exchange rates no matter the transfer amount.

Revolut also charges an international fee, which will be listed in the payment breakdown when you are sending your money. 

The major advantage of Revolut is that it offers the ability to send money around without hidden fees and provides fast and secure money transfers.

The foreign exchange rate can be viewed on the Revolut app before exchanging currency or making a bank transfer involving foreign exchange.

The Revolut travel card also allows you to withdraw cash from an ATM using your Revolut card without fees.

The disadvantage of this is that if you have the standard plan, that means that you’ll only be able to take out 200 dollars per month. 

That being said, using a Revolut card abroad is fairly easy and safe.

Security: Preventing Fraud

One of the worst feelings in the world is realizing that your main travel card has been lost or cloned.

What usually ends up happening is a mad dash to call your main bank abroad to freeze the card and ask for a replacement.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The problem is that some banks can take up to 3-4 weeks before they can send you a replacement card, which can ruin your time abroad. 

Revolut claims that it is 7x better than a regular bank in stopping card fraud. This is due to their anti-fraud system that helps keep fraudulent transactions under 0.01%.

But that’s not all. Revolut allows users to freeze and unfreeze their cards easily in the app, it takes seconds. 

You can also enable location-based security to reduce fraudulent transactions, disable contactless, online, swipe payments or even choose a monthly card spending limit for extra peace of mind.

And, if you do lose your card, you can order a replacement card in the app and ask for express delivery, which usually takes around 2-3 days, depending on your location.

Also, if you lose your phone, Revolut has an automated phone line to block your card instantly.

Extra Perks When Using Revolut Abroad

Although there aren’t many perks with the Standard and Standard Plus plans, if you are a frequent traveler, then you might consider opting for the Premium or Metal Plans. 

These plans have perks like pay-per-day travel medical insurance, which means that you can get location-trigger coverage and only pay for the days you use.

You can also upgrade for the delay and lost baggage insurance, emergency dental, and medical coverage, and even insure up to three adults and all your children. 

These plans also have lounge access to +1000 airport lounges globally and SmartDelay, which allows you to get an airport lounge pass if your flight is delayed more than an hour.

Get Revolut

Revolut Sign-Up Bonus Promotion

Upgrade to a global lifestyle with Revolut. Transform your finances when you level up to Premium with Revolut’s Premium trial .

You’ll get features to help you save, spend and invest smarter than ever.

Get a 3-month Revolut Premium subscription trial, effective today.

Note that this promotion work everywhere except for Australia and Singapore, where the offer is a cash bonus of $15 AUD in Australia and $15 SGD in Singapore.

All new Revolut customers are eligible.

Final Thoughts On Revolut Travel Card

It seems as if the Revolut card is the travel card of the future.

Not only can it be one of the best cards to use while you are abroad, but it also can be a great day-to-day bank card. 

Although the card has a lot of advantages, it is also important to note that there are still some countries where the card might not work.

For example, Revolut users have noted in previous years that the Revolut card didn’t work in many establishments in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Also, be wary that their online support service is not always the best, unlike your local bank.

If you do run into problems, there isn’t a physical location where you can go and talk with a manager. You’ll need to use the chat feature on the app, which can be better than having to call from abroad.

All in all, the Revolut card is a great card to travel with, but it shouldn’t replace your main bank card and instead might be a great backup card that you can use when abroad or if you’re a European expat.

If you’re American, read our Revolut USA review .

Read more about the best banking options for expats .

If you’re not sure if Revolut is the right card for you, you may want to open a multi-currency account with Wise . Learn more about Wise here or compare both Wise and Revolut .

If you want to keep cash flowing even while abroad, you must check out these ways to make money while traveling !

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My Honest Revolut Travel Card Review: Pros & Cons of Revolut

Posted on Last updated: March 21, 2024

I will gladly admit that 1/3 of my success in life is simply me being in the right place at the right time.  I found Revolut at a Tech startup conference in London earlier this year and they told me about their money cloud program.

Basically, you save money while traveling because Revolut holds/exchanges the Great British Pound, the U.S. Dollar, and the Euro… all in one place. Backed by Master Card, the Revolut card can be used in any country (using any currency) as a normal domestic debit card AND you can send people money via apps like Facebook and WhatsApp.

In my line of work, I get paid in USD but I need to pay my bills in GBP and I’m constantly in Europe throwing Euros like Kanye (not really).  

During my last two years abroad, I’ve been paying ridiculous fees just to access MY MONEY and The Universe has clearly brought Revolut into my life to rectify this issue.

So shut up and take my money.

Since the program is still in its developing stages, you have to be invited in order to join and the landing page doesn’t have all of the details… but I do.  So let’s break it down further.  So why is Revolut revolutionary for travelers like you and me?

What is the Revolut Travel Card?

Revolut has the vision of making sending and spending abroad as easy as it is at home, which is made of three parts:

1) Sending Money with Revolut

Revolut allows users to send money through SMS/WhatsApp/Email and via URL. The recipient can retrieve money by downloading the Revolut app or by entering their bank account details after following the link.

Revolut currently allows deposits and withdrawals in GBP, USD, and EUR as well as sending in 20 other currencies (AUS, CAD, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NZD, NOK, PLN, RON, SGD, ZAR, SEK, CHF, THB, TRY, AED).

2) Exchanging Money with Revolut

Revolut provides the best possible exchange rate, the interbank rate. No hidden fees or spread! Revolut currently offers currency exchange between GBP, USD, and EUR however this will soon expand this list.

3) Spending Money with Your Revolut Card

With the multi-currency card, you can spend abroad without the horrendous fees.

Revolut’s multi-currency card currently supports GBP, USD, and EUR and can be used online as well as offline immediately after there topping up on the Revolut app. 

Even if you spend abroad Revolut will automatically do the exchange so you get the most out of your money!

Fees and Charges

Plain and simply, 1% on exchanges with maximum fee charges of GBP120 per year. 

Super low fees and capped charges ensure that whether you are sending, exchanging, or spending money, with Revolut, you avoid horrific fees so that your money can be spent on the things that really matter!

Security of the Revolut Travel Card

Revolut ensures that all money sent and stored on Revolut is secured by working with Optimal Payments, which is a registered and regulated e-money issuer by the FCA (reference FRN: 900015).

Optimal Payments manages ring-fenced Barclays accounts which means all money is secured against the possible distress of Revolut, Optimal Payments, and Barclays.

Additionally, Revolut only operates on mobile apps as these platforms provide better protection against hacking than web-based applications. Your money is also secured for up to 85,000 GBP. Awesome.

With ATM fees, transaction fees, and currency exchange fees piling up, I’ve been losing 75 USD A MONTH since I moved to London.  

That could have bought me a round trip to Paris and so much more. Join the movement. It’s your money, do what you want with it.

Disclosures 

The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa® and Prepaid Mastercard® are issued by Metropolitan Commercial Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. for Visa cards, and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards, and may be used everywhere Visa or Mastercard are accepted.

Banking services are provided by Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, and are subject to the terms of a Cardholder Agreement. “Metropolitan Commercial Bank” and “Metropolitan” are registered trademarks of Metropolitan Commercial Bank © 2014.

A note from Metropolitan Commercial Bank: Funds in your Revolut Prepaid Card Account are held at an FDIC-insured institution. Your funds will be held at or transferred to Metropolitan Commercial Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

While there, your funds are insured up to $250,000 by the FDIC in the event Metropolitan Commercial Bank fails if specific deposit insurance requirements are met and your card is registered. See fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/prepaid.html for details. FDIC insurance does not protect your funds in the event of Revolut’s failure or from the risk of theft or fraud.

Related Posts:

• Best Banks for Digital Nomads
• How I Made Thousands of Dollars Traveling the World as a Digital Nomad
• When Parents Say No to Traveling
• Why You Can’t Afford To Travel?
• The Challenges of Living Abroad

Thursday 3rd of December 2015

The promotion is not working anymore?

Marcus Bryant

Tuesday 8th of September 2015

It is a great idea - actually there are no transaction fees (they earn their money from the mastercard transaction fee when you use it). A Word of caution though - when attempting to credit my account via transfer the reference field got corrupted and it couldn't be processed. One week later they still haven't found my money and just keep apologizing - no offer of compensation and no solution so far. Their back office is extremely poor IF things do go wrong.

Jonas Hürbin

Thursday 4th of June 2015

Got to your post by searching the internet for a way to save money abroad. When I first read your post, revolut didn't support Android Phones, they now do, so I joined them as well. Great idea and great post. I will give it a try during my travels ;)

Sarah Elizabeth

Tuesday 14th of April 2015

Brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing. I'm lucky enough that my bank is kind to me about living abroad and withdrawing money, but there is definitely always money lost between transfers and exchange rates every now and then.

Revolut Travel Card Review: Save Money Abroad

Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by Natalia

If you’re looking to avoid unnecessary charges and bad exchange rates when you travel, then this Revolut travel card review is for you. We’ve been using Revolut since 2016, and by now we can safely say it’s saved us hundreds, if not thousands of pounds. Changing money in advance is a thing of the past, as you can now arrive at your destination and use a Revolut prepaid card to get a better rate than currency exchanges ever offer. Although there are a number of different cards available, we personally think that there’s only one winner if you compare Revolut vs Monzo vs N26 travel cards or any of the other competitors. Revolut charges just 2% if you exceed your monthly withdrawal limit compared to the 3% Monzo charge, and N26 charge 1.7% on all transactions on free accounts. On top of that, the standard free Revolut accounts allows you to convert up to £1,000/€1,000 a month with no charge. If you’re looking for better features, then there’s also the option to sign up for a Premium or Metal Revolut account, although these accounts do come at a small cost. We fully recommend signing up now, but if you want to know more then check out our Revolut travel card review below!

Sign up to Revolut today via our referral link and get your first travel card delivered completely free! Click here to sign up!

Table of Contents

Available currencies

One of the most important things with any travel card is the number of currencies supported for card payments and ATM withdrawals. Revolut allows you to make card payments and ATM withdrawals in over 150 different currencies, which means it provides you with great versatility almost anywhere you travel. All major currencies are supported through the card, so unless you’re going really off the beaten path then Revolut will support almost every currency you need. We’ve been using our Revolut travel cards since 2016 and since then have been able to use them everywhere we’ve visited throughout Europe, Asia, Central America and South America.

Some of the currencies that aren’t yet supported are the Zimbabwean Dollar, Tuvaluan Dollar, Armenian Dram, Faroese Króna and Eritrean Nakfa. Even if you’re visiting one or more of the countries where the currency isn’t supported, it’s still worth getting a card for when you travel elsewhere. More and more currencies are becoming supported, so don’t be surprised if soon you’re able to use your Revolut card anywhere in the world!

Exchange Rate

Revolut travel card uses the real exchange rate, so whatever currency you’re changing you will almost always find that Revolut offer a better exchange rate than any of your other options. If you had £10, you wouldn’t actively choose to throw it away, but if you’re getting a bad currency conversion rate then throwing away money is exactly what you’re doing. Considering a Revolut travel card is completely free, you may as well get more currency for your money! Click here to save money when spending abroad by signing up for Revolut!

As the real exchange rate changes in real-time, the rate you will receive depends on when you convert your currency. Rates will fluctuate throughout the day, so you may get slightly different rates if you make a number of payments throughout the day.

Although Revolut uses the real exchange rate, the rates are fixed over the weekend to protect against fluctuations. This means that during weekends there is a fee of 1% on any transaction that involves currency conversion.

To avoid being affected by these markups we recommend making ATM withdrawals during weekdays. It will also affect card payments over the weekend, but there is no way to avoid these and it still almost always works out cheaper than using your normal debit card or a currency exchange.

How to get the best exchange rate with Revolut

There’s a very simple tip to make sure you get the best exchange rate when paying with your Revolut card. When using your card abroad you may be asked whether you would prefer to pay in the local currency or your home currency. Always opt to pay in the local currency. 

If you don’t pay in the local currency then the merchant will make the conversion, which normally means you’ll get a very bad exchange rate and will end up paying more. Paying in the local currency allows Revolut to make the conversion (if required) using the real exchange rate, which means you will get a substantially better rate. Sometimes when making card payments abroad the merchant may select for you to pay in your home currency without giving you the choice to pay in the local currency. Always check what currency you’re being charged in and ask to pay in the local currency if you notice you’re being charged in your home currency. Some merchants will insist you will get a better rate by paying in your home currency, but that is never the case.

Make sure to also check what currency you’re paying in when making an ATM withdrawal. Some ATM machines will ask whether you want to use their conversion, but through experience we can say it’s always better to reject this. The phrasing will make it sound like you may be charged more for rejecting their rate, but as Revolut use the real exchange rate you are almost always going to be getting a better rate by rejecting the machine’s conversion and allowing Revolut to convert the currency for you.

Revolut card fees and charges

There are currently three different types of Revolut account: Standard, Premium and Metal. The standard account is completely free to use, whereas the premium and metal accounts require a monthly or yearly fee. There are a number of advantages of upgrading to a metal or premium account, so it’s important to know the difference between the accounts.

Two of the main differences between the accounts are the amount you can withdraw from foreign ATMs each month without incurring a fee, and the amount of currency you can convert each month without a fee. Find out the difference in fees and charges on the different Revolut accounts below:

Standard Revolut Travel Card Account

The standard free Revolut account allows you to make cash withdrawals abroad up to the equivalent of £200/€200 a month without any extra fees or charges. Once you go over this limit there is a 2% fee on any further withdrawals for the remainder of that month.

There is a much higher fee-free limit for transactions that require a currency exchange, such as making a card payment or ATM withdrawal in Euros and paying for it in Pounds. Revolut allows you to convert up to £1,000 a month at the real exchange rate without any charges. If you go over this limit, any payment or ATM withdrawal that requires a currency exchange will incur a charge of 0.5%. Unless you’re planning to spend huge amounts then this limit is unlikely to affect you!

Plus Revolut Travel Card Account

A new option from Revolut is to upgrade the free account to Revolut Plus for £2.99 a month. Here you get some additional perks such as up to £1000 in insurance if something you have purchased with this travel card is faulty or have fraudulent activity on the account.

As well as this there are a few other benefits from upgrading, however if you are looking to upgrade in terms of value for money in our opinion it’s worth doing one of the other options such as premium or metal.

Premium Revolut Travel Card Account

Upgrading to a Revolut premium account costs £6.99/€7.99 per month, and enables you to withdraw up to £400/€400 from foreign ATMs in the local currency without any extra fees or charges. Like with the standard account, once you exceed this limit there is a 2% fee on any further withdrawals within that month.

There is no limit for the amount of currency you can exchange on the premium plan, so if you intend to regularly convert over £1,000 a month it’s worth upgrading.

Metal Revolut Travel Card Account

A Revolut metal account costs £12.99/€13.99 per month, and allows you to withdraw up to £600/€600 from foreign ATMs in the local currency without any extra charges or fees. If you exceed this monthly limit then there is a 2% fee on any further withdrawals.

Like with the premium plan, there is no limit to the amount of currency you can exchange on a Revolut metal account.

Click here to compare the fees and charges of the standard, premium and metal Revolut accounts!

It’s easy to check how much you’ve withdrawn or how much money you’ve converted each month by going to the profile section of your app and selecting ‘Price plan’. That way you can avoid accidentally going over these limits and ensure that you don’t get any charges you aren’t expecting!

In our opinion, Revolut’s fees are more reasonable than their major competitors. For example, Monzo charge a 3% fee on any withdrawals that exceed the £200 monthly limit. Another competitor, N26, charge 1.7% on all withdrawals using their standard free account. Considering Revolut only charge when you exceed £200 a month but charge less than Monzo, then in our mind the best option is Revolut.

Personally we think it’s quite easy to avoid withdrawing over £200 a month, which means you won’t be charged any extra fees. If you prefer withdrawing cash and think you’re likely to exceed this limit regularly then it’s probably worth upgrading to either the premium or metal Revolut account. These accounts not only allow you to withdraw more money without extra fees, but also have a host of other advantages which we cover at the end of this article!

Hold multiple currencies simultaneously

As well as allowing you to spend in over 150 different currencies, Revolut also has the capability to hold money in a number of currencies at once. It’s currently possible to hold money in British Pounds (GBP), American Dollars (USD), Euros (EUR) as well as 27 other currencies including New Zealand Dollars (NZD), Turkish Lira (TRY) and South African Rand (ZAR).

The ability to hold different currencies at the same time is a useful one if you’d rather change some money to another currency all in one go, instead of the conversion being made each time you make a card payment or ATM withdrawal.

It’s important to know that Revolut travel cards are unable to draw from 2 currencies to make one payment. For example if you want to pay $100 USD using the card, it will only be possible if you have a high enough balance in one currency to make the transaction. If you do not hold the equivalent of $100 USD in one currency the transaction cannot go through, even if between currencies you have enough money. This is a relatively unlikely scenario, but should you find it happens to you then just use the app to convert enough money to one currency in order to pay.

There are a number of ways to top up your Revolut travel card, all of which are extremely easy. One of the options, and our personal favourite, is to top up using your debit card. Once you’ve registered your debit card this means you can top up within the app in a matter of seconds from anywhere in the world. Competitors like Monzo and N26 don’t allow you to top up directly from your debit card, which in our opinion gives Revolut a slight edge over the competition.

Another way of topping up your Revolut account is by bank transfer. To find your account details to do this you just need to select the ‘transfer to your Revolut account’ option when you’re on the top up screen of the app. You will then be presented with your Revolut account number and relevant details to top up for both local and international payments. This option takes slightly longer than topping up by debit card as you will need to log in to your online banking to actually make the payment. If you would prefer to do it this way then you have the option, but we personally prefer to top up via our debit card as it’s quicker and can be done instantly from within the Revolut app.

Another great feature of Revolut is the ability to set an automatic top up from your bank card once your balance falls below a certain amount. This is an ideal way to make sure you don’t run out of money when you’re travelling but don’t have any access to the internet access in order to top up.

Although signing up for a Revolut travel card itself is free, you normally have to pay for the delivery of your card. Fortunately for you, if you sign up using our link then standard delivery is completely free too!  That means you won’t have to spend a penny to get yourself set up on Revolut – so you can start saving money on your next trip!

Click here to sign up for Revolut today and get free delivery of your first card!

Tracked and express delivery options are available too, but you will have to pay for these. The timeframe for delivery depends on the option you select. Standard delivery and tracked delivery both have a timeframe of 9 working days until you receive your card, although in our experience the cards are often delivered in 4-5 working days anyway. Express delivery has a timeframe of 3-4 working days to receive your card. Check out the list below to see the cost of different delivery options when you sign up for a Revolut card:

Standard Delivery – 9 working days – £4.99 GBP/€5.99 or completely free if you click here and sign up via our link!

Tracked Delivery  – 9 working days – £7.99 GBP. Tracked delivery is only available in Great Britain, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Express Delivery  – 3-4 working days – £11.99/€19.99 although the cost may be higher depending on the delivery address.

Please note that prices may vary depending on your currency and location.

Alternatively, if you sign up for either a premium or metal Revolut card account then express delivery is completely free.

Make sure to order your card in plenty of time before your trip, especially if you’re opting for the standard delivery. It’s worth planning ahead to make sure you have your card in time so that you can spend your money hassle-free on your travels.  Click here to sign up to Revolut now and get your first card completely free!

Revolut Card Limits

Although we’ve gone over some of the spending limits above, we thought it deserve its own section so that everything you need to know is in one place. The following limits apply to a standard Revolut account:

• No fee ATM withdrawals up to £200 per month. If you exceed this amount you will be charged a 2% fee.
• Convert up to £1,000 fee-free per month. If you exceed this amount you will be charged a fee of 0.5%.
• £3,000 limit for ATM withdrawals within 24 hours.

Customer service

Revolut offer great customer service for all users. There is a help chat function in the app which allows you to speak to a bot named ‘Rita’ who is able to provide generic answers to any queries you may have. If this doesn’t solve your issue then just type ‘Live Agent’ and you will be connected to a Revolut customer service representative who will be able to help. It usually only takes a few minutes to be able to speak to a representative, but if the chat function is busy it may take longer. The customer service chat is available 24/7, with priority support available for customers with a premium or metal account.

There are loads of other great benefits that come with signing up for a Revolut account, some of which don’t fit into any of the categories above. These range from push notifications on your phone when you make a payment to the ability to buy travel insurance to make sure you’re covered for your trip. The list below covers some of our favourite extras that come with signing up for a standard Revolut account:

• Alerts on your phone when you make a payment.
• Ability to disable your card instantly using the app if you lose it.
• Option to enable location based security to help prevent fraud.
• Option to buy travel insurance and device insurance through Revolut.
• Option to disable any of the following: Swipe payments, Contactless payments, ATM withdrawals and Online Transactions.
• Special edition cards are sometimes available. For example, rainbow-coloured cards were released for free to celebrate Pride in 2019.
• Revolut Vault – a money saving tool that rounds up every payment you make and puts the spare change aside in order to help you save up for a target amount of money.  Click here to find out more!
• Ability to set monthly spending limits.

What do you need to sign up for Revolut?

Revolut need to verify your identity, which means you will need to provide some ID during the sign up process. You can easily provide your ID through the app, which has easy to follow instructions to guide you through the process of signing up. To further verify your identity you will need to provide personal information including your name, address, phone number, email address and date of birth in order to set up an account.

Premium options

If you like the sound of the above but want higher limits and added perks then upgrading to either a premium or metal Revolut account is probably worth it. Signing up for a Revolut premium account costs £6.99/€7.99 per month, whereas a Revolut metal account costs £12.99/€13.99 per month. Alternatively, both plans are discounted if you pay for a year up front. Find out the additional benefits that come with Revolut premium and metal below:

Revolut Premium Account

• Ability to withdraw up to £400 per month from ATMs without any fee.
• Exchange money in 29 fiat currencies with no monthly limit.
• Free overseas medical insurance.
• Free delayed baggage/flight insurance.
• Free global express delivery.
• Priority customer support.
• Access to 5 cryptocurrencies.
• Exclusive card designs only available to Premium members.
• Disposable virtual cards for safe online shopping.
• Ability to instantly book access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world.

Revolut Metal Account

• Ability to withdraw up to £600 per month from ATMs without any fee.
• 0.1% cashback on card payments within Europe and 1% cashback on card payments outside of Europe.
• Exclusive Revolut Metal card only available to Metal customers.
• One free airport lounge pass, plus the ability to instantly book access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world.
• A concierge to help you manage your lifestyle.

So, is Revolut worth it?

Simply put, yes. In our opinion, you’re actively choosing to throw money away if you don’t sign up for a Revolut account. It’s completely free to sign up, and it’s certain to save you money in the long run even if you only spend a few days abroad a year. Considering there’s absolutely no cost to you, we recommend signing up now so you can start saving money on your next trip!

Ready to sign up? Click here to apply for a Revolut travel card today!

Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!

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Best prepaid travel cards to use in 2024

This is the most comprehensive comparison of the prepaid travel cards available to UK travellers. We’ve picked the best all-round prepaid travel card, Wise, plus four other highly recommended cards to look at in detail.

Plus, we’ve got an exhaustive list of other travel cards available at the bottom of this article, so you can compare your options and check out which will work best for you.

Wise - our pick for prepaid debit card

• Hold and exchange 50+ currencies with the mid-market exchange rate and no hidden fees
• Autoconvert feature means you can wait for the best rate before loading foreign currency
• Send payments to 80+ countries and get paid from 30+ countries with a Wise account

Learn more about the Wise card. Get a Wise card

Revolut - mid-market exchange rate

• Hold 30+ currencies, and exchange with the mid-market rate up to your plan limits
• Fee free ATM withdrawals which vary based on the plan you pick
• Earn cashback on some travel bookings - higher tier accounts also get some insurance cover and airport lounge access

Learn more about Revolut's travel card. Get a Revolut card

Post Office travel card - fast delivery

• Order online for delivery in 2 - 3 days, or pick up a card instantly in a Post Office branch
• Store up to 22 currencies, and use your card in 36 million locations around the world
• Top up and manage your balance in the Post Office app

Learn more about the Post Office travel card. Get a Post Office card

FairFX - good choice to use in the UK

• Up to 3.5% cash back when you use it at selected UK high-street partners
• Add extra cards for family members or helpers, which are linked to one central account
• Covers 15 currencies with customer support available year round, 7 days a week

Learn more about the FairFX card. Get a FairFX card

TUI - second card for free

• Free to order a card - plus you get a second card free in case the first is misplaced
• Supports 12 currencies
• If you can’t access your cards, you can have the funds sent to you for cash collection via Western Union for no extra cost

Learn more about the TUI travel money card. Get a TUI card

Is it worth getting a prepaid travel card?

In our opinion: yes. Prepaid cards are worth it. Getting a prepaid card is usually easy, and can be free. A travel card helps you budget as you’ll only be able to spend the balance you load on the card - and could save you money on currency exchange, too.

Don't just take our word for it, though. We've covered the most important topics on prepaid cards below to help you make an informed choice about whether you need a prepaid card for your next holiday.

• Are prepaid travel cards safe?

Is my money protected?

• Advantages of prepaid cards
• Disadvantages of prepaid cards

How to get a prepaid card

• Fees and charges
• Cash withdrawals
• Alternative prepaid cards
• More info on our top 5 prepaid cards

Are prepaid cards safe?

Prepaid travel cards are usually considered safe to use as long as you take normal security precautions like keeping your account details and card PIN secret.

If your prepaid travel card is stolen you’ll usually be able to freeze or cancel it in an app - and it’s not linked to your main bank account, which can also offer peace of mind.

Some providers like Wise and Revolut also offer virtual cards which can add an extra layer of security when spending with merchants you don't fully trust.

Most prepaid travel money cards are issued by financial technology companies. These services aren’t banks - but they are usually regulated in a very similar way to banks for the services they offer.

While different card providers may have slightly different regulatory requirements, you’ll usually find your money is protected through safeguarding .

Safeguarding is when customer funds are held in trusted third-party accounts, separate to their own operating capital, so it can always be easily accessed and won’t be mixed with the funds needed to run the business.

If you’re looking for a travel card with a provider which has a large user base, and a global presence, check out Wise or Revolut .

Both companies are used by over 15 million customers already, and global businesses, they are overseen by several regulatory bodies - so your money is protected no matter what currency you hold.

Advantages of prepaid travel cards

The main advantages of prepaid travel cards are convenience, safety and budgeting .

Prepaid cards are safer and more convenient than carrying cash - with the added benefit that they’re not connected to your main bank account.

This can make it easier to budget as you’ll only ever be able to spend the funds you’ve loaded to your card - and also means that even if your card was stolen, the thieves can’t access funds in your primary bank account.

Because prepaid cards like these have been built specifically for travel, you may also find you can save money and get access to a flexible range of international and multi-currency services.

Disadvantages of prepaid travel cards

The most common disadvantage of prepaid cards is the fees .

The fees of travel cards can vary greatly - which means you’ll need to compare a few to make sure you get one that suits you.

Some cards - like the British Airways multi-currency travel card - have monthly fees. Others charge a fee if your card is inactive for too long.

Other cards charge a fee if you load up in pounds rather than a foreign currencies. And some - like the Travelex card - have a staggeringly high foreign exchange fee when you spend a currency not supported (5.75% in the case of Travelex).

The process of getting a prepaid card is usually simple and involves fewer checks than a credit card.

The process to sign up for a prepaid travel card varies by provider.

In most cases you’ll have to show or upload proof of your identity, and then load an initial amount onto the card.

You’ll then be given your card if you’re applying in person, or sent it in the post if you’re applying online.

The good news is that it’s usually more straightforward to sign up for a prepaid card than a credit card as there are no credit checks to complete.

Loading money on to the card

You can usually load money onto your travel card online, using a bank card or bank transfer. Prepaid cards providers in the USA sometimes accept cheques, but this is less common in the UK.

Some cards also offer the option to top up in cash - but there are usually higher fees for this option.

Prepaid travel card fees

The fees you’ll pay with a prepaid travel card can vary pretty widely.

Read through the terms and conditions of any card you’re interested in before you sign up - and look out for charges like:

• Monthly maintenance fees
• GBP top up fees
• Cross currency / money exchange fees
• ATM withdrawal fees
• Inactivity fees
• Replacement card fees
• Cash out or account closure fees

Also look out for fees hidden in the exchange rate. Cards offering the market exchange rate (i.e. the one you see on Google) are Wise and Revolut.

Can I use a prepaid travel card to withdraw cash?

You can usually use your prepaid travel card to withdraw cash at an ATM, and in some cases over the counter.

The fees you pay - and the withdrawal limits which apply can vary by card.

Some cards, like the Caxton travel card, don’t have their own ATM withdrawal fees at all. Other cards have a fee-free limit (which, once exceeded, will incur fees).

One thing that is out of your control is the fees that ATMs themselves may charge for cash withdrawls. If you want to avoid these, you'll have to find another cash point!

Other prepaid travel cards available in the UK

The list of prepaid cards available in the UK does not end at our top 5. Here are a few more to consider if you’re looking for a prepaid travel card to take abroad in 2024.

More info about our top 5 prepaid cards

Read more about the benefits and limitations of our top 5 prepaid cards.

Open a free Wise account online or in the Wise app and order a Wise card for spending and withdrawals in 170+ countries around the world.

You’ll be able to hold and exchange over 50 currencies in the Wise app, with no fee to spend any currency you hold - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup and no hidden fees.

There’s a one time fee of £7 to get your Wise card, with no ongoing charge after that. Some transaction charges apply, depending on the services you use.

Read our full review of the Wise card. .

Revolut offers travel cards and multi-currency accounts you can manage in-app, with a free standard plan and 3 higher tier plans which offer more features and fee free transactions.

Use your Revolut account to hold 30+ currencies, exchange between them fee free up to plan limits (£1,000/month for the free plan), and spend on your linked card around the world.

Some out of hours and fair usage fees may apply to your account - and you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to unlock the full range of account features and benefits.

Read our full review of Revolut.

Post Office

Post Office has a handy Travel Money Card which you can apply for online for home delivery - or get in a branch instantly if you’re in more of a hurry. Use your card to spend any of the 22 supported currencies - which cover many popular holiday destinations - and there's no extra fees to pay.

You can manage your card and balance in an app, to top up, freeze or unfreeze your card, and view transaction history.

There’s a 3% fee whenever you spend a currency not supported by the card, plus ATM withdrawal costs which vary based on currency.

Read our full review of the Post Office travel card. .

FairFX has a multi-currency prepaid card which can hold 15 currencies, and which offers extra perks when you spend in the UK with partner retailers.

Get cashback on spending with partners, and order extra cards to give to family members - or helpers like baby sitters - to allow them to spend from the same central account conveniently.

Some transaction fees do apply, including a 1.75% charge when you spend in a currency not supported on the card.

Read our full review of FairFX. .

TUI’s Travel Card is free to get - plus you’ll get an extra card in case your first is misplaced.

Lost both cards? Don’t panic, you can have your money sent over for cash collection via Western Union instead. TUI cards support 12 currencies and it’s free to spend any currency you hold on the card.

While the TUI card has some great free features, there’s a 3% cross border fee when you spend a currency not supported by the card - plus conversion fees may apply when you load funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no single best prepaid travel card. It’ll depend on the currencies you need to use, and the types of transactions you want to make.

For example, if you’re looking for a card with the Google exchange rate with no markup you might want to take a look at Wise.

If getting a card in your hands instantly is important to you, you may prefer to pop into a Post Office and get a travel card there.

There are lots of providers out there - so you’ll be able to find the best prepaid travel card for you with a bit of research.

Prepaid travel cards are more secure and convenient than carrying lots of foreign currency cash. And if you pick the right provider for your needs you could also find you get a better exchange rate and lower overall costs for your international spending.

There are pros and cons of each - so it really depends on what transactions you need. Often a prepaid card is perfect as a balance of convenience and cost. But travel focused credit cards may come with handy rewards schemes for spending overseas, while debit cards are also good all round options if you plan to use the card at home.

Some - but not all - travel cards can be used with mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay for easy spending on the move. Compare a few to find one which is best for you.

Most travel cards offer contactless functionality. Double check the one you pick has this facility before you sign up.

•   Argentina
•   Australia
•   Brasil
•   Canada
•   Deutschland
•   España
•   France
•   India
•   Italia
•   Magyarország
•   Malaysia
•   New Zealand
•   Polska
•   Portugal
•   România
•   Singapore
•   United Kingdom
•   United States
•   繁體中文 (香港)

Revolut travel card review: Rates, fees & limits [2024]

The Revolut travel card is a multi-currency card you can use for convenient spending and withdrawals in the US and when you’re abroad.

This guide walks through everything you need to know about how the Revolut travel card works, its key features and benefits, and the fees associated with using it. We’ll also touch on some alternatives to use abroad, such as the Wise travel card, as a comparison.

Revolut travel card: key features

Revolut offers 3 different account plans

• The Standard plan has no monthly fee to pay, while the Premium and Metal account plans have monthly costs, but also include more features and higher no-fee transaction limits.
• All accounts come with a travel card for spending and withdrawals, but the exact card type you get will depend on the account tier you choose. With the highest tier of account you get an exclusive solid steel Metal card, while all account types can also opt for a personalized card.
• Virtual cards are also available on all account plans, which can be used for mobile and online spending, and added to a walleye like Apple Pay.

We’ll walk through the Revolut travel card in detail throughout this guide, including how it works at home and abroad.

Go to Revolut Here are a few pros and cons of the Revolut travel card to kickstart our full review:

The Revolut travel card offers an easy and flexible way to hold, spend and exchange multiple currencies, with just your card and your phone. You’ll be able to choose the plan that suits your specific needs and transaction requirements, including some with no monthly costs associated. Once you’ve opened a verified account you can order your physical card in the Revolut app, and start spending right away online or using a mobile wallet, with your virtual card.

Who is the Revolut travel card for?

The Revolut travel card can suit frequent travelers as well as anyone living, studying or working abroad. You may want to get a Revolut travel card if:

• You’re a traveler spending in foreign currencies often
• You love to shop online at home and abroad
• You want a virtual card for security
• You’d prefer to manage your money using just your phone

Go to Revolut

What is a Revolut travel card?

The Revolut travel card is a payment card linked to a Revolut digital account. There are several different Revolut cards which are issued with different Revolut account plans – all are debit cards, and all can be used for global spending and cash withdrawals.

If you are looking for more information about Revolut: Revolut review

Is the Revolut Travel card a multi-currency card?

Yes. You can hold around 25 currencies in the Revolut account and spend conveniently in multiple currencies around the world.

Compare the Revolut travel money card to alternative options like the Wise travel money card , to see which suits you best. More on that, next.

Alternatives to Revolut travel card

Non-bank providers like Revolut can be a cost effective way to spend at home and abroad. They’ve often got fairly low fees, and tend to be innovative, offering some helpful and unusual account features to suit different customer needs.

Here’s a quick look at how Revolut lines up on features and fees against a couple of other non-bank services from Wise and Chime .

*Information correct at time of writing, 13th October 2023

Go to Revolut Go to Wise

Wise travel card

Hold 40+ currencies and spend in 150+ countries, with mid-market rate currency conversion, no minimum balance and no monthly fees. You can open your Wise account online and order a card for home delivery. Use your card to spend and make cash withdrawals globally, and get instant in-app notifications to keep on top of your finances.

Go to Wise  

Learn more: Wise card review

Chime debit card

Chime accounts have no monthly fees and no minimum balance. In fact there are very few fees to worry about at all. You can only hold USD in your Chime account, but you’ll still be able to use your card around the world to spend in any currency. Your overseas spending will be converted back to USD using the network exchange rate with no foreign transaction fee.

Revolut travel card fees & spending limits

As with any travel card, there are some fees involved in using the Revolut travel card. There are also a few limits applied to keep customers and their accounts safe. Here’s a rundown of the limits for the Revolut travel card:

*Details correct at the time of research – 13th October 2023

Here are the Revolut travel card fees you’ll need to be familiar with:

Exchange rates

All Revolut accounts have some currency exchange every month which uses the mid-market exchange rate. Standard plan holders can convert up to 1,000 USD a month, Premium plan holders can get 10,000 USD a month and Metal plan holders have unlimited conversion with the mid-market rate.

It’s important to note that out of hours conversion fees apply, which means you pay 1% extra when exchanging currencies at the weekend or overnight. If your plan has a limited amount of mid-market rate conversion, you’ll be charged a 0.5% fair usage fee once this is exceeded.

How to get Revolut travel card

To order your Revolut travel card you’ll need to have an active Revolut account. Download the Revolut app, and you can get your new account in just a few taps, by entering your personal information and getting verified.

Once you’ve got your Revolut account set up all you need to do is open the Revolut app and go to the ‘Cards’ tab. Here you’ll see the option to get a physical or virtual card, and to create a card PIN.

What documents you’ll need

To verify your Revolut account you’ll need to upload a selfie and a photo of one of the following documents:

• Driving license

If you don’t have these documents available, you can reach out to Revolut to understand which other documents may be used in your specific situation.

What happens when the card expires?

Revolut will contact you 28 days before your card is due to expire, so you can order a new one in good time. Standard shipping has no fee when getting a new card to replace an expiring Revolut travel card.

How to use a Revolut travel card?

The Revolut travel card is a debit card issued on either the Visa or Mastercard network. That means you can use it to pay or make a withdrawal anywhere you see the logo of your card’s network being displayed, globally. You’ll also be able to add your card or your virtual card to your preferred mobile wallet for on the go payments.

How to withdraw cash with a Revolut travel card?

To make an ATM withdrawal with a Revolut travel card you’ll need to first find an ATM that supports your card network. You can then just insert the card into the ATM and enter your PIN, then the amount you want to withdraw. Easy.

Is the card safe?

Yes. The Revolut card in the US is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Visa.

How to use the Revolut travel card overseas?

You can spend with your Revolut travel card in about 150 countries , anywhere the card network is accepted. If you hold the currency you need in your account there’s no fee, but an exchange or fair usage fee may apply in some situations – if you’ve exhausted your monthly currency exchange limits, or if you’re exchanging out of hours for example.

If Revolut doesn’t support holding the currency you need, it’s worth checking out Wise which has a broader selection of 40+ currencies for holding and exchange.

Conclusion: is the Revolut travel card worth it?

The Revolut travel card is a flexible option for holding 25+ currencies and spending globally in 150+ countries. Depending on the account tier you select you may pay a monthly fee, and some transaction fees are also likely to apply. Compare the Revolut travel card against some alternatives like the Wise travel card and the Chime debit card to see which suits you best.

The Wise card may suit you if you’re looking for a powerful international account that can hold 40+ currencies, and receive payments in multiple currencies with local bank details. Chime may be a good pick for customers looking for a USD account with pretty much no fees to pay which you can use at home and abroad.

Revolut travel card review FAQ

How does the Revolut travel card work?

The Revolut travel card is linked to a digital account you can hold about 25 currencies in. Add money to your account in USD and then you can start spending and making withdrawals globally.

Is the Revolut travel card an international card?

Yes. The Revolut travel card supports spending in about 150 countries, and you can hold 25+ currencies in your account.

Are there any alternatives to a Revolut travel card?

Other non-bank providers like Wise and Chime also offer spending cards which have their own features and fees. It’s worth comparing these against the Revolut travel card to see which suits you best.

 Get a 3 month Revolut Premium trial.  Click here

I’ve been traveling for almost 20 years, and until this year I hadn’t found a good spending solution.

I’m sure the stress (before I heard of Revolut) sounds familiar. For 20 years I went back and forth with:

Should I exchange money at the airport, or take money out from an ATM?

Why tf is my bank charging me so much more in exchange rate fees?

Wait, the bank charges a conversion fee AND an international transaction fee?!

I’d come to the conclusion that this was what it meant to be privledged to travel overseas – that you had to suck it up and eat the bank fees.

This past year though, I’ve traveled with Revolut in my wallet (both my phsical wallet, and my Apple wallet). And it’s saved me serious money.

Revolut is financial website and digital app used by 35+ million people, with the tools you need to easily spend, transfer, and protect your money overseas. You can set up accounts in multiple currencies, get a debit card for travel, and you can do it for no monthly fee on the Standard plan.

It’s quick to sign up for a standard account, and there is no monthly fee. If you click here you get a 3 month trial of Revolut premium (higher limits on ATM withdrawrals & currency exchange).

There are already a million Revolut reviews (spoiler – it’s trusted), so why bother writing another? Because the look of that sexy black metal card in my wallet ACTUALLY excites me.

So read on to get excited with me – Revolut is now the only way I spend my money. 

Revolut Travel Card Review: Why I Only Spend Money With Revolut

I’m so happy excited using revolut.

All photos in this post are of the metal card, only available on the Metal plan

I didn’t want to write about ‘just another travel card’ until I had very thoroughly tested it and finally found a permanent solution. So since May I have used my Revolut card in the UK, Greece, Spain, Australia, and Morocco.

It’s the best travel card I’ve had, has changed the way I spend money, and I do get a mini adrenalin kick whenever I see the exchange rate they charge me, and realize that I’ve just beaten the banks.

Though I do wonder if it really counts as saving if I buy another mojito with the extra cash?!

Here are 10 quick reasons to love Revolut before jumping into the full details:

• No monthly fee on Standard plan, paid plans available
• Can top-up and hold accounts in several currencies
• Make payments in 150+ countries
• Phsyical debit card
• Withdrawals at over 55,000 ATMs worldwide (Up to plan’s limits)
• Track your spending in the Revolut app
• Quick currency conversions for 30+ currencies
• Great value with the Revolut exchange rate
• Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
• Fantastic security features for travelers

Who are Revolut?

Revolut is a British financial technology company who have built an amazing reputation since starting in 2015.

They offer banking and travel cards , with accounts for multiple currencies, and while these work the same as opening an account with a linked debit card with any other traditional bank, Revolut was specifically created to help you make the most of your money.

They have great features like instant accounts, and virtual cards, unlimited foreign exchange  (fees may apply outside of plan allowance), and cashback on specific purchases. You can convert currencies in an instant and load up to 30+ currencies on your travel money card, without having to exchange money at the airport again.

I’ve made cash withdrawrals in both Morocco, the UK, and Greece, on amazing exchange rates, basically as if my account was local.

After having put it to the test over the course of 6 months, Revolut has saved me a lot of money.

Withdrawing Money from ATMs

Spoiler: no fee withdrawals / great rates / find atms in the app.

When you open an account with Revolut , you instantly get access to virtual cards, which I linked to my Apple Wallet and was using to pay for things the next day (good reason to go through McDonalds for coffee – I needed to test Revolut!).

And I’ve paid for most things using my virtual Revolut card, including the London Tube, which I was incredibly impressed when I found I could just tap my phone on either end without having to fight with a ticket machine.

But despite most of the world being cash free, I still always stop by an ATM.

I’ve  always found I need cash at some point when I’m traveling. There’s always amazing street food, or someone to tip, or your phone battery dies because you’re using it 10 times more than at home, from taking 1,000 selfies, to constantly running Google maps.

And in many countries still, cash is king.

Withdrawing money from overseas ATMs can be expensive using a home bank card, and cost you a lot of money in fees.

But Revolut allows you to withdraw money from ATMs overseas without fees , within limits per month depending on the plan you’re on. I’ve taken money out in both Greece and Morocco, and it was stupidly easy.

Make sure you activate your card, set up your pin number, and turn ATM withdrawrals ON within the mobile app. If you don’t want to make ATM withdrawrals, you can turn this off, which is extra security in case your card is lost.

Pro tip: Within the mobile app is an ATM locator , which allows you to share your locaiton and it will find ATMs nearby.

Fees may apply outside of your plan allowance and ATM operator may charge their own fees.

Best Currency Exchange Rate

Spoiler: it beat the google exchange rate for me.

Revolut offers one of the best exchange rates around which is why they’re one of the most popular options for travel cards.

There’s even a currency converter  on their website (and in the app) where you can check the real exchange rate at that moment in time.

If you  really  want to get the most out of your money, you can set up multiple currency accounts, and convert your money to the local currency you plan to use when the exhange rate is at it’s best. This is called locking in your exchange rate.

Or, if you know it doesn’t really fluctuate too much, you can keep your money in your home currency account (AUD for me), and when you spend on Revolut, it converts your money based on the exchange rate of the day.

I personally leave my money in AUD because I find it simpler. Market exchange rates are changing all the time, almost every day, and I personally don’t find value in spending my time keeping an eye on the rates to decide when I’ll get the most of an exchange.

You can definitely do this, but I found I saved money all the same.

If you’re a digital nomad and you’re recieving payments in multiple currencies, Revolut accounts are also a great way to recieve money in foreign currencies without the crazy foreign currency fees, or PayPal exchange rates.

There is a weekend markup on exchange rates, so keep this in mind.

Track Your Spending in the Revolut App

The Revolut app is seriously good , and it’s very easy to track your spending, and do everything you need to do from your phone.

Keeping in mind that there is no traditional phone or in-branch banking with Revolut, everything is based off the app. Which is fortunately one of the easiest, most well thought-out and use intuitive apps I’ve used.

Through the app, you can see all of your individual transactions, and there are also instant spending notifications – alerts for transactions in and out of your account.

You can add money to your accounts, add new and exchange money between your currency accounts, access your currency converter, pull up your statements, set a monthly budget, set a spending limit on your cards.

If you’re spending one currency, and pulling it from your base currency account (ie me spending Euro in Europe, without having converted my AUD), each transaction shows you both the amount you spent in your currency, and the amount you spent in the foreign.

Choosing the Right Plan for You

Revolut standard – no fee.

The Revolut standard plan is fantastic, and doesn’t have monthly account fees. There are no fees for ATM withdrawals ($350/m limit), it comes with one debit card, and there are no currency exchange fees from Monday to Friday, to a $2,000 per month limit.

• Account fee – $0
• Australian ATM fee – $0 (up to $350/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee – 0%- 1.5% (depending on amount and when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee – $0 (up to $350/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

This is an account and card you can use at both home and abroad, with no catches or hidden fees if you use it within the above limits. 

It comes with a Revolut Visa card that connects to their app and your digital wallets, and you can spend money in over 150+ countries.

Honestly, this has everything you need if you want a basic no fills spending solution. But there are also paid plans you can consider, with some great extra features if they better suit your lifestyle.

Revolut Premium – Click here for a 3 month trial

• Account fee: $9.99/month
• Australian ATM fee: $0 (up to $700/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%- 1.5% (depending on amount and when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee: $0 (up to $700/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

With the Premium Revolut account, you pay a $9.99 AUD monthly account fee, and have benefits you don’t get with the standard account.

Premium users have transfers in 30+ major currencies up to a $20,000 monthly limit (Monday to Friday, otherwise an additional 1% fee is charged). The no-fee ATM withdrawal limit is also raised to $700 AUD.

You can choose the color of your Visa card, get priority customer support with the app, and can access disposable virtual cards for greater online security (these cards regenerate after every transaction keeping your card details safe).

You also get discounts to LoungeKey Passes which offer access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world and can buy these within the app.

Click this link to get a 3 month trial of their premium account.

Revolut Metal – The Plan I’m On Personally

• Account fee: $24.99/month
• Australian ATM fee: $0 (up to $1,400/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%-1% (depending on when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee: $0 (up to $1,400/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

The Revolut Metal account has everything the Premium tier has to offer, but it does also come with a fancy Revolut Metal card. This is the plan I am personally on , and the Metal card is the card you see in my photos.

Metal users are also the only customers able to take advantage of the Revolut’s cashback feature. That includes 1% cashback for card payments made outside of Australia and 0.1% cashback for those made within Australia.

There is a cashback limit for metal plan, up to the cost of the plan.

Comparison of Revolut Account Plans

My travel spending and lifestyle might not be the same as yours, so do make your own decision about the plan which is right for you.

My recommendation:  Check out the standard account for yourself (or take advantage of the  premium trial while it lasts ) and then check out the paid options if you think an upgrade aligns with what you need.

This table is correct as of December 2023, but before deciding which account is right for you, I recommend you  go to the Revolut website to check if anything has changed.

I’ve been seriously impressed with Revolut’s security features , and this is not something I found mentioned in other online reviews, so I think it’s well worth writing about.

The Revolut mobile app is full of security you can tailor to your needs. While I open my online account on my browser with my passcode, I open the phone app using FaceID for extra security.

Their offer of disposable virtual cards for premium account users is fantastic. This is a single use virtual card for online shopping, which is good for one use, and then expires.

If you’re worried about entering your card details into a foreign computer while you’re traveling, or perhaps you’re forced to use public WiFi to buy something, you can use this disposable virtual card and not have to worry about exposing the main.

You can lock or freeze any cards whenever you need. And within each card settings, you have the option to tailor your card security to your needs, turning features on and off like online shopping, swipe payments, ATM withdrawrals, and contactless payments.

These security features  do  work , as the first time I tried to use my Revolut card, it declined my attempt at a contactless payment. I went into the settings, toggled contactless payments ON, and the payment then worked (check your card settings before you use).

I’ve also never had my account frozen or locked because I was spending in a foreign country, as most banks tend to do. That said, spending money overseas is the whole point of Revolut!

How to Sign Up

Offering an efficient foreign currency exchange service, no-fee ATM withdrawals, and no hidden fees when it comes to transfers, Revolut is baggage free!

Signing up to Revolut is all done via their app.

Click here and then you’ll provide your mobile number, name, address, and payment details (if you’re signing up for a Premium or Metal account).

Opening an account is instant, and you can then add money with your account details as you would by making any other domestic transfer.

Revolut will send the corresponding debit card to your given address, which you can then activate (remember to set up your security features) in the app before you start using it.

It’s that simple and easy!

My Australian credit cards have a terrible exchange rate, and have always charged me 3% per transaction overseas.

So now I exclusively travel with Revolut in my wallet.

Check out Revolut’s website to find out more and see if it’s right for you.

I’m home from my last trip and still have $62.07 sitting in my Revolut account. If I had come home with that in cash, I would have lost it to my jars of leftover foreign currency.

While I could transfer it back to my main bank, I’ll leave it sitting there knowing I’m using Revolut again , the next time I travel.

If You Liked This Post You May Also Like:

Things to Know about International Credit Card Payments

Should You Use a Debit Card or Credit Card When You’re Traveling?

How to be Smart When Spending Money Overseas

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind  Waking Up Wild ; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

Charlie Schwab for us Amerikanski’s. Been using their debit across the world for 12 years. No fee ATM’s with unlimited rebates when machines charge, great currency conversion rates pretty much equal to the XE App

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New york threatens london’s fintech dominance, says revolut uk chief.

London is at risk of losing its supremacy in the fintech sector to New York, the UK chief executive of Revolut has warned.

Francesca Carlesi said on April 15 that the prospect of losing talent to the US was the “biggest threat” for Britain’s fintech sector, which has been hit by a drop-off in investment in recent years .

Speaking at London’s Innovate Finance Global Summit, Ms Carlesi said: “Right now there is a bit of a risk posed by New York . It’s not just about listing, it’s about talent.

“New York is probably the only other city in the world with the same concentration of human capital in financial services. So that’s where I see the biggest threat.”

Her comments came as a Revolut shareholder increased its stake in the business by 45pc, in a sign that investors are regaining confidence in the fintech sector.

Schroders Capital Innovation Trust revealed in its 2023 annual report that it now values its stake in Revolut at £7.8m, up from £5.4m in 2022.

The write-up implies that Revolut has an overall valuation of roughly $25.7bn (£20.7bn), up from $17.7bn a year earlier.

That figure remains lower than Revolut’s $33bn valuation in 2021, which was achieved after it raised $800m from backers such as SoftBank.

Revolut declined to comment on the valuation.

However, the markup does signal a turnaround in a sector that has been hit by falling valuations in recent years.

In 2022, buy-now-pay-later business Klarna suffered an 85pc cut to its valuation from $45bn to $6.7bn.

Stripe, the online payments company, also saw its valuation plunge to $50bn in 2023, down from $95bn two years earlier.

Venture capital investment into the fintech sector fell by 42pc in 2023 to $35.5bn, according to analysis by S&P. This was down from a high of $91bn in 2021.

This led to start-ups conducting mass layoffs.

However, Schroders said it was “cautiously optimistic” about “improving market conditions” across its portfolio of high-growth investments, such as Revolut.

Schroders said Revolut had reported “solid progress” in 2023 and “continued its rapid international expansion” with customer numbers increasing to 35 million.

It said Revolut expected to achieve revenues of $2bn in 2023, up 80pc on the previous year.

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Money latest: Most expensive street in London revealed; easy ways you can improve your credit score - and one that takes minutes

We dig into credit scores in the latest entry in our Basically series. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog - and share your thoughts on anything of the stories we publish below. Listen to the Ian King Business podcast while you scroll.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 11:48, UK

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• Eyes on Bank of England and interest rates as wages grow by 6%
• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'I feel isolated, lonely and guilty': Daughter caring for mother with motor neurone disease alone  
• Basically... How to improve your credit score
• Most expensive street in London revealed

Essential reads

• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
• Britons can now 'work from home' in Italy for a year
• 'I'm a prisoner': Mother spending pension looking after son, 41, with cerebral palsy
• Money Problem: My boss ruined end of maternity leave with ultimatum - what are my rights?

Ask a question or make a comment

Deliveroo has confirmed to Sky News it is adding a "small extended delivery fee" for all users. 

The online food delivery company emailed some of its Plus customers yesterday saying the charge will come into force on 1 May. 

Deliveroo told the Money team that it was still "committed to offering customers the best value for money, service and selection". 

"Over the last year, we dramatically increased the selection that customers see in the app by expanding delivery radii to give customers access to more restaurants and provide greater choice," they said. 

"This means that some of our partners are further away so riders need to go the extra mile to deliver these orders.

"We will therefore be introducing a small extended delivery fee for long distance orders which will be discounted for Plus customers." 

Plus customers are those who pay a monthly fee to enjoy additional perks.

Currently, Silver Plus customers pay £3.49 a month to get free delivery on orders more than £15 from restaurants and £25 from stores, as well as exclusive offers and rewards. 

Gold Plus members pay £7.99 a month for free delivery on orders over £10, the ability to claim back £5 if their order arrives late and access to discounted fees and rewards. 

People in search of a little extra cash have been told they could have a small fortune sitting on their bookshelves.

Research by All Top Books, an online bookshop, has revealed how much some early copies of our best loved books could be worth.

Thousands of valuable volumes could be gathering dust on shelves across the country, it said.

Treasure hunters were told to check whether elderly relatives have any unwanted old tomes.

Rare editions of the early works of children's writers such as Roald Dahl and J.K. Rowling can be worth thousands if found in good condition.

The books listed below also sold in their millions, so there is a fighting chance you've got one.

Ten tomes that could fetch a pretty penny are:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1967) - £1,000
• The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse by Beatrix Potter (1910) - £1,000
• Now We Are Six, Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne (1927) - £2,000
• James Bond: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by Ian Fleming (1963) - £13,000
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (1894)  - £2,500
• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1914) - £2,000
• Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (1902) - £5,000
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997) - £5,000
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (1998) - £2,000
• N or M? By Agatha Christie (1941) - £2,000

By James Sillars , business news reporter 

There is no real prospect of a new record high for the FTSE 100 today.

Stock markets have widely taken fright at the prospect of US interest rates remaining higher for longer, after further evidence of resilience in the world's biggest economy yesterday.

Energy stocks led the FTSE lower at the open - falling 1.3% to 7,862.

Sentiment in London was not improved by data from the ONS that showed UK wage growth remaining stubbornly high.

The Bank of England wants to see the pace come down markedly before relaxing its battle against inflation through an interest rate cut.

LSEG data showed a flurry of bets away from June for the first rate cut and towards August instead.

Across the market more widely, shares in Superdry were 25% down as it confirmed a story by Sky News yesterday that it had launched a restructuring plan that would result in rent reductions for some of its stores.

It also planned an equity raise, which it said would allow it to delist from the London Stock Exchange.

One other piece of market data to flag: the cost of oil.

Brent crude is still sat around the $90 a barrel mark amid the raised tensions in the Middle East.

Market experts have warned the direction will be determined by Israel's response to Iran's drone and missile attack on Israeli soil on Saturday night.

The Office for National Statistics has just released its latest data on wage growth - a factor in the sights of the Bank of England as it considers when to start cutting interest rates. 

Wages excluding bonuses grew by 6% in the three months to the end of February, compared with the same period a year ago. 

A Reuters poll of economists had predicted wage growth would slow to 5.8% from 6.1% in November to January. 

The figures, while welcome on the face of it for struggling households, will make for worrying reading at the Bank of England, which is assessing the timing for a long-awaited interest rate cut in its battle against inflation.

Other jobs figures released by the ONS showed unemployment in February rose to 4.2% from 3.9%, and the number of vacancies in January to March was 916,000, a fall of 13,000 on the previous three months.

Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: "Recent trends of falling vacancy numbers and slowing earnings growth have continued this month albeit at a reduced pace. 

"But with the rate of inflation also slowing, real earnings growth has increased and is now at its highest rate in nearly two and a half years."

Read more on what the figures mean from our business reporter James Sillars here :

A street in London (perhaps unsurprisingly) has been named the most expensive in the country. 

Nestled near Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, houses along Buckingham Gate come with an average price tag at £9,633,333, according to Rightmove. 

After Buckingham Gate, the next highest average asking price was found in Vicarage Gate in Holland Park in west London, at £6,332,000.

Outside London, Old Avenue in Weybridge, Surrey, had the highest average asking price for properties so far this year, at £2,633,333.

When it comes to renting, Albion Street in Bayswater, central London, was found to be the most expensive at £20,857 a month.

This was followed by Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge, central London, where renters spend around £15,251 a month for a new let. 

Outside the capital, London Road in Ascot, Berkshire, was found to have the highest rent price at £6,831 a month.

Basically, a credit score is a three-digit number that indicates how reliable you are at borrowing and repaying money. 

It is worked out by collecting information about you from public records, lenders and other service providers.

The scores are based on the amount you have borrowed, your repayment history and other information such as your job and age.

Credit scores can influence your ability to access loans and credit, as well as the terms you are offered if your application is successful.

It can also be a factor if you want to buy a car on finance or when buying a new smartphone through a pay-monthly contract. 

A good score can also see you have access to the lowest interest rates available on mortgages and it can affect how much you pay for your security deposit on a rental house.

What is a good credit score?

Your credit worthiness is calculated using a points system.

In the UK, there are three main credit reference agencies - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - and they each have their own system of rating your credit worthiness. 

Experian, which gives scores out of 999, has said a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good and a score of 800 or above is considered to be excellent. 

Equifax, which gives you a score out of 1,000, considers scores between 740 to 799 to be very good; and 800 up are considered excellent.

TransUnion considers a good credit score to be between 721-780 while 781 onwards is excellent.

How can you improve it?

This may seem an obvious one, but keeping up with repayments is a good way to show lenders you are sensible with money and are likely to pay back what you borrow on time, an Equifax spokesperson told the Money blog. 

The credit reference agency said it is also best to avoid staying close to or exceeding your credit limit as this can indicate that you're experiencing financial difficulties.

Rajan Lakhani, money expert at the money app Plum, said registering on the electoral roll is also an easy way - and only takes minutes - to improve your score as it gives lenders confidence that they know where you are based.

He also said getting a whole credit report is another way to keep an eye on any errors or even fraud.

"A lot of people will just look at the score but it's worth getting the full report," he said. 

"Even if there is something that has occurred but there were special circumstances around it, you can get a notice of correction and it explains that."

Mark Mcelvanney, client services director at IE Hub, said "consistency" was important too.

"Your credit scores are built up of lots of difference data sources so every time you make an application for a loan, credit card or any form of credit you enter information into that application," he said.

"Making sure the application information is consistent is important, even down to your job title, because if they look different in each of those applications, the ultimate worthiness will be impacted and there could be suggestions of fraud or instability."

And it is also worth "de-linking mortgages" after splitting with a partner, he added.

"If their credit file starts to suffer that can have a negative impact on you," he said.

Other tips from Equifax...

Take control of your finances

Having combined finances - like a joint mortgage or credit card -  could negatively affect your ability to access credit, if the other person's credit history is poor.

Know the difference between hard and soft credit searches

When you apply for credit, it leaves a "footprint" on your credit report and making too many applications in a short space of time can have a negative impact on your score.

Instead, space out and limit the number of applications you make.

Check your credit report regularly

Despite popular myths, checking your credit report regularly does not negatively impact your credit score. 

Read other entries in our Basically... series...

By Bhvishya Patel, Money team

Over four days this week, we're speaking to some of Britain's struggling unpaid carers, hearing at times heart-breaking accounts of their physical, emotional and financial struggles.

Today, a daughter who cares for her mother with motor neurone disease tells us the financial support she receives "is not even close to enough" and left her needing to use her savings as a last resort.

Fiona Jermaine, 39, from Grimsby, whose mother Helen, 74, was diagnosed in 2012, worked full-time until the pandemic but after she was furloughed and her mother's condition worsened she decided against returning.

"Mentally it's isolating - you feel lonely. And as much as you do, you always feel guilty and feel you are not doing enough." Fiona Jermaine

While Fiona has care agency staff come to the house to help, she is the main carer for her mother.

"Everything around the house is down to me - the washing, cleaning, shopping, cooking," Fiona says. 

"I'm very much tied to the house."

Physically it has "massively" taken a toll on her and mentally it is "isolating".

"I think because you're busy, you ignore how you are feeling. As daft as it sounds, you don't really stop until you're actually really, really poorly. So you kind of ignore a lot," she says.

"Mentally it's isolating - you feel lonely. And as much as you do, you always feel guilty and feel you are not doing enough."

Heating on 24/7

With her mother's care falling under the NHS continuing healthcare support, her carers are funded by the health service.

The funding, which is separate to the £76.75-a-week carer's allowance, is provided for those assessed as having a "primary health need" and pays for the care agency, with Fiona's mother allocated £700 a week.

But with "sky-high" gas and electricity bills in the cost of living crisis, Fiona says she is sometimes left with no option but to dip into her savings.

"Mum feels the cold so the heating is on 24/7 and she has so many pieces of medical equipment on and I can't turn them off," Fiona says.

"You don't get any help with that whatsoever."

In addition to carer's allowance, Fiona gets universal credit but she says she is not able to receive the maximum £368.74 she could be entitled to due to receiving a carer's benefit. She instead receives £222.02 a month.

She says the financial help she gets from the carer's allowance is "not even close" to enough.

"It's supposed to be based on the carer working 35 hours a week - so myself doing 35 hours of care. I challenge you to find a carer that only does that. It's really not a lot," she says.

"People tell me I'm doing a really good job, but you never feel like that, you always feel like you should do more - it's tiring.

"It feels like you can never switch off. Even if you do go out for an hour, you are still listening to your phone."

'People do not do only 35 hours'

With no other avenues of income, her financial struggles have left Fiona needing to use her savings as a last resort. Returning to work is a "possibility" but she is uncertain about how that would work.

"When the gas and electricity bills went really high, going into my savings was the only way I could pay it," she says.

"And then Mum also needed a new wheelchair accessible vehicle and the upfront payment for that was about £4,500. I had no choice, I had to pay it.

"With returning to work, it could possibly happen, but more likely it'll be when Mum's no longer with us - I lean more towards that.

"Obviously if finances meant that I had to, I would but I can't honestly tell you how I would make that work."

With carers facing unprecedented pressure on their finances, Fiona says domiciliary home care needs "vast amounts of money thrown at it" and the government needed to be a "bit more realistic" with carer's allowance.

"The 35 hours figure for care is just ridiculous. People do not do 35 hours. I don't know where they plucked that arbitrary figure from but it is ridiculous so that needs to be looked at," she says.

"And then I think they need to make it so it's not tied into your other benefits.

"There is a threshold, so you can only do so many hours or earn so much and then you lose your universal credit. It's so difficult to find a job that fits around the care side. 

"They've made out that they want everyone to go back to work. Well, make it a bit easier for us to go back to work."

A government spokesperson said: "Unpaid carers play a vital role in the lives of their family and friends, which is why from April we're boosting carer's allowance meaning carers receive an extra £1,500 a year compared to 2010.

"Those in low income households may also be eligible for additional financial support such as universal credit."

You can read the first part of our series here :

HMRC has overpaid its own staff millions of pounds over the past 10 years, according to The Telegraph. 

In total, £12.6m has been pocketed by employees but only £12.3m has been paid back, leaving a £300,000 shortfall. 

The news outlet said some 250 staff were overpaid by more than £1,000 last year. 

Some of the overpayments were caused by payroll failing to stop salary payments for people who had left the company, it added. 

The revelation comes after the tax office controversially decided to close its helplines for six months. 

"With a staff headcount of almost 67,500, we operate at a monthly payroll average accuracy rate of 99.54%, which exceeds the corporate benchmark of 98%," a HMRC spokesperson said.

"Our total pay bill in the 2022/23 financial year was £2.449bn* which means that 0.05% was incorrectly paid that year, and we have recovered over 84% of that.

"We have robust processes in place for the recovery of over and underpayments and all staff are provided with guidance on the importance of checking the payment of their salary."

Asda has become the first UK supermarket to launch an online prescription service. 

The Asda Online Pharmacy allows patients to manage prescriptions digitally and have them delivered to their home

All requests will undergo thorough checks by qualified pharmacists before being approved.

From today, new patients can register for the service by visiting pharmacy.asda.com. 

Dr Martens has filed a lawsuit against online retailer Temu for allegedly infringing its trademarks, according to The Times. 

The British bootmaker has alleged that the online retailer paid Google to advertise boots sold on its site when users search keywords including "Dr Martens", it said. 

As a result, Temu's lookalike products were placed about Dr Martens' own in search results. 

The move is the latest sign of growing hostility between Western retailers and their cheaper Chinese rivals. 

Temu told Sky News it was yet to receive the complaint and will review it in due course.  

Tesla is cutting 10% of its global workforce in a bid to reduce costs and bolster productivity, it has been reported.

The electric vehicle maker, founded and run by Elon Musk, was yet to comment on a story earlier today by Electrek that it was to axe about 15,000 people.

The tech publication said the cuts were revealed in an internal memo - also seen by the Reuters news agency.

It added that managers had been tasked earlier this year with identifying key personnel.

The company, which had more than 140,000 staff at the end of last year, has been struggling with soft demand for its electric vehicles.

The average UK tenant is spending 30.6% of their salary on rent, data shows.

Many experts believe that a third of your earnings is considered the outer limit for affordability.

But in several areas of the UK, people are spending considerably more, an index created by Canopy has shown.

Tenants in Poole have been found to be struggling most with affordability, with the average renter giving more than 40% of their income to their landlord. 

Stirling has also made a surprising inclusion in the top 10 places, with a low average income meaning tenants are spending 37.8% of their wages on rent. 

Belfast was found to be the most affordable major city for renters, with people spending just over a quarter of their salary in rent (23.2%), on average. 

Here are the 10 places people spend the highest percentage of their income on rent: 

Chris Hutchinson, chief executive of Canopy, said the data showed homeowners spend an average of 18% of their income on their mortgage. 

"It is sobering to see that one in five tenants are spending the vast majority of their salary on rental payments, and it neatly encapsulates the tricky situation that many tenants with aspirations of homeownership are in," he said. 

"Where we could see positive change is towards longer tenancies for those who desire them, fostering greater security for families and communities."

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