The Best Travel Cards for Asia in 2024

Traveling within Asia can be an incredibly enriching experience, offering a mix of vibrant cultures, historic landmarks, and breathtaking natural beauty. To make your journey smooth and cost-effective, having the right travel card is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best travel cards for Asia, highlighting their currency exchange rates, standout features, pros, and cons, and why they are the best choices for travelers and holidaymakers.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why You Need a Travel Card in Asia
3. Top Travel Cards for Asia
   • Revolut (Popular Choice)
   • Wise (formerly TransferWise) (Popular Choice)
   • N26
   • HSBC Everyday Global Account
   • YouTrip
   • Monzo Travel Card
4. Tips for Using Travel Cards in Asia
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Asia is a diverse and vast continent, home to some of the world’s most popular travel destinations, including Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Navigating through these countries requires a reliable travel card that offers favorable exchange rates, low fees, and convenient features. Whether you’re exploring bustling cities or relaxing on tropical beaches, the right travel card can save you money and hassle.

Why You Need a Travel Card in Asia

Travel cards are designed to make spending abroad more convenient and cost-effective. Here are a few reasons why you should consider getting a travel card for your trip to Asia:

• Better Exchange Rates: Travel cards often offer better exchange rates compared to cash exchanges at airports or local currency exchanges.
• Lower Fees: Many travel cards come with low or no foreign transaction fees, saving you money on every purchase.
• Security: Travel cards provide enhanced security features such as PIN protection and the ability to freeze your card if it’s lost or stolen.
• Convenience: With travel cards, you can easily make purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs without worrying about carrying large amounts of cash.

Top Travel Cards for Asia

Revolut (Popular Choice)

Revolut is known for providing some of the best exchange rates on the market, using the interbank exchange rate for currency conversions. It offers extensive features making it a top choice for travellers, the app is user friendly and shows real-time spending alerts making it easy to track spending and alert you to any suspicious activities.

Pros:

• Excellent exchange rates.
• No fees on currency exchange (up to a certain limit per month)
• No hidden fees on exchanges.
• Comprehensive app features.
• Instant spending notifications.
• Ability to hold and exchange multiple currencies.
• Secure your money in Vaults to earn savings and protect from theft.
• Travel insurance and other premium features with paid plans.

Cons:

• Free ATM withdrawals have a monthly limit.
• Premium features require a paid subscription.
• Customer service can be slow during peak times.

To join Revolut today, Click Here

Wise (formerly TransferWise) (Popular Choice)

Wise uses the real exchange rate with a small transparent fee, ensuring you get the best possible deal on currency exchanges. It also offers you real-time spending notifications and free ATM withdrawals (up to monthly limit).

Pros:

• Transparent fee structure.
• Excellent exchange rates.
• Supports multiple currency account where you can hold and manage over 50 currencies.
• Free ATM withdrawals (up to a limit).
• Virtual card for secure online transactions
• Integration with Apple and Google Pay.

Cons:

• ATM withdrawals have a monthly limit.
• Small fee for currency exchanges.
• Physical card delivery might take time.

To join Wise today, Click Here

N26

N26 offers competitive exchange rates, making it a strong contender for international travel. It has no foreign transaction fees and you can receive travel insurance with premium plans! Free plans are also available.

Pros:

• No foreign transaction fees with N26 You & N26 Metal plans.
• Free worldwide ATM withdrawals (with premium plans).
• Travel insurance with premium plans.
• Comprehensive app features.
• Real-time notifications.
• Link to Apple and Google Pay.

Cons:

• Premium plans require a subscription.
• Limited customer support options.
• Not available in all countries.

To join N26 today, Click Here.

HSBC Everyday Global Account (Limited to HSBC Bank Holders)

HSBC offers competitive exchange rates and the ability to hold multiple currencies in one account. It gives you no foreign transaction fees and free ATM withdrawals! The only downside to HSBC Everyday Global Account is you have to already hold a bank account with the company.

Pros:

• Supports multiple currencies with the ability to hold, spend and transfer.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Free international ATM withdrawals.
• Real-time global transfers between HSBC accounts.
• Travel insurance with certain accounts.
• Basic, Advanced and Premier options.

Cons:

• Monthly maintenance fees for certain accounts.
• Requires an HSBC account.
• Limited availability in some regions.

To join HSBC today, Click Here.

YouTrip

YouTrip provides excellent exchange rates with no hidden fees, making it a favourite among travellers in Asia. It is a user-friendly app and has extensive currency support! It is a very budget friendly option for travellers and can be added to Apple and Google Pay.

Pros:

• No foreign transaction fees.
• Real-time exchange rates.
• Supports over 150 currencies.
• Easy-to-use app.
• Personal and business accounts available.

Cons:

• Free ATM withdrawals have a limit.
• Limited to certain regions.
• No rewards program.

To join YouTrip today, Click Here.

Monzo Travel Card

Monzo offers competitive exchange rates by using the Mastercard exchange rate without any additional fees. It has real-time spending notifications and the app supplies budgeting tools to help you save. You can link it with Apple and Google Pay, while also being able to split bills with friends and family.

Pros:

• No foreign transaction fees.
• Competitive exchange rates.
• User-friendly app with budgeting tools.
• Instant spending notifications.
• Ability to freeze and unfreeze the card.

Cons:

• Free ATM withdrawals have a limit.
• Some features require a paid subscription (Monzo Plus and Monzo Premium).
• Not available in all countries.

To join Monzo today, Click Here.

Comparing Currency Exchange Rates

When choosing a travel card, it’s essential to compare the currency exchange rates offered by each card. You don’t want to be recieveing hefty exchange rates when you can get very little to non fees.

Check the quick overview comparing the cards:

• Revolut: Uses interbank exchange rates with no markup up to a certain limit each month.
• Wise: Offers real exchange rates with a small, transparent fee.
• N26: Competitive exchange rates, especially with premium plans.
• HSBC Everyday Global Account: Allows you to lock in exchange rates when transferring between currencies.
• YouTrip: Provides real-time exchange rates with no hidden fees.
• Monzo: Uses Mastercard exchange rates with no additional fees.

Tips for Using Travel Cards in Asia

1. Check Acceptance
   • While most travel cards are widely accepted, it’s always a good idea to carry a backup card, especially in remote areas where card acceptance might be limited.
2. Monitor Exchange Rates
   • Keep an eye on exchange rates and consider exchanging larger amounts when rates are favorable.
3. Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
   • Always opt to pay in the local currency rather than your home currency to avoid additional fees.
4. Enable Notifications
   • Set up real-time notifications to track your spending and detect any unauthorized transactions quickly.
   • This is highly recommended to ensure you keep yourself safe from any scams/fraud.
5. Use Secure ATMs
   • When withdrawing cash, use ATMs located inside banks or well-lit, secure areas to avoid potential skimming devices.
   • Test an ATM by lightly pulling on the section where you insert your card. If it comes loose, don’t use it!
   • In the event your card gets swallowed, take a note of the ATM number and location and call the number on the ATM.
6. Understand Fees
   • Be aware of any potential fees associated with your card, such as ATM withdrawal fees or monthly maintenance fees.

Conclusion

Choosing the right travel card can significantly enhance your travel experience in Asia. The cards mentioned in this guide offer a range of features, from competitive exchange rates to comprehensive travel insurance, making them the best choices for travelers and holidaymakers.

Whether you prefer a card with extensive currency options like, YouTrip, or saving vaults to add interest on your money like, Revolut, there’s a travel card that suits your needs. Plan ahead, compare your options, and select the card that will make your trip to Asia as enjoyable and cost-effective as possible.

Safe travels!