Be safe, reduce ATM fees and more…Here we’ve put together all the money related travel tips we found really helpful during our trips abroad.
Before You Set Off
- Ideally have 2 debit cards from different banks, one Visa and one MasterCard. Together with a credit card, this should help you cover most bases when accessing money abroad.
- If possible switch to an account / card that offers free ATM withdrawals. These are quite scarce, but there are also other options to reduce ATM fees like signing up for the Wise (formerly TransferWise) debit MasterCard (Click the link or read more about it in the section below).
- Set up telephone banking and keep the number to call and PIN / security information handy. If your card is blocked this is vital. Having a note of your ATM card number may also help in this situation.
- Set up online banking, then you can:
- Check your account from time to time to check for unusual activity.
- Transfer money from your savings to your current account in an emergency. In the event of your card being compromised it’s best to keep a moderate amount in your current account so if it is stolen, it is only a small portion of your travel funds.
- Pay your credit card balance in full to avoid interest charges if you need to use it due to problems with your debit card. It’s also a good idea to use it every now and then anyway as some banks cancel cards due to inactivity and you don’t want to lose this useful back up.
- Tell your bank that you will be using the card abroad so it doesn’t get blocked when you try to use it.
- Switch to a 4-digit pin via your branch as some machines only accept 4 digits, so If you have 5, you might struggle.
ATMs
Fees
- There are usually 3 fees levied when you use an ATM
- Your own bank fees for making an overseas withdrawal.
- The foreign ATM fee.
- The currency exchange.
- For the first two, you can reduce the impact of these by withdrawing the maximum amount you can in one transaction. You can also look into reducing or eliminating some of these fees by signing up for the Wise debit MasterCard (Click the link or read more about it in the section below).
- The latter is not usually a problem as the rate is often significantly better than what you can get from exchanging money at a local exchange counter. There are important exceptions to this with some standalone machines. It is becoming more common knowledge that some of these are now making 10% on the currency conversion rate.
If at all possible avoid using the Euronet brand machines as they are one of the worst culprits. Google “euronet” to familiarize yourself with it’s logo as their branding is not always that obvious. Avoid any standalone machine with this sign unless you have little choice. I see many people using these machines totally unaware that sometimes up to 15% of their hard earned cash is being siphoned off during every withdrawal.
If you want to avoid hefty fees and make bigger withdrawals, you can almost always use money transfer services to access your funds. Follow our guides to see how you can send yourself money online via World Remit and pick up the cash at an authorized pick up point nearby.
It is a very similar process to buying something online with your debit card and is probably the quickest way to send money to yourself.
There’s also currently a promo code so you pay NO FEE on your first money transfer.
Safety Tips
- If possible, use only ATMs inside banks or hotel lobby. For ATMs located on the street, choose a busy street and try to plan your withdrawals to occur during the day time rather than on a night out.
- Try to use an ATM attached to a bank where possible as these tend to be tampered with less than standalone machines
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Check for Skimmers (see below).
- If your card gets swallowed by the ATM, make sure you press cancel before you leave and contact your bank. Waiting for another person to make a withdrawal after you may also give you peace of mind that the operation was terminated.
ATM Malware
Unfortunately there is little you can do to detect or prevent this. Malware uploaded to the ATM presents no physical signs and could enable criminals to intercept bank account numbers and PINs directly from the machine itself.
If you have heard of this happening in a place where you are, try to make your money last till your next stop or follow our destination specific guides. These show how you can send yourself money online via World Remit and pick up the cash at an authorized pick up point nearby. An introductory promo means this method is fee-free to try.
Skimmers
Check for these by trying to wiggle the part of the machine you put your card in. If it moves or falls off then obviously find another ATM. Look also for the presence of double sided tape as this is used so skimming parts can be quickly removed. Unfortunately there are also “deep insert” skimmers that can be behind the shutter and are impossible to detect.
Always use your free hand to cover the panel when you enter your pin so any hidden cameras cannot see what you entered. This means that even if your card is skimmed, they cannot withdraw money from your account. Unfortunately there is the chance that a keypad overlay is placed over the original Keypad. These record your keystrokes in the digital circuitry whilst sending them to the real ATM. As such, your pin can be skimmed and exploited in this way.
Again, if skimmers are a common problem where you are, then stick to the main banks to withdraw cash. You could also consider avoiding ATMs altogether and follow our destination specific guides. These show how you can send yourself money online via World Remit and pick up the cash at an authorized pick up point nearby. An introductory promo means this method is fee-free to try for your first transaction.
Other Considerations
- Don’t change money in airports as they offer some of the worse rates you’ll see.
- It’s worth noting that ATMs you find in shops, hostels and on busy tourist streets often charge high ATM fees and give terrible currency conversion rates. They may be convenient, but that convenience could cost you big time. If at all possible avoid using the Euro brand machines as they are one of the worst culprits and find an ATM attached to a major bank.
- If your card is not working, check the logos on the back. PLUS is linked to Visa, so your Visa card will usually work at those ATMs. MasterCard is associated with Cirrus and Maestro networks, so ATMs that display these usually accept MasterCard.
Getting Cash Without Using An ATMs:
– Send Money Online & Pick It Up Locally
ATMs can be offline, empty or simply not working with your card for whatever reason.
Option 1: Send yourself money online via world remit and pick up the cash at an authorized pick up point nearby.
It’s actually useful to make a transfer, and become registered with this service because you can opt to also pay via online banking, apple pay or android pay. This means if you lose your ATM card at any point during your travels, you can still access cash in an emergency.
Option 2: Ria Money Transfer, Panda Remit, Sendwave & Transfergo
Ria Money Transfer, Panda Remit, Sendwave & Transfergo all work the same way as WorldRemit.
Explore what transfer you may make and what options you have to pick up cash somewhere close by.
Follow this link for Ria Money Transfer, this link for Panda Remit, this link for Sendwave and this link for Transfergo and
This may involve making an account / downloading their app.
– Reduce ATM Fees With A Wise (formerly TransferWise) MasterCard
By getting a Wise debit MasterCard you can benefit from the following:
- It is free to pay for purchases with currencies held in your account
- Free ATM withdrawals up to £200 per 30 days (though you may still have to pay the overseas ATM fee)
- Only pay a small conversion fee when you convert your money into different currencies — typically between 0.35% and 2%
- Automatically convert your money at the real exchange rate
- Use the card anywhere in the world that accepts MasterCard
Here’s a link for you to learn more about reducing ATM fees this way.
Sending Money Internationally To A Bank Account
Option 1: World Remit
You can also use the above method to quickly transfer money to an overseas bank account, perhaps to pay for your accommodation or an activity.
For more information visit this FAQs section.
Option 2: Wise (formerly TransferWise)
If, instead of a cash pick up, you are looking to make an International money transfer to a bank, perhaps to pay for your accommodation or an activity, the best option is Wise. You won’t need any SWIFT or IBAN numbers, just the name of the account holder, their account number, the bank name and branch location. Follow THIS LINK for more details
They have an introductory PROMO, so if you are new to the service, and follow the link below, you will automatically pay NO FEES on your first transfer of up to £500 (or the equivalent amount in any other currency).
Option 3 : Xe Money Transfer or OFX
Xe Money Transfer have a handy app for converting currencies quickly. You can also send money directly through their app. Follow this link to see options.
OFX also offer bank to bank transfer, either through their website or app. Follow this link for more info.
Carrying Cash
- Don’t keep your wallet or purse too easily accessible and avoid getting it out a lot in public
- If possible keep a small amount of cash for a few purchases separate from your wallet
- Consider having a dummy wallet with a small amount of cash and expired bank cards
- Spread your money throughout your belongings e.g. in a zip pocket, laundry bag, money belt & wallet
- Use a waterproof money belt with an RFID blocker