Best card combinations for abroad [2024]

[ohh2ahh]

Dear all

I’ve been a passive reader here for some time, but now I’d like to start a dialog.

I will be traveling for several months (including Australia, New Zealand and Japan) and will be using several currencies. So far (as I have now found out) I have been using the relatively expensive UBS me banking package with V Pay and the Gold credit card.

To optimize my payments (regardless of bonus programs), I have considered the following methods and would like your opinions:

• Withdrawing money in local currency: neon debit card
• Pay by card in local currency: neon debit card (Mastercard reference rate) or Wise debit card (Wise rate)
• Pay with a “real” credit card (e.g. rental car): Cumulus (no processing fee, but approx. 2% Migros Bank exchange fee)

Thank you!

[xmj]

Have a look at the Banking & credit card combinations thread

Banking + credit card combinations [2024 edition]

Absolutely. Question is, again, what you’re optimizing for. Paying nothing for financial service is one aspect. Spending as little time as possible is another. A third is maximizing the goodies that come with some combination that increase your quality of life in other ways. I sum up a bit: ZKB/AKB/Neon/Yuh all satisfy “free of charge accounts”. SwissCard Cashback/Certo One give 1% cash on the amount spent. Raiffeisen Membership + Debit card gives you free access to tons of museums A…

I was asking pretty much the same thing there

[kawansky]

Short answer as @xmj said, consensus in the specific thread would be

• Wise
• neon
• Radicant
  (- Cumulus as backup and/or best real credit card to use abroad).

Pick the best that fit your needs/what you prefer.

[rolandinho]

@ohh2ahh

Pay with a “real” credit card (e.g. rental car)

A small hint - Often you can use the “real” c.c. to make the reservation and let them have their “security” for the rental duration, but then when it comes to paying, you just ask to use a different card, for example one of your debit cards (with better conditions for you).
For them, it’s same same.

[almi]

@kawansky

Wise

Wait, why not Revolut.

Edit:
Ok there are reasons for Wise as well. I only use it for occassional holidays and convert money before the weekend, hence for me its better. For travelling a long time Wise is probably better.
Source:
PoorSwiss Review
https://thepoorswiss.com/wise-vs-revolut/#16-conclusion

[ohh2ahh]

Thanks for the comments and @xmj for pointing out your thread!

@rolandinho

Often you can use the “real” c.c. to make the reservation and let them have their “security” for the rental duration, but then when it comes to paying, you just ask to use a different card, for example one of your debit cards

@rolandinho I’ve never thought of that before and will certainly try it out!

[rezliensa]

Hi,

Use Wise or Revolut to withdraw cash (200CHF per month free). If you think you need more maybe think to get the premium or metal abo from Revolut, could be a good option.

Then Neon or Radicant (or Revolut with abo regarding upper) for daily shopping.

Then Cumulus in case you really need a credit card.

[Giff]

In my experience they don’t easily let you do that, or actually they do, as long as you buy their overpriced insurance policy.