I don’t see (brief scan of the other replies) that anyone has mentioned Chase’s Sapphire Reserve. Annual fee looks prohibitive, but you get it all back if you use it to travel (TSA Pre refund, $300 travel refund, car insurance coverage, airport lounge access (ironically not in my home-town airport of Austin, TX, :sigh:); etc.)
I use Wise. Let’s me shift funds from USD to CAD to GBP to EUR etc. when I’m anticipating travel to those zones at rates I can pick and choose (by being patient and waiting until FX rates are favorable). The use Wise at point-of-sale (store, restaurant, etc.) or ATMs for cash.
Here an article I wrote a while ago. Explaining well WISE revolutionnary system. For non Americans specially who don’t have access to generous bonus ans perks with US credit cards.
Not sure how many kiwis are lurking out there but I went searching for money cards thinking i’d not find Wise available to us but not so. I always fear having to call our bank from overseas should there be a dodgy transaction & used a money card previously but wondered if there were better options.
I’ve never heard of an eftpos card/machine so they are not a “thing” in North America. I googled it and it sounds like the NZ version of debit/credit card machines we have here.
I am able to use a credit or debit card at a POS machine in virtually any shop in North America (and most places I’ve visited in Europe.). We also use our Debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM.
So, hopefully that info helps with your last question.
@Kelownagurl eftpos = electric funds transfer point of sale - the machines you use to swipe/tap your debit/credit cards.
Some places also call them what sounds like ‘pause pad’ (or maybe I should say paws pad, but accents may affect that). A trace of my British accent still remains after all these years, and saying pause/paws/poors is still difficult for people to understand what I mean.
@TheMapleKiwi and in Canada the person would look at you with a puzzled look. Thankfully you never have to actually ask for the machine as it’s usually right in front of you.
I remember the first time by brother (who lived in the UK) said he needed to go to a whole in the wall. I had no idea that was an outside bank ATM machine. I’m guessing that phrase is still used in the UK, but maybe not.
My money don’t jiggle jiggle it folds
As you have gathered that term is not known in US.
Your wise card should work at any ATM (hole in the wall🤪) as will any debit card. Check with your bank or issuing financial center and also inquire about any fees that may be imposed.
Use your card as much as possible.
I didn’t change any currency this go round except my initial arrival in Europe for 100 euro.
Just kept my debit card fed. Much easier.
I’ve been hearing a lot about folks using the Wise card, but I just looked into it and the reviews I’ve seen say it allows only two ATM withdrawals a month and there is a monthly limit of a few hundred dollars. Are you primarily using the Wise for point of sale transactions? We hit up the ATM with our Schwab debit card at least once a week. Can anyone tell me why the Wise card would be better? Perhaps for buying tickets online? Sometimes Schwab is declined for tickets.
I use Wise to transfer Canadian $ into my American bank account. Better exchange rate than everywhere else.
These days the euro value vs CAD and US $ is very low so it is time to buy some. Instead of going through the bank or any currency exchange office, I prefer to buy them with Wise and have them put on my euro account. I don’t think I will need more than two withdrawals / month in cash as I also use a credit card who doesn’t charge the 2.5% transaction fee.
There are many in United States.
In Canada ( i’m canadian) , the cards without the conversion fees (2.5%). that I know are:
HSBC WE ( Master Card)
Scotia infinite Passport ( Visa)
AMeX Gold Scotia ( AMeX)
. Seems it’s a more commonly used term in Oz & NZ.
.
Much easier.