Let’s review some of the Revolut travel card’s top features.
While travelling around the world is a thrilling and exciting experience, the thought of managing finances while abroad can be daunting. But in recent years, there’s been an explosion of travel cards offering a range of benefits that make the entire process a lot easier. One of the most popular options is the Revolut travel card. Lauded for flexibility and user-friendly features, it has become a favourite among travellers.
From competitive exchange rates to worldwide transactions and seamless ATM withdrawals, there’s a plethora of options that make your travel experience much smoother and more enjoyable. Everything is available via an app for Android or Apple so you’re always in control of your finances. Let’s review some of the Revolut travel card’s top features.
Use anywhere with visa or mastercard
The most important aspect of using a Revolut card when travelling is the widespread acceptance. Whether you’re purchasing a train ticket in Tokyo or enjoying a cappuccino in Rome, your payment is almost certain to be accepted. This is thanks to the cards being issued by either Visa or Mastercard, both of which are globally recognised and used by pretty much every sales point in the world. This means you don’t have to worry about being stranded without a way to pay.
Furthermore, you aren’t just limited to physical cards. With the advent of virtual cards that can be created within the app and linked to mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can make payments with ease using just your phone. This is especially handy for day-to-day purchases or when you want to keep your physical card safe.
How to pay using your revolut card abroad
You can pay for items abroad using your Revolut card by contactless or your PIN number – just like you would at home. If using contactless, just remember that there’s a limit on how many of these transactions you can make. You’ll either need to make the next transaction using your PIN number or you can reset the contactless limit within the app.
If you don’t have enough local currency in your account, Revolut will automatically convert other currency you have to cover the cost. The payment will be taken and completed in seconds. If you are given the option of paying in local currency or your home currency, always choose to pay using local currency with your Revolut travel card. This is very important as Revolut will offer you a better exchange rate than the merchant, so you’ll save more.
You don’t need to tell Revolut that you’re going abroad to use the travel card either. However, it’s best to always have your phone handy so you can approve any transaction if needed. When using a physical card to pay, there’s a security feature which uses your phone’s location to help determine if a transaction is credible. This can be switched on from the app’s settings.
Make online transactions just as easily
You can also use your Revolut travel card to pay online. The merchants must accept Visa or Mastercard, but the vast majority do so you shouldn’t have many problems. Revolut will automatically convert other currency from your account to cover the cost if needed, just like with any in-person transactions. Just make sure to allow online payments for your physical travel card within the app.
When paying online, the money is transferred from your Revolut travel card straight away. This is very important for payments that need to be settled instantly. For travel, this means you can buy tickets and make reservations straight away. But it is also very useful in other situations such as online entertainment like online casinos.
Nowdays, many online casinos accept Revolut as a payment method and both deposits and withdrawals are supported. Deposits are processed instantly and funds are available right away to be used on casino games. Compared to other payment methods at online casinos, Revolut offers much more control and safety including the option to set your own gambling budget.
Get very competitive exchange rates
One of the biggest attractions of using a Revolut card abroad is that it leverages very competitive exchange rates, which are often more favourable than the rates provided by other financial institutions. This can translate into substantial savings, particularly on larger transactions.
You can choose to just exchange any currency in real time when you go to make a payment. This is the easiest option but of course the value of currencies is constantly going up and down. Also, depending on the type of Revolut account, you may be charged an exchange fee on weekends.
The alternative is to plan ahead by exchanging money before you travel. You can set up multiple currency accounts and lock in exchange rates before you set off. This can help to reduce costs (such as any weekend fees) but it does require you to stay on top of financial trends to try and get the best deal possible.
Withdraw cash abroad – No fuss
While card payments are increasing all over the world, there are still plenty of countries that prefer cash . Therefore, it’s a good idea to have some money handy if needed.
Revolut makes withdrawing cash abroad straightforward and worry-free. You simply use your travel card at any compatible ATM (Visa or Mastercard) and choose how much to take out. If you’ve already got local currency in your account then it will be deducted from this balance. Alternatively, any other currency will be exchanged automatically.
All Revolut plans offer no fee withdrawals, although the lower plans often have a monthly limit attached which you can find within the app. If you go over this limit then you may be charged, but these fees are still highly competitive and are often much lower than those at other financial institutions.
However, it’s essential to be mindful of potential fees that are often imposed by foreign ATM providers themselves. Always check the on-screen notification before confirming the withdrawal to see how much you will be charged in total.
Bonus: More revolut travel benefits
Beyond its card functionalities, Revolut also offers a range of other benefits for travellers around the world. Here are a few examples:
- Travel insurance : You can easily activate affordable and comprehensive travel insurance, covering everything from medical emergencies to flight delays and lost baggage. The convenience of managing your insurance through the same app you use for your finances is a significant bonus, offering peace of mind without extra complexity.
- Airport lounges : For those looking for extra comfort during their travels, access to airport lounges is available. With certain Revolut account tiers, such as Premium and Metal, you can relax in style before your flight in many lounges worldwide. This perk is especially useful for frequent flyers, combining convenience with a touch of luxury.
- eSIMs : If you need to stay connected without the hassle of purchasing local SIM cards then you can choose from a variety of data eSIMs within the app. Local, regional and even global packages are available and it takes just a few minutes to get setup. Most of the prices are very reasonable.
Conclusion: A revolut card is the perfect travel companion
Overall, we highly recommend the Revolut travel card and consider it to be essential for modern-day travellers. The features it offers are extremely useful and suitable for all kinds of trips abroad, while being able to manage everything from a mobile app makes it seamless.
For more information and to sign up, visit Revolut’s website . The basic plan is available for free, while the more expansive plans offer further benefits if you prefer.