Our travels around the world are almost 2 years and 25 countries so that experience in the money issue picked up. ? And although we always take a few dollars in cash with you (keyword – a bit), the main emphasis is still on the map, and not one.
The plastic card itself is more convenient and safer than cash, but we prefer, first of all, because of the many travel “buns” in the form of cashback, free passes to airport business lounges, airline ticket bonuses, etc. TO For example, having traveled to the USA with a Binbank card, we saved up for tickets to next trip to Europe!
So, who are they, the best bank cards for traveling?
Content
- Which bank card to choose?
- Good travel cards
- Bank Cards with Priority Pass
- Traveler debit card is our choice.
Contents
Which bank card to choose?
Basic Traveler Maps
Offers from banks – a great many, as well as packages services for each, but if you plan to pay by card in shops, restaurants, etc. and withdraw cash then pay attention should be given to specific numbers:
- currency exchange rate
- cross-border payment fee (i.e. if the organization which carries out a card transaction, is outside of the Russian Federation). For example, you pay for dinner in a cafe in Pattaya, or being in Russia buy a ticket online from Turkish Airlines, or rent money at an ATM in Barcelona – for all such actions you can stumble on transgran)
- cash withdrawal fee at an outside ATM
- annual interest on cash balance and cashback (return parts of the money spent on the card with bonuses or money)
Currency conversion abroad (from $ / € to rubles) is not always occurs at the rate of the Central Bank. More precisely, almost never. Every bank throws a few percent on top, and some “finish off” commissions for transgran and cash withdrawals in “foreign” ATMs. Another thing is that losses can be minimized – due to the cashback (with payment of purchases) and the absence of those commissions. Every bank is cunning in its own way, but if you use several cards and pay for them different services, you can be in a good plus!
Which bank card is better to choose depending on these points? Here, in our opinion, the most acceptable options.
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Good travel cards
So bring home a Tinkoff Black card
We only talk about those maps that we have noticed for ourselves years of travel. Those we use ourselves, we will we will select, about the others – there was a quite good impression from consultation with staff and reviews on the forums.
1. Tinkoff, Tinkoff Black debit
- Conversion rate: Central Bank + ≈2%
- Transgran: 0%
- Cash withdrawal: 0% if the amount is more than 3000 rubles
- % for balance and cashback: 6% (when spending from 3000 rubles per month) and 1-five% in cash
Accompanied us on trips abroad from the very beginning, and We are not going to change preferences. We have a ruble card, not dollar and not euro, although to have such an opportunity in Tinkoff there is.
Click the button and get 3 months free service:
Подробнее о карте >>
Making purchases with a card in other countries, at worst we losing 1% (cashback rate 1% for all categories); at best – stay up by 3% (the rate is 5% of the cache for certain categories, for example, pharmacies, beauty, transportation). For withdrawing cash in amount of more than 3000 rubles we give to the bank ≈2%. Cashback and% on the balance of the account “fall” on card in the form of money, and you can do anything with them. If on account from 30 000 rubles, the service is free; otherwise – 99 rubles per month.
In addition to the minimum sanctions for using the card abroad, The main advantage of Tinkoff is three words – this Internet bank. And it is very convenient when traveling. Even being a premium client of Bean or Alpha, you have to visit the office for clarifying issues / filing applications / reissuing a card, etc., that abroad, of course, impossible. In Tinkoff problems are solved via phone call and chat in a mobile application or online office The latter is also very useful – everything is visible here. statements of cards / accounts, details of the operations performed, you can manually set a spending limit per day (if you want to secure from “random” debits) and notify the bank of the imminent departure maps abroad with one click (so as not to block).
Minuses? Of course, they are: mixed reviews from owners of Tinkoff’s credit products (we’re talking now about debit) and the recent reduction of 7% per annum to 6%. The first can be parried so – who makes people take credit cards and Does not allow to read carefully about the rates? And about the second, the bank even in this case is very captivating with its service. And here we are exactly There is something to compare.
If your bank does not provide free insurance for traveler, we recommend to look at options on the aggregator When compared with the company, we always compare prices on this. site. Also inexpensive insurance is worth looking at Cherehapa.
2. Tinkoff, ALL Airlines Credit
- Conversion rate: Central Bank + ≈2%
- Transgran: 0%
- Cash withdrawal: high commission
- % for balance and cashback: – and 2-10% miles
Credit cards are not our profile – we have never been to this “minefield” did not go. However, specifically this one is presented as “tasty” that it should be included in the choice of a bank card for travel
Why is she so cute? Cashback: minimum (for all categories goods) is equal to 2% and thus displays any purchases abroad to zero. 3% of the cache is refunded for air tickets, 5% for air tickets on the site Tinkoff (compared to Skyscanner – our favorite search engine cheap tickets – prices are significantly higher), 10% – for hotels and cars, also booked on the Tinkoff website. C hotels really profitable, because the site works with the good old Booking. Accrued cashback in the form of miles, 1 mile = 1 ruble.
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Interesting: Airline reservation services >> |
One of the main disadvantages arises from the possibility of spending bonuses. First, only on flights. Secondly, yes, it will do. any site, but: a ticket should cost from 6000 rubles. Moreover, the price must be “customized” for miles, because they are removed multiple of 3000. To For example, a ticket can be equal to 6500 rubles, and the card will leave 9000 miles They will not take you less than the ticket price. ? Other minus – it’s still a credit card, and it’s better than 55 interest-free days don’t go out. The main thing is to clearly understand the conditions. Our friends are actively use a similar card and are very satisfied.
Go and get 1000 miles to the account:
Подробнее о карте >>
There is also the option of a debit card ALL Airlines Read more >>
3. Binbank, debit AIRMILES, package of services Premium
Update 8/03/2019
- Conversion rate: Central Bank + ≈2.5%
- Transgran: 0%
- Cash withdrawal: 0%, but not more than 75,000 rubles per month
- % for balance and cashback: 6% (when spending from 25,000 rubles per month) and 1-7% bonuses; you can only spend on air and train tickets, hotels and car rental
This card is quite firmly in our pocket, but it is NOT the main one, although by paying her, you can get a good plus.
When buying in non-ruble currency, losses will amount to ≈1.5% (the rate – 1% cashback), but in the categories “hotels, air or train tickets, rent auto “will come to the account + ≈5.5%, because for them increased 7 percent cashback. When withdrawing cash, ≈2,5% is lost. The interest on the balance of account and cache are credited to a separate virtual card as bonuses, where 1 bonus = 1 ruble. You can use them exclusively for online payment of goods from the designated sections on any site. Another advantage is multicurrency, i.e. can tie three accounts – $, € and rubles, and easy to switch on trips.
The category of such a card Binbank – Visa Signature or Master Card World Black Edition, and maintenance – 1950 rubles per month; free of charge if you maintain a balance of 400,000 rubles (for regions, for Moscow and St. Petersburg – 600 000 rubles) or spend from 150 000 rubles monthly. This is a kind of minus, because The amounts for free maintenance are quite large. Besides, the bank does not give a normal human contract at registration. Fair speaking, we do not know what it is connected with.
From January 1, 2019, Binbank and Discovery merged. Cards, issued before, support previous service packages until the end of the term actions. The AIRMILES card is no longer issued.
4. Opening, Debit Travel Card, Package Base
- Conversion rate: securities + 1%
- Transgran: 0%
- Cash withdrawal: 0%
- % for balance and cashback: up to 6.5% on the account and 2-5% in the form rubles
Discovery also has a good selection of travel maps with different packages of services, but we will consider the most appropriate under the conditions free service – basic.
Cashback in 2% displays purchases in other countries, plus 1%. 5%credited for the purchase of something in the travel section of the site Discoveries. Foreign ATM withdrawals without cash commissions (only 1% on conversion is lost), if thrown on Card 20 000 rubles per month, or maintain a balance of 70 000 rubles. It is possible to bind the card to the account “My piggy bank” and receive interest on the balance of 6.5%, if it is from 10,000 rubles.
Spending cashback is allowed for the purchase of tickets and booking hotels exclusively on the Discovery site (where prices are traditionally overestimated) – and this is an obvious minus. Often ticket prices for similar sites at times more expensive than for example on Skyscanner. Similar situation with VTB Bank cards.
5. Raiffeisen, Debit Poster Restaurants
From May 1, 2018 the card is no longer issued. Decorated before May 1, continue to operate.
- Conversion rate: Central Bank + ≈1.5-2%
- Transgran: 1.65%
- Cash withdrawal: 150 rubles + 1% (consultants assured that 2 times per month and in ATMs of other countries – no commission)
- % for balance and cashback: – and 10% in cash
On the proposal of Raiffeisen, we learned recently. Map ordered, and as we try it in, we will write out in detail. UPD. We tried it in May in Europe and us liked! C 5400 rubles of expenditure received 540 rubles of cashback. Not badly ?
Cashback cards with cards are always “hooked”, but when the card returns 10% of funds spent in cafes and restaurants ABROAD – it turns into a must have for travel. Even despite transgran and conversion rate, we will find ourselves in positive territory by ≈6.4%! Cashback credited with money, but not more than 2500 rubles per month. Attracts and promotion guaranteeing free service for the first year (hereinafter – 2900 rubles, or free of charge from 100,000 rubles in the account), if you have time to issue a card before 12/31/17, and free insurance for traveler.
For other purchases, incl. and in Russia, we get nothing. Hence, the minus – the card is very limited in use. But in combinations with other cards, should be good, check!
Update after 6 months of use (July 2018)
- Spend money abroad in a cafe, for example, all of June, cashback Comes in 20 business days next month.
- Unfortunately, find out which operations went through cashback and which No, it is impossible (in the application of this information is not).
6. Promsvyazbank, debit World Map without boundaries
- Conversion rate: securities + 1.5%
- Transgran: 0% if the transaction is performed in $, € or rubles, otherwise 1.99%
- Cash withdrawal: 1%
- % for balance and cashback: 5% (when spending from 25,000 rubles per month) and 1-10% bonus miles; you can only spend on air and rail tickets, hotels, car rental, tour or cruise
We have not tried Promsvyazbank yet.
We will clarify the situation with cashback: 10% is credited for the promotion categories, until December 31, 17 are gas stations (in the Russian Federation); 1.5% on purchases for border and travel category; 1% – on all the rest. So Thus, losses on purchases in $ and € will be 0-0.5% (the exchange rate is cash), in another currency – ≈1.5-2%. For withdrawals will have to say goodbye to 2.5-4.5% of the amount. Annual and cashback come to the card as bonus miles (1 mile = 1 ruble, no more than 3000 miles per month), You can waste them in the above categories.
Service cost – 1990 rubles per year, if you pay in within a month of opening the card, the “compliment” is 500 miles. The essential minus is the commission for transgran overlapping everything profits from cashbacks.
Bank Cards with Priority Pass
Choosing a bank card for trips abroad, and especially frequent, pay attention to the availability of the program priority pass. It gives the right to pass in the business halls of airports around the world, where there is an opportunity to rest / take a nap on comfortable sofas, or even in separate rooms, take a shower, eat for free, etc. Have you ever managed to eat, for example, in Moscow to the airport, without a hole in the budget? ?
Bank cards with priority pass refer to the bonus categories, and banks set special conditions for their release. but Some of the institutions manage to surprise the absurdity of those very conditions: for example, unlimited passes for the cardholder for maintenance of 6 000 000 rubles in the account! Meanwhile, another bank offers unlimited just for the balance of 400 000 rubles. Feel the difference?
Therefore, reviewing all bank cards with priority pass, we came to the conclusion that the best in 2018-2019 is with the package Premium from Beanbank or Discovery.
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Internet abroad: Simcard DrimSim (by ссылке 7 евро) >> |
Binbank, Premium Package: average monthly the balance of 400,000 rubles per month (for regions) – and the priority card pass is completely free and unlimited. True spread only on the owner. However, our choice fell on her.
Opening, package “Premium”: on the map from the Opening Both the owner and the satellites can enter the business hall (the bank claims that there is no limit on the number of guests). Prioritize also unlimited, and moreover, free transfer is provided 2 times a year, but conditions are a little worse: a monthly bill is necessary replenish by 200,000 rubles and spend from 50,000 rubles or support from 600 000 rubles on the map. If you are traveling to Companies are perfect!
The following bank cards with priority pass are much less interesting and profitable. But we must tell about them.
Package Privilege VTB24: gives 2 free visits per month for a cardholder holding from 2,000,000 rubles on the account, or spend from 100 000 rubles per month, and 8 passes, if the account from 5 000 000 rubles. (UPD: September)
Alfabank, package “Maximum +”: gives the owner 4 per month when spending from 50 000 rubles and 1 000 000 rubles for account. Unlimited pass – for a minute! – from 6 000 000 rubles.
Promsvyazbank, Orange Premium Club: unlimited and free prioritized pass from Promsvyazbank requires 2 000 000 rubles on the client’s account.
Traveler debit card is our choice.
For us, the best bank cards for traveling are, First, the ruble Tinkoff Black. Excellent debit card for trips, we mainly pay for it in stores, take off money or just “scatter” means on other cards, because behind transfer fees are not charged.
Binbank Airmiles is in second place. Well, I see why: card with insurance (free), decent cashback and super conditions for unlimited priority pass. In our opinion This is one of the coolest travel cards. Accumulate on the trip (with using cashback and interest on the balance) is quite easy – so, part of ticket prices and hotels in the United States returned to us in the form of tickets in Europe for May for two Unlike competitors offering similar cards, Binbank allows you to spend bonuses on any site, and This is an important moment for budget travel.
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And our third card is from Raiffeisen Poster Restaurants. Surely it will serve exclusively for trips to cafes and restaurants for by the border. Soon we will have a chance to check the declared 10% cashback in practice, share impressions.
