Best way to spend money in Australia?

[RoyMi6]

Partner and I will be traveling down under in September.

What's the best way to spend our money there?

Post Office travel card?
MasterCard?
Bank Travel Credit Card?

Visiting Sydney and Melbourne if that makes much of a difference!

Cheers,
Roy

 

[Monkeynut]

I'm going to Perth in September, where are you going?

EDIT: Sorry, reading fail, it's been a long day.

 

[sanaxe1]

Nobody uses card anymore it's all about travelers cheques.

 

[RoyMi6]

I'm going to Perth in September, where are you going?

Nobody uses card anymore it's all about travelers cheques.

Honestly can't tell if these are both trolls... I say where I'm going in my post!

And I've not used a cheque in literally... well... ever!

 

[Monkeynut]

Sorry, reading fail, it's been a long day.

 

[Sliver]

What's the best way to spend our money there?

Hand it over to retailers in exchange for goods and services. Then enjoy the fruits of said goods and services. Rinse and repeat.

 

[ReltonBFD]

I'm going to Perth in September, where are you going?

Get the Money Travel Cards, I used Caxton instant money transfer from your current account and free withdrawals. Well it was on the Commonwealth Bank ATMs, which are everywhere.

 

[Liquiduk]

Honestly can't tell if these are both trolls... I say where I'm going in my post!

Exactly why these forums keep us on our toes!

 

[jsmoke]

I went over years ago for for a few weeks and opened a bank account at the CWB, in hindsight it was probably overkill but there was no problem doing so.

 

[Glaucus]

If you can Halifax clarity card or similar.
If not revolut

 

[Amp34]

Nobody uses card anymore it's all about travelers cheques.

This ^^

If you really have to use a card get the Halifax Clarity card.

Alternatively Nationwide do a fee free credit card as well. May need a current account with them to get that one though.

Job done.

 

[wez130]

I used my travelex supercar with no problems, however, revolut should be good too, Shame about the current exchange rate though. ( bank not revolut).

 

[xxalxx]

You will use a card to pay for nearly everything, so you want something that wont get you a charge for making a payment etc.

 

[D.P.]

Hookers and blow, waste the rest on whatever you want

 

[RoyMi6]

Picking up a Halifax Clarity Credit Card - obviously setup to be paid in full each month.

With travelers cheques, can I exchange them for cash at hotel receptions and the like?

 

[englishpremier]

Take a back up the Clarity card. Supercard is ok if you never withdraw cash on it. Otherwise Revolut. Their app is great often recording the purchase before the retailer has even handed you your receipt. You can only spend £500 per month on the Revolut card otherwise you get a 2% charge.

 

[Glaucus]

Take a back up the Clarity card. Supercard is ok if you never withdraw cash on it. Otherwise Revolut. Their app is great often recording the purchase before the retailer has even handed you your receipt. You can only spend £500 per month on the Revolut card otherwise you get a 2% charge.

Supercard is pretty rubbieh, also revolut is unlimited purchase and max £500 cash withdrawal a month before the fees. Making it far better than supercard.

 

[englishpremier]

Yep. I use both. Supercard is backup. The 3& on cash withdrawals is pretty bad. A far cry from the beta version that I used around South America.

I'm looking forward to Mondo (bank) once they finally get their licence.

 

[MonsterMoshi]

Revolut is great. It does make it easier if you have reliable internet but they are doing automatic top-ups now.
Its free in every way, best rates and the best think is free withdrawals of your cash back to your bank account if you don't spend it

 

[Glaucus]

They got their license the other year, they're hoping to launch early 2017 iirc, also keeping an eye on them and hoping its as good as it seems.