Spending Abroad Without Fees: The Debit, Credit & Prepaid Travel Cards We Actually Use
Disclosure: Some of the links on our website are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
We’re not financial experts.
We just hate getting stung with random fees every time we tap our card abroad.
And we tap it a lot.
Bing. Bing. Bing…
Like you, we’re big on convenience. No faff. No surprise “international usage” nonsense. No posh credit cards with hoops to jump through and a score of 999.
Between Monzo, Virgin debit and the Asda Money Travel Card (mains + backup), we’ve got a setup that’s simple, low on fees, and just works.
Here’s what we use, how it works, and how not to get caught short halfway through a holiday.
Monzo & Virgin Debit Card – Our Go-To for Spending Abroad
Anything card-related pretty much goes through Monzo or Virgin. Simple as that.
We’ve used it for loads of trips, and it just behaves abroad. Fee-free spending, no weird surprises, and the exchange rate is solid (Mastercard exchange rate).
You tap. It works. End of.
You also get instant notifications showing what you spent in both currencies, which is ridiculously handy when you’re half-distracted ordering tacos and margaritas from a slightly dodgy food truck.
“You spent £9.47 (244 pesos).”
Nice. Clear. No guessing later.
You can add it to Google Wallet too, which isn’t always a given with every bank, so that’s another tick.
There are loads of useful features built in as well — bill splitting (great for group trips), saving pots, and virtual cards for one-off payments when a website feels a bit… hmm.
And if you’re wondering why some of my transactions look so neat — I’ve got Roundup turned on.
Every time you spend something awkward like £6.03, it rounds it up to £7 and drops the spare change into a savings pot. It adds up way faster than you’d think.
Not life-changing money. But holiday cocktail money? Absolutely.
Monzo Premium Features
Monzo also has paid plans — Extra, Perks and Max.
We’re not here to sell you one. But Max is the one that actually makes sense if you travel a fair bit.
It’s £17 a month and includes:
- Worldwide travel insurance
- Worldwide phone insurance
- UK & Europe breakdown cover
- Annual railcard
- Discounted airport lounges
- Free Greggs each week
- Free Vue cinema ticket each month
- Fee-free cash withdrawals abroad
When you add it up, you’re basically replacing things you probably already pay for — travel insurance, phone cover, breakdown cover, maybe even a railcard.
If you travel a couple of times a year and don’t already have those bundled elsewhere, it can stack up pretty nicely.
And please — never go abroad without travel insurance.
Exhibit A: my snapped wrist. It can happen abroad, it can happen two weeks before you depart.
Hospitals abroad are not the place to test your luck.
Update – March 2026 – I’ve just upgraded to Max, so we’ll let you know how it rolls and update this post further.
Monzo Flex Credit Card
You can also pair your Monzo Debit Card with a Monzo Flex Credit Card for a bit of extra security and another option up your sleeve.
One of the biggest wins with a credit card? Chargeback protection.
If something goes wrong — dodgy booking, cancelled service, company disappears into thin air — it’s much easier to get your money back.
And here’s the Brucie bonus…
If you buy something on your Monzo Debit Card, you can literally tap a button in the app and move that transaction over to your Flex Credit Card.
Paul Daniels kinda stuff.
As long as you pay it off in full before the due date, there’s no interest. Treat it like a debit card, not a “future me will deal with that” card, and you’re golden.
Another big reason to have a credit card in your travel armoury? Hotel deposits.
Most hotels stick a deposit of around £100 on your card. Sometimes more if you look like you might nick the robe.
So if you stay near the airport the night before your flight, then check into a resort the next day, that’s potentially £200 tied up before you’ve even hit the bar.
With a credit card, it’s just a hold. No actual money leaves your account, and it’s usually released quickly.
With a debit card, that money physically leaves your balance and can take days to come back.
Not ideal when you’re trying to start your holiday strong.
Asda Prepaid Travel Money Card
Travel money cards feel a bit old-hat now, especially with banks like Monzo and Revolut doing fee-free spending.
But we still use an Asda Money Travel Card as a backup — and for cash.
It’s simple. You load it up in the currency you want, and once it’s topped up, it works like a debit card in that currency.
No foreign transaction fees on purchases, and Asda’s exchange rates are usually pretty competitive, which is why we’ve stuck with it.
You can also lock in your rate ahead of time, which some people like for budgeting.
For us, it’s mainly there as a safety net.
Because here’s the thing — free debit cards usually have limits on fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad. If you’re somewhere that still loves cash (hello Mexico taxis), it’s handy to have a separate pot.
A quick heads-up though: not all cash machines are equal.
Always aim for ATMs attached to actual banks or well-known brands. At our resort, the Santander machine only charged £1 per withdrawal. Some independent machines will try and absolutely rinse you.
Just because your card provider isn’t charging you a fee doesn’t mean the ATM won’t.
One small thing to note — there’s a £2 inactivity fee if you don’t use the card for 12 months. So either use it or empty it.
It’s not our main card.
It’s our “just in case” card.
And that peace of mind is worth having.
Tip: Get an ASDA Rewards account for a little extra boost on your holiday money. Check currency prices here.
Asda Travel Card Fees
- Load up foreign currencies – Free
- Cash Withdrawals from ATMS – Free
- Free contactless payments
- Just beware – there’s a £2 inactivity fee if you haven’t used it for 12 months
Never Chuck All Your Eggs in One Basket
Never chuck all your eggs in one basket.
You never know when one bit of plastic is going to throw a wobbly on you.
Or when an ATM decides to swallow your card for its own entertainment.
We learned this the slightly annoying way.
When we checked in at our hotel and went to pay the Environmental Tax, the Asda card just refused. Flat out no.
Not ideal when you’ve just arrived after a long-haul flight and all you want is to drop your bags and find the bar.
Luckily, Monzo worked straight away and we were sorted in seconds.
But imagine if we’d only brought one card.
You’d be at the mercy of whatever ATM is nearby — probably one offering you a “helpful” conversion rate in USD that absolutely isn’t helpful.
It’s always at the most inconvenient time.
So take at least two cards. Ideally different providers. Debit + credit is even better.
You’ll probably never need the backup.
But when you do, you’ll be very glad it’s in your wallet.
Tips To Help You Spend Smart
Always pay in the local currency.
When a machine asks if you want to pay in pounds instead, it feels easier. It’s not. That’s how you get stitched up with a rubbish exchange rate.
Pick the local currency every time.
Always check the amount on the terminal before you tap.
Some places have a habit of accidentally adding an extra digit.
$1,165 pesos suddenly becoming $11,165 is not the vibe.
It takes two seconds to double-check and can save you a very awkward conversation.
Not all Mastercards are equal, either.
Some banks add their own foreign transaction fee on top, even if it says Mastercard on the front. Monzo and a few others like Virgin don’t add their own extra charge — you just get the standard Mastercard exchange rate.
Five minutes at home beats arguing at an airport.
Final Thoughts
We’re all about convenience.
Monzo just works. Virgin works.
Pair it with a backup card and a bit of common sense, and you’ll avoid most of the usual “why is my bank rinsing me?” moments abroad.
You don’t need a wallet full of premium cards.
You don’t need to overthink it.
Just don’t rely on one card, don’t accept the dodgy conversion, and don’t travel without insurance (see: snapped wrist).
Keep it simple.
Catch you at the bar. 🍹
More Savings, More Tips
- Booked It, Regretted It? Why Tui Flex Is Worth It
- Free Data, Texts & Calls Abroad
- Tipping In Mexico: A Quick Guide
If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a massive win for us.
If you fancy supporting what we do, you can grab us a beer below. It genuinely keeps the site running (and funds the holiday hunting).
No pressure. Just good vibes.
¡Adiós amigos!
Send it to a mate going on holiday
