Wanderlust that grows with a depleting bank account? Perhaps. Ways around this? Totally! From crowdfunding and travel & academic scholarships, to currency exchanges and cost of living tables, to the best travel, business and airline rewards cards – your keys to the wanderlust kingdom are below! 🙂
N.B.: With so many options to choose from it’s hard to know which card is the best out there. The truth is that there is no perfect travel card – they all offer benefits suitable to different needs. Browse the information below — hopefully you’ll feel equipped to make an INFORMED DECISION about which debit and credit cards are best, and in which countries your dollar gets you more. HINT: You’re advised to have at least 2 debit cards and 1 credit card when traversing the globe. Now read, choose a card and carry on! 🙂
1. FUND MY TRAVEL
Create a strong CAMPAIGN and FUND YOUR TRAVEL with DONATIONS from well wishers! 🙂 Alternatively, try the IndieGogo, GoFundMe, FundAnything , and TravelStarter sites! 😀
2. WORLD NOMADS TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
Every year, WORLD NOMADS sends talented STORYTELLERS on money-can’t-buy learning experiences around the world. They offer Travel Scholarships in PHOTOGRAPHY, WRITING, FILM, FOOD, and LANGUAGE. Winners get the opportunity to learn from industry EXPERTS that have honed their craft over many years at NO COST! Let your PASSION PAY your WAY! 😀
3. XE.COM CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Need a quick and clean CURRENCY EXCHANGE QUOTE to decide whether to change money at the departure airport or elsewhere? Find the answers at The WORLD’S TRUSTED Currency AUTHORITY: XE.com! 😉
4. VISA TRAVEL MONEY CARD
There ARE options outside of the usual travel debit and credit cards for when you NEED to have MONEY SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU without risking exorbitant fees. In a case like this, the PRE-PAID RE-LOADABLE VISA TRAVEL MONEY CARD is right for you! This card has saved my trip numerous times! Read on for more information! 😉
5. PAYPAL
PayPal is the FASTER, SAFER way to SEND MONEY, make an ONLINE PAYMENTS, RECEIVE MONEY or set up a MERCHANT ACCOUNT. So, loved ones can add money to your Paypal which you can use directly to make purchases AND you can receive payments from clients to your Paypal account and then securely transfer it to your personal bank account AND card! 😀
6. BEST TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
Get.com DOES THE WORK FOR YOU: authors write articles based on their PERSONAL EXPERIENCES with the various credit cards. This page lists the best TRAVEL, FLIGHT and HOTEL CARDS and who it’s good for. This will truly help you find the right card for your situation! 🙂 Click to discover the BEST travel REWARDS CREDIT CARDS for 2015! 😀
7. BEST TRAVEL DEBIT CARD
Now, you’re equipped with all the information you need to compare and choose the best travel credit card. But there will be MOMENTS when you CAN’T USE a CREDIT card and a DEBIT CARD would come in HANDY. Let professional traveller, Brian Kidwell, tell you which travel DEBIT card IS BEST! 😀
8. BEST TRAVEL CREDIT & DEBIT CARD FOR BACKPACKERS
After MUCH RESEARCH here’s the SIMPLE TRUTH on which single CREDIT and DEBIT cards are BEST for backpackers and travellers! If you’ve READ the EARLIER POSTS on this page, you will notice that the SAME NAMES keep popping up: CHARLES SCHWAB and CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFFERED! Let’s see what seasoned traveller, Devin Hargrove, has to add! Feeling more secure now? 😉
9. HOW TO AVOID ATM FEES ABROAD
Now you’ve the information to choose your most suitable cards, you must now understand how to AVOID the ATM FEES for FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS! Nick Ewen @ The Points Guy shows you how to BEST AVOID ATM FEES ABROAD! It’s no surprise that Capitol One is one of the top choices — it has been my go-to for many of my trips abroad! Check in to see which CARDS charge little-to-no fees (or the opposite) abroad! 🙂
10. OTHER CARDS
Still looking for more OPTIONS? Desire making your OWN CHOICE? Here is a COMPLETE LIST of the available CREDIT CARDS for TRAVEL, along with an EASY 5-PART PLAN OF ACTION ! Compare, choose, and carry on! 😀
11. SKRILL CARD FOR SMALL BUSINESS
So, you’ve planned and started your SMALL BUSINESS so you can jump into location-independent living! Great! Now, you need a BUSINESS CARD that works for you WORLDWIDE! CONTROL all your ONLINE PAYMENTS through ONE EASY-to-USE ACCOUNT! Sign up for a Skrill BUSINESS ACCOUNT! 🙂
12. THE NOMAD LIST
One SMART way to SAVE while abroad is to VISIT COUNTRIES with a LOW COST of LIVING! You may be wondering: how do I determine that? Well, Nomad List provides a COMPREHENSIVE LIST of places and their COST of living! You can also FILTER to see how FRIENDLY, FUN, or SAFE a locale is, and even what VISAS you need. Easy breezy! 🙂
13. MOVEHUB
The folks at Movehub.com have compiled some MORE awesome data: this is an EASY INFOGRAPHIC of the COST OF LIVING all over the WORLD! Movehub.com is the #1 resource for folks MOVING their entire lives and families ABROAD! You can visit the site for more HELPFUL CITY RANKINGS based on QUALITY OF LIFE AND other CITY GUIDES that would help you CHOOSE the DESTINATION that SUITS your NEEDS and – more importantly – BUDGET! 🙂
14. FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS
Need Funding for travel? Want to lend your skills and expertise while abroad? One other option is to apply for STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS and fellowships. Apply for a Fulbright Fellowship here! HINT: Check out the other study abroad resources under the “Working Abroad” section of this website! 😀
15. REWARDS NETWORK
Get DINING REWARDS to apply to your travel!