Going to Australia: Cash & Phone...

AltF4me

Hiya,
Just a couple of things. Going to Australia in September. I want to get a cash card, but most of the good ones only seem to be for USD or Euros. Are there any good ones for AUD?

Also, I won't be using my phone much abroad, and if I do need to I will be using Skype. However, is it worth getting a seperate Australian PAYG sim card?


Many Thanks!

Marty21

Do you mean your going to be using skype from your mobile or from a computer?
If your using it from your phone does this not use data? Which would cost much more. Sorry if i have misunderstood:o

I dont know about the best card for Australia sorry.

murphymum

I've posted a similar question to yours. I'm off to Australia in Sept too on holiday and looking for info re travel cards. I'm going round in circles the more I read. Have a great trip

AltF4me

Marty21 wrote: »

Do you mean your going to be using skype from your mobile or from a computer?
If your using it from your phone does this not use data? Which would cost much more. Sorry if i have misunderstood:o

I dont know about the best card for Australia sorry.

I'll be using Skype on my laptop. It's not supported very well on Windows Mobile unfortunately. I'll probably go to a local McDonalds to take advantage of the free wifi and use it for some phone calls.

murphymum wrote: »

I've posted a similar question to yours. I'm off to Australia in Sept too on holiday and looking for info re travel cards. I'm going round in circles the more I read. Have a great trip

Ah, well let me know if you find anything! I think I'm gonna apply for the post office credit card. Thanks, you too

Jake'sGran

We went in 1998 and really loved Australia. The people are amazingly friendly too. There is company called Trailfinders which has branches in a few UK cities. They seem to specialise in Oz so you could ask them about your cash card and if they don't supply them they will know who does.
Just did a search for you and the following look promising.
Fair FX currency card, Travellex and
Wide Bay Australia.com

I can't go again; cardiologist said NO so I won't see my sister again. She can't come here either.

Have a great time.

balt

Sainsbury do cards with Australian dollars! Just replied to post in mobiles saying Vadafone are good Payg sims.

AltF4me

Jake'sGran wrote: »

We went in 1998 and really loved Australia. The people are amazingly friendly too. There is company called Trailfinders which has branches in a few UK cities. They seem to specialise in Oz so you could ask them about your cash card and if they don't supply them they will know who does.
Just did a search for you and the following look promising.
Fair FX currency card, Travellex and
Wide Bay Australia.com

I can't go again; cardiologist said NO so I won't see my sister again. She can't come here either.

Have a great time.

Cool, will look into those. I've seen the Fair FX one before but they only seem to supply USD and Euros

balt wrote: »

Sainsbury do cards with Australian dollars! Just replied to post in mobiles saying Vadafone are good Payg sims.

Hmm might be worth applying to them too then.


Edit: Seems with the fairfx card you can buy in sterling by using the anywhere card... but doing it this way I'm guessing the rate will apply when I make a purchase. Is this likely to incur any more fees etc? Or will it just be the fee for ATM's?

abacab

"Edit: Seems with the fairfx card you can buy in sterling by using the anywhere card... but doing it this way I'm guessing the rate will apply when I make a purchase. Is this likely to incur any more fees etc? Or will it just be the fee for ATM's? "

Let us know which card you choose.We are off to Oz next april,and had our Nationwide cash card ready(which we actually use as our main account)but now Nationwide are pulling the plug on that one i think it will be the Fair fx card for us too.Fingers crossed the pound keeps getting stronger against the Oz dollar too.

AltF4me

abacab wrote: »

"Edit: Seems with the fairfx card you can buy in sterling by using the anywhere card... but doing it this way I'm guessing the rate will apply when I make a purchase. Is this likely to incur any more fees etc? Or will it just be the fee for ATM's? "

Let us know which card you choose.We are off to Oz next april,and had our Nationwide cash card ready(which we actually use as our main account)but now Nationwide are pulling the plug on that one i think it will be the Fair fx card for us too.Fingers crossed the pound keeps getting stronger against the Oz dollar too.

Well I've been reading up on it, and it seems you do just pay cash onto the card in advance, then when you pay for something it gets converted on the spot. You also get charged 1.5% for whatever you use it for, whether it's ATM withdrawals or point of sale in a shop.

However for some reason the application fee isn't waivered, but there is a £5 discount (the application costing £10). Nothing is said about getting the £5 boost for topping up £500 either. Can anyone confirm this?


Cheers

pilates39

abacab wrote: »

"Edit:

Let us know which card you choose.We are off to Oz next april,and had our Nationwide cash card ready(which we actually use as our main account)but now Nationwide are pulling the plug on that one i think it will be the Fair fx card for us too.

Can you explain what Nationwide are pulling the plug on please. We use ours all over the world and have just used it in Australia.

Re McDonalds - some of them do not have free internet now - they have taken it away in Surfers. We used local libraries (half an hour for free) and some shopping centres have free WiFi. If you are in Queensland you can also use We Fi for free in the local Law Courts!!!

Donnie

AltF4me wrote: »

Well I've been reading up on it, and it seems you do just pay cash onto the card in advance, then when you pay for something it gets converted on the spot. You also get charged 1.5% for whatever you use it for, whether it's ATM withdrawals or point of sale in a shop.


However for some reason the application fee isn't waivered, but there is a £5 discount (the application costing £10). Nothing is said about getting the £5 boost for topping up £500 either. Can anyone confirm this?


Cheers

There is no charge for the card. How do people get to confuse themselves to this extent?

Fairfx AnyWhere Card

PrePaid SIM cards are widely available in Oz.. I took my Netbook and an unlocked USB modem(available from Argos for £20) and bought a Virgin Data SIM there for AUD10. Great for researching and booking hotels and car hire along the way.