Using Revolut Abroad - A Deep Dive Into Our Personal Experience
12 Jan 2024
In this article, we’ll answer common questions like: What is the Revolut travel card? Does Revolut charge fees abroad? And, most importantly, how to use Revolut abroad without fees? We have used Revolut abroad for 7 years with the best conversion rates and without fees.
Did you know that every time you use your bank card in a foreign country, you may be charged huge fees often around 3-5% and get poor exchange rates? I didn’t either until my partner explained it all to me and how these costs can quickly add up to hundreds or even thousands, leaving you with less money to enjoy on your holiday. So we’ve written this blog to help you avoid these fees like we have so you have more $ to spend on your holidays!
What’s more, we’ve managed to get you £10 for free when you get a Revolut card. We’ll tell you how below:
Michael and I have used Revolut, a travel card and multi currency app, for over seven years as our preferred way to spend abroad without fees. We have saved thousands by avoiding the fees from traditional banks and have had more to spend on our travels. We’ve used Revolut in over 30 countries, from rural Peru to country towns in Spain without transaction or conversion fees. It’s accepted virtually everywhere, has the best exchange rates, zero transaction fees and is a super easy to use app, making it our go-to travel card for spending abroad.
In this article, we’ll dive into the features, benefits, and cost of using Revolut abroad; the travel card that has become our go-to travel card on every holiday.
If you’ve heard all you need to know, and are eager to start saving with Revolut now, you can get £10 free using the link below, no matter whether you live in the UK, Australia, Europe, USA or another country, after you spend £1.
Does Revolut Charge Fees Abroad?
Do you want to know about Revolut abroad fees and how to use Revolut abroad without fees? Here’s what you need to know:
To start, yes you can use Revolut abroad for free without charges. Michael and I have avoided Revolut’s overseas fees for 7 years, whilst enjoying the amazing exchange rates Revolut offers. This comes from using Revolut Standard account (no subscription fee) and understanding the limits, above which, Revolut introduces fees (relatively low fair usage fees). More info below.
Ready to start saving when spending abroad? Sign up to Revolut’s free Standard account now and get £10 free when you spend £1! This offer applies for UK, Europe, USA, AU and other home countries.
Below are the fee-free limits for Revolut’s Standard account:
1. Free mid-week currency conversions up to a monthly limit: You can make currency exchanges mid-week without Revolut fees up to a specific limit each month (USD$1000 for Americans, A$2000 for Aussies; £1000 for Brits, €1000 for Europeans). If you go above this monthly limit, or exchange during the weekend, you’ll be charged a 1% fair usage fee.
To avoid Revolut charges abroad, we monitor our monthly free limit for currency conversions and time our exchanges accordingly to avoid fees.
2. Free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly limit: Revolut allows ATM withdrawals without charges up to a certain amount per month (USD$400 for Americans, A$350 for Aussies; £200 for Brits, €200 for Europeans) or for 5 withdrawals (whichever comes first). Beyond this limit you will be charged 2% for ATM withdrawals.
Whenever possible we use the card machine and only spend cash where absolutely necessary. This means we rarely, if ever, go above the fee-free ATM withdrawal limits.
3. Free subscription to Standard Account: the monthly subscription for Revolut’s Standard Account is free. If you think you’ll be going above the Standard Accounts fee-free limits (mentioned above) for conversions or ATM withdrawals, it may be worth the subscription fee that comes with getting Revolut’s Premium or Metal Accounts. As well as these increased fee-free limits, you may get other benefits such as cash back for your spending abroad, travel insurance and airport lounge access.
Traditional banks often charge hefty overseas spending fees, typically ranging from 3% to 5%. However, with Revolut, even with the associated fees, you can still save money compared to using traditional banking services.
Start using Revolut for free with the link below.
Contents
What is the Revolut Travel Card?
Revolut is a prepaid travel card and app with over 28 million users worldwide that empowers you to make payments in virtually any country worldwide, offering the best exchange rates available at that time. Unlike traditional banks, Revolut eliminates the hassle of currency conversion and excessive fees when paying in a different currency than your own. With lightning-fast payment processing and a user-friendly mobile app, Revolut allows you to spend abroad effortlessly.
With Revolut’s app, you can store different currencies in a kind of digital wallet with the ability to transfer between 26+ currencies with a few clicks, ensuring that you can effortlessly spend around the world. It offers both virtual and physical card options, enabling you to make payments in over 200 countries, providing you with convenience and peace of mind wherever you go. Whether we’re paying for accommodations, dining at local eateries, or exploring attractions, we’ve found that the Revolut card has simplified our travel experience significantly.
Why do we like Revolut?
Revolut has won us over for several reasons:
1. Best exchange rates: One of the standout features of the Revolut card is its competitive exchange rates. The card utilizes the interbank exchange rate, which is considered one of the best globally, ensuring that you get more value for your money.
2. Fee-free spending: With Revolut, you can make payments in over 130 currencies without incurring any additional fees. This means that when you spend overseas, you’ll get great value without worrying about excessive fees or markups.
There is a fee-free limit which depends on your plans allowance and a 1% service fee on weekends. Michael and I rarely, if ever, reach this limit.
You can get £10 free when you join Revolut with this link.
3. Convenient top-ups: Whether you need to load your Revolut account via transfer or from another card, the process is seamless and instantaneous. We’ve even topped up our account on the spot while standing in a store in rural India.
4. Global Acceptance and Accessibility. With the Revolut card, you can make payments in 200+ countries and access your funds at over 55,000 ATMs worldwide. This extensive network ensures that you can always easily access your money no matter where your adventures take you, from bustling cities to remote destinations. We’ve used Revolut in over 30 countries over the last 7 years from Peru to India to USA to Tanzania to New Zealand. It’s reassuring knowing that we’ll be safe using Revolut overseas.
5. Compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay: We felt like locals paying for our tapas seamlessly with Apply Pay when we walked 300km across Spain.
6. Fee-free ATM withdrawals: You can withdraw cash from ATMs with 0% fees provided you stay within the monthly ATM limit (depending on your plans allowance). Note that local ATMs may have their own fees.
Top tip: we try and spend via card, Apple Pay or Google Pay whenever we can to reduce how much cash we need. For high cash spenders, the Premium Revolut account may be better suitable, as it’s fee-free ATM withdrawal limit is higher than for the Standard Revolut account.
7. Real time spending notifications: Stay in control of your finances with instant spending notifications including geo tagging whenever you spend, ensuring transparency and security.
8. Advanced budgeting tools: Revolut app provides detailed expense breakdowns e.g. how much you’ve spent on holiday by country and by category. You can effortlessly stay within budget. Some people like this feature so much that they continue using Revolut when they get home.
9. Multi-currency account: Hold and manage multiple currencies in a single account, eliminating the need for separate travel wallets or currency exchanges. Revolut supports 26 different currencies, allowing you to spend freely around the world and send / receive multiple currencies. You don’t need to maintain separate accounts for each currency; Revolut handles the conversions seamlessly as you spend.
10. Enhanced security measures: Revolut takes security seriously, offering features such as card freezing and unfreezing, location-based security, and the ability to enable/disable contactless payments. These measures provide added peace of mind during your travels.
11. Easy expense splitting feature for seamless group travel: you can greatly reduce the stress of tracking who owes who what and settling up with your friends on your group holidays with this feature.
12. Physical and virtual cards: Revolut offers the option to order physical cards and create virtual cards. Virtual cards allow you to make secure online transactions without exposing your physical card details.
Top tip: you can start using Revolut if you’re on holiday right now by adding the virtual card to your Apple Pay or Google Pay.
13. Insurance Coverage: Revolut also provides various insurance options as part of its paid packages including travel medical insurance, phone insurance, winter sports insurance and more. It’s worth exploring these options to ensure you have comprehensive coverage during your travels.
Who can use Revolut?
Revolut is a global leader in overseas travel spending and so you can access their services if you are a resident of one of the following countries:
- United States
- Australia
- UK
- European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including most European Union member states
- Canada
- Singapore
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Hong Kong
Our experience using Revolut over the last 7 years
The first time I traveled abroad, I had a rather unfortunate incident with my traditional bank card (NOT Revolut). Picture this: I was in rural Kenya, trying to withdraw some local currency from an ATM when my card got swallowed! I panicked and realised that I was in a foreign land without access to any money.
Since that memorable mishap, I’ve learned the importance of having a travel card that I can trust, one that works seamlessly even in remote areas. And for me, that card has been Revolut for the past seven years.
With Revolut, I know that no matter where I am in the world, even in those off-the-beaten-path destinations, I can rely on my Revolut card to make hassle-free payments, withdraw cash from ATMs, and manage my expenses with ease.
I’ve used it in over 30 countries from rural Bolivia to Tokyo. Some of the countries we’ve used it in include India, New Zealand, Peru, Tanzania, UK, USA, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Latvia. It has worked seamlessly every time.
I’ve won Michael over too. Before our recent trip to Greece, he accidentally paid for our car rental with his local Australian bank card. He got charged an extra $30 in conversion fees from his bank (~5% extra on top of the total cost).
Since I explained that with Revolut, he’d pay 0% in fees and get the best currency conversion rates, he’s become obsessed with religiously spending everything through our Revolut card when we travel (thank god). Michael’s all about convenience and so the fact that it’s so easy to pay using our Apple Pay or tapping the card and it works every.single.time, has won him over.
Top tip: when given the option of paying in local currency or our home currency, we ALWAYS choose local currency. The conversion rates built into the card machine or ATM are usually poor and leave you spending more. We tap local currency and use Revolut exchange rate to get the best value.
Revolut Vs Other Travel Cards
When comparing Revolut with other travel card options in the market, it’s competitive exchange rates mostly beats traditional banks, and the absence of hidden fees sets it apart from many competitors. Revolut’s user-friendly mobile app and intuitive interface make it accessible and easy to navigate, even for less tech-savvy users. Additionally, its global acceptance and widespread ATM network ensure you’ll never face difficulties accessing your funds wherever you may be.
Let’s take a quick look at how Revolut compares in terms of key features:
1. Revolut vs. Traditional Banks:
– Fees and Charges: When it comes to spending your money abroad, traditional banks often charge hefty (and often hidden) fees for spending overseas, typically ranging from 3% to 5%, due to foreign transaction fees, additional ATM withdrawal fees, and currency conversion fees. With no foreign transaction fees and low or no ATM withdrawal fees, Revolut helps you avoid those sneaky charges that traditional banks tend to impose on international transactions. With Revolut, you can get more out of your travel budget.
– Exchange Rates: Revolut offers competitive rates for currency conversions, often beating the rates offered by traditional banks. This can save you money when spending abroad.
2. Revolut vs Wise (formerly TransferWise):
– Currency Exchange Rates: Revolut and Wise both offer competitive rates for currency exchange, however Wise introduces a transaction fee which means that with Revolut you’ll often get better value when converting your home currency to foreign currencies.
– Multi-Currency Accounts: Both Revolut and Wise provide multi-currency accounts. However, Revolut’s user-friendly app and interface make it easier to manage multiple currencies and switch between them effortlessly.
– Global Acceptance: Revolut’s wide acceptance network in 200+ countries ensures you can use the card at millions of locations worldwide, making it a reliable choice during your travels, and giving it an edge over Wise.
3. Revolut vs. Qantas Travel Money:
– Exchange Rates: Revolut provides more competitive exchange rates than Qantas Travel Money. This can result in better value when converting currencies. At time of writing, converting AUD$1000 to Euros will get you €609.15 with Revolut and €575.97 with Qantas travel money, a difference of €33.18.
– Fees and Charges: Revolut offers fee-free ATM withdrawals up to a limit, whereas Qantas Travel Money have a fixed fee per withdrawal.
– Additional Features: Revolut offers advanced budgeting tools, real-time spending notifications, and virtual card options, providing a more comprehensive and convenient travel experience.
–Coverage and Accessibility: Compared to the Qantas Travel Money Card, the Revolut card offers a broader range of supported currencies and a more extensive ATM network.
–Travel Rewards: While Qantas Travel Money Card is ideal for loyal Qantas flyers who want to earn Qantas Points, the Revolut card focuses on providing competitive exchange rates and a seamless user experience across the globe.
4. Revolut vs. Travelex Money Card:
– Currency Exchange Rates: Revolut offers more competitive rates compared to Travelex, resulting in better value for your money. For example, at time of writing this blog, if you were to convert AUD$1000 to Euros with Revolut you’d get €609.15 whereas with Travelex you’d get €583.30 (€25.85 or 4.2% less than with Revolut).
– Multi-Currency Support: With Revolut you can hold 27 different currencies in your digital wallet whereas Travelex is limited to 10.
– Fees: At time of writing, Travelex charges a 1.1% load fee when you load in your home currency, a AUD$10 fee when you withdraw from your Card Fund, and AUD$4 / month if you haven’t used the card in 12 months.
While each of these competitors has its own strengths, Revolut’s combination of competitive rates, fee-free international spending, multi-currency support, and user-friendly app makes it our favourite travel card.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Revolut Abroad
Interested in how to get started with Revolut and how to use Revolut abroad? It’s quick and straightforward.
1. Download the Revolut app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Sign up for an account and complete the verification process by submitting the necessary identification documents.
3. Choose the account plan that suits your needs (Standard, Premium or Metal)
4. Fund your account: Load your Revolut account by making a transfer from your existing bank account or using another debit card. The process is quick and secure.
5. Once your account is verified, order your physical Revolut card, or opt for a virtual card to start using it instantly for online transactions and Apple or Google Pay.
6. Begin using your Revolut travel card: With your Revolut card in hand, you can make payments at any establishment that accepts card payments. You can convert from your home currency to local currency in the Revolut app before using your Revolut travel card abroad or keep your money in your home currency and let Revolut convert as you spend. Rest assured, the best exchange rates will be applied automatically.
Use our link below to get a free £10 bonus into your Revolut account when you spend your first £1.
Revolut Testimonials, Reviews, and Ratings:
With more than 28 million users worldwide, Revolut has become one of the best travel cards globally.
On Trustpilot, Revolut has over 134,692 reviews with an amazing rating of 4.3 stars. Users consistently praise its reliability, security features, and the innovative mobile app that empowers them to spend smarter while travelling.
Additionally Revolut’s travel card boasts an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 10,000 downloads on iPhone’s App Store. Users consistently commend the app’s seamless functionality.
Let’s take a look at what other users have to say.
Testimonials:
“Having Revolut has been a game-changer for me. The convenience, the rewards, and the peace of mind it offers are unparalleled. I can’t imagine traveling without it anymore!” – David P.
Conclusion
The Revolut travel card is a reliable and cost-effective travel card for travelers. With its competitive exchange rates, global acceptance, and user-friendly app, it has gained popularity among over 28 million users worldwide. By following the step-by-step process outlined above, you can quickly and easily apply for a Revolut card and enjoy the savings and convenience it offers. So, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long-term trip abroad, (or even on holiday right now!) consider getting a Revolut travel card to make your money go further and make your journey even more hassle-free. Safe travels!
Since we’ve used Revolut for 7 years, we’ve asked Revolut to provide you with £10 for free when you sign up via our link below and have spent £1. You can sign up on the link below.
Disclaimer: We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information regarding the Revolut travel card in this blog article. Please note that our content may contain affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase or sign up for the Revolut travel card through our links, we may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that our primary goal is to offer valuable recommendations to assist you in making informed decisions. We genuinely appreciate your support, which helps us maintain the quality of our content and continue providing helpful resources. Thank you for considering our affiliate links and trusting our recommendations 
FAQs
Yes you can use Revolut for free. Michael and I enjoy the amazing exchange rates Revolut offers without fees. This comes from using Revolut Standard account (no subscription fee) and understanding the limits above which Revolut introduces some (low) usage fees. Below are the fee-free limits for Revolut’s Standard account:
1. Free mid-week currency conversions up to a monthly limit: You can make currency exchanges mid-week without fees up to a specific limit each month (USD$1000 for Americans, A$2000 for Aussies; £1000 for Brits, €1000 for Europeans). If you go above this monthly limit, or exchange during the weekend, you’ll be charged a 1% fair usage fee.
To avoid this fee, we monitor our monthly free limit for currency conversions and time our exchanges accordingly to avoid fees.
2. Free ATM withdrawals up to a monthly limit: Revolut allows you to withdraw cash from ATMs without charges up to a certain amount per month (USD$400 for Americans, A$350 for Aussies; £200 for Brits, €200 for Europeans) or for 5 withdrawals (whichever comes first). Beyond this limit you will be charged 2% for ATM withdrawals.
Whenever possible we use the card machine and only spend cash where absolutely necessary. This means we rarely, if ever, go above the fee-free withdrawal limit.
3. Free subscription to Standard Account: the monthly subscription for Revolut’s Standard Account is free. If you think you’ll be going above the Standard Accounts fee-free limits (mentioned above) for conversions or ATM withdrawals, it may be worth the subscription fee that comes with getting Revolut’s Premium or Metal Accounts. As well as these increased fee-free limits, you may get other benefits such as cash back for your spending abroad, travel insurance and airport lounge access.
Traditional banks often charge hefty fees for spending overseas, typically ranging from 3% to 5%. However, with Revolut, even with the associated fees, you can still save money compared to using traditional banking services.
We’ve managed to source a link from Revolut where you get £10 free when you sign up and spend your first £1 – Get £10 free here
Absolutely! Revolut provides virtual cards that you can use for secure online transactions. These virtual cards can be generated within the app, and they are single-use, meaning they can only be used for one online transaction. This enhances security and protects your card details.
Yes, Revolut offers business accounts tailored for companies and freelancers. With a Revolut Business account, you can manage your finances, make international payments, issue employee cards, and access various business tools to streamline your financial operations.
Using a Revolut card for travel offers several benefits. You can make payments in over 200 countries and with 25+ currencies, saving you from carrying multiple currencies or incurring high exchange fees. The interbank exchange rate ensures you get a competitive rate for currency conversions. Additionally, the Revolut app allows you to track your spending, split expenses with friends, and easily manage your travel budget.
Yes, Revolut takes security seriously. The app provides features like fingerprint ID log-in and the ability to freeze your card if it’s lost or stolen. Revolut also uses 3D Secure payments and the Sherlock anti-fraud system to monitor and prevent unauthorized transactions. Furthermore, Revolut Australia is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
While travel insurance is not currently available for Australian cardholders. Premium and Metal cardholders in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) have access to comprehensive travel insurance provided by Allianz. It’s possible that similar insurance options may become available to Australian cardholders in the future.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to thoroughly review the terms and conditions of any financial product or service, including travel cards, to ensure it meets your specific needs and preferences.
Yes, Revolut cards support contactless payments, making it quick and convenient to make purchases at contactless-enabled terminals. You can simply tap your Revolut card on the payment terminal to complete the transaction. However, it’s worth noting that you have control over contactless payments in the Revolut app, allowing you to disable this feature if desired.
Yes, you can easily add funds to your Revolut account from your Australian bank account. Revolut supports bank transfers from Australian-issued debit cards and Australian bank accounts, and these transfers are typically free of charge. It’s a seamless way to fund your Revolut account and have access to funds while traveling.
Yes, Revolut cards can be added to digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. This allows you to make contactless payments using your Revolut card through your smartphone or other compatible devices. It’s a convenient and secure way to make purchases without needing to carry your physical card.
Revolut provides customer support through the app, where you can access a live chat feature to connect with a support agent. However, it’s worth mentioning that some users have reported limited customer support availability, so it’s advisable to check the support options and response times provided by Revolut for your region.
Remember, specific details and features may vary based on your location and the version of the Revolut app you are using. It’s always recommended to refer to the official Revolut website or contact their customer support for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
