Best Credit Cards for Travel

Every year we save our income to travel to destinations we always wanted to see. We pay lots of money every year just getting from place to place, however you can reduce your costs by opting for an excellent travel card. You can save yourself a lot of bucks while shopping and paying for your needs. A lot of these cards come with extremely attractive deals on sign-up as well as conversion charges and transaction fees. In this short article, I will share with you the properties and benefits of a few of the very best travel credit cards .

Best Credit Cards for Travel

Benefits of a TransferWise prepaid debit card

Keep a TransferWise debit card in your pocket if you want to cut back some money on your international trips. You can have this debit card when signing up for an account with TransferWise. Borderless account permits you to keep your cash in different currencies to be used directly in their corresponding country’s currencies, without having them exchanged. This saves a great deal of money and time in currency conversion. This card can also be used for purchasing, and they charge no transaction fees. You also get real exchange rates each time on currency exchange. Spending in the currencies currently in your account will not incur any cost. However on exchanging any foreign currency, they will charge you a conversion charge between 0.35% and 1%. You can also withdraw money as much as GBP 200 each month from an atm machine with this card without any fees. All these cost savings will add up to more holiday fun.

Important features of Revolut travel debit card

Important features of Revolut travel debit card

The next alternative is Revolut travel card. Revolut is an electronic banking company that offers you the freedom to electronically handle your finances. They offer you a prepaid debit card with your account. You can spend your money in more than 130 nations using this card without paying any transaction charges. You can also perform free international money transfers with these cards. This account gives you the freedom to keep up to 25 different currencies in your account. Using just this card, you can holiday around the world with ease.

To Sum It Up

Choosing a credit card specifically for foreign travel will help save you some expenditures. While traveling, it’s not wise to waste a big portion of your savings on currency conversion and card transactions. Both of these cards are designed to assist you spend your money smartly on your actual travel costs. They are functional in nearly every country and provide round-the-clock consumer assistance. They have a mobile app to help you keep track of your expenditures. In my research study, I discovered that TransferWise offers better currency exchange rate and lower charges than Revolut. Even so, countless customers are already using the services of both of these amazing cards. After learning this, I’m sure you will under no circumstances leave your house without a travel card in your pocket again!

HiFX Review

HiFX Review

HiFX doesn’t need any introduction in the global fund transfer business. This popularity is primarily because they provide trustworthy services at economical prices. In last 20 years, they have never failed to satisfy their customers. This has made them earn an excellent score of 9.4 out of 10 on Trustpilot.  We will discuss more about HiFX and review their services ahead in this article. Let’s try to explore what makes it one of the most favored providers in the business.

How to transfer money with HiFX

As mentioned earlier, HiFX is a purely online company, and you can make transfers through their website only. You can create your account by submitting your details and a copy of your ID for your account’s verification. HiFX verifies each and every account to prevent any kinds of frauds or scams. With a verified account you can make a transfer in minutes. First, log on to your account and choose the transaction type. You’ll need to fill in the amount you are going to send and also the amount of currency that will be received. Next, you will be required to fill in the details of the recipient and the bank account where the money will be sent to. Always double check everything before hitting submit. If everything is fine, make payments by any of their payment methods. The money will reach the recipient in 1-2 business days.

How reliable is HiFX?

Customers have really trusted HiFX for last 20 years; their glowing reviews show how truly reliable they are. Their customers have scored them an average of 9.5 out of 10 on Trustpilot. HiFX is regulated and licensed by FCA, which compels them to follow certain guidelines. One of the key requirements is to keep the clients’ money in segregated bank accounts. Every year they provide financial solutions to over 6000 businesses and transfer billions of dollars. They manage and satisfy over hundred thousands customer around the world every year. In order to protect the privacy of their customers, they use world-class technology on their website. For last 20 years, HiFX has performed better than the expectations of its customers; because of this, HiFX is definitely one of the most reliable names in the business.

How reliable is HiFX?

How much will a transfer with HiFX cost you?

If you are wondering which service provider charges the least, you will be interested to know that HiFX charges nothing for fund transfers. They also offer very impressive exchange rates. But in the case of a payment made with a credit card, that fee would be applicable. It’s important to mention here that there are a few service providers who are offering better exchange rates than HiFX. You will notice a big difference in the amount received by the recipient if the exchange rates are poor. If the exchange rates are lower, you will receive less money in the end. In my opinion, zero fees gives HiFX a lot of advantages over the others. But to remain competitive, they need to improve on their exchange rates as well. Even a small difference in the rates can make a tremendous difference. In that case, even offering zero transfer fee will not make much of a difference to its potential customers.   

Advantages of HiFX’s services

HiFX possesses certain qualities which, when bundled together, makes it an amazing service provider. HiFX is growing rapidly and has now reached over 170 countries. Even though they have a large customer base, they manage to satisfy pretty much all of them. They have a great team of customer support staff who make sure that all of your issues are solved. They also have amazing speed; most of their transfers are finished in about one day!   Even in the cases of complicated transactions, the money gets delivered in maximum 4 business days. This is much faster than banks who can take up to 10 business days to process your transfer. HiFX also lets you choose from one of its many payment methods like credit or debit card or through bank transfer.

Advantages of HiFX's services

The Flaws I Observed in HiFX

It’s rather difficult to find flaws in HiFX, but I observed some limitations in their services. Their focus should be on improving their exchange rates The rates they are offering now are okay, but there are other services that are providing better. Better rates would draw more customers to their business because the customers always want to spend less. Also, HiFX makes all their transfers directly to the recipient’s bank account. They don’t provide direct cash pick up from a local office like many other service providers.

Overall review on HiFX

So far, I am really impressed with HiFX, and you should try it. I came across so many great reviews of their services. Almost every customer praises their economical pricing, great customer experience, and smooth transaction. HiFX has been featured multiple times in prominent publications like The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, and The Guardian. They admire HiFX every time!  They have also acquired a strong financial foothold after becoming a part of Euronet Group.  To me, HiFX seems more preferable since they have been in the business for 20 years, much longer than most of the other fun transfer companies. This certainly makes it the most desirable choice of them all.

TransferWise Review

Gone are the days when people used to wait for hours in banks to send money to other countries. Now it does not only take lesser time but it also costs less. So many companies have now come into the picture that has changed the customer’s experience of fund transfers. One of the most prominent name in the list is TransferWise. This name has completely changed the way money used to travel between two countries. It offers you the best deals in the market and it’s up to eight times cheaper than the traditional banks. Not only this, it converts your currencies at real mid-market exchange rates, saving you a lot of money. Keep reading this article to know more about TransferWise, its fees, services and much more.

What is TransferWise?

TransferWise is one of the leading P2P service providers for sending funds internationally. It was founded in 2011 and has its headquarters in London. You can send payments to individuals as well as to businesses using its online account. It functions entirely online using its website and mobile app. It does not have any physical branches . It only sends money to the bank account of the recipient. The company has grown multiple folds in only 7 years into the business and now operates in 60 countries. It gained its popularity by offering extremely low fees, without any hidden charges.

How does TransferWise work?

This company was founded by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, two gentlemen who were living in London but belonged to Estonia. Taavet used to send payments from Estonia to London and Kristo used to send payments from London to Estonia. In this process, they were paying a lot of banks fees. They eventually realized that this could be done without paying any fees at all. This is how the concept of peer to peer payment came into their mind and they started this venture.

In peer to peer payment, the company holds some funds in every country in which they operate. When someone makes a request to send a payment, the amount gets deposited to the origin country’s account and the equivalent amount from the destination country’s account gets delivered to the recipient. This is how they save a lot on the fees as the money doesn’t leave the country. They charge a small fee for this transaction and you also get real mid-market exchange rate. When a service provider doesn’t give you real mid-market rate, you also lose money during the currency conversion. In this way, you not only save money in fee but also in exchange rate. At, you can see how much you can save in your next transaction as compared to other popular service providers.

TransferWise Review

TransferWise fees

It offers very competitive fees which are extremely transparent. You don’t have to pay any hidden charges. When you initiate a transaction you can see the total fee which will be charged to you. This fee includes a small percentage of the amount being sent along with a flat fee. This flat fee depends on the countries and currencies involved in the transaction. Apart from this, you may also have to pay credit card fee if you use your credit card to pay for the transaction. The credit card fee depends on the credit card type and the currency.

Let’s have a look at the payable fees when $1000 is sent from the US to these countries using TransferWise.

Country Amount sent Applicable Fee
U.K $1000 $8.7
Australia $1000 $8.7
India $1000 $8.94
France $1000 $8.45

You can see the fees are very low comparing to a bank and many other service providers. Usually, a bank charges $30 – $60 for such transaction that is a robbery.

Exchange rate

In most cases, TransferWise gives you true mid-market exchange rates which are the fairest in the business. It freezes the exchange rate for the customer when the transaction starts. So the amount does not get affected by the fluctuations while the payment reaches the recipient. In this way, the recipient gets the specific amount they have expected. This feature is called “Guaranteed Rate”. This guarantees the exchange rate you will get at the time of delivery.

Let’s have a comparative look between the exchange rates of TransferWise and actual mid-market exchange rates to see if it actually uses real mid-market exchange rates.

Conversion TransferWise real exchange rate Mid-market exchange rate
USD – EUR 0.85715 0.85732
GBP – EUR 1.13390 1.13375
USD – INR 68.1750 68.1862
GBP – AUD 1.7887 1.7887
GBP – CAD 1.7887 1.7631

It is clear that their exchange rates are very close to mid-market rates and can really be called real mid-market exchange rates.

Is TransferWise safe?

Safety of their money will always be an important matter of concern for customers. While making any big or small transaction they need the guarantee that their money will reach its destination. Here your money is always safe in any transaction. The company is regulated by UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. They keep the company’s fund and the client’s fund separately. The client’s funds are always safe and in case of any financial issues with the company the client’s funds are never in danger. Another concern which most of the online user have is the security of the company’s website and payment gateways. Their website secures all of your sensitive information with smart HTTPS security encryption. It has done international transfers worth billions of dollars and has never given a reason to doubt their security.

TransferWise bank account

In addition to sending payments internationally, it also offers you a borderless account. You can use this account to send and receive payments and to spend money in different countries. You can receive payments from more than 30 countries using this account. With this account, you get Australian, British and US account number along with European IBAN number. When you send or receive money using these details you save money in terms of fees from both ends. You can also keep different currencies in your account and exchange them into other currencies whenever you wish. In every exchange, you get the real exchange rates applicable to all other transactions. You don’t have to pay any monthly fee or keep any minimum balance to keep the account active.

TransferWise bank account


TransferWise is indeed a great choice for those who frequently send money to other countries. It has very good reviews from its customers and on Trustpilot, it has a score of 9 out of 10. Around 88% of customers at Trustpilot has rated it as “Excellent” and praised its simplicity and low fees. In such a small time it has managed to establish a strong base for itself with millions of loyal customers globally.

4 ways to send money with PayPal

Since its inception in 1998, PayPal has been quite a favorite service provider for transferring money across countries. With its user-friendly platform, it has gained millions of customers all over the world. In just a few clicks you can send or receive money through PayPal. All you need is a PayPal account and the email or phone number of the person you wish to send money to. PayPal has multiple options for sending money. You can choose from any of the options suiting your need. In this article, we will explore 4 different ways through which you can send money with PayPal.

Once started as a personal platform for sending money, PayPal is now used significantly as a business platform as well. Now you can not only send or receive money to your family but also make payments to your customers or receive payments for your goods or services. With few easy steps, you can set up your account and get started.

4 ways to send money with PayPal

1. Send money through your PayPal Balance

The PayPal balance available in your account gets utilized first to fund your transfer whenever you initiate it. In case the balance is not sufficient, you can use other options like credit or debit card to fund the remaining amount. The PayPal balance increases whenever you accept any PayPal payment sent to you. You can also increase it by adding money through a bank account.

Add money to your PayPal balance from a bank account

You are required to link your bank account to your PayPal account so you can add money to your PayPal balance. Once the details of your bank accounts are submitted and verified you can use this bank account to making payments as well as for adding money to the PayPal balance. This balance can be used to fund the transfer as well as to pay for any other purchases. But the best part is that even if you don’t have any money or PayPal balance you can still pay for your purchases with its other payment options.

Transfer money to your bank account

You can also transfer the payment you receive in your PayPal account to your own bank account. You just have to click on “Withdraw Money” option under “Payment method” tab and the money will be transferred to your linked bank account. In case you have linked multiple bank accounts you can select the preferred one in which the money will be sent. Usually, it takes 3-5 business days to complete the transfer.

2. Send money using your credit or debit card

If you have just set up your account and have no PayPal balance, even then you can send money using your PayPal account. In this case, you need to link your debit or credit card with your account. You can link up to 8 debit or credit cards.

Link your debit or credit card with your account

You can link your credit or debit card through “Payment method” tab available on the home screen. You will be needed to verify your card before you make any transaction. Two small transactions of few cents will be made through your card for verification. The details of these transactions can be found through online banking. You will have to fill in these transaction details in the PayPal verification form. After the verification is done you are free to use your credit or debit cards for any transaction through your PayPal account. The information once entered is saved and for future payments, you just have to check and review the payment options. The linked cards can only be used to make payment and they can’t be used to add PayPal balance to your account.

Link your debit or credit card with your account

3. Send money from your bank account

The available balance in your bank account can also be used to fund your money transfer through PayPal. It is similar to sending money through your credit or debit card. In place of payment option, you have to select your bank account. It is mandatory that your bank account is linked and you have accepted the direct debit agreement to process the transaction. The money is deducted directly from your bank account.

4. Send money through PayPal credit

Another way of funding your transfer is through PayPal credit. The PayPal credit account and PayPal account are linked. So when you use your PayPal credit to pay for your transfer it reflects in your PayPal credit account which you can settle later. You can also send money to yourself from PayPal credit, but you may have to pay interest on the amount if it becomes applicable.

PayPal Credit

PayPal Credit is a digital alternative to pay for your purchases through your PayPal account even when you don’t have money. The payment for these purchases can be done later. Your PayPal Credit account gives you the flexibility to pay within 6 months for all your purchases costing $99 or more and there will be no interest levied. You can use your PayPal Credit for payments wherever PayPal is accepted such as eBay and other online shopping websites.

You need to fill an online application form on the PayPal Credit website to apply for your account. Once your account is approved you can start making purchases with it. Even though the applications are approved within minutes they are subject to credit approval.

PayPal Fees

The transfer fee of PayPal is fairly reasonable. It would cost nothing for a U.S based PayPal account holder to transfer money to another U.S based PayPal account if the payment is made through PayPal balance or bank account. A fee of 2.9% of the transferred amount is to be paid in case a credit or debit card or PayPal credit is used for payment along with a fixed fee. This fixed fee will depend on the currency of the transaction.

A reasonable fee of $2.99 is charged for sending money to Canada and European countries and $4.99 for other countries when the payment is funded through PayPal balance or bank account. An additional fee of 2.9% of transferred amount is charged when a credit or debit card or PayPal credit is used for payment along with a fixed fee depending on the currency of the transaction.


Over the time with the increased demand for online payment systems has now become a necessity for everyone. PayPal offers many convenient payment options wherever you send money to somebody, pay for good or services. It’s great for online purchases as you personal information, including card numbers, is never disclosed. It’s free to pay with PayPal, however the fee for sending money can be relatively high for non US resident.

MoneyGram vs. Western Union Comparison

When it comes to our money we all look for the most reliable options. We want to opt for companies which have served its customers for decades and are established as a synonym for quality and trust. When it’s a matter of international money transfer there is no one who isn’t familiar with the names of two giant in this field – Western Union and MoneyGram. Both the companies have served their customers for a very long time and even in this fiercely competitive scenario, they are able to hold their flag like before. The global presence of their cash pick up points has made them a distinguished service provider in the era of online and mobile cash transfer. These cash pick up points definitely is a lifesaver for people in emergencies and in developing countries where people may not have a bank account. Since they cater to similar kinds of customers they often become a subject of comparison. In this article, we will attempt to have a comparative look at these two service providers and explore the various aspects which a customer would like to know before opting for any of the two services.

About Western Union & MoneyGram

Western Union was founded in 1851 in the US and is one of the most trusted names in the business. Initially established as a telegraph company they later moved into the business of money orders and wire transfers. At present, WU has more than 500,000 pick-up locations present in 200 countries.

Just like WU, MoneyGram is also a US-based company which was founded in 1978. The company operates in 200 countries with 347,000 agent’s locations worldwide. MoneyGram offers money transfers and bill payment services to its customers.

Money transfer through Western Union

WU has made it very convenient for their customers to send money to anyone they want. You can choose to send money online through their website or their app. You can also send money by phone or by visiting one of their local offices.

You need to create your profile first if you are transferring money online or through their app. Once your profile is set up you can start the transfer by clicking “Send Money”. You can pay for your transfer either by your credit or debit card or directly through your bank account. You can also pay in cash at one of their local agent offices. In the next step, you need to select the way the recipient is going to receive the money. The recipient can directly get the money in their bank account or as a mobile money transfer. They can also pick up the money in cash from any nearby WU cash pick up point. The mode of receiving money may differ from one country to another. In the end, you need to just review all the information you have entered and submit the request.

MoneyGram vs. Western Union Comparison

Customers who wish to make a money transfer within the US can also do it over the phone by calling on the WU money transfer hotline. You will be required to present your debit or credit card information along with the receiver’s details such as their name and complete address.

Another easy and popular way of sending money is to send it in person by visiting any of WU local agent office. You will have to produce your government ID and credit or debit card information along with the receiver’s details.

Customers in Canada also have an option to transfer fund from Western Union from any of the Wal-Mart outlets. This facility is available at the Wal-Mart’s customer service counter. You can get an additional discount of 5% on the total transfer fee.

The maximum amount you can transfer through WU is $5000 which gets delivered within minutes to up to 5 working days depending on the country and the mode of payment.

Money transfer through MoneyGram

MoneyGram also has similar options like WU for sending money and payments. In MoneyGram, you can also send money online or using their app as well as by visiting the nearest MoneyGram location. The money can be sent to the recipient in their bank account or in a mobile wallet. The recipient can also pick up the cash from a MoneyGram pick up point.

While transferring money online you need to fill in the details of the receiver and the amount you wish the send. You can make payment either by your bank account or by using credit or debit card. After the verification of your identity, your money will be sent to the receiver and you can track the transfer online too.

If you wish to transfer money in person you can directly contact the MoneyGram local office along with your ID and receiver’s information. You can pay for the transfer with either credit or debit card, or in cash.

MoneyGram vs. Western Union Comparison

Another additional option which MoneyGram offers is that you can also send money with MoneyGram Sendbot. You need to log in to Facebook or Facebook messenger app and click on “Get Started”. You will have to log in to your MoneyGram account and by following the simple instructions you can send money easily.

A maximum amount of $2999 can be sent by MoneyGram which usually take a few minutes to 2-3 days to get delivered.

Transfer fee and exchange rates

The transfer fee varies significantly for both the services depending on a lot of factors such as the country, the amount of money, payment options and how the money is received. The countries having high traffic usually have less transfer fee. However for both the services you will have to pay more if you are paying through your credit or debit card in comparison to pay through your bank account or in cash. The minimum fee in case of Western Union as well as MoneyGram is $5 which goes up to a maximum of $100. The exchange rates of both the companies are almost similar which also varies from one currency to another.

MoneyGram vs. Western Union: Case Comparison

With so many variables in place, it would be convenient to see an actual case of money transfer to make the comparison more useful. I tried to transfer 1000 USD to EUR from the US to France using Western Union and MoneyGram. There are the results.

Payment method Receiving mode Transfer Fee Exchange Rate Amount Received
MoneyGram Online : Bank Account Cash Pick up $25.99 $1 = 0.822 822.24 EUR
Online : Credit Card Cash Pick up $80.99 $1 = 0.822 822.24 EUR
Western Union Online : Bank Account Cash Pick up $26.00 $1 = 0.7875 787.50 EUR
Online : Credit Card Cash Pick up $81.00 $1 = 0.7875 787.50 EUR
Payment method Receiving mode Transfer Fee Exchange Rate Amount Received
MoneyGram Online : Bank Account Bank Account $4.99 $1 = 0.822 822.24 EUR
Online : Credit Card Bank Account $30.00 $1 = 0.822 822.24 EUR
Western Union Online : Bank Account Bank Account $5.00 $1 = 0.7875 787.50 EUR
Online : Credit Card Bank Account $30.00 $1 = 0.7875 787.50 EUR

In the above comparison, it is quite clear that with MoneyGram you can get 34.74 EUR more than what you get with Western Union. The transfer fee for MoneyGram and Western Union is same in each case, but it is the exchange rate which makes the difference. You might have also noted that transfer fee is significantly higher in case of cash pick up as compared to receiving funds in the bank account. The exchange rate offered by MoneyGram is better than Western Union. MoneyGram also took lesser time to transfer money. So in case of emergency, it is always better to go with the faster option. But if you have time you can also research and see which service provider works best in your case. Even though there are many new options in the market, companies like Western Union and MoneyGram are established names and with their customer’s trust in them, they are here to stay longer.