We'll talk about bank cards for travelers - which one is better to take abroad, what to look for when choosing a card. We give a selection of the most profitable credit and debit cards for travel.

What to look for when choosing a card

When choosing a debit or credit card for travel, there are a few things to consider.

Some of them relate directly to use abroad (conversion rate, commission for withdrawals from an ATM, etc.), and some are universal (cashback, interest on the balance).

1. Conversion rate

This parameter is relevant only for ruble bank cards.

When you pay for purchases or withdraw cash abroad, the bank converts the local currency and debits it from your account in rubles at the appropriate rate.

If the country's currency is neither dollars nor euros, then 2 conversions:

1. Local currency –> USD (payment system currency – Mastercard or Visa)
2. USD –> RUB

The first conversion occurs at the rate of the payment system. For the second conversion (USD –> RUB), banks use their internal rate. Usually it is +1-2% to the Central Bank rate. That is, you overpay 1-2% for converting dollars into rubles.

Some cards, for example Kukuruza and Beeline, convert currency at the Central Bank exchange rate - their conversion losses are zero.

2. Cash withdrawal fee

Banks may charge fees for cash withdrawals from third-party ATMs. For example, Sberbank takes 1% of the withdrawal amount, but not less than 100 rubles.

Some banks have limits on free withdrawals from ATMs. For example, with the Kukuruza card you can withdraw up to 50,000 rubles per month for free, and then there will be a commission.

It is important to know: free cash withdrawal applies only to the card issuing bank - it does not charge a commission on its side. However, an ATM may also charge a commission - it is better to check this before traveling to a specific country. For example, in Thailand, all ATMs charge a commission of 220 baht.

3. Cashback

Many credit and debit cards offer cashback for travel abroad. Usually it is 1-2%, but it can be higher for certain product categories or for purchases in partner stores.

Cashback can be credited in rubles or bonuses/miles. The first option is always preferable, since you can spend rubles on anything, but bonuses or miles cannot.

Note: Some banks limit the maximum amount of cashback that can be received per month.

4. Interest on the balance

It will be an additional advantage if the card provides interest on the balance. Usually it is 4-6% per annum; can be awarded in rubles, bonuses or miles. Rubles are the best option.

5. Other parameters

Other parameters can also play an important role for travelers - for example, the cost of annual service, the price of issuing a card, the availability of a mobile application and online banking, etc.

Sometimes cards come with useful bonuses - for example, access to airport business lounges, free transfers, etc.

The best travel maps

Almost all major banks now issue debit cards for traveling abroad. Credit cards are less common, but there are also a lot of them.

The conditions for such cards from different banks can vary greatly - you need to carefully study the tariffs to find the best option.

Below is a selection of the most interesting and profitable offers.

Bank Tinkoff

Some of the best travel cards are issued by Tinkoff Bank. There are both specialized cards for travelers, as well as regular credit and debit cards that are convenient to use abroad.

The best of the special cards is Tinkoff All Airlines; the usual ones are Black (debit) and Platinum (credit).

Advantages of cards from Tinkof Bank– good cashback, convenient banking application, simple registration, free transfers to other cards (there are limits), cash withdrawal without commission.

You can link several accounts in different currencies (rubles, dollars, euros, pounds sterling) to one card and switch between them. Different currencies - one card.

When paying for goods abroad, the first conversion (currency of the country of purchase -> USD) occurs at the MasterCard rate; the second conversion is at the Tinkoff Bank rate (Central Bank rate + 2%). But thanks to a 1-2% cashback, losses are either completely absent or reduced.

Tinkoff All Airlines

For whom: independent travelers.

Available in two versions - credit and debit. For travel, it is more profitable to use a credit card - it has a higher cashback.

Below we will only talk about the credit version of the card, but at the end of the section there is a table with numbers for both options of All Airlines.

• Pros: large cashback (5-10%) for purchases of tickets, hotels, car rentals; travel insurance as a gift.
• Cons: cashback with miles; Some miles are lost when purchasing tickets.

Tinkoff Black (debit)

For what: universal card for use in Russia and abroad.

Tinkoff Platinum (credit)

For whom: those who need a universal credit card.

Note: All Tinkof cards can be ordered in the “Black edition” version. They have a more expensive service, but larger limits and access to business lounges at many airports around the world. This version of the card is suitable for those who fly frequently.

Sberbank

In terms of profitable bank cards for travel, Sberbank, in general, loses to other banks. But since many Russians have Sber cards, we added them for comparison.

Commission for withdrawals from third-party ATMs: 1%, but not less than 100 rubles. That is, it is more profitable to withdraw amounts from 10,000 rubles.

• country currency –>
• USD –> RUB (according to the bank’s internal rate, approximately Central Bank +2%)
• Cashback: 0.5% through the “Thank you” program. It is awarded not in rubles, but in bonuses (1 bonus = 1 ruble). You can only spend bonuses in partner stores.

Thus, losses when paying with a card abroad and withdrawing cash:

Annual maintenance costs 750 rubles in the first year and 450 rubles in subsequent years.

You can apply for both a Visa and Mastercard. It is better to choose Mastercard, since Visa charges an additional commission for cross-border payments (country currency -> USD) - about 2%.

Other options: Sberbank also issues an Aeroflot debit card, on which cashback for purchases is awarded in miles (1 mile for every 60 rubles). You can spend miles in the Aeroflot Bonus program on flights with Aeroflot and airlines of the SkyTeam alliance.

Corn

Suitable for: payment for purchases abroad at the Central Bank rate.

Euroset issues a Kukuruza debit card (Mastercard). The main advantages of the card are conversion at the Central Bank rate (that is, without commission from the bank) and free service.

The Kukuruza card is suitable for paying for purchases abroad and for withdrawing small amounts of cash (up to 50,000 rubles).

• country currency –> USD (at MasterCard rate, 0%)
• USD –> RUB (at the Central Bank rate, 0%)
• Cashback: 0.5-1.5% (depending on card type), bonuses

You can withdraw cash from Corn without interest at any ATM in the world if the “Interest on balance” option is enabled. But there are restrictions: you need to withdraw from 5,000 rubles at a time, and no more than 50,000 rubles per month. When withdrawing cash over 50,000 rubles per month, the commission is 1% of the amount exceeding the limit (minimum 100 rubles).

The “Interest on balance” option allows you to receive 7.5% per annum on the minimum amount that was on the card for the month.

Topping up Kukuruza is either free in cash at Euroset (there are other methods), or from another bank card (from 3,000 rubles - no commission).

The downside of the card is its weak bonus program. Cashback varies from 0.5% (Mastercard Standard) to 1.5% (Mastercard World). Bonuses can be spent with just a few partners (for example, in Euroset or in the Perekrestok store), and sometimes bonuses can be used to pay only part of the cost, and not the entire purchase.

Beeline

For what: shopping abroad.

Similar to Corn - they have almost the same tariffs and weak cashbacks. Issue of a card costs 300 rubles.

A Beeline card can be used for purchases abroad without commission, and for cash withdrawals from ATMs up to 50,000 rubles per month.

• country currency –> USD (at MasterCard rate, 0%)
• USD –> RUB (at the Central Bank rate, 0%)
• Cashback: 1% (5% in selected categories), bonuses

Free cash withdrawal from any ATM if you have interest on your balance. Limits: up to 5000 at a time – no commission (otherwise 149 rubles); up to 50,000 rubles per month - no commission (otherwise 2% of the excess, but not less than 199 rubles).

Interest on the balance is accrued if the balance on the card does not fall below 3,000 rubles. The interest rate varies from 0.01% to 6% (for example, with 100,000 rubles in the account - 3%).

Cashback bonuses can be spent either on communications and Internet from Beeline, or on purchases in Beeline and partner stores.

There are few good partners. The only way to profitably spend Beeline bonuses is to buy an air ticket on the website Biletix.ru. But keep in mind that tickets there are not always the cheapest.

Information →

Travel / Bank Otkritie (Visa)

Suitable for: use in Russia and accumulate miles.

On a note: Otkritie Bank has a Russian Railways card - it has almost the same conditions, but the cashback percentage is slightly higher, and you can spend it on train tickets.

Summary table of cards

The table takes into account commissions for cash withdrawals (differences in exchange rates) and payments abroad (if any), as well as bonuses and cashback.

Using the Tinkoff Black card as an example:

• Payment by card: -1% (at first we get -2% due to conversion, but then we get +1% cashback; total -1%).
• Cash withdrawal: -2% (-2% for conversion at the bank’s internal rate)

Map / Service	Payment by card abroad	Cash withdrawal	Cashback	Service per month
All Airlines (debit)	-1%	-2%	1-10%, miles	0-299 rub.
All Airlines (credit)	-1%	290 rub.	2-10%, miles	157.5 rub.
Tinkoff Black	-1%	-2%	1%, rubles	0-99 rub.
Tinkoff Platinum	-1%	-	1%, rubles	50 rub.
Sberbank	-1,5%	-3%	0,5%	37.5-62.5 rub.
Corn	+0,5-1,5%	0%, Central Bank rate	0.5-1.5%, bonuses	for free
Beeline	+1%	0%, Central Bank rate	1%, bonuses	for free
Opening Travel	-	-2,5%	2-4%, bonuses	0-2500 rub.

Currency or ruble card?

Which bank card to choose for traveling abroad – foreign currency or ruble? Many people think that a currency card is always more profitable, but this is not so.

A currency card should be used in 2 cases:

1. You receive salary or other payments in foreign currency
2. Do you want to fix the exchange rate for your trip?

To understand why in these cases, you need to understand the process of converting local currency into rubles.

How does the conversion happen?

Making a purchase in a store or withdrawing cash abroad using a ruble card works like this:

• One conversion if the card currency matches the country currency (USD –> RUB)
• Two conversions if currencies do not match. For example, you buy baht in Thailand:
  • First comes the conversion of local currency into dollars (BATH –> USD)
  • Then there is a conversion from USD –> RUB (the currency of your card)

If you have a currency card, then the stage of exchanging dollars for rubles (USD –> RUB) is removed from the chain. Thus, in dollar countries, money is debited from you 1:1, and in other countries - at the dollar exchange rate to the local currency.

Salary in foreign currency

If you receive a salary or payments in foreign currency, everything is simple:

• You receive, for example, $1500 (salary) on your card
• Abroad, you pay for dinner for $20, you are charged exactly $20
• USD –> RUB conversion does not occur at any stage, there is no commission

In this case, you use the main advantage of currency cards over ruble cards - the absence of commissions for one of the conversions (USD -> RUB).

This benefit only works if you receive your salary or payments in dollars. If you receive income in rubles, everything will be different.

Salary in rubles and exchange for dollars

If you received rubles for work, exchanged them for dollars at the bank, and then put them on a currency card, you still paid a conversion fee. It’s just that you paid this commission not at the time of using the card abroad, but at the time of exchanging money.

This can be beneficial (if the dollar exchange rate rises by the time of the trip) or disadvantageous (if the dollar exchange rate falls).

Example:

You change 60,000 rubles for 1,000 dollars (at the rate of 1:60) and put them on the card.

$1000 = 60,000 rubles

In 2 weeks you are going abroad, but the dollar exchange rate has risen to 62 rubles. If you spend $1000, 62,000 rubles are debited from your ruble card. With a currency card, you have fixed the rate for yourself at 1:60, and pay according to it.

$1000$ = 62,000 rubles; benefit: +2000 rubles

But the opposite situation may also be true. If you exchanged $1,000 at the rate of 1:60, and by the time of your trip $1 costs 58 rubles, with a ruble card you would pay 58,000 rubles abroad (savings: 2,000 rubles). When paying with a currency card, you spend dollars purchased for 60 rubles.

$1000 = 58,000 rubles; losses: -2000 rubles

Thus, traveling abroad with a currency card can be both profitable and unprofitable. It all depends on the difference in exchange rates at the time of exchange and at the time of purchase.

In this case, a dollar card should be used if you are afraid of a rise in the exchange rate and want to fix it.

Alternative option

The best option is to have 2 bank cards for travel: ruble and foreign currency:

• If the dollar has increased at the time of your trip, pay with a currency card at the rate at the time of money exchange.
• If the dollar has fallen, pay with a ruble card at a lower current rate.

However, in the second case, you need to keep in mind that you still have dollars purchased at a higher price on your currency card.

A selection of profitable cards

• for payment abroad: all listed, except Otkritie Travel
• for cash withdrawal: Tinkoff Black; Beeline and Corn – up to 50,000 rubles per month
• to accumulate bonuses/miles for cashback: Tinkoff All Airlines, Tinkoff Black, Otkritie Travel
• for interest on balance: Tinkoff Black

For me personally, the best debit card was Tinkoff Black because of its versatility: cash withdrawals over 3,000 rubles at a time without commission, cashback in rubles at the end of the month, 6% per annum on the balance.

In addition, this card often has travel special offers with increased cashback: tours and trips (5%), medical insurance (10-15%), car rental (10%), etc. If you are going on a trip and pay for these products with a card, a significant amount accumulates, and at the end of the month it is credited to your account in real rubles.

For example, 5% of the cost of a tour for two to Thailand is 5000 rubles cashback.

Summary of the article

1. Understand the advantages of travel cards - favorable conversion rates, no fees for cash withdrawals, cashback, etc.
2. Decide on the type of card - currency, ruble or both

In principle, a normal bank... or more, probably, a broker - it seems that they want to force all clients to become investors)) I just use the card, the bonuses are not bad, there is cashback - everything is like with people. If it weren’t for the constant calls and letters with offers to “think about investing,” everything would be normal... Oh, and the exchange rate is good. But I don’t want to be a trader, and I’m tired of persuasion.

Sergey Perlov, Moscow

I received the card, crossed out unnecessary points

Promsvyazbank

Continuing the review about the delivery of the All Exclusive card. The guy came, opened the envelope, took out 3 sheets of paper and gave 2 of them to sign, saying this is an agreement. I read it carefully. Conditions, transcripts, a very lengthy clause with personal data, which I successfully refused, as well as clauses about data changes, etc. also refused. The guy took a photo of me with and without the package, and also took a photo of my passport. When...

Ivan Ivanov, Moscow

You can withdraw without commission

I issued an MTS Money Weekend card so that it would be convenient to top up a credit card from the same bank. What you like about the Money card is that you can withdraw money without commission at any bank. This is very convenient for me, because being a client of MTS Bank, there are not so many of these MTS ATMs on my WORK-HOME route. Another cool cashback on Fridays. I did the math, in 2 weeks I got back about 500 rubles, and...

Fedor Tregubov, Moscow

Refund of funds, the ATM did not dispense cash upon withdrawal due to a technical fault

Credit Bank of Moscow

On February 13, 2019, I withdrew cash from an ATM of PJSC MKB in the Kuntsevo Plaza shopping center, located at: Moscow, st. Yartsevskaya, 19 (hereinafter referred to as the ATM), in the amount of 8,000.00 (Eight thousand) rubles. The ATM did not dispense cash; the cash withdrawal operation was carried out using my current account statement. By telephone, MKB PJSC was informed that the ATM had a technical error status and was then transferred to...

Vera, Moscow

For translations

I met them with polite service, which is so rare in Russian banks; in general, there are few well-mannered people left. I was trying to get a regular debit card for transfers. I didn’t want to do it online, it’s more reliable and simpler, and it’s easier because you can ask all the questions at once. Well, everything, as expected, two weeks later I received the card in my hands and linked my phone. It is important to me that a person who...

Evgeny Korzhevsky, Moscow

Debit card from Lokobank

Loko-Bank

I opened a debit card at Lokobank, I didn’t understand anything on the website, there were a lot of letters, too lazy to read) I went to the Smolensk branch. I sat there for probably an hour and a half, choosing a tariff for myself, I chose it)) We compared everything with the girl and chose what would be better for saving. At the same time, I also consulted on deposits. Thank you very much for the excellent service and for your patience, you rarely see this in banks!!

March 2019

Today, when going on a trip across the country or abroad, it is absolutely not necessary to carry a large wad of cash. It is much more convenient and safer to use modern payment instruments - debit cards, which allow you to make payments around the world without any problems. Today’s material contains a rating of bank cards for travel, thanks to which you can choose the most profitable option for yourself.

5 most profitable debit cards




A debit card is intended for withdrawing cash from ATMs and paying for various goods and services. This payment instrument is allowed to pay only within the limits of the funds placed by the user on the personal account (unless the “overdraft” option is enabled).

A debit card allows you to:

• keep your own funds in the account;
• make payments all over the world without searching for currency exchange offices;
• easy access to funds around the clock and seven days a week, seven days a week;
• control and management of bank accounts abroad and at home;
• transfer money to any account;
• protect your personal funds as much as possible.

To save time, below are the five most profitable debit cards for travel.




The universal Russian Railways card allows you not only to pay for purchases, but also to accumulate bonuses from the Russian Railways Bonuses program in order to later exchange them for award tickets on long-distance trains and Sapsan.

The card is issued from the age of 18. The payment system is MasterCard. The card can be obtained at any Alfa-Bank branch or by free delivery within the Moscow Ring Road. Monthly service fees can be avoided if you spend more than 10 thousand rubles a month or maintain a minimum balance of 30 thousand. Otherwise, a month of using the card will cost 100 rubles. The annual interest rate on the balance can reach 6%. The daily cash withdrawal limit in rubles is 300 thousand.

When paying for your first purchase with a debit card, welcome bonuses of 1 thousand points are immediately transferred. In the future, one point is awarded for every 30 rubles spent if the monthly purchase amount is between 10 and 70 thousand rubles. In the case when more than 70 thousand rubles are spent in a month, 1.5 bonus points will be awarded for every 30 rubles. You can exchange bonuses for tickets on the official website of Russian Railways.

You can pay for goods and services contactlessly with your card. To do this, you just need to bring the plastic to the terminal in the store where the contactless payment service is provided. A high limit on personal expenses will allow you to freely visit any country in the world.

Apply for a card

Alfa Travel from Alfa-Bank




For traveling abroad, the AlfaTravel card from Alfa-Bank is perfect, with which you can withdraw cash from any ATM in the world. The following functions are also available:

• chip for contactless payment;
• mobile application with round-the-clock technical support for easy control of cash flows - installed on devices with iOS or Android software.

The AlfaTravel card also has a number of additional options for tourists.

1. Allows you to open a current account in national currency, US dollars, euros, Swiss francs at any convenient time.
2. You have the opportunity to purchase air tickets from more than 300 international companies, and bonus miles do not expire (if you use the card at least once every six months).
3. All family members of travelers are insured up to 50 thousand euros.
4. There are no fees for cash withdrawals worldwide.

An undoubted advantage is an increased cashback of up to 9% in miles for paying for services on the official website and 3% in bonus miles for any other purchases. The card is credited with 1 thousand welcome miles. Miles can be used to pay for airline tickets or hotel bookings.

Other rates:

• charges on the average monthly account balance - up to 6%;
• the first two months of plastic service are free - then 100 rubles per month (if the permanent balance on the account does not fall below 30 thousand rubles or the amount of purchases during the month exceeds 10 thousand, then the service will be free).

Apply for a card




For traveling abroad, Otkritie Bank provides its clients with a Travel plastic card. It can be issued online - to do this, you need to fill out the template fields of the questionnaire on the bank’s website. There is a delivery service in 28 cities, and you can also pick up the plastic yourself at the office.

There is a bonus program that is activated from the moment of the first purchase - 300 rubles are credited to the bonus account. In the future, for each purchase you will be credited with 3 rubles for every 100 rubles spent. Using premium funds, you can pay for air tickets, as well as accommodation in partner hotels.

There is no commission for withdrawing cash from any ATM. The monthly issuance limit is 300 thousand rubles. Using a bank card, you can make contactless payments for goods and services, which increases the convenience of using plastic.

There is also a functional Internet bank for individuals. Using it, you can quickly make electronic payments, control your funds and receive technical support from bank specialists around the clock.

The cost of monthly maintenance of plastic is 299 rubles. You don’t have to pay anything for service if at least one of three conditions is met:

1. The average monthly balance on all accounts is more than 300 thousand rubles. The amount of purchases on the card is over 0 rubles per month.
2. The balance is from 150 thousand rubles. The amount of purchases is from 20 thousand.
3. The card account is replenished monthly with an amount of 50 thousand rubles. The amount of purchases is more than 0 rubles.

Apply for a card




For travelers, an excellent option for making profitable purchases and receiving tangible bonuses is the Aeroflot card. It is ideal for those who spend a lot of time flying, visiting different cities and countries around the world.

With its help, you can buy flight tickets, book hotel rooms, rent cars, and pay for goods in a network of affiliate programs.

The card can be issued at any Alfa-Bank branch or online on the official website. When purchasing a plastic card, 1 thousand bonus miles are awarded as a gift. The Aeroflot card allows you to upgrade your flight class (from economy class to business class).

In addition to Aeroflot airlines, it is possible to use 19 companies of the SkyTeam airline alliance. When making purchases, you can earn up to 1.5 miles for every 60 rubles spent. Bonus miles are credited to a special account. Also, 1 mile is awarded for every 200 rubles that are stored in the AeroPlan savings account (if the balance is not less than 50 thousand rubles).

It is convenient to pay with an Aeroflot card in any country in the world. Cash withdrawals at Alfa-Bank branches and partner banks are not subject to commission fees. If an amount of at least 30 thousand rubles is stored on the card or the amount of purchases on the card for the month was over 10 thousand, then funds can be withdrawn from ATMs of any banks without commission.

Also, if these conditions are met, the cost of servicing the plastic card will be 0 - otherwise you will have to pay 100 rubles per month for the card. However, the first two months of using a debit card are always free.

You can receive an income of up to 6% per annum on your card account balance (up to 300 thousand rubles). To do this, you need to pay with a card for purchases in the amount of 70 thousand per month.

Apply for a card




Payment terminals around the world accept the ALL Airlines bank card. Payment by debit card abroad is subject to preferential currency conversion at the exchange rate.

Travel lovers will be pleased with the miles accumulation program:

• up to 30% - for paying for purchases on special offers from partners;
• 1.5% - for every 100 rubles spent (if the daily balance on the card during the month did not fall below 100 thousand rubles);
• 1% - for every 100 rubles of purchase in other cases.

Miles are also credited to the account balance. 6% per annum will be accrued provided that the card was used to pay for purchases in the amount of 20 thousand rubles or more. If the condition is not met, then there will be no accrual on the balance at all.

For the convenience of users, there is an online bank and a mobile application. The built-in chip allows for a contactless payment method, and with a watch and a smartphone that supports the payment service Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay, you don’t have to carry the plastic original with you at all.

You don’t have to pay for card servicing if the user opens a loan with Tinkoff Bank or the minimum balance on the card account during the month does not fall below 100 thousand rubles. Otherwise, the monthly service fee will cost 299 rubles.

Apply for a card




What characteristics should be taken into account when choosing the most suitable payment instrument? Below are the most important ones:

1. A bonus program provided by the bank to the owner of a plastic card. There are different variations of bonuses. You need to choose a bonus program based on your own needs.
2. The limit on cash withdrawals (daily and monthly). It is important to note that these limits can be increased before the trip - to do this, you need to contact representatives of the bank’s financial service and ask the appropriate question.
3. Annual maintenance fees and list of additional costs. This list may include payment for card support, deductions for SMS alerts on expense transactions, and the like.
4. Calculation of interest on the balance. You need to carefully study all the conditions for calculating income on the balance of your own funds. The minimum and maximum values ​​for this percentage can vary greatly.
5. Availability of cashback. You can receive a certain percentage of returns on purchases with bonus points or miles. Here it is also important to study all the conditions of the cashback program, find out the categories for purchases in which increased cashback will be awarded, and also familiarize yourself with the limit restrictions on bonuses awarded.
6. Feedback for monitoring account status and quick communication with bank operators. For this purpose, there are convenient and functional mobile applications where you can get technical support around the clock if problem situations arise.

Before ordering a card, you should carefully study all tariffs and conditions for the product. If the plastic was lost or stolen, it can always be immediately blocked. Today, a plastic card is the most modern and convenient tool for payment in any country in the world.

Video on the topic

Universal set of cards 8 9 10


When traveling, it is important not only to map out the path and choose attractions. You need to have a convenient means of payment with which you can pay in any city. And a bank card can become such a means. The best options allow you to profitably convert rubles into foreign currency without searching for exchange offices. And they provide many additional benefits. But not all cards are equally convenient.

That is why we have compiled a rating of the best credit cards for those who are planning to travel. It includes the most successful options. When looking for plastic for travel, you need to take into account several parameters: conversion rate, availability of privileges, cashback (including in the form of points for travelers). Remember that credit cards almost always have high fees for cash withdrawals. But if you need borrowed funds abroad, then a credit card is also suitable, provided that you do not withdraw money. We also took into account traveler reviews when writing the rating.

TOP 10 best credit cards for travel

For a quicker comparison, we have compiled a table of cards that contains their key characteristics.

Map	Conversion rate	Cross-border payment	Loan rate per year	Credit limit, rub.	Cashback/bonuses	Privilege
Tinkoff All Airlines Black Edition	Central Bank rate + 2%
Tinkoff Platinum	Central Bank rate + 2%			up to 300 thousand
Euroset Corn	at the Central Bank rate			up to 300 thousand
Alfa-Bank Alfa Travel Premium	Central Bank rate + 1%
FC Otkritie Travel "Golden"	Central Bank rate + 1%			up to 300 thousand
Beeline card	at the Central Bank rate			up to 300 thousand
Gazprombank Travel Miles	Central Bank rate + 2%			two average monthly income
Binbank Airmiles	Central Bank rate + 2.5%
Promsvyazbank "World map without borders"	Central Bank rate + 1.5%			up to 600 thousand
Raiffeisenbank Travel Rewards	Central Bank rate + 1.5%			up to 600 thousand

For detailed information, be sure to check out each card's description just below.

10 Raiffeisenbank Travel Rewards

Free additional card

Rating (2019): 4.3

A credit card specifically for those who constantly travel. It has a good limit - up to 600 thousand rubles. But the percentage is not encouraging - from 27% per annum. The main advantage is the ability to issue a free additional card for one account. This can be very convenient abroad if you go on vacation with your family.

Cash withdrawals from other people's ATMs are subject to a commission of 3.9% of the amount and 390 rubles on top. The cashback is fixed - 1 ruble for every 30 rubles spent, that is, a little more than 3% of the amount. Servicing a credit card will cost 2990 rubles per year. Moreover, mobile information and online banking are free.

The card account can only be in rubles. Therefore, you will have to pay an additional 1.65% for cross-border payment. Currency conversion occurs at the rate of the Central Bank + 1.5% from Raiffeisenbank. The total loss will be more than 3%, which is not very profitable. So make sure you have the right card in advance.

9 Promsvyazbank “Map of the world without borders”



Convenient bonus program with choice
Credit limit: up to 600 thousand rubles
Rating (2019): 4.3

MasterCard World credit card with excellent conditions and cost 1990 rubles per year. It’s interesting that it can be made payroll – perhaps this will be convenient for someone. The main feature of the card is its interesting bonus program. The owner is free to use the points he receives as he pleases - choose the airline himself, pay for the ticket in full or in part with bonuses, and also spend them on anything as part of his vacation, not just a round-trip flight.

Despite the “non-privileged” nature of the card, the bank will provide its owner with insurance covering up to 50 thousand euros. In addition, the reviews write that the bank does not block the card, even if it is not warned about going abroad. Cashback varies - for any purchases you will receive 1.5%. For expenses outside the Russian Federation or in the “Travel” category, 3% will be returned. And for promotional sections that change periodically, you can get 10% cashback. The credit limit for a relatively cheap card is good - 600 thousand rubles. The loan rate is 27%, which is not too low. Commission – 4.9% of the amount withdrawn from an ATM.

Cross-border payment, in turn, is made using a card in an unusual way. If you pay for something in rubles, dollars or euros, then it will not be available - you just need to pay for the conversion at the Central Bank rate + 1.5% on top. And if in a currency other than these three, you will have to pay an additional 1.99% to the exchange rate.

8 Binbank Airmiles



Multi-currency credit card

Rating (2019): 4.4

We recommend purchasing such a card together with the Premium service package to get maximum privileges with your choice of Visa Signature or MasterCard World Black Edition card. For 1,950 rubles per month you will receive all the benefits of “platinum” and free insurance for 100 thousand euros. In addition, the card, as the bank states, will be multi-currency. The main monetary unit is the ruble, auxiliary units are the euro, dollar and British pound.

Binbank has made an interesting system for calculating cashback and interest on the balance. They come in the form of bonuses to a special virtual account at the rate of 1 ruble = 1 point. The cashback amount varies. For regular card purchases it is 1% of the amount. And in the “Travel” category the return increases to 7%. However, you can only spend it on buying tickets, renting transport or booking hotels. The balance is charged 6% per annum. You can withdraw your own cash from ATMs without commission, but with a limit of 75 thousand rubles per month. Credit - with a commission of 3.5%.

The rate when paying in the wrong currency on a card is unfavorable - B&N Bank adds another 2.5% to the Central Bank level. But due to cashback, the overpayment is leveled down to an acceptable 1.5% at least. So you should count on this nuance.

7 Gazprombank Travel Miles



Universal set of cards
Credit limit: two average monthly income
Rating (2019): 4.4

Gazprombank cards issued as part of Travel Miles can be called a very successful solution for travelers. The set contains two cards linked to one client account: the main Visa Gold and, as an additional card, MasterCard World. This is very convenient, because these two payment systems have different main currencies: Visa has only the dollar, while MasterCard has both the dollar and the euro at the same time. Therefore, you can take them with you to any country where you need to pay in euros or dollars. It is interesting that the credit limit is calculated based on the holder’s salary - the bank gives only two average monthly incomes, which is not very much, for a grace period of up to 90 days. The interest rate is 21.9% per year.

In addition to the main bonus points, the bank also awards bonus points - for every 30 rubles, an additional 2 miles are awarded for the first month of use, and 0.5 in subsequent months. So if you spend a lot of money, you can quickly save up for a trip. It is also convenient that unnecessary miles can be transferred to relatives or friends, collecting them in one account. But, unfortunately, you can only spend such cashback on iGlobe - this is a partner of the bank that organized the bonus program.

Unfortunately, you cannot get free card servicing or receive interest on the balance - the bank does not provide such an opportunity. You'll have to pay 1,300 rubles a year for a set of two cards, which is pretty good. In addition, only salary clients of Gazprombank can get a credit card of this kind.

6 Beeline card



Free card with good rates
Credit limit: 300 thousand rubles
Rating (2019): 4.5

This card is often called Corn's little sister. Indeed, they have the same issuer - RNKO Payment Center, and the tariffs and conditions are similar. Like Kukuruza, the card has a serious drawback - the funds on it are not insured in any way until the “Interest on Balance” service is activated. The card should be issued primarily to those who use the Beeline mobile operator: thanks to bonuses, you can get a good discount on communications or accessories. But first things first.

There are no fees for cross-border payments or conversion on the card - money is transferred to another currency at the Central Bank exchange rate. The bonus program acts as a cashback - for each purchase you get 1% back in bonuses. If you select “favorite” categories, you will receive 5% cashback for them. You can get up to 3,000 bonuses per month, but they are spent only in the Beeline chain of stores on smartphones, accessories, communications and other goods. The credit limit is standard – up to 300 thousand rubles. The percentage per year, like that of the “big sister”, is high - 28.9%.

The card allows you to open an account only in Russian currency. So it is not profitable to take it to countries where neither dollars nor euros are used, because you can run into double conversion, which will entail additional costs. The big drawback is the expensive cash withdrawal: 4.9%, but not less than 500 rubles at a time.

5 FC Otkritie Travel “Golden”



Advantageous insurance with a “gold” card

Rating (2019): 4.6

Card category – Visa Gold with all the ensuing privileges. There is even free insurance for those traveling abroad in the amount of 35 thousand euros. The card will cost 2990 rubles per year. The credit limit, compared to other rating cards, for a “gold” card is small - only 300 thousand rubles. But the rate is not the worst - from 18.9%

We are pleased with the tariffs for using the card. Currency conversion is more than profitable - only +1% to the Central Bank rate. There are no cross-border payments. There is cashback, and it is awarded in the form of points - they can be spent on any air tickets or booking accommodation while traveling with the bank's partners. The amount is fixed - 3 rubles from every 100 rubles, or 3%. If you spend money on the bank’s website for travelers, then instead of 3 rubles you will be credited with 5.

The commission for withdrawing money from ATMs is 3.9%. The monthly limit on cash withdrawals is 300 thousand rubles. You will also have to pay for SMS information - it costs 59 rubles per month.

4 Alfa-Bank AlfaTravel Premium



The largest number of privileges
Credit limit: up to 1 million rubles
Rating (2019): 4.7

Expensive premium card with corresponding privileges. This pleasure costs 5,000 per month (Premium service package with a free first card), plus for the plastic itself you need to pay an additional 4,990 rubles per year. In addition to the standard bonuses for cards of this type, there are many additional ones - in particular, discounts on taxis and car rentals, free Internet, and so on. We should also highlight the “Concierge” service: the bank will provide a personal manager who will carry out personal orders. Interestingly, the credit limit “for everyone” is 1 million. And the rate starts from 23.99% per year.

You can open a card in currency (dollars/euro/francs/pounds). Withdrawing money from ATMs in other countries is free. Visa Signature allows you to enter VIP areas of airports. The bank issues extended insurance for the cardholder and his family with an insured amount of up to 150 thousand euros. The bonus program is designed for people who spend a lot of money. Starting from 10 thousand rubles of spending per month, cashback miles (which can be spent on tickets or hotels) for any purchases will be 2%. From 70 thousand – 3%. And from 100 thousand – 5%. Moreover, if you purchase tickets and book hotels on the card website, the refund amount will increase up to 11%.

If you need to change currency from ruble to dollar or euro, the loss on cross-border payment will be an extra 2.5%. If you use a card in a certain currency in a country where it is in use, there will be no additional commission.

3 Euroset Corn



Best value for money
Credit limit: up to 300 thousand rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The Corn MasterCard PayPass card is a very good option. It has almost no disadvantages compared to most other travel maps. Plastic is serviced for 250 rubles per year and has almost no commissions. The card issuer is RNKO Payment Center. Since the organization is a non-bank, deposits in it are not insured in any way. The card allows you to get a credit limit of up to 300 thousand rubles with a grace period of 55 days. But the percentages are high - from 28.9% and above.

There is no commission for cross-border transfers. Converting rubles into dollars or euros is at the Central Bank rate, so you don’t have to overpay for services. Interestingly, the card service also includes SMS notifications. You won’t be able to withdraw money without a commission – you will have to pay a minimum of 1% for your own funds. And credit cards are subject to a high interest rate - at least 4.9% (from 400 rubles). It’s convenient that there is informative Internet banking with a mobile application. Cashback is 1.5% on any purchases. If you enable the “Double Benefit” option, its size will increase to 3%. For partners, the return sometimes reaches 20%.

There is only one drawback - the card can only have a ruble account. Therefore, it is better not to take it to countries whose currency differs from the euro or dollar. For such situations, cards with foreign currency accounts and similar conditions are more suitable. And for simple trips, judging by the reviews, Corn is ideal.

2 Tinkoff Platinum



Maximum benefit in Russia and abroad
Credit limit: up to 300 thousand rubles
Rating (2019): 4.8

The classic Tinkoff Bank credit card is very beneficial when traveling. But this is not a full “Platinum”, but only a name - MasterCard World is taken as the basis. Due to the good cashback, you can take this ruble card with you - losses on currency exchange will be minimal. Maintenance costs 590 rubles per year - taking into account the fact that the card has only one name from the “platinum”, the cost is quite reasonable.

Conveniently, there is cashback on all categories of goods - at least 1%. You can also buy goods from the bank’s special offers - then the return starts from 3%. Purchases from partners can increase cashback up to 30%. There is no cross-border payment at all. Tinkoff uses its own currency conversion rate, which exceeds the rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation by 2%.

I’m not happy that notifications about transactions will cost 59 rubles per month. If you withdraw cash from an ATM, you will have to pay 2.9% of the amount plus 290 rubles on top - and this is a minus. However, for such a price, the “platinum” card fully lives up to expectations.

1 Tinkoff All Airlines Black Edition



The best conditions for a premium card
Credit limit: up to 2 million rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Premium card with mileage program. It will cost 1490 rubles per month. But you can use it for free if you keep 3 million in bank accounts or spend at least 200 thousand rubles. In addition to the standard privileges of premium cards (in particular, access to VIP areas twice a month), the bank provides a personal manager, concierge service, and gift insurance for the owner and his family for $100 thousand while traveling. The credit limit is huge - up to 2 million rubles. At the same time, the minimum rate is quite low - only 12%.

The card works with the bank's mile program. Cashback is awarded for all purchases. It is counted in the form of miles - you will receive at least 1% return on every 100 rubles. For booking a room in a hotel or hostel, as well as renting a car, you can receive up to 10%, and for tickets - up to 5%. For partners, the cashback amount can reach up to 30%. You can receive money from ATMs for free, but only up to 100 thousand rubles per month. Anything larger is subject to a 2% commission. I'm glad that you don't have to pay for SMS notifications.

A disadvantage can be considered the lack of currencies other than the ruble - if used abroad, you will have to spend money on conversion (CB + 2%). However, cashback will cover almost the entire difference. In the reviews, many note that the card is profitable, even despite the exchange rate.

When preparing to travel abroad for the first time, two questions often arise: which bank cards are generally suitable for traveling abroad (and will mine be suitable)? And which cards are best for traveling abroad?

What payment system card should you have: Mastercard, Visa? Would Maestro be suitable? Will Maestro work without a chip? What is the best way to have an account on a card: in rubles, dollars, euros, yuan? Is one card enough, or do you need two (three, five)?

This note summarizes the information presented in the relevant articles on this topic provided on this site.

If you want to understand why the conclusions described below were made, I recommend that you read:

Which bank cards are suitable for traveling abroad?

If you are not in the know, then in order not to get confused in the definitions (what is a “personal card”, “debit/credit card”, what is a “card level” and how cards of different levels differ), I recommend reading the note about the classification of bank cards maps at the link just above.

For traveling abroad A personal debit card of at least standard level, Mastercard or Visa payment system is required.

A bank card of this level and the specified payment systems are sufficient to make payments for goods and services, as well as to withdraw cash from any ATM abroad without restrictions.

Which bank should the card be for the trip? Any bank. Someone who will not go bankrupt while you are abroad (otherwise you will be left without money), and whose conditions suit you.

The bank that issued the card does not matter; what matters is the payment system to which the card issued by this bank is linked. This should be, as stated above, the Visa or MasterCard payment system.

“Bank conditions” mean the conditions and tariffs for issuing and servicing a bank card, as well as the amount of commissions for cross-border payments, for withdrawing money from a “foreign” ATM abroad, etc. (more on this below).

ENTRY LEVEL CARDS

Entry-level cards such as “Visa-Electron”, or “Maestro”, “Cirrus” are conditionally suitable for travel. That is, in principle, they may or may not work in certain situations.

The fact is that the operational capabilities of entry-level cards are determined (limited) by the bank that issued them, and some restrictions on the capabilities of these cards are also imposed by the payment system to which they are linked.

Therefore, with entry-level cards, some operations (for example, withdrawing cash from an ATM abroad) may not be available (or they may be available, but you don’t need to check this for yourself).

At the same time, standard-level cards of leading payment systems (“Visa-classic” or “Mastercard-Standart/World”) obviously do not have such restrictions, and are fully suitable for traveling abroad (to any country in the world).

Which bank cards are not suitable for traveling abroad?

Bank cards are definitely not suitable for travel without chip(I don’t know if there are still such ones, but they may be found among entry-level cards).

Also not suitable ersatz bank cards issued in the formcards for special projects: salary, pension, social, youth, etc., since often these cards are subject to restrictions on use by the bank that issued them.

Such cards may work abroad somewhere, but this is no longer an unambiguous fact. You don’t need to rely heavily on them when traveling abroad. And you don’t need to count on them at all; that’s not what they were originally released for.

What card do you need to travel abroad?

As a conclusion to the first part of the note:

IN GENERAL FOR TRIP ABROAD

A personal debit bank card of a standard level, Visa or MasterCard payment system, is required.

These cards do not have any restrictions on the execution of transactions, and are fully intended for traveling with them throughout the entire territory of the globe (well, of course, in that part of it where cards are generally accepted).

If you are not sure, do not know, doubt whether your card is suitable for traveling abroad, whether it will fail, what restrictions it has, contact your bank for clarification, they will always help you.

If you don’t have a card yet and are just going to order one, then when you contact the bank to issue a card, immediately set the condition to the employees: “I need a card that would work without restrictions when traveling abroad” - they will understand you.

In what currency should the card account be in when traveling abroad?

A bank card account used when traveling abroad can be opened in absolutely any currency: even in rubles, even in Mongolian tugriks, even in US dollars - this does not matter for the successful completion of the operation.

All transactions with a bank card will be successful, regardless of the currency in which the account is opened (i.e., you can always pay with a card, regardless of what you store your savings in).

The currency of the card account affects the number of currency conversions carried out when using a bank card (and for conversions you need to pay a pretty penny to the bank and payment system), but does not affect the final result.

In short, bankers will always figure out how to pay each other, but for you, the currency of the card account matters in the sense that in some cases you will have to pay a little more for using the card.

The amounts of the difference in payment, in principle, are not so huge that we need to think deeply about this topic. The difference is about 1-3% (maybe a little more, but this doesn’t happen often).

Then the question arises: what currency is in the account? more profitable(better, cheaper) to travel abroad, but it is discussed from the next part of the note.

From personal (and quite extensive) travel practice: all my life I have been traveling abroad with a card in rubles, and I have never had any problems with payments or with cash withdrawals abroad.

Which bank card is better (more profitable) to have when traveling abroad?

The fact that you will pay for using a bank card abroad in any case does not even raise questions.You will definitely have to pay interest to banks and payment systems.

You will pay for mediation, for performing transactions, for currency conversion, for performing cross-border transactions (payments), for using other people's ATMs, etc.

Here another question arises: how to reduce these costs?

To do this, you need to understand what payments consist of when using a bank card. And they consist of the payment system commission for currency conversion, as well as the commission of banks (acquirer and issuer).

It is impossible to influence the commission of the acquiring bank (it depends on your luck), the commission of your bank (issuer) is determined by you when choosing the bank from which you order the card.

But how to reduce the commissions of payment systems when using a bank card is described in this part of the note.

Below are only conclusions about in which case commissions to the payment system when using a bank card will be minimal.

All discussions on this topic are included in the notes on the links above, if you are interested, read and understand, everything is presented there in accessible language.

When traveling worldwide (except Europe)

It is most profitable to have a card with a bank account in US dollars. The payment system (“Visa” or “Mastercard”) does not matter in this case, the billing currency will still be the American dollar, the number of currency conversions (for which you need to pay) in this case will be minimal.

When traveling within the euro area (in Europe, including the Balkans)

When traveling around Europe, it is most profitable to have a Mastercard card with an account in euros. When using such a card in countries where the currency is the euro, you will not have to pay commission to the payment system.

When using such a card in European countries where they have their own currency (Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary), as well as in the Balkan countries, only one currency conversion will be made (for which you will have to pay).

If the card account is opened in rubles(i.e. if your funds for the trip are on the card in rubles), then it’s still clear It is more profitable to travel to Europe with a Mastercard payment system card than with a Visa payment system card.

For those who are too lazy to read, I’ll write briefly: if the card account is in rubles, then when using a Visa payment system card in Europe, you will overpay the commission to the payment system five times more, compared to the MasterCard system.

In numbers: Visa will charge you 1.55%, and Mastercard will charge you 0.33% for conducting a card transaction with a ruble account in the euro area. Why this happens - read the link just above.

But in the end, 1.55% of 1000 euros spent in Europe is 15.5 euros, and 0.33% is 3.3 euros. Whether 12.2 overpaid euros for every thousand spent when using the “Visa” matters to you, decide for yourself.

When choosing the card account currency used for traveling to Europe, consider the following points:

• if you already have a ruble account at the bank, then it is worth considering the feasibility of transferring it to euros;
• the rate at which you will convert rubles into euros will not be the most profitable - you can lose more on currency exchange than you will save on paying interest to the payment system;
• interest on the card balance on an account in euros is much less than interest on an account in rubles.

Therefore, when traveling, specifically to Europe (to the countries of the euro zone), there is no need to rush and urgently convert rubles into euros before the trip.

It may be more profitable in the end to leave an account in rubles and simply make yourself a “Mastercard”, choosing a bank with a minimum commission for making payments on it (or no commission at all) and with cashback.

How many bank cards do you need to travel abroad?

To travel abroad, ideally, one card from those mentioned above is enough (a standard “Visa” or “Master” debit card). If everything goes well, then one bank card will be enough for your trip.

But nothing is ideal in life, and troubles of all kinds sometimes happen on a trip. Therefore, to be on the safe side, I will say this:

When traveling abroad, you must have at least two bank cards with you, preferably from different banks.
It’s better to have three cards, but also from two different banks.

I'll explain why this is so and what it should look like.

Firstly, if the bank where you keep your savings for your trip suddenly goes bankrupt while you are abroad, you will be left without the means to continue your trip, make a living, or return home.

Moreover, friends (relatives, acquaintances), they will not even be able to transfer money to this card, since it will be blocked, of course. This situation can happen.

In this case, you (or your wife, or any other participant in the trip) should always have a card another bank, to which, if something happens, you can get money.

The Sberbank card is ideal for this, because if anything happens, it will be the last to go bankrupt. So get yourself a “Visa” or “Master” from Sberbank for travel, just for such a case.

Secondly, situations sometimes occur abroad when the card disappears. The card can be stolen, lost, blocked by your bank, or simply damaged by you (broken) - a variety of situations can happen.

To avoid such situations, the main card for the trip (the one on which the main funds are located) must be duplicated, that is, order the issue of an additional card from the bank.

Additional card- this is a card that completely duplicates your main card, and which is tied to the same account as the main one.

That is, this is a complete copy of your work card for the trip. This one You need to make an additional card and keep it separately from your main bank card while traveling.

Yes, you have to pay extra for an additional card, but comfort and safety during the trip are more expensive.

If you lose your main bank card (theft or loss), you immediately block it and calmly continue to use the additional card, as if nothing had happened, without making absolutely no unnecessary movements.

If there is no additional card, then if the main card is lost, you must use Internet banking (and immediately) transfer all funds from the lost card to a second working card (don’t care about transfer fees, etc. in such a situation), and then block the lost card. Then calmly continue the trip.

This is why you need a second card on a trip. The second card is necessary, in any case. Nothing will happen, that's good. And if it happens, you will always have options for maneuver.

Thirdly, sometimes there are situations when a card payment does not go through (at the moment), but you urgently need to pay.

Such situations are usually technical and short-term in nature (“the system froze or some other minor system failure”) and do not pose a serious threat to the trip, but when you need to pay urgently, this is unpleasant.

In such cases, a card from another bank (which will not have technical problems at the moment) also helps out.

From practice: traveling along the highway from Paris to Madrid, I pay for the road with my main card at the payment points. Everything goes without problems.

We arrive at the next payment point, I insert the card into the receiver, and they write on the screen: “Your card is not accepted.”

Happens. No problem. I insert a duplicate card (from the same bank). Same result. Okay, sometimes the bank freezes. I insert a card from another bank. Same result: “your card is not accepted.”

Then I started to tense up. The payment point I arrived at is only for payments by bank cards, that is, I can’t even put cash in it. The line behind is growing and getting nervous.

Only the fourth card (which my wife had) helped out. The payment went through, the barrier opened, and we continued moving. That is, it happens like that.

What to look for when choosing a bank card for traveling abroad

What should you pay attention to when choosing a card for traveling abroad? There are many options, but they all differ in price (in one direction or another). I will try to briefly formulate the main points here.

When choosing a bank card for traveling abroad (and in general, when choosing a card for everyday use), you need to pay attention to the following points:

• on the conditions (cost) of issuing, re-issuing and servicing the card, both main and additional;
• on the presence and size of the commission for cross-border payments (it ranges from 0% to 2-2.5%, the lower the better);
• on the amount of fees for using someone else’s ATM abroad (from 0 to 3-5 euros/dollars);
• for the availability of “cashback” when paying by card (from 0 to 1% in most cases, the more the better);
• on interest that goes to the balance on the card account (from 0 to 6-7%, the more the better);
• for other small “goodies”, for example, the ability to make contactless payments (PayPass systems for Mastercard cards or PayWave for Visa cards).

A well-chosen card allows you to minimize unnecessary costs when traveling abroad with it.

As an example (for clarity), I will give a comparative description of my cards, with which I have been traveling abroad for many years, to make it clearer what the differences are in the points above.

For travel, I use a Visa-classic card from Sberbank and a Mastercard-World card from Tinkov Bank.

Both cards are standard level, debit and have an account in rubles. The table below shows the data at the time of writing (numbers may change over time).

Characteristic	Visa-classic "Sberbank"	Mastercard-World "Tinkov"
Issue of a card (maintenance for the 1st year)	750 rub.	0 1
Annual maintenance of the main card	450 rub.	0 1
Additional card (issue)	450 rub.	0
Annual maintenance of an additional card	300 rub.	0 1
Cross-border payment fees	1,5%	0%
Fee for using someone else's ATM	1% 2	0% 3
Cashback for card transactions	0%	1% 4
Interest on the balance on the card	0%	7%
Contactless payment	yes 5	Yes

Notes:

1. If there is a deposit in the bank, or if the balance on the card is at least 30 thousand rubles.
2. But not less than 100 rubles, or 3 dollars or 3 euros (depending on the card account).
3. When traveling abroad, there is no commission when withdrawing cash from any ATM in the world, when withdrawing an amount of 100 dollars or 100 euros (in local currency equivalent).
   When withdrawing cash in Russia, there is no commission at any ATM when withdrawing cash in the amount of 3,000 rubles or more.
4. This is the amount of standard cashback (which is always available). When carrying out promotions, for some groups of goods the cashback amount can reach 3-10%.
5. You only appeared in 2018, Tinkov had it planned for a long time.

In addition, Tinkov has an excellent 24-hour customer support service (believe me, this is a huge plus when unusual situations arise), and you can also call another bank on the night from Saturday to Sunday (as I did when I blocked a card stolen in Bulgaria ).

Therefore, I have been traveling abroad for many years with a debit bank card from Tinkov, and it suits me very much, everything is really just super.

But when choosing a bank whose card you will use when traveling abroad, I would advise you to make a table similar to the one given above and fill in these columns with numbers, looking through offers from various banks.

The completed sign will clearly tell you which bank card is more profitable when traveling abroad, and in general. The final decision is always yours.

Choosing a bank card for a trip: results and conclusions

If you are going to go on vacation to another place (not to Europe), then you can draw your own conclusions; fortunately, there is more than enough material above and in other notes on this topic (links above) for this.

1. When traveling to Europe, you must have a standard level debit bank card, Visa or MasterCard payment system.
2. The bank that issued the card does not matter; what matters is the terms of service of this card and the conditions for conducting transactions on this card established by the bank.
3. The currency of the card account when traveling abroad does not matter. You can always pay with this card or withdraw cash from an ATM, regardless of the currency in which the card account is opened.
4. When traveling to Europe, it is preferable to have a card with an account opened in euros. If the card account is in euros, the payment system of this card is “Visa” or “Mastercard”. The costs of paying with such a card will be minimal.
5. If the card account is in rubles, then when traveling to Europe it is more profitable to have a Mastercard payment system card.
6. It is best to make purchases and pay for services abroad using a card, and preferably (cheapest) in the currency of the country in which you are located.
7. Withdraw cash from the card only if necessary (it is impossible to pay with a card), and also only in the currency of the country where you are currently located.
8. Before opening a bank account (and ordering a card), it is advisable to inquire about the terms of payment (service) of the card, the amount of fees for cross-border payments (if any), the amount of fees for withdrawing money from an ATM of another bank and other similar issues.

With this, a note dedicated to the topic of choosing a bank card with which you can travel abroad: what level should the bank card be, what payment system should it be, what currency should the funds on the card account be in, and also with a description of the points that you need to pay attention to when choosing a bank card for traveling abroad, I’ll finish.