How The Wise Card Saved My Trip
Never leave home without a Wise card
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You guessed it! I LOST MY WALLET… In this Wise Debit Card review I tell you all about it!
While traveling in Thailand, (Koh Phi Phi) I lived every traveler’s worst nightmare. Losing your IDs, credit cards, and debit cards, essentially my whole life in my pocket.
For a split second, my whole trip flashed before my eye’s…I thought I was f*cked!
And I was until I realized that I had my Transfer Wise card in my bag.
So, I scrambled and check every pocket in my bag in order to retrieve it.
Lo and behold it was right where I left it…In the right side pocket of my bag in case of emergency. If it was not for my Wise Card I would have gone home pretty fast!
To this day I still have no idea what happened, but I think I might have been distracted by a scantily-clad wearing bikini mom. (pretty sure she was the culprit)
But it is what it is…I moved on and got new wallet with an Apple Air Tag this time to make sure I will never lose my wallet again.
Keep reading to see why the Wise Card is the best travel debit card and how it can save you from a sad story like mine.
Table of Contents
Why Choose the Wise Card?
I could name a dozen things on why you should choose the Wise card, but let me keep it short for you.
The Wise Card is connected to your Wise Account, making it a convenient debit card for international spending and travel. With no interest, cash advance charges, or penalty fees, budgeting becomes much easier.
Making it the best travel debit card, for digital nomads or essentially any traveler.
The best part about the Wise card is that you can accept payments in the currency you wish, so as a digital nomad I personally use it to get paid in USD, CAD, and Pounds Sterling.
The Wise website is also extremely user-friendly, making it very easy to navigate and use. So, no need to be a math wizard of any kind. It’s a plug and play system.
Come Prepared
Here are a few tips for you so that you never fall into panic mode if you ever lose your wallet on vacation.
- Never leave home without saving all your cards in your Apple wallet.
- Carry a backup credit and debit card in your bag in case you lose your wallet.
- Attach an Apple Air Tag to your wallet.
Getting Started with Wise
Opening your Wise account is as simple as 1-2-3. There’s no rocket science here. If you can open a Gmail account you can open a Wise account.
Simply register and follow the prompts.
"This little piece of plastic is your ticket to stress-free spending anywhere in the world"
But what about the fees?
At this point, you’re probably telling yourself “This seems too good to be true”…what is the catch…how much percentage do they keep?
The bad news is that they take 0.41% depending on the currency you’re sending or receiving.
The good news is that they only take 0.41% on most currencies you’re sending or receiving.
All in all, they are 2% cheaper than the banks.
Wise might not be the most economical option for those searching for a low-priced international money transfer service, but it sure did save my ass.
However, some individuals may find that the extra cost is worth it for a potentially quicker transaction through Wise. Another advantage is that it distinguishes itself from some of its competitors by not applying any exchange rate markups for profit, which it considers as “unfair” compared to the rates charged by banks.
Are Wise fees cheaper than PayPal?
Wise offers more favorable exchange rates compared to PayPal, resulting in a higher amount reaching the recipient’s bank account. Making it a win-win for both parties.
The Wise website is extremely user-friendly. However, with the vast number of countries and currencies available, keeping track of the key details (such as fees and exchange rates) for each type of transaction may feel daunting.
Pros and Cons of the Wise Card
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multiple options for transferring funds | Transfer fees that are comparatively higher than those offered by some rival companies |
| Absence of additional charges on exchange rates | Lack of availability for cash delivery services |
| Speedy financial transfers | Availability of customer support is restricted |
| Multi currency account | It's not a credit card |
| Large Transfers | Delivery of replacement cards may take anywhere from two to three weeks. |
| No annual fees | |
My Final Thoughts on the Wise Card
Not only does it look sexy in your wallet, but it might also just save your trip! Call me biased or not, but the Wise Card saved me from going back home real quick!
But, real talk…the Wise Card has it all. Whether you’re a digital nomad or just a regular world traveler. The Wise card has your back!
With over 99 currencies and extremely low conversion fees, this card will forever have a place in my physical wallet and Apple Wallet.
Not only is it extremely easy and fast to top up, but its easy and user-friendly interface makes it a must-have for any traveller.
Zero Dead Ends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no additional cost to you. Please note I only link to products & services I personally use or trust. See disclaimer.
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