🌎 Win a Trip for 2 to Türkiye, Top Hacks for Avoiding International & Conversion Fees, Visiting the Birthplace of Fado, plus the latest travel contests, giveaways & news
Vol. 16
Welcome to The Weekly Traveller, Vol. 16!
Spring is in the air here in Toronto, and with this renewed energy, it’s one of my favourite times of the year to get the ball rolling on future travel plans. I’ve had a nice time at home this past little while, but I’m definitely itching to get on the road again soon.
On that note, if you’re planning on taking an international trip sometime in the future, keep reading for my top tips on ways to avoid incurring additional fees on your upcoming travels.
In this edition ⬇️
Top Hacks for Avoiding International & Conversion Fees On The Road 💸💰🌍
Destination Spotlight for the Week: Visiting the Birthplace of Fado—Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹🎶
Travel Contests of the Week 🏆
Must-Know Travel News of the Week 🗞️
Top Hacks for Avoiding International & Conversion Fees on the Road 💸💰🌍
As nice as it is to save money on the road, travel in and of itself requires an upfront cost. But what about the hidden fees associated with travel? International transaction fees and conversion fees may seem small, but in the grand scheme of your travels they can amount to some pretty significant expenses over time. Keep reading for my top tips to skip these fees on your next trip!
In the world of travel expenses, there are countless ways you may be affected by hidden fees on your upcoming international trip.
As a Canadian traveller myself, Canada happens to be one of the most punitive countries when it comes to foreign transaction fees and even international roaming charges, so it’s important for Canadian travellers to be aware and potentially get creative on the road.
There are two major ways I want to talk about avoiding additional fees on the road this week. They are:
Foreign Transaction Fees (credit card fees and transactional fees)
Foreign Exchange Fees & Rates (the cost of exchanging foreign currency)
Please note that this week’s newsletter contains some affiliate links. This helps keep The Weekly Traveller reader-supported, since it means I may receive a small commission for some of my recommendations, at no additional cost to you.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign Transaction Fees are surcharges that credit card holders pay on international transactions.
These fees are not universal—in fact, many countries’ banks do not charge them. From the people I know personally who live in the USA or the United Kingdom, for example, almost no one pays for these fees in these countries.
But if you’re Canadian like me, it’s important to know that almost all Canadian banks charge a Foreign Transaction Fee on each international credit card transaction. These fees are typically between 2.5-3.5%, and they can sometimes be tricky to find on your credit card statement, depending on who you bank with.
How to Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees (from a Canadian perspective)
If you travel often internationally, like me, then it’s likely worth getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. There are only a few credit cards that offer this in Canada.
There used to be two strong competitors from two different banks. The HSBC World Elite Mastercard had no FX fees, but unfortunately HSBC Canada was recently acquired by the Royal Bank of Canada. Access to this card was lost in the acquisition, so it’s no longer available to the public in Canada.
This leaves Scotiabank as the only real contender for credit cards with no foreign transaction fees in Canada. My favourite is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. I use this card for almost all of my transactions when I travel internationally.
This card has no FX fees, plus it offers excellent travel and medical insurance and 6 annual airport lounge passes. There are also some incentives for its Scene points program, which can be used to redeem on shopping for different items or booking travel.
There is an annual fee of $150 for this card, so you can assess whether this is worth it for you or not. For me and my travel needs, I “get back” the annual fee in the perks I’m able to use and the insurance I’m covered for on each trip, considering I travel so frequently.
There aren’t very many options left, but other Canadian options with no foreign transaction fees are:
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card
There are a few other options with smaller banks, like the Home Trust Visa—but I haven’t read good reviews about the other cards. Apparently not all places accept the Home Trust Visa, for example, and you’re limited to around 10 international transactions per day.
*Whenever you decide to sign up for a new or additional credit card, always make sure it’s the practical decision for you and your financial needs, and do as much research as possible ahead of time.
Foreign Exchange Fees & Rates
Foreign Exchange Fees and Rates are the costs associated with exchanging foreign currency. While exchanging money in advance of your trip at your bank, or even exchanging on the road at foreign exchange shops may seem like the quick and painless way to have foreign currency on the road, these methods are becoming outdated.
Everyone is aware that foreign exchange rates vary from place to place. Often times, banks and foreign exchange shops are banking (see what I did there? 😉) on the fact that you’ll feel too tired or desperate to think much about their exchange rates in the moment. But the reality is that you may be losing quite a bit of money on each transaction, which adds up over time.
In the digital age there are much more simple ways to exchange currency on the go, at a lower cost and with less effort than visiting a foreign currency vendor, thanks in large part to organizations like Wise.
A Wise Choice for Exchanging Digital Currency
Wise (formerly TransferWise), though not a bank, is an excellent digital financial tech company based out of London, U.K. They’ve been around since 2012, and have continued to grow and offer benefits to their customers with each passing year.
Chris and I use Wise frequently to access to a variety of different currencies during our travels. It’s easy to set up a Wise Account, and you can add money to your account to use in various currencies.
Wise is so advanced that you can even use it in place of a credit or debit card for nearly all international transactions.
When you travel, here’s how I’d recommend using Wise:
Set up your Wise Account
If you live in a qualifying country, you can order a Wise Multi-Currency Card for a one-time fee. This debit card has a chip that can be used for contactless payments.
If you’re short on time, you can also order a digital card, which can be added to the digital wallet in your phone, like an Apple Wallet. I personally like to have access to physical cards too, but this is a good option in a pinch.
If you plan on using the physical card on your travels, it’s important to activate and set up the PIN for the card before you leave your home country.
Top up your Wise Account from your bank account for your upcoming trip—it’s easy to digitally add funds when you’re on the road, but I typically prefer to put all the cash I figure I might need access to in my account ahead of time.
Once the money is in your Wise Account, you can either manually exchange the funds into the foreign currency you’ll need, or allow the card to automatically convert the currency at the lowest possible fee at the time of transaction.
Whichever you choose, Wise is known for offering some of the lowest currency exchange rates possible. Of course, it’s always a good idea to keep your eye on the currency you’ll need for your upcoming trip on a platform like XE Currency Exchange, and purchase your desired currency at a time the rate is low.
If you want a little cash on hand during your travels, you can even use your Wise Card like a debit card for up to two fee-free withdrawals at international ATMs per month.
The only rule is that each withdrawal needs to be worth less than 100 USD in order for it to be free.
If the ATM charges a fee itself, this fee is still your responsibility.
If you’d like to sign up for Wise for your next trip, feel free to do so here.
Destination Spotlight for the Week: Visiting the Birthplace of Fado—Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹🎶
Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, iconic architecture, delectable cuisine and hilly vistas. It is a must-visit destination and is worth spending a few days in, either as a destination in itself or on a larger trip to Portugal.
Chris and I visited Lisbon several years ago, and I am always looking for the next opportunity to visit. I always recommend Portugal and notably Lisbon to North American travellers, since it’s a relatively close destination from the eastern parts of Canada, the USA and Mexico.
From listening to the charming sounds of Fado music in the small, candlelit bars of Alfama to sipping on delightful local wines in cosy wine bars to dining on delicious dishes and wandering its colourful and tiled streets, it’s a captivating city for the senses.
Highlights on a Trip to Lisbon
Explore Historic Neighborhoods: Wander through Alfama, Bairro Alto, and Chiado, each offering unique architecture, local shops, and authentic places to eat.
Visit Iconic Landmarks: Discover the grandeur of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the historic significance of Belém Tower, or simply find a vantage point like a park on a hilltop to watch the sun set over the city.
Savour Local Delicacies: Indulge in traditional dishes like bacalhau and piri piri chicken, and don't miss the famed pastel de nata pastries, most notably from Pastéis de Belém.
For my full guide on how to spend 2 days in Lisbon, feel free to read the complete article, linked here.
Deals and Contests of the Week 🏆
Win a trip for two to Türkiye with TourRadar! You’ll get two spots on a “10 Day Wonders of Turkey” tour. Open to almost everyone (except residents of Belgium, Sweden, Quebec, Florida, New York, Rhodes Island, and India). Contest closes April 30, 2025.
(It’s no secret that this is one of my favourite countries to travel to, so this was an exciting giveaway to learn about this week!)
On the note of Türkiye, if you’re looking to make summer travel plans to either Türkiye or Greece, Solmar Villas is offering 25% off villa stays in these two countries for stays between June 29 to September 28. You just need to make your booking by May 6th to get your discount.
Win a tour of Ireland with Cosmos Tours. The grand prize is a nine-day tour from Dublin valued around $3500. Highlights include the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant’s Causeway. Open to residents of Australia. Contest closes April 30, 2025.
Travel News of the Week 🗞️
A recent article from Reuters shares that Jamaica is striving to balance its booming tourism industry with environmental conservation. Efforts include promoting eco-tourism in inland areas and restoring mangrove forests, aiming to support local communities and preserve natural resources.
La Sagrada Familia is introducing a “Selfie Zone” to manage crowds. A dedicated area for photo-taking aims to alleviate congestion caused by tourists at Barcelona’s most famous attraction.
The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh plans to transform its tea estates into eco-tourism destinations, as part of a broader initiative to promote sustainable tourism and support local economies.
And that’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s edition. If you like The Weekly Traveller, don’t forget to share it with someone who’d appreciate it, and subscribe for the latest in travel stories, news, contests and giveaways.
🫶 Bri