Top Travel Cards for Your Saudi Arabia Trip

No matter where you travel in the world, you always need money to buy souvenirs, food, or even gifts for loved ones. No matter how affordable your travel is, tourists must have backup cash with them for impulse purchases or emergencies. A lot of Muslims reside in the UK or the US, and they often travel to Saudi Arabia for minor pilgrimage. They book Umrah packages for the convenience they provide, as the agency takes care of everything while they focus on their ritual prayers.

No matter how cheap the deal is, it is a good habit to keep extra cash with you when traveling to a foreign country. However, not everyone has disposable cash with them at any given time. This is where travel cards come in, as they allow tourists to spend without having to worry about bad exchange rates or excessive billing. The world went digital a long time ago, and almost every shop in Saudi Arabia accepts payment digitally, this article will detail the top travel cards for your trip there.

Best Travel Cards to Use During Your Saudi Arabia Trip

When it comes to travel cards, there are a lot of options to choose from. After all, there are so many banks out there offering their services. However, before we start with our main topic of discussion, let us take a brief look at what are travel credit or debit cards and how they work.

What is a Travel Card?

To define them broadly, travel cards work like any other credit or debit card, the thing that differentiates them is that they earn you rewards. These rewards come in many forms, like points or miles that can be used for expenses like airline tickets, hotel stays, or even car rentals. In short, these cards have travel-oriented benefits.

On top of that, tourists might even see travel cards that are co-branded. What it means is that the bank or the issuer of the card has partnered with an airline or a hotel for a loyalty program. When travelers make purchases with such cards, they earn rewards for that particular program. Also, their redemption is also limited to the program.

When tourists make a purchase with a travel credit or debit card, they have almost perfect exchange rates. However, most banks charge a foreign transaction fee, which varies depending on the issuer. Some charge a flat fee, while others charge a certain percentage of the amount. This means that every time you withdraw an amount or make a purchase, you’ll be charged a small additional fee.

If tourists don’t want to deal with the hassle of additional charges, then they can opt for a specialist card, as it does not charge the extra fee. With that out of the way, the following are some of the best travel cards to use in Saudi Arabia.

Wise Travel Card

One of the most recognizable names, WISE offers the convenience of opening an account online or through its app. Their travel card is one of the best choices to spend or withdraw cash during your trip to Saudi Arabia.

Tourists have the option to convert and hold the currency from 40+ countries. When they travel there for Umrah or a general visit, they have the option to convert the currency into Riyal in advance. Otherwise, they can let the conversion happen at the moment of transaction. The former is a better option because they aren’t charged extra fees when they spend the currency they hold.

If you are worried about the exchange rates, then don’t be. WISE offers incredible rates with a minimal fee when tourists use the card in Saudi Arabia. However, there is an ATM withdrawal fee that will be deducted from the account. For an easy breakdown, here are the pros and cons of using a WISE travel card:

Pros:

• Multiple currency account: The flexibility to hold cash in multiple currencies is one of the biggest benefits of using this travel card. With over 40 supported currencies, it is one of the best options to use when traveling to Saudi Arabia.
• Low fees: There is always a conversion fee, and sometimes banks charge a lot. With a WISE travel card, that is not the case, as it charges a very small fee compared to other banks. It can save tourists a lot when converting their currency to SAR.
• Mid-market exchange rates: As stated, WISE offers great exchange rates, as it offers mid-market rates. What it means is that tourists in Saudi Arabia get fairer rates than other banks that add a markup when they convert the currency.
• Easy to use: The ease of access to their funds is something every tourist looks for when choosing a travel card, and they can’t go wrong with this one. The travel card can be used like a regular debit card in Saudi Arabia. Withdraw cash from the ATM or make digital payments in stores using the card.
• Transparency and user control: Having control over the funds in the account is always a plus, and this is exactly what tourists get with the WISE travel card. They can track their spending in real time and even set daily or weekly spending limits. This allows the user to manage their balance easily.
• No foreign transaction fee: Often banks charge a foreign transaction fee. However, with this card, tourists can spend as much as they like in Saudi Arabia and won’t be charged additional charges.

Cons:

• Not widely accepted: When choosing a travel card, tourists prefer the one that is widely accepted. However, the card from WISE has limited acceptance in Saudi Arabia. While the big stores, malls, or restaurants accept it, small shops or remote areas don’t. If you intend to get this one as your primary travel card, then keep some cash with you, which you can withdraw from the ATM.
• ATM withdrawal fee: Tourists can easily withdraw cash using the travel card, however, after a set number of withdrawals, WISE charges a fee. The upside to this is that the limit for free withdrawals resets every month.

Chime Travel Card

This card is the best option for anyone heading to Saudi Arabia. First of all, there are no hidden or extra charges on foreign transactions. That’s a big deal, which means more money in your pocket for adventures instead of bank charges.

Then there are the budgeting tools in the app for the account. They help you stay on top of your finances and avoid going overboard while you’re enjoying the sights and tastes of Saudi Arabia. And let’s not forget about security. You can lock your card with just a few taps if you ever misplace it, which adds an extra layer of safety.

On top of that, tourists can easily withdraw cash from any ATM, which makes it easy to get local currency without those pesky fees that other banks often charge. Furthermore, users get an instant alert on every transaction. The following are the pros and cons of choosing a Chime travel card:

Pros:

• No foreign transaction fee: Tourists are always looking for a cost-effective way to spend. With a Chime travel card, they don’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees, which is very helpful when spending abroad.
• Global ATM access: Tourists in Saudi Arabia can easily withdraw cash from an ATM using this travel card, provided it is part of the Global ATM Alliance. This will help reduce the withdrawal fee, which means more money for tourists to spend.
• Tools to track spending and budget: When traveling, tourists must keep track of how much they are spending to stay within their budget. If they have a Chime travel card, they can easily track their budgets with the simple tools provided.

Cons:

• Small network of ATMs: One of the only few drawbacks this travel card has is the limited ATM network. Chime has fewer ATMs in Saudi Arabia, which can lead to a high cash withdrawal fee.
• Conversion rates: Using the travel card has the benefit of no foreign transaction fee, but the conversation rates aren’t always favorable.

Monzo Travel Card

This one is a standout choice for tourists heading to Saudi Arabia, and it offers some compelling benefits. As is the trend with these cards, there are no foreign transaction fees. That’s a huge relief compared to many traditional banks, which often charge extra when you spend abroad. With the Monzo travel card, travelers can spend in Saudi Riyals without worrying about hidden costs that may be incurred, as every transaction is transparent.

On top of that, the exchange rates offered are pretty good. Instead of offering mid-market rates, Monzo uses MasterCard rates. These are often better than the ones tourists usually get from other banks. On top of that, they check exchange rates in real-time on the app to better assess how much in SAR they are getting.

Instant notifications are another great feature. Every time the tourist makes a transaction, they get an alert. It’s a simple way to keep tabs on spending, which can go out of hand when exploring new places. Plus, the budgeting tools in the app are handy for setting limits and categorizing expenses, so you can stay organized.

If you find yourself needing cash, Monzo lets you withdraw money without fees, up to a certain limit each month. It’s a practical option for those smaller purchases that often require cash. Overall, the app itself is user-friendly and intuitive, which makes managing your finances while traveling a breeze. Obviously, there are drawbacks too for using this travel card. The following are the pros and cons of using this travel card so tourists can make an informed decision:

Pros:

• Instant notifications: For any transaction through the travel card or account, tourists will get an instant notification. This not only helps with budgeting and controlling their expenditure but also serves as a security feature. If the card is lost or someone makes an unauthorized payment, the user will instantly know, and they can contact the bank.
• No foreign transaction fee: Like the rest of the cards on the list, using Monzo in a foreign country doesn’t incur any additional fee. This is not only cost-effective for a trip to Saudi Arabia but also means more money in the tourist’s wallet for them to spend.
• Competitive exchange rates: When choosing a travel card, the tourists make sure they get the one that offers the best exchange rate. Fortunately, Monzo does not use mid-market rates; instead, it offers MasterCard rates, which are often better than the ones that traditional banks offer.

Cons:

• ATM fee: Monzo itself does not charge any fee for ATM cash withdrawals, but the ATM operator might. So it is better that travelers check beforehand so they can manage how much amount and how many times they need to withdraw.
• Daily withdrawal limit: Another drawback of using this travel card is the withdrawal limit. Depending on the type of account and card, tourists will face daily limits on how much cash they can take out or how much they can spend.
• Limited acceptance: Not exactly a drawback of using a Monzo travel card, but tourists will encounter the issue that that card isn’t accepted in some places in Saudi Arabia and will have to resort to using cash.

To Wrap Up

Travel debit cards are the best way to manage travel finances. They offer a range of facilities that traditional banks don’t, such as market-competitive exchange rates, ease of access, ATM withdrawals with no hidden fees, no charges for foreign transactions, and more. On top of that, they offer a range of security features so the tourists can travel and spend with peace of mind without having to worry that their money can be stolen. The travel cards we have discussed here are some of the best that travelers can use to spend money on UK Umrah packages or buy souvenirs during their time in Saudi Arabia. So, grab your card, pack your bags, and as always Travel Till You Drop!