Travel money cards for Brazil
Planning a trip to the lively Brazil? Before you soak up the vibrant Copacabana Beach in Rio or take in the views at Iguaçu Falls, it’s a good idea to sort out your money. One way you can access your money is with a travel money card.
A travel money card allows you to spend your own money while travelling overseas. In Brazil, you may be able to use a travel money card to withdraw Brazilian real from ATMs or make card payments with retailers.
How do travel money cards work?
A travel money card is a card you can load foreign currencies onto. The card then works like a regular debit card and you can use it to make purchases or withdraw money from ATMs when you are travelling. Most travel money cards are issued in partnership with Visa or Mastercard, so you can use the card wherever its payment network is accepted.
With a travel money card, you can load foreign currencies onto the card before you travel and lock in the exchange rates in advance. If you need more funds, you can also reload the cards at any time. However, some providers do charge reloading fees in certain circumstances.
Other fees can also apply, depending on the provider, such as inactivity fees and fees to withdraw your remaining funds at the end of your trip. Some cards also charge currency conversion fees and ATM withdrawal fees.
What is the best card to use in Brazil?
The best card to use will depend on what your needs are and how you intend to use the card. For example, do you think you will use it for the majority of your purchases and will regularly withdraw money from ATMs? Or would you only use it in emergencies? If you intend to use it regularly, look for a card with no or low currency conversion fees and no or low overseas ATM fees.
There are three different card options to choose from: travel money cards, travel credit cards and travel debit cards. Each card option has different pros and cons. For example, with a travel money card you may be able to load real onto the card in advance and lock in your exchange rate, but you may also be charged various fees.
At the time of writing, there is only one travel money card on Canstar’s database that allows you to load real (based on information listed on each provider’s website). This is from Revolut. Revolut currently offers three plans (Standard, Premium and Metal) on its travel money card.
If you decide to use a travel money card loaded with another currency, be aware that you could be charged a currency conversion fee each time you make a purchase or withdraw money in Brazil.
Can I use a travel money card in Brazil?
Yes, as most travel money cards are issued in partnership with Visa or Mastercard, you will generally be able to use a card wherever the payment network it uses is accepted. According to Lonely Planet, Visa is the most widely accepted type of card, followed by Mastercard. Travel money cards can be used for many purchases and to make cash withdrawals from participating ATMs and banks.
Visit Brazil also notes that international credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, car rental companies and other companies that provide services to tourists.
While ATMs are common in big cities, Lonely Planet notes that in many smaller towns ATMs don’t always work for non-Brazilian cards. It also warns that credit card and ATM fraud is widespread in Brazil. It recommends using high-traffic ATMs inside banks during banking hours only, covering the keypad when entering your PIN, avoiding self-standing ATMs where possible and avoiding any ATM that looks tampered with.
Don’t forget to consider travel insurance
While you are planning your trip, it’s also a good idea to consider travel insurance. There are a number of travel insurance providers that now offer some COVID-19 related cover, but there are exclusions to be aware of.
You can compare travel insurance for Brazil using Canstar’s comparison tool. Make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination and the terms and conditions so you understand exactly what you are covered for.
Compare travel money cards for other destinations
Planning to visit some other countries? We’ve also written about travel money cards for the following destinations:
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This article was reviewed by our Sub Editor Jacqueline Belesky before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.