Travel money planning
Best Travel Card for the USA: Fees, Deposits and Tips
For a US trip on cards from home, pay with a low-fee debit card and keep a credit card for holds. Wise suits visitors who want to hold US dollars, Revolut Standard suits UK residents who stay within GBP 1,000 of exchanges a month, N26 suits euro-account holders with no FX fee on card payments, and Bybit Card (EU) lets EEA residents spend crypto at 0.5% above the Mastercard rate. Pay in dollars, tap to pay where you can and read the final bill for tips and service charges. Russian-issued cards do not work in the US and hotels and rental desks can require a card for the deposit, so travellers from Russia need a card from their country of legal residence or a hotel’s written agreement to a cash deposit.
By DmytroUpdated 12 min read
Short answer
- Wise: hold US dollars and spend them with no conversion; UK cards get GBP 250 and EEA cards EUR 250 of free cash a month, then 2.69% (as of 10 Oct 2026).
- Revolut Standard (UK, as of 26 Sep 2026): dollar spending carries no exchange fee up to GBP 1,000 a rolling month, then 1%.
- N26 (EU plans): no FX fee on card payments, 1.7% on dollar cash on Standard; Bybit Card (EU): 0.5% above the Mastercard rate (both as of 26 Sep 2026).
- Put hotel and rental holds on a credit card, choose USD on every screen, and check whether a service charge is already on the bill before you tip.
Card fees for one month outside Europe
- N26 Smart10.00 EURExchange 0.00 · ATM 5.10 · Plan 4.90 · Card 0.00 · card delivery extra
- Bybit Card EU10.50 EURExchange 6.50 · ATM 4.00 · Plan 0.00 · Card 0.00 · crypto conversion extra
- N26 Standard15.10 EURExchange 0.00 · ATM 5.10 · Plan 0.00 · Card 10.00
- Wirex Standard≥ 7.00 EURExchange 0.00 · ATM 2.00 · Plan 0.00 · Card 5.00 · + conversion fee shown in the app
- Wise≥ 8.35 EURExchange 0.00 · ATM 1.35 · Plan 0.00 · Card 7.00 · + conversion fee shown in the app
Not ranked: Nexo Card Base (virtual card only on this plan: no ATM cash; total covers card payments)
The best cards for visitors to the USA
A low-fee debit card for spending, a credit card for holds and a little dollar cash.
Wise is the best currency card for the USA if you want to buy dollars before you go. It holds 40+ currencies, including US dollars, so dollar payments come straight from that balance with no conversion. Its ATM pricing follows the country that issued your card, not the country you visit: cash is free up to GBP 250 a calendar month on a UK card or EUR 250 on an EEA card, and Wise takes 2.69% of whatever goes over; the card costs GBP 7 or EUR 7 to order (as of 10 Oct 2026).
Revolut Standard suits UK residents who spend a moderate amount in dollars. Exchanges up to GBP 1,000 in a rolling month carry no Revolut fee, anything beyond costs 1%, and weekend exchanges add 1% where that fee applies (UK, as of 26 Sep 2026). Dollar cash carries no Revolut fee for the first 5 withdrawals or GBP 200 in a rolling month; after that it costs 2%, minimum GBP 1.
N26 is the choice for euro-account holders: it charges no FX fee of its own on dollar card payments, whatever the plan, and converts at the Mastercard rate. Dollar cash costs 1.7% on Standard and Smart, while Go and Metal (EUR 9.90 and EUR 16.90 a month) add no N26 markup (EU plans, as of 26 Sep 2026).
Bybit Card (EU) is for EEA residents paying with crypto held on Bybit EU: 0.5% over the Mastercard rate, the first EUR 100 of cash a month free and 2% after that (as of 26 Sep 2026); Bybit prices the crypto conversion separately.
Bring a credit card from your home bank as well. A hotel or rental hold on it uses credit limit rather than your travel money; the hold is released after checkout or return, and you then repay the final charges in full to avoid interest.
Card comparison: costs of spending in US dollars
Each provider’s own fees for dollar payments and cash, with two worked examples.
The table lists the providers’ own charges; a US ATM operator can add a surcharge of its own (see the cash section below).
Example, one month of weekday card spending (as of 26 Sep 2026): GBP 1,400 of dollar purchases on Revolut UK Standard costs 1% on the GBP 400 above the allowance, or GBP 4. EUR 1,400 on Bybit Card (EU) costs 0.5% over the Mastercard rate, or EUR 7. N26 adds no FX fee on any plan.
Example, GBP 350 of dollar cash in one month: a UK Wise card costs GBP 2.69, which is 2.69% of the GBP 100 above its GBP 250 allowance (as of 10 Oct 2026). On Revolut UK Standard, taken as GBP 200 and then GBP 150, it costs GBP 3, which is 2% of the second withdrawal (as of 26 Sep 2026).
| Card | Paying in USD | Dollar cash (provider fee) | Card and plan cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | From a USD balance with no conversion; Wise conversion fee only if it converts | UK card GBP 250 a month free, EEA card EUR 250; then 2.69% of the excess | Card GBP 7 or EUR 7 to order; no subscription | Visitors who buy dollars in advance |
| Revolut Standard | Revolut’s rate; GBP 1,000 a rolling month without a fee, 1% beyond; weekend 1% where it applies | Up to 5 withdrawals or GBP 200 a rolling month free, 2% after (GBP 1 minimum) | Plan free, card delivery charged; paid plans GBP 3.99 to GBP 55 a month | UK residents with moderate dollar spending |
| N26 | Mastercard rate; N26 charges no FX fee on any plan | 1.7% on Standard and Smart; no N26 markup on Go or Metal | Standard free with EUR 10 physical card; Go EUR 9.90, Metal EUR 16.90 a month | Euro-account holders |
| Bybit Card (EU) | Mastercard rate plus 0.5%; crypto conversion charged on top | First EUR 100 a month free, then 2% | Virtual card and first physical card at no charge | EEA residents spending crypto |
What your trip costs with each card
Enter your trip and the cards are ranked by what they charge in fees, using each card’s published prices for where you live.
Enter foreign-currency amounts at their value in EUR.
Assumes a euro card used in another currency outside Europe, so payments and cash are converted.
Of the cards with a full price, N26 Smart is cheapest: about 10.00 EUR; Bybit Card EU costs 10.50 EUR. Wirex Standard costs 7.00 EUR and Wise 8.35 EUR, each plus a conversion fee that depends on the currency (the app shows it before you pay). Nexo Card Base has only a virtual card on this plan, so it cannot withdraw cash and is left out of the comparison.
- 1N26 SmartCheapestEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 10.00 EUR
Per month: 10.00 EUR
- Exchange
- 0.00 EUR
- ATM
- 5.10 EUR
- Plan
- 4.90 EUR
- Card
- 0.00 EUR
card delivery extra
Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source
- 2Bybit Card EUEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 10.50 EUR
Per month: 10.50 EUR
- Exchange
- 6.50 EUR
- ATM
- 4.00 EUR
- Plan
- 0.00 EUR
- Card
- 0.00 EUR
crypto conversion extra
Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source
- 3N26 StandardEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 15.10 EUR
Per month: 15.10 EUR
- Exchange
- 0.00 EUR
- ATM
- 5.10 EUR
- Plan
- 0.00 EUR
- Card
- 10.00 EUR
Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source
- 4Wirex StandardEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 7.00 EUR
Per month: 7.00 EUR
- Exchange
- 0.00 EUR
- ATM
- 2.00 EUR
- Plan
- 0.00 EUR
- Card
- 5.00 EUR
+ conversion fee shown in the app
Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source
- 5WiseEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 8.35 EUR
Per month: 8.35 EUR
- Exchange
- 0.00 EUR
- ATM
- 1.35 EUR
- Plan
- 0.00 EUR
- Card
- 7.00 EUR
+ conversion fee shown in the app
Fees as of 10 Oct 2026 · source
- 6Nexo Card BaseEEA (euro account) · Review
Trip total: 21.50 EUR
Per month: 21.50 EUR
- Exchange
- 21.50 EUR
- ATM
- 0.00 EUR
- Plan
- 0.00 EUR
- Card
- 0.00 EUR
virtual card only on this plan: no ATM cash; total covers card payments
Fees as of 26 Sep 2026 · source
Hotel and car-rental holds in the USA
A hold is released after the stay or rental, but it ties up money or credit until then.
US hotels and rental desks can place an authorization hold on your card at check-in or pickup. Avis, which publishes its US rules, accepts Visa- or Mastercard-branded debit cards at most US locations, holds at least the estimated cost of the rental, and refuses debit cards at pickup in some places, including Northern and Central New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. Prepaid and gift cards are not accepted as credit identification, and premium vehicles need a credit card.
Use a credit card for holds where you can, so the block does not eat into your spending money. Avis releases held funds after the rental ends, but your bank may take time to restore the balance; compare pending amounts with the final charges before treating them as duplicates.
If a fuel pump asks for a ZIP code your foreign card cannot match, pay inside at the counter.
Tips, service charges and the final bill
A tip is voluntary; a service charge is part of the price.
A voluntary tip and a mandatory service charge are different things, and IRS guidance draws the same line. Read the bill before adding a tip: if a service charge is already included, ask what it covers. The tip amounts suggested on a payment screen are options you can change.
Budget from the final total, including applicable taxes and mandatory charges. Keep the receipt with the tip and total you authorized; the pending amount in your app can differ from the posted charge, so compare the final one before disputing it.
Cash is a useful small backup. The Federal Reserve explains there is no general federal requirement for private businesses to accept cash, although state or local rules can differ.
Dollar cash, ATM surcharges and DCC
Check the operator’s fee on screen, use your free allowance and always choose USD.
A US ATM operator that adds a surcharge has to show the amount on the screen or a printout before you complete the withdrawal, and you can cancel at no cost, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If the surcharge is high, cancel and try another machine.
Your card provider’s fee comes on top: free up to GBP 250 a month on a UK Wise card or EUR 250 on an EEA one, then 2.69% (as of 10 Oct 2026); 5 withdrawals or GBP 200 with Revolut UK Standard, EUR 100 on Bybit Card (EU) and 1.7% on N26 Standard (these three as of 26 Sep 2026).
If the ATM or a card terminal offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline it: that is dynamic currency conversion, which Visa describes as optional and priced with its own rate and markup. Choose USD, and only your card’s own fees apply.
Tap to pay, phone wallets and the physical card
Tap a card or phone at the checkout; keep the physical card for ATMs, pumps and rental desks.
Revolut and N26 cards work in Apple Pay and Google Pay. Whether Wise and Bybit Card do depends on the country that issued your card. Add the cards to your phone before you fly, while verification texts still reach your home number, and tap the card or phone wherever the terminal shows the contactless symbol.
Keep the physical cards with you for ATMs, fuel pumps and rental counters. For a prepaid Avis booking, the card shown at the counter must be the one used to book.
Paying in the USA from Russia
Russian-issued cards do not work abroad, and in the US cash alone does not cover hotels and rentals.
Cards issued by Russian banks stopped working in the US when Visa and Mastercard halted their Russian business in March 2022, and Mir cards are of very little use abroad.
Residents of Russia can lawfully rely on US dollar cash, but it has limits in the US. The Federal Reserve says there is no general federal requirement for private businesses to accept cash, Avis does not accept prepaid cards as credit identification, and hotels can require a card for the deposit. Ask the hotel to confirm in writing that it takes a cash deposit before you book.
More than USD 10,000 in cash, counted together for a family or group travelling together, must be reported to US Customs and Border Protection on FinCEN Form 105 when you enter or leave. If you legally live in another country, open a card account there before the trip: Wise, Revolut, N26 and Bybit Card (EU) serve legal residents of their supported countries after identity checks.
US trip card checklist
Six checks before you fly to the US.
Handle these before you leave home, since card deliveries and verification texts go to your home address and phone number.
Checklist
- Main card (Wise, Revolut or N26) and a backup on a different provider, activated and with PINs memorised.
- A credit card in the name on the hotel and rental bookings, with enough limit left for the holds.
- The rental location’s debit-card and deposit rules checked, especially in New Jersey or the Philadelphia area.
- Wise USD balance topped up, plus a few dollar notes for small payments.
- Cards added to Apple Pay or Google Pay before departure.
- Issuer emergency numbers saved offline, and USD selected on every terminal and ATM.
FAQ
What is the best travel card for the USA?
A low-fee debit card for spending plus a credit card for deposits. Revolut UK Standard charges no exchange fee on the first GBP 1,000 of a rolling month (as of 26 Sep 2026), N26 adds no FX fee to card payments, and Wise spends a USD balance with no conversion.
What is the best currency card for the USA?
Wise, for visitors who want to buy and hold dollars before the trip. The USD balance spends without conversion, and UK or EEA cardholders take out GBP 250 or EUR 250 a month without a Wise fee before 2.69% applies (as of 10 Oct 2026).
Do I need a credit card in the USA?
It is the easiest card for hotel and car-rental holds, because the hold uses credit limit instead of your money. Avis accepts Visa- or Mastercard-branded debit cards at most US locations under separate conditions, refuses them at pickup in some areas and never takes prepaid cards as credit identification.
Are a tip and a service charge the same?
No. A tip is voluntary and a service charge is mandatory, and IRS guidance treats them differently. Read the bill before deciding whether to add a tip.
Can travelers from Russia pay by card in the USA?
Not with a card from a Russian bank: Visa and Mastercard have not served them abroad since March 2022. Bring US dollars, get the hotel’s written agreement to a cash deposit, report more than USD 10,000 to CBP, or use a card from the country where you legally live.
Sources
- Tip recordkeeping: voluntary tips and service charges — IRS
- Can US businesses refuse cash? — Federal Reserve
- Check the screen for ATM fees — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Money and other monetary instruments — US Customs and Border Protection
- Dynamic currency conversion — Visa
- US debit-card rental policy — Avis
- Wise card fees (UK) — Wise
- Wise card fees (Ireland) — Wise
- Wise card fees (Germany) — Wise
- How much does it cost to withdraw cash with my Wise card? — Wise
- Wise multi-currency account uses — Wise
- Revolut UK Standard fees — Revolut
- Revolut pricing plans — Revolut
- Revolut supported residence countries — Revolut
- N26 foreign transaction fees — N26
- N26 cash withdrawal conditions — N26
- N26 EU plan comparison — N26
- N26 supported residence countries — N26
- Bybit EU card fees and limits — Bybit EU
- Visa Suspends All Russia Operations — Visa
- Mastercard Statement on Suspension of Russian Operations — Mastercard
Fees and terms change, so check the provider’s current price page before you sign up. How we compare