Our review of The Virgin Money Travel Credit Card – save money abroad due to 0% FX fees

This is my review of the Virgin Money Travel Mastercard credit card.

All miles and points credit cards charge a 3% foreign exchange fee.  Even if your card offers bonus points for spending outside the UK – the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold offers double points, for example – they are still not worth 3%.

EDIT:  This card was withdrawn in Spring 2020 and is no longer available

Of course, if you are travelling on business and your employer is paying you back then you might prefer a credit card with a good bonus for foreign spend even with a 3% fee.  This article looks at the best credit card bonuses for foreign spend.

It makes sense to carry a separate credit card without FX fees to use when travelling.  In this article we take a look at the FREE Virgin Money Travel Mastercard credit card.

Key link: Virgin Money Travel Mastercard application form

Key facts: No annual fee, 0% interest on purchases for 12 months, 0% interest on balance transfers for 12 months (2% fee), 0% interest on money transfers for 12 months (4% fee)

The representative APR is 21.9% variable.

About the card

The Virgin Money Travel Credit Card – issued by Virgin Money – is issued as a Mastercard which means it is widely accepted globally.

The key benefit is that there are no foreign exchange fees on overseas purchases.  You will, however, pay a 3% fee on any cash withdrawals you make on the card, either in the UK or abroad, so it is not completely free of charge when used overseas.

Any other benefits?

Yes, this card is not a one-trick pony.  Additional card benefits include:

• Unlimited free access to Virgin Money lounges across the UK
• Free global wi-fi access via Boingo
• 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers
• 0% interest on purchases for 12 months
• 0% interest for 12 months on money transfers

The lounge benefit is an interesting one if you live in the rights part of Britain.  I often used the one on Piccadilly to work and it was a pleasant place to hang out – here is our review of the old Virgin Money London lounge.  This lounge is now closed and has relocated to Haymarket, just around the corner.

Is there an annual fee?

No

Is this a good card to use when travelling?

Yes.

The Virgin Money Travel Credit Card charges no foreign exchange fees and you pay 0% interest on purchases for the first 12 months of card membership.

Anything else I need to know?

You can pick the design of your card!  During the application process you can choose from a number of images:

I like the cassette:

Conclusion

The Virgin Money Travel Mastercard credit card is a good choice for an FX fee-free credit card to use abroad.  It is a simple package with no annual fee and the ability to pick your own card design from a number of interesting options.

And depending on where you live, you’ll be able to pop into a Virgin Money lounge every time you go shopping to get a free cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.

The application form for the Virgin Money Travel Mastercard credit card can be found here.

Want to earn more points from credit cards? – December 2021 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit or charge card, here are our November 2021 recommendations based on the current sign-up bonus. 

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the top current deals:

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers.

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and free for a year Read our full review

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points sign-up bonus and a long list of travel benefits Read our full review

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Capital On Tap Business Rewards Visa

The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending:

Barclaycard Select Cashback Credit Card

1% cashback and no annual fee Read our full review