How we test
Short version: we get the card, we spend on it, and we read the complaints.
1. We hold the card
We do not write about a card we have not used. That means paying the issue fee, going through KYC, funding it, and making real payments. When a physical card is involved, we order it and wait for it like anyone else — shipping time and customs are part of the review.
2. We recompute every fee
Marketing pages quote best-case numbers. We add the parts they leave out.
| What we include |
|---|
| FX markup on the actual transaction, not the headline rate |
| Monthly caps on cashback, which usually decide the real rate |
| Merchant category surcharges (ads platforms, gaming, some subscriptions) |
| ATM fees, both issuer and operator |
| The card fee itself, amortised over realistic spending |
Then we divide by what you actually spent. That number is the one we publish.
3. We read the one-star reviews
Public review sites are where the failure modes live: refunds that stall, accounts frozen without warning, payments declined at the till. We read them, count them, and tell you what share of reviews they are. A card with a strong app and slow support is a different product from a card that is simply good.
4. We date every number
Card terms change constantly. Every fee, limit and country list on this site carries the date we verified it. If you find something stale, tell us and we will fix it and note the change.
5. We say when to skip
For a lot of readers the honest answer is that a normal travel card is cheaper and simpler. We say that where it is true, including on our own home page — even though we earn nothing when you take that advice.
- We cannot test every card in every country. Availability notes come from issuer documents, and we say so.
- We cannot verify a card is safe from failure. No review can. We report what is known.
- We are not financial advisors and nothing here is financial advice.