Hays Travel Card Review: Is It the Best Travel Card for You?

The Hays Travel Card is a prepaid travel money card designed to help you manage foreign transactions, but is it the smartest way to spend abroad? In this guide, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of the Hays Travel Card and compare it with other travel card options to find the right choice for you. 

What is the Hays Travel Card?

The Hays Travel Card is a prepaid multi-currency card that allows you to load and spend in multiple currencies before traveling. It’s widely accepted and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Hays Travel Card Pros:

✔️ Supports multiple currencies – Load GBP, EUR, USD, and more.

✔️ Fixed exchange rates – Lock in rates before you travel.

✔️ Secure payments – Chip & PIN and contactless for safe spending.

 ✔️ Mobile app control – Easily track spending and reload funds.

✔️ Worldwide acceptance – Spend in millions of locations globally.

Hays Travel Card Cons:

❌ ATM withdrawal fees – Charges apply for cash withdrawals abroad

 ❌ 5.75% FX fee – If you don’t preload the right currency, you’ll pay a steep conversion fee.

 ❌ Inactivity fee – £2 per month if the card isn’t used for 18 months.

 ❌ Preloading required – You must top up funds in advance, limiting flexibility.

Hays Travel Card vs. Other Travel Cards

The Hays Travel Card is not a bad option, but it's a little oldschool. Today, there are many simpler, smarter options that allow you to spend effortlessly abroad with no foreign transaction fees, no ATM withdrawal fees, and no need to to load up currencies before you fly. If you really want to be smart about spending abroad, consider a travel wallet like Curve which allows you to use any debit or credit card abroad, but kills the foreign transaction fees so you can pay like a local wherever you are in the world. 

1. Revolut

A digital banking app offering real exchange rates, multi-currency accounts, and free international spending from Monday to Friday  (limits apply). Best for tech-savvy travelers who want advanced budgeting features.

 ❌ Sneaky weekend fees 

 ❌ Top-ups required 

2. Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Wise offers low foreign transaction fees and a good exchange rate. However, it lacks cashback and premium perks, and fees differ from one currency to the next so it can be hard to track how much you're being charged. 

3. Monzo & Starling

Both are UK-based digital banks with no foreign transaction fees, free ATM withdrawals within limits.

 ❌ Require opening new bank account

 ❌ No physical bank branch 

Is Curve a smarter alternative to the Hays travel card? 

Curve is not a bank or a prepaid travel card—it’s a smart travel wallet that links to your existing debit and credit cards. That means you can spend abroad without foreign transaction fees while keeping all your existing rewards and benefits. In fact, you can earn cashback on top of the rewards you already get with your cards. Curve offers 1% cashback on all foreign spending outside Europe on any premium plan. So if you spend £2000 on a big trip to Thailand, for example, you'll return home with £20 in cashback and savings of up to £60 in fees (most banks charge up to 3% on every transaction abroad) 

Why Choose Curve Over the Hays Travel Card?

✅ No FX fees – Spend abroad like you do at home—without hidden charges.

✅ 1% cashback outside Europe – Earn rewards every time you travel.

✅ Use any existing cards – No need to choose just one.

✅ Carry just one card – Curve combines all your cards into one so you can spend and withdraw from any account with just one card. 

✅ Free ATM withdrawals – Withdraw cash without extra fees (limits apply)

✅ Freeze & unfreeze instantly – Secure your card in one tap.

Final Verdict: Is the Hays Travel Card Worth It?

The Hays Travel Card is not the cheapest way to spend abroad. Its fees and limitations make it less attractive than newer digital solutions. If you want a more flexible, fee-free way to spend abroad, without the hassle of switching banks or topping up pre-paid cards, a Curve travel wallet is the way to go. 

• Hays Travel Card – Useful for preloading funds, but FX fees and ATM charges can add up.

• Revolut/Wise/Monzo/Starling – Good for frequent travelers, but they require new accounts and limits and fees still apply.

• Curve – The easiest way to spend abroad with no foreign transaction fees, all your cards in one, and extra cashback rewards.