Virgin Money Travel Credit Card: Pros and Cons

The Virgin Money Travel Credit Card is a credit card designed for travellers who want to spend abroad without foreign transaction fees. It offers a 0% fee on foreign currency purchases, making it a great alternative to standard bank cards that typically charge 2-3% per transaction when spending overseas. But there are some drawbacks, including expensive cash withdrawals, limited hold currencies and limited travel benefits. Let's compare the Virgin Money travel credit card with other options to find the right travel card for your next trip.

How Does a Virgin money travel credit card work?

The Virgin Money travel credit card works like any other credit card in your wallet, with the benefit of having 0% foreign transaction fees when spending abroad.

Use it abroad – Spend in any currency without paying extra fees.
Pay your balance monthly – Just like any credit card, paying in full avoids interest charges.
Earn rewards – Depending on the Virgin Money credit card you choose, you may earn cashback or points.
Withdraw cash – You can take out cash abroad, but interest charges apply from day one.

✅ Pros of the Virgin Money Travel Credit Card

✔ No foreign transaction fees – Spend in any currency without extra costs.
✔ Ideal for travel bookings – Use it to book hotels, flights, and car rentals with ease.
✔ Accepted worldwide – Works anywhere that accepts Mastercard.
✔ Purchase protection – Credit cards offer Section 75 protection for purchases over £100.
✔ No need to preload money – Unlike prepaid travel cards, you just spend normally.

❌ Cons of the Virgin Money Travel Credit Card

✖ Cash withdrawals are expensive – ATM withdrawals incur interest from day one, even if you pay your bill in full.
✖ Not the best for multi-currency holding – Unlike Wise or Revolut, it doesn’t allow holding multiple currencies.
✖ Interest applies if you carry a balance – Make sure to pay off the card in full each month to avoid interest.
✖ No built-in travel perks – No free airport lounge access or travel insurance included.

Are There Cheaper Alternatives to the Virgin Money travel credit card?

If you want to save on foreign transaction fees and get extra benefits, consider these options:

1. Chase UK – Best for Free Cash Withdrawals

0% foreign transaction fees
Unlimited free ATM withdrawals abroad

2. Revolut – Best for Multi-Currency Use

Holds 30+ currencies
Uses real exchange rates (no hidden fees)
Free FX transactions (limits apply on free plans)

3. Wise (formerly TransferWise) – Best for Transparent Fees

Uses mid-market exchange rates
Low conversion fees compared to traditional banks
Great for international money transfers

Don't want another card?

If you want a simpler and smarter way to spend abroad, you might want to consider Curve – a global travel wallet that removes FX fees automatically from any debit or credit cards. There are stacks of other travel benefits too:

Spend from any account with no foreign transaction fees
Withdraw up to £1000/month with no ATM fees abroad
Earn 1% cashback on all your spending outside Europe
Earn 1% cashback at travel retailers like Booking.com, Uber, Easyjet and more.
Get discounted airport lounge access
Lock/unlock your whole wallet with one tap to keep your money safe

Travel benefits will differ depending on what plan you're on.

How Curve Works

Download the wallet app and link your debit and credit cards to Curve – No need to apply for a new credit card.
Curve will generate a Curve Pay Card for you, with a 16-digit card number, expiry and CVV. This is now your whole wallet in one single card. Whatever card you have selected in your Curve Wallet is the card that's charged when you pay.
You're now free to spend abroad with any card without being ripped off in fees. Curve converts your payments at the real exchange rates with no hidden fees and no extra FX charges.

Why Curve is Simpler Than a Virgin Money Travel Credit Card

✔ No need for a separate travel card – Just use your existing bank cards with Curve.
✔ Instant FX savings – Avoid foreign transaction fees without switching banks.
✔ Easier budgeting – No need to preload or manage a separate credit account.
✔ Great for frequent travelers – Upgrade to a premium plan for unlimited FX-free spending, travel cashback rewards, free withdrawals and airport lounge access.

Verdict: Should You Get the Virgin Money Travel Credit Card?

If you want a straightforward travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees, Virgin Money Travel Credit Card is a good option. But cash withdrawals are expensive, and you won’t get the best exchange rates. For a simpler way to save abroad, Curve is a smart alternative. It eliminates FX fees, removes the hassle of applying for a new card, and rewards you with cashback at top travel brands.

Want to travel smarter? Get Curve today and start saving instantly.

Get Curve Pay