Travel Tips Holiday money

Hays travel card review: features, fees and more

Gert Svaiko

17.12.25

Read time 3 minutes

Going on holiday soon? You might need a convenient payment solution for everyday spending and shopping overseas. One possible option to consider is the Hays travel card.

We’ve created a Hays travel card review to give you a clear overview of its features and benefits. We’ll cover everything from fees to rates and limits, helping you make an informed decision.

We’ll also introduce an alternative way to manage your expenses while travelling - the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. This clever debit card automatically converts your money to the local currency in 160+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate (close to what you can see on Google), with only a tiny, transparent conversion fee.

Join over 14.8 million people worldwide using Wise with their foreign currency transactions.

💳 Learn more about the Wise card

Please see the terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

What is the Hays travel card?

The Hays travel card is a prepaid Mastercard that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, making it a convenient choice for holidays abroad. You can load 22 currencies onto the card, including British pounds, US dollars, euros, UAE dirhams and more.¹

The Hays travel card supports both contactless and chip-and-PIN transactions, as well as ATM withdrawals. It’s available to UK residents aged 18 and over.¹

You can use the card in both physical and virtual form. If you prefer the convenience of mobile payments, you can add it to your Apple or Google wallet and pay with your phone.¹

The card is managed through the Hays Travel Currency Card app, which lets you track your spending, lock in exchange rates and top up multiple currencies.¹

Hays travel card benefits

There are plenty of advantages to the Hays travel card. Here are some of the key benefits you may find useful:

22 supported currencies
Worldwide acceptance
Apple Pay and Google Pay compatibility
No monthly fees
No card issuance fees
Feature-packed app¹

Hays travel card limits and fees

The Hays travel card doesn’t have any issuance or monthly fees, but there are some services you’ll need to pay for.²

For example, there is a 2% fee when topping up your pound sterling wallet, while loading foreign currencies is free. ATM withdrawals also incur a cost, which varies by currency, such as £1.50 for pounds and €1.75 for euros.²

If you spend in a currency you already have on your Hays travel card, no fees apply. However, there’s a 5.75% exchange fee when you pay in a currency your card doesn’t hold, or if your balance in that currency is too low.²

The Hays travel card also has an inactivity fee, which is charged after 18 months of non-use. The charge is £2 per month, but it doesn’t apply if your balance is zero.²

If you want to have another card, that will cost you £5, but a replacement card in case of theft, loss or damage will be sent to you for free.²

When it comes to card limits, they apply to the amount you spend and the type of transaction. You won’t be able to use your card for recurring payments, money transfers or purchases on adult and gambling websites.²

The minimum top-up amount is £50, while you can load up to £5,000 online and £2,500 via the app in 24 hours. You can load a total of £30,000 in a year and hold up to £5,000 on your card at any time. The daily spending and withdrawal limits are £3,000 and £500, respectively.²

Keep in mind that some retailers can set their own limits or charge their own fees independently of the card.

What exchange rate does Hays use?

The Hays travel card is a prepaid Mastercard, so the exchange rate applied is set by Mastercard. When you use it to pay in a currency not loaded on your card, a 5.75% fee will be charged.²

Hays travel card vs Wise card: Quick comparison

Wondering how the Hays travel card and the Wise debit card compare? Here’s a brief look at their similarities and differences:

Card Feature	Hays travel card	Wise debit card
Fees	No monthly fees £2/month inactivity fee £0 order fee £0 replacement fee £5 additional card fee² 2% top-up fee when using your pound sterling wallet 5.75% fee for transactions that are not in the currency available on your card £1.5 fee for ATM withdrawals (or the equivalent in other currencies)	No monthly fees One-time £7 card order fee (digital card for free) £2.50 card replacement fee 2 free ATM withdrawals up to £200 per month** 1.75% fee for withdrawals above £200 per month £0.50 fee per transaction after two monthly withdrawals
Main features	Mastercard exchange rate Withdrawals at UK and international ATMs Physical and virtual form¹	Mid-market exchange rate No currency conversion fees if you hold the currency in your account Withdrawals at UK and international ATMs Physical and virtual form
No. of countries	Wherever Mastercard is accepted	160+
No. of currencies	22	40+

**Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Both of these cards can be used in the UK and abroad.

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Sources used:

Hays - Travel money card
Hays - Hays travel card terms and conditions

Sources last checked on date: 17-Nov-2025

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.