If you’ve ever travelled abroad and been stung by hidden bank fees, terrible exchange rates, awkward card payments and frozen bank cards then you’ll know how frustrating money can be on the road. I’ve been there… until I switched to Monzo.
After five years of using the Monzo card for travel, across dozens of countries, multiple continents and everything from weekend city breaks to long-haul adventures, I can confidently say it’s the best travel bank account I’ve ever used (and I’ve tried a lot!)
In this post, I’ll explain exactly why, how it works abroad, how it compares to competitors like Starling and whether Monzo is actually safe to use overseas.
If you’re wondering whether the Monzo travel card is worth it, this is my honest, real-world experience after using it for 5 years – both abroad and now at home too.
Monzo referral link: If you’re here for the £10 Monzo referral link then here it is! If you sign up using this link then we will both get £10 when you make your first purchase.
Should you still take cash abroad?
This is a weekend break blog for UK travellers so we’re mostly travelling around Europe and I can honestly say that 99% of the time I do not withdraw any cash.
I’ll be completely honest and blunt here – unless you’re buying drugs abroad, it’s very unlikely you’ll need any cash!
If you don’t use cash at home, you probably won’t need to use cash abroad.
Taxis, market stalls, buses, trains, shops, hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes will accept debit and credit cards 99% of the time. If they don’t, they’ll usually have a large sign somewhere which you’ll spot before you order.
Some people may want to tip in cash – particularly cleaning staff and tour guides.
The one exception has been Albania where cash was needed in 2025, but it’s extremely rare for me to use cash abroad.
Occasionally I’ll come across a small market stall where they only take cash but, to be honest, I just don’t buy anything because it’s not worth the palaver of getting cash out and being left with some random currency I’ll never use again. Plus, everything on the market stall usually comes from China, so it’ss about as authentic as a celebrity ‘apology’. And, let’s be honest, even if it’s Euros, I end up losing it or feeling annoyed at carrying a pocket full of cash around with me.
It’s 2026, give me Apple Pay on my phone or watch every time!
Why I started using the Monzo Card for travelling
Before Monzo, I used my HSBC debit card when travelling. I joined HSBC when I was 16 because it was the main bank on my local highstreet and, to be honest, I just didn’t ever question it. But every trip came with:
- Foreign transaction fees on every single transaction
- Fees for taking cash out
- Poor exchange rates
- Slow updates on the app
- Ridiculously slow customer service
- My card being frozen outside of Europe
- A very basic app
- No functionality to split bills with friends
- Poor interest rates on savings
- No ability to start saving pots for different trips
- No ability to ‘round up’ payments for savings pots
When I started using Monzo it felt like a breath of fresh air and I couldn’t believe I’d been using HSBC for so long. Suddenly, HSBC felt like a dinosaur and it was almost embarrassing how behind the app was.
Monzo feels like a bank built for modern life and, crucially, for travel.
I actually signed up before a girls’ trip to Valencia. A few of my friends already used Monzo and they’d mentioned how easy it was to split bills – which is perfect when you’re on a group holiday as you’re buying lots of drinks and meals together.
I signed up a day before the holiday and got an account all sorted and set up almost immediately. It wasn’t enough time to get the physical card posted out to me but I had a virtual card to use via Apple Pay immediately. So if you’re going abroad, you can literally apply for a card and have it to use within a couple of hours.
At first I only used my Monzo card for travel but I eventually switched over and use it for business and personal life too.
What is Monzo and why is it so good for travel?
Monzo is a UK-based digital bank that operates entirely through an app. There are no physical branches, but what you get instead is full control over your money, instant notifications, and some of the apps best features for travellers.
At its core, the Monzo card for travel is a debit card that lets you:
- Pay abroad with no foreign transaction fees
- Withdraw cash overseas (limits apply)
- Get real exchange rates
- Track spending instantly via a user-friendly app
- Freeze your card in seconds if needed
- Savings pots within the app (great when saving for a big trip!)
For travellers, this is game-changing.
Using the Monzo Card abroad: What you need to know
One of the biggest questions people ask is how the Monzo card abroad actually works in practice.
Here’s the short answer: brilliantly.
Paying Abroad
Whenever you pay by card (or Apple Pay or Google Pay) overseas, Monzo uses the Mastercard exchange rate, which is consistently one of the best available. There are no hidden mark-ups, which means you always know exactly what you’re paying.
After each purchase you’ll immediately get a notification on your phone (and/or watch) to tell you exactly how much it cost in both Euros and GBP.
Cash Withdrawals
You can withdraw cash abroad with Monzo, which is especially useful in countries where cash is still king (which is very rare so don’t worry about this too much!). For most people, the free allowance is more than enough for travel, and I’ve used ATMs worldwide with no issues.
Instant Notifications
Every time you spend, your phone buzzes with:
- The amount in local currency
- The GBP equivalent
- The merchant name
I love this feature because it means you know exactly what you’re spending and if there are any dodgy transactions going on, you’d spot them immediately. You can also add notes to each transaction to keep track of what’s what.
App categories
One thing I love about the app is that it categorises your spending into things like food & drink, transport, accommodation, groceries etc. So you can see where you’re spending what.
Bill splitting
Another great thing about the Monzo app is how easy it is to split bills, especially with people who also use Monzo. If you’ve got someone saved in your phone as a contact (with their phone number) then they’ll appear as a contact in Monzo and you can send a request to them to split the bill.
You can also create a ‘Split’ which is like a running tab and it’s what we use on holiday for group trips. Everything you spend that needs to split goes into the ‘Split’ and then at the end of the holiday it divides it all up and shows who owes who, so you don’t need to go through every individual bill and split it. We try to take it in turns to pay the bill, but it’s never quite equal so we do the split when we’re home.
You can select the people in the split to be included for each bill (so if you’ve gone for drinks and one person didn’t have a drink, they won’t be added to every single bill).
Using a split would also be really handy for anyone you frequently need to split bills with, such as your housemates or your boyfriend/girlfriend.
My real-world experience using Monzo for travel
After five years of travelling with my Monzo card, this is what I love most about the Monzo travel card:
- Reliability, it just works – always. As a solo traveller I need to be able to rely on it! I just can’t be stuck in some other country with no access to my money.
- If I’ve ever had a problem I can chat to someone via the app immediately – and get a real response from a human really quickly.
- I can double check my PIN number via the app really easily.
- I can freeze my card if I ever think I’ve lost it immediately – and unfreeze it when I inevitably find it.
- It’s really easy to split bills.
- It’s also easy to keep track of spending.
- I love having various saving pots so I can see how much I have saved for various trips or projects.
- I also love that the savings account has a much higher interest rate than my HSBC savings account did.
Why I now use Monzo for everyday life
It’s the Monzo app that makes it really special! You can really easily track your spending trends over weeks, months and years and set yourself spending (or saving) targets.
I now use Monzo for my savings, my stocks and shares ISA and it also keeps track of my mortgage and has nice features to show the impact of making overpayments.
Everything about the app makes it so easy to track, save and manage your money in a way that’s visually appealing, friendly and easy. When I go back to my HSBC (as I still use this for some payments) it’s honestly like it’s 100 years old in comparison.
Is Monzo safe to use abroad?
A common question I see is: Is Monzo safe?
The answer is yes, and in many ways, it’s safer than traditional banks.
Monzo is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and eligible deposits are protected up to £85,000 under the FSCS. But what really matters when travelling is day-to-day security.
Here’s why I feel confident using Monzo overseas:
- Instant spending notifications
- One-tap card freezing
- Location-based security
- No card details printed on the card
- Excellent in-app support
If something goes wrong abroad, you’re not stuck calling an expensive helpline that takes 4 hours to speak to a human, help is right there in the app and it’s immediate.
Monzo vs Starling: Which is better for travel?
This is one of the most searched comparisons, so let’s talk about Monzo vs Starling honestly.
Both are excellent digital banks, and both are good for travel. But after using Starling for 2-3 trips and then using Monzo extensively, here’s why I personally prefer Monzo.
Monzo or Starling?
If you’re deciding between Monzo or Starling, here are a few things that tipped the balance for me:
- Monzo’s app feels more intuitive and user-friendly
- Budgeting tools are stronger and clearer
- Spending insights are better f
- Customer support has been consistently excellent
Starling is solid, but Monzo just feels more traveller-focused in everyday use.
I still use Starling occasionally because my kids have Starling accounts. Starling offers children’s accounts with debit cards from age 6, whereas for many other banks (including Monzo) children have had to be older or you have to pay a monthly fee to get a debit card. For many kids accounts with traditional banks you need to pay for an account with a debit card, but Starling offers it for free from age 6.
Monzo Review: Pros and Cons for Travellers
No bank is perfect, so here’s a balanced Monzo review based on real use.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Excellent exchange rates
- Easy cash withdrawals abroad
- Intuitive app
- Strong security features
- Great for budgeting while travelling
Cons
- Cash withdrawal limits apply
- To use the app features you need to be connected to Wifi or have mobile data while travelling
- App-only banking (not for everyone)
- Premium features cost extra (optional and I haven’t felt the need to upgrade)
For me, the pros massively outweigh the cons!
Budgeting on the road with Monzo
One unexpected benefit of using the Monzo card for travel is how much easier it makes budgeting.
You can:
- Categorise spending automatically
- Set daily budgets
- Track travel costs in real time
- Split expenses with friends
On long trips, this has helped me stay on budget without constantly checking spreadsheets or receipts.
Monzo Refer a Friend: Why It’s Worth Signing Up
If you’re thinking of joining, Monzo runs a Monzo refer a friend scheme. When you sign up using a referral link, we will both get a £10 cash bonus once you make your first card payment.
It’s a win-win.
If you’re already convinced Monzo is right for you, it’s definitely worth using a referral rather than signing up directly.
Who is the Monzo card best for?
Based on my experience, the Monzo card for travelling is ideal for:
- Anyone going abroad
- Frequent travellers
- Digital nomads
- Backpackers
- City-break lovers
- Anyone fed up with bank fees
Even if you don’t travel often, it’s still an excellent everyday bank account, travel is just where it really shines.
Final thoughts: Is Monzo the best bank for travel?
After five years of constant use, my answer is simple: yes.
Using Monzo has saved me money, reduced stress and made travelling smoother. I trust it, I rely on it, and it’s the first card I pack every time I travel.
If you’re choosing between Monzo or Starling, both are good but Monzo wins for me thanks to its app, features and overall travel experience.
If you’re planning a trip, or just want a smarter way to manage your money, I genuinely recommend giving Monzo a try and if you can, use a referral to get a little bonus to start your travels. Don’t forget you’ll get a digital card to use via Apple Pay or Google Pay within a couple of hours so you can begin using your Monzo account immediately before you physical card even arrives in the post.
