What Cards did I Use For My New Zealand Trip?

The cards listed below are purely my personal favorite cards! I’ve listed my top cards chronologically based on my preference and their use for different spendings + I added in some tips— but of course, it may still differ depending on your travel needs, therefore you still have the liberty to just use one, or all of them based on your preferences and liking— just choose what you need! I hope this helps!

For Online Spending in Local Currency – eg. Airtickets, Hotel Booking:

I used DBS Women’s World Mastercard for the 4 miles per dollar. At time of booking, the maximum spending cap per calendar month on that earn rate was S$2000. However, with effect from 1st March, it will be reduced to S$1500.

As I do not spend that much on online purchases every month, and the miles on this card expires every year, I am considering to cancel this card once I transfer the points out.

Read more in DBS Women’s World Mastercard Cheatsheet

For Online and Offline Spending In Foreign Currency, I have a few cards below:

1. Hotel Bookings and Travel Related Expenses

ichange card

The one that I used most in this trip is actually iChange, which is a travel spending card similar to Youtrip and Revolut as I found the rates for digital currency exchange to be really good. You can check with xe.com to see if the rates are worth the exchange.

Here’s how I went about getting the best rates:

Choose Exchange > Digital Currency > Pick Your Desired Currency

ichange main page
ichange digital currency
ichange NZD

iChange Sign Up Promotion:

Download iChange app for Apple App Store or Google Play Store

Use code “AUDREY36” and receive $5 when you spend a minimum S$10 in a single transaction using your iChange card.

2. Groceries

+

I used Amaze with UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card as my TWO chosen categories for this quarter was Family and Fashion. (As of writing, Amaze is now on the Exclusion List of UOB Cards). Groceries is parked under Family category. It gives me 6 miles per dollar (till 31st March 2024) while I pay a lower fx fee of 1.8%-2% instead of the usual 3.25% fee if I were to swipe the card directly overseas.

Read more in UOB Lady’s Cheatsheet (including Amaze)

3. Hospital Visit –

My mom felt giddy one of the days so we visited a clinic. Since I had some New Zealand Dollars in cash, I paid with cash, if not, I would pay using iChange. I would not use Amaze + Citi Rewards would incur a 1% transaction fee for medical clinics.

4. All other spending –

I would use Amaze with Citi Rewards. It gives me 4 miles per dollar on almost everything except travel related transactions while I pay a lower fx fee of 1.8%-2% instead of the usual 3.25% fee if I were to swipe the card directly overseas.

Read more in Citi Rewards Cheatsheet (including Amaze)

Citi Rewards Sign Up Promotion:

Option 1: Bank Promotion

Receive 40,000 bonus Points Welcome Offer when you spend S$800 in the first 2 months of account opening.


Option 2: SingSaver

  • Receive a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$649) or Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wi 64GB (worth S$499) or Apple Airpods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or S$400 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a min. S$500 within 30 days of card approval.
  • Valid until 01 December 2024
  • Promotion is valid for new to bank credit card holders
  • Read Terms and Conditions here
  • Must fulfill spending requirement to receive gift confirmation
  • Remember to check for SingSaver email and complete the registration to secure your reward!


Amaze Card Sign Up Promotion:

use my referral code IJUSTTRYLAH or use my link below for extra sign up bonus instarem points


?? Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it is difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates to get the most out of your spending.

Purchases made through links in this article may generate an affiliate commission that helps keep this site running. Found this post useful? Subscribe to our Telegram Channel for more updates!  

lobangsis
lobangsis
Aud, your lobang sis shares personal finance to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for us all.

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