Revolut Travel: My Honest Take After Using It Across 6 Countries
Travel money has gotten complicated with all the fintech apps flying around. I remember standing in a London airport back in 2019, staring at a currency exchange booth with rates that were basically highway robbery. That’s the moment a friend texted me: “Just get Revolut.” So I did. And honestly, it changed how I handle money on the road more than I expected.
Let me walk you through what actually matters with this app — the stuff that works, the stuff that’s just okay, and where it falls short.
Multi-Currency Accounts Are the Real Star
Probably should have led with this, because it’s the feature I use most. You can hold and swap between up to 28 different currencies, all at interbank exchange rates. That means the rate you see on Google? That’s roughly what you get. No airport booth markup, no “service fee” buried in the fine print.
When I did a trip through Portugal, Spain, and then hopped over to Morocco, having euros and dirhams sitting right there in the app was genuinely useful. A few taps and I switched currencies. No fumbling with leftover cash from each country. If you’re someone who bounces between multiple countries on a single trip, this alone makes Revolut worth downloading.
Interbank Exchange Rates — With a Catch
So yes, the exchange rates are excellent. Better than what your traditional bank gives you, and way better than those physical exchange counters. But here’s the thing people miss: on weekends, Revolut adds an extra markup. They do this because currency markets close on Saturday and Sunday, and the markup protects them (and you, sort of) from big swings when markets reopen Monday.
My workaround? I try to exchange whatever I’ll need before Friday evening. It’s not a huge deal, but if you’re converting a large amount, those percentage points add up.
ATM Withdrawals Around the World
You can pull cash from ATMs globally with a Revolut card. No direct fees from Revolut’s side, which is great. But — and this tripped me up in Thailand — there’s a monthly withdrawal limit tied to your plan. Go over it and you’ll pay a small fee on top. Also, some ATMs charge their own operator fees, and Revolut can’t do anything about those. I learned to always check the ATM screen for third-party charges before confirming.
In places where card payments aren’t common, like smaller towns in Southeast Asia or parts of Eastern Europe, having easy ATM access matters. Just keep an eye on your limits.
Security That Actually Gives You Peace of Mind
I’m a bit paranoid about card fraud when traveling. Revolut handles this well. You can freeze your card instantly from the app if something seems off, then unfreeze it just as quickly. Real-time notifications pop up for every transaction, so you always know what’s happening with your money.
There’s also this neat location-based security feature. It matches your card transactions with your phone’s GPS. So if your card gets used in a city you’re not in, it raises a flag. I’ve never had to rely on it, thankfully, but knowing it’s there is reassuring.
The app itself is pretty intuitive. I’m not exactly tech-savvy — well, I’m okay — but I found everything straightforward even when I first started using it. Works on both iOS and Android.
Pay-Per-Day Travel Insurance
This one surprised me. Revolut offers travel insurance that activates automatically when you leave your home country and stops when you get back. You only pay for the days you’re actually traveling. Compare that to buying a traditional policy for a set number of days where you might overpay if your trip gets cut short.
Coverage includes medical expenses, trip delays, and lost luggage. You can add winter sports coverage too, if that’s your thing. I used it on a ski trip to Austria and the process was straightforward enough. Not the cheapest insurance out there, but the convenience factor is hard to beat.
Revolut Rewards and Cashback
Through Revolut Rewards, you get access to discounts and cashback at various retailers — both online and in physical stores. On trips, these can stack up. I’ve gotten small cashback amounts on hotel bookings and dining that, over the course of a two-week trip, added up to a decent amount. They rotate the deals regularly so there’s usually something new.
That’s what makes Revolut endearing to budget-conscious travelers. It’s not just about avoiding fees. It’s about actively saving a bit here and there.
Spending Analytics Keep You Honest
I have a bad habit of losing track of spending on vacation. The “I’m on holiday” excuse kicks in and suddenly I’ve spent way more than planned. Revolut’s spending analytics categorize everything automatically. Food, transport, shopping — it’s all broken down. You can set budgets for each category and even create savings goals for your next trip.
It’s not going to stop you from buying that overpriced souvenir. But at least you’ll know exactly how much you overspent.
Bill Splitting With Friends
Group trips are amazing until you try to figure out who owes what. Revolut makes splitting bills painless. You split directly within the app with other Revolut users. It tracks balances and sends reminders for unpaid amounts. I used this on a trip with four friends through Italy and it saved us from the usual post-trip awkwardness of “hey, you still owe me for that dinner in Florence.”
Cryptocurrency — If That’s Your Thing
Revolut lets you buy, hold, and sell crypto directly in the app. I’ll be honest, I don’t use this feature much while traveling. But for people who manage crypto portfolios, having it in the same app as your travel money is convenient. Traditional finance and digital currencies, all in one place.
Customer Support When You’re Stuck Abroad
Getting help when you’re in a different time zone matters. Revolut has 24/7 in-app support. I’ve used it twice — once for a failed top-up and once for a transaction question. Response times on the standard plan were decent but not instant. Premium and Metal plan holders get priority support, which means faster replies.
Where It’s Accepted
The Revolut card works at millions of locations worldwide. I’ve used it in restaurants in Paris, shops in Tokyo, hotels in New York. It’s contactless, so tapping to pay is quick. I have run into the occasional spot — usually a small vendor or rural area — where it wasn’t accepted, but that’s rare and not really a Revolut-specific problem.
Premium and Metal Plans — Worth It?
If you travel frequently, the Premium or Metal plans might make sense. You get higher ATM withdrawal limits, priority support, and extra travel perks. The Metal plan comes with a sleek metal card and cashback on purchases. I upgraded to Premium before a three-month travel stretch and the higher withdrawal limits alone justified it.
For occasional travelers, the free plan is probably fine. For frequent flyers, do the math on what you’d save in fees versus the subscription cost.
Some Honest Limitations
It’s not perfect. A few things to keep in mind:
- Weekend exchange rate markups can sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention.
- The standard plan’s ATM withdrawal limit might feel tight on longer trips.
- Occasionally, card acceptance can be spotty in certain regions, though I’ve experienced this maybe twice in years of use.
Also, Revolut is a fintech company, not a traditional bank (though they do have banking licenses in some regions). If that distinction matters to you, it’s worth researching how your deposits are protected in your specific country.
Signing Up Is Quick
Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your phone number, go through the verification steps, and top up your account. You’ll get a physical card shipped to you, but you can start using a virtual card for online transactions right away. The whole setup took me about ten minutes.
If you’re planning a trip and tired of getting nickel-and-dimed by your traditional bank, Revolut is worth trying. It’s not flawless, but it handles the money side of travel better than most alternatives I’ve used.
