7 Best travel credit card options in Malaysia
Getting an international credit card can be helpful for travel - with travel optimised credit cards often offering luxury travel benefits, extra rewards when you’re abroad and easy spending. But which is the best travel credit card in Malaysia?
Join us as we explore some of the best travel credit cards in Malaysia so you can pick. Plus we’ll also touch on another option - the Wise card. The Wise card is an international debit card which can be flexible and low cost for travel needs.
Table of content
- How to choose the best travel credit card in Malaysia?
- Wise card
- Advantages and disadvantages
- UOB Visa Infinite card
- PB Visa Signature card
- RHB Visa Infinite card
- AEON Gold Mastercard card
- Standard Chartered Journey card
- Maybank 2 Cards Premier card
- CIMB Travel Platinum card
To help you pick the best credit card for travel we’ll start with an overview. There’s more on these cards in detail later so you can select the best travel credit card based on your preferences and needs.
| Card name | Annual Fees | Foreign transaction fee | Minimum income | Rewards/Cashback miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UOB Visa Infinite | 600 MYR | Visa rate + 1% | 120,000 MYR | 12x lounge access, 12x complimentary limousine rides and 10x rewards on overseas spend |
| PB Visa Signature | 388 MYR | Visa rate + 1.25% | 100,000 MYR | 3% cashback on select spend, complimentary travel insurance, 2x lounge access |
| RHB Visa Infinite | No annual fee | Visa rate + 1% | 150,000 MYR | 5x rewards on overseas spend, some lounge access, golf privileges, complimentary travel insurance |
| AEON Gold Mastercard | 95 MYR | Mastercard rate + 1% | 36,000 MYR | 3x rewards on overseas spend, some lounge access, dining and AEON store cashback |
| Standard Chartered Journey card | 600 MYR | Network rate + 1% | 96,000 MYR | 5x rewards on overseas spend, unlimited KLIA lounge access, Grab transfers to airport, hotel perks |
| Maybank 2 Cards Premier | 800 MYR | Network rate + 2.25% or 2.5% depending on card | 100,000 MYR | 5x rewards on overseas spend, complimentary travel insurance, hotel perks, golf privileges |
| CIMB Travel Platinum | No annual fee | Network rate + 1% | 24,000 | 5x rewards on overseas spend, 4x lounge access, 2x Grab airport transfers |
How to choose the best travel credit card in Malaysia?
Before you pick the best travel card for your needs it’s worth checking things like the currency conversion fees, overseas transaction fees, and which benefits you may attract once you get your card. Here’s a quick rundown.
Currency conversion fees added to the exchange rate
The first thing to look at when choosing a travel credit card is the exchange fee that’s built into the card network’s rate. Most international credit cards are issued on global networks like Mastercard and Visa, which have pretty fair exchange rates. However, this doesn’t mean there’s no fee included in the rate the network uses to convert your currency. Generally to calculate the network rate the issuing network will take the mid-market rate you can get from Google and add a small markup - a percentage fee.
To give an example here’s the rate at the time of research if you spend in Singapore and convert back to ringgit to pay your bill:
| Brand | Brand’s rate | Differences between mid-market rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mastercard | 1 Singapore dollar = 3.31564 Malaysian ringgit | 0.51% |
| Visa | 1 Singapore dollar = 3.31564 Malaysian ringgit | 0.51% |
Both networks add a margin of around 0.5% for this transaction. This isn’t the only conversion fee you pay - more on that next.
Overseas Transaction Fees
On top of this, there’s a fee which usually goes to the bank which you got your credit card through. This can be from about 1% to 2.5%, depending on the specific bank and card.
If your bank has a 1% fee on the exchange rate, and you pay 500 SGD for your accommodation in Singapore, that adds a further 5 SGD - about 16 MYR. This is on top of the network fee we already looked at.
You don’t necessarily need to pay a foreign transaction fee like this. Instead, using a Wise card might be a good choice.
The Wise card is not a credit card but if you have the currency for the payment in your account, there’s no transaction fee. Even if you do not have the currency you need already in your account, currency conversion uses mid-market rate without a network markup, and the currency exchange fee is from [NumberWiseFee]%. That may work out cheaper in the end compared to paying a foreign transaction fee which is typically 1% or more.
Perks
Travel credit cards have lots of perks that are beneficial when you’re travelling. These may include earning higher rewards on overseas spending, getting lounge access as you pass through the airport, free airport transfers, travel insurance or golf privileges.
All that said, it’s always important to check the fees mentioned above. Although the perks of a travel card may sound attractive, if the card has fees for overseas spending, the costs may outweigh the benefits in the end.
Fees for withdrawing cash from overseas ATMs
If you have an international credit card, you can use an overseas ATM to withdraw local currency. This is called an overseas cash advance.
This is a convenient service that allows you to easily obtain cash from an ATM, without having to search for a currency exchange office. However, there are several fees to consider, which can make it a very expensive choice.
To use overseas cash advances, you will need your card’s PIN number. Check before you travel whether your credit card has an overseas cash advance limit, as this may be different to your overall credit line.
Generally, overseas cash advances incur the following fees and interest:
| Overseas cash advance costs |
|---|
| Cash advance fee (Around a 5% fee, with minimum of around 20 MYR) + cash advance amount + immediate interest, usually at around 18% p.a. daily |
The fixed percentage withdrawal is a pretty high fee in itself. If you’re in Singapore and prefer to rely on cash, you might take 1,000 SGD from an ATM for example. That would incur a huge 50 SGD fee - about 164 MYR. Then, if you then take into consideration the interest as well, this can make a single ATM withdrawal extremely expensive.
Best Travel Card available in Malaysia
Let’s look a bit more closely at the best credit cards for travel in Malaysia. Before we look at our pick for the best Malaysian credit card for overseas spending, we’ll also touch on the Wise card - not a credit card, but a smart international debit card.
Wise card
The Wise card is not a travel credit card, but a smart international debit card linked to a digital account. You can add money to Wise in MYR from your bank or with a card, and then spend with your Wise card in 150+ countries with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees from 0.57%.
No overseas transaction fees if you have the currency for the payment in your account
Manual or automatic currency conversion with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.57%
Some free ATM withdrawals monthly*
Advantages and disadvantages
We’ve highlighted Wise as it’s one of the best all-round options for overseas spending with 40+ supported currencies, no interest and no annual fees to pay. Because it’s a debit card rather than a credit card there’s also no minimum income requirement.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅Hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate ✅Low conversion fee and no foreign transaction fee ✅Some free ATM withdrawals every month ✅Automatic conversion with the lowest possible fee | ❌You need to add money in advance of spending ❌No cash back or rewards on overseas spending ❌Variable currency conversion fees |
More information about Wise
Wise is not a bank, but is licensed by the Central Bank in Malaysia, and safe to use. You’ll need to add money in advance of spending rather than being issued a credit line, but the upside is that there’s no interest and no risk of penalties if you forget to pay your bill on time. Some free ATM use monthly before the low Wise withdrawal fee applies.
UOB Visa Infinite card
The UOB Visa Infinite card has a relatively high annual fee of 600 MYR but offers loads of travel perks including lounge access and limousine rides to make sure you can travel in style.
10x rewards on overseas spending, with rewards on other spend categories also available
Get some complimentary travel insurance as part of your package
Visa concierge, discounts on airport fast track and perks for luxury travel while you’re abroad
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅ Many different travel related perks and discounts ✅Relatively low foreign transaction fee at 1% ✅Travel insurance included | ❌120,000 MYR minimum income ❌600 MYR annual fee ❌Some spending requirements in place to redeem certain travel perks |
More information about UOB Visa Infinite ⬇️
The UOB Visa Infinite is a premium card product aimed at people who like to travel in style. You can get luxury perks like limousine rides, lounge access and discounts on airport fast track services to make sure your trip goes smoothly. High annual fees apply, so this card may suit very regular travellers the most.
PB Visa Signature card
The PB Visa Signature card has a 388 MYR annual fee and a minimum income requirement of 100,000 MYR annually. You can get benefits including cashback and some lounge access as well as travel insurance to offer peace of mind while you’re abroad.
Complimentary travel insurance
Cash back on eligible spending, set by category
Benefits for green spending on eco friendly categories
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅Mid-range card with good benefits and a moderate annual fee ✅Cashback on several spending categories ✅Travel perks like lounge access and insurance offered | ❌388 MYR annual fee ❌High foreign transaction fee at 1.25% ❌Penalties and interest may apply depending on how you use your account |
More information about PB Visa Signature ⬇️
PB’s Visa Signature card is a good all-rounder with cash back on some local spend and a few travel perks to make your holiday a bit easier when you travel. Fees are mid-range, so you’ll need to weigh up whether the annual charge is justified based on the way you like to spend with your credit card.
RHB Visa Infinite card
The RHB Visa Infinite card has no annual fee, but does have a fairly high minimum income requirement at 150,000 MYR. It’s optimised for people who like luxury travel with perks like lounge access and golf discounts.
No annual fee to pay
5x rewards on overseas spending
Luxury travel perks including golf privileges
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅No annual fee ✅Great travel perks, discounts and benefits ✅Travel insurance is included in the package | ❌High minimum income ❌1% foreign transaction fee ❌Local spend only earns quite limited rewards |
More information about RHB Visa Infinite ⬇️
The RHB Visa Infinite card is an interesting choice as it has no annual fee which makes it pretty low risk if you’re interested in getting a travel credit card, but unsure whether or not you’ll use it very much. Despite having no annual fee, it’s got some great benefits including rewards on spending and lounge access. You need a high minimum income of 150,000 MYR to apply.
AEON Gold Mastercard card
The AEON Gold Mastercard is a relatively low cost travel credit card which makes sense if you also spend at home in AEON locations. Benefits apply both at home and abroad.
Some lounge access and rewards on overseas spending
Cashback on local spend on dining and in AEON malls
Low annual fee and low minimum income requirement
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅Low annual fee at 95 MYR ✅Low minimum income requirement at 36,000 MYR ✅Excellent balance of rewards on local and overseas spend | ❌Foreign transaction fee of 1% applies ❌Interest and penalties may apply depending on how you use your card ❌Higher minimum income for PRs and MM2H applicants |
More information about AEON Gold Mastercard ⬇️
The AEON Gold Mastercard could be a good option if you already spend in AEON locations, with a high reward level, plus benefits for local spending on dining also available. For travelers, the card offers some lounge access and higher rewards on overseas spending, with a fairly low annual fee and accessible minimum income requirement.
Standard Chartered Journey card
The SC Journey card has a fairly high minimum income and annual fee, but does offer some nice perks and high rewards when you spend abroad.
5x rewards on overseas spending
Unlimited KLIA lounge access and Grab airport transfers
Hotel benefits also available
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅5x rewards on overseas spending ✅Good for people traveling through KLIA often ✅Issued on both Visa and Mastercard | ❌600 MYR annual fee ❌96,000 MYR income requirement ❌1% foreign transaction fee |
More information about Standard Chartered Journey card ⬇️
The Standard Chartered Journey card does have some barriers to entry, including a high annual fee and high minimum income required. However, it may be a good choice if you use KLIA frequently as there’s no cap on the number of times you can enter the lounge there with your card benefits.
Maybank 2 Cards Premier card
The key differentiator here is that you get cards on 2 different networks - Visa and Amex - as part of this package. This allows you to pick the card which suits the specific spending need, or which offers better rewards for that transaction.
Premium benefits like golf privileges and hotel perks
5x rewards on overseas spending
Cards on 2 different networks for better global coverage
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅Cards on 2 different networks for better global coverage ✅Great travel benefits ✅Pay one annual fee for 2 cards | ❌High fees at 800 MYR annually ❌Up to 2.5% foreign transaction fee ❌100,000 MYR annual income required |
More information about Maybank 2 Cards Premier ⬇️
This card option actually gives you 2 cards which have their own features and benefits, to allow you to pick the right one for the specific transaction you’re making. The Maybank 2 Cards Premier card is intended for higher income people who are happy to pay a high annual fee to unlock premium benefits on golf, hotels and other luxury travel.
CIMB Travel Platinum card
The CIMB Travel Platinum card is an accessible travel credit card with no annual fee and moderate travel rewards, good for occasional travellers.
No annual fee
Get a free Grab to the airport 2x a year, and 4x lounge access
5x rewards on overseas spending
Advantages and disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅ No annual fee ✅ Low minimum income required, at 24,000 MYR ✅Practical travel benefits like a Grab to the airport ✅5x rewards on overseas spending | ❌1% foreign transaction fee ❌Penalties and interest may apply |
More information about CIMB Travel Platinum ⬇️
The CIMB Travel Platinum card could be a good choice for people who are not completely sure of the benefits of a travel credit card, with no annual fee meaning there’s no cost unless you decide to use your card during the year. The travel perks are handy, and the card has a low minimum income.
Pros and cons of travel credit card
You may want to use travel credit cards to access perks like travel insurance and lounge access, or you may prefer to spread the costs of your travel over a few months to make it more manageable. However, as credit cards are usually more expensive than using a debit card, they aren’t the right option for everyone. Here are some pros and cons to think about.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
✅Spread the cost of travel over time ✅Some cards have no annual fee but still offer travel perks ✅Benefits can include both practical and luxury options ✅Credit cards can be helpful when hiring a car or checking into a hotel, as a payment guarantee | ❌Minimum income rules will apply ❌Interest and penalties may apply depending on how you use your card ❌ATM withdrawals are expensive ❌Variable credit lines may mean your card is more or less useful |
Tips to use your card abroad
Let’s look at a few final tips for making payments with your card and withdrawing money abroad.
Always pay in the local currency
You may be asked if you would prefer to pay in MYR when you’re abroad. This might sound handy but it actually means you pay more in most cases, as the merchant will set the exchange rate instead of the card network. Pay in the local currency wherever you are and leave the conversion to the card for the best deal.
Adjust your spend/withdraw limit before travelling
Travel can be expensive and if you’re reliant on your card you will need to know your limits are high enough to cover your costs. You may struggle to talk to your bank once you’re on the move, so before leaving make sure your spending and withdrawal limits are appropriate based on your needs.
Carry different cards with you
Having several different cards on different networks can be helpful - in case you ever find one network is not available in a certain location. You’ll always have a backup if your card is out of action, lost, or the network is down.
Make sure you have your card PIN
Before you leave, get the PIN for your card from your bank. You may not need to use it frequently but if there’s an emergency and you need cash, you won’t be able to make an ATM withdrawal without the PIN.
Summary
Using a travel credit card can be helpful for earning extra rewards and accessing perks like lounge access and travel insurance benefits. Costs do apply though, so to pick the best travel credit card in Malaysia for your needs you’ll want to weigh up a few options on features, fees and benefits. Use this guide to review some top picks for travel credit cards, and consider getting a Wise debit card as an alternative to manage your money across currencies with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.
FAQ
You can use travel credit cards when abroad to access perks like travel insurance and lounge access, or you may prefer to spread the costs of your travel over a few months to make it more manageable.
There’s no single best travel credit card in Malaysia. Each card has its own features and fees - and eligibility rules always apply. You’ll need to shop around to see what each card offers and pick the one which suits your needs best.
Before you pick the best travel card for your needs it’s worth checking things like the currency conversion fees, overseas transaction fees, and which benefits you may attract once you get your card. These can vary a lot, so comparing a few is your best solution.