The Extra Mile, Sept. 23: The Best ATM Cards for International Travel, SkyMiles to Cape Town & More!

💸 Get Cash Abroad … Without Getting Nickel-and-Dimed

We’ll always tell you to default to a credit card when you’re traveling, because you’ll rack up valuable points … and you’re not putting your own cash on the line if something goes wrong. But even in 2026, there are still some things you can’t buy with plastic (or increasingly, metal) – cab rides, street vendors, and tips, to name a few.

The bad news? Most debit cards will hit you with ATM fees and foreign conversion charges every time you pull cash overseas – and exchanging money at the airport is basically a legalized ripoff.

Now, for the good news: A handful of banks and fintechs will reimburse both of those fees automatically, so you get a fair exchange rate and avoid those nasty ATM fees.

Three debit cards get you fee-free ATM withdrawals anywhere in the world, no matter what your regular bank charges:

• Charles Schwab Investor Checking – This has long been our top pick: 100% of ATM fees refunded, zero minimum balance, no foreign transaction fees. The downside for some is that it gets bundled with a brokerage account (but you never have to touch it).
• Betterment Checking – Same fee-free structure, no brokerage account required. Good option if you don’t want the Schwab bundle and you’re comfortable using a fintech.
• Fidelity Cash Management – Also fee-free, and it reimburses ATM charges the same day instead of waiting for your statement like Schwab does. Downside: it’s brokerage-account-only, no separate checking option.

Any of these three will save you money over a standard bank debit card the moment you land abroad.

Schwab remains our personal favorite, but Fidelity’s same-day reimbursement is worth a look if you’re worried about getting fees refunded fast. Meanwhile, Betterment is the clear choice if you don’t want to hassle with opening a brokerage account.

Check out the full list of pros and cons with all three options!

– Jackson Newman, senior editor

🤝 Deal of the Day: Cape Town, South Africa from 68K SkyMiles RT!

Heat scale (out of 3): 🔥🔥🔥

Why we love it: SkyMiles sales to South Africa don’t come around very often – and definitely not in Main Cabin for just 68,000 SkyMiles roundtrip!

Flying from dozens and dozens of U.S. cities with availability this winter (summer in South Africa!)

Sign up now to get all the details on this deal & don’t miss the next flight deal alert.

Already a member? Log in to see all your deals. (Not seeing it? Remove your airport filters to see every deal.)

– Gunnar Olson, Thrifty Traveler Premium deal analyst

📖 Gettin’ Booksy: Flying Starlux Biz Class for 15K Points!

Welcome to Gettin’ Booksy, a celebration of our favorite feeling: Booking something awesome! Book something lately? Let us know at [email protected]!

A “Gettin’ Booksy” Rebuttal

Is it a good idea to try to one-up your boss(es)? No, probably not. But no one has ever accused me of being the brightest crayon in the Crayola box, so here goes nothing.

In last week’s “Gettin’ Booksy” we highlighted Jared and Erica’s American Airlines First Class booking from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Phoenix (PHX) for just 15,000 Atmos Rewards points.

That’s undoubtedly a great redemption. TT founder and CEO Jared called it “bonkers” … and I agree. But I still might have let out an audible “pshhh” when I read it.

Here’s why.

What (& How) Did I Book?

I recently booked a one-way Starlux business class ticket from Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to Taipei (TPE) for just 15,000 Alaska Atmos Rewards points.

That’s right, I used the exact same amount of Atmos points as Jared and Erica – but instead of sitting in AA’s dated first class recliners, I get my own lie-flat suite on Starlux’s Airbus A350.

This flight is just shy of four hours, so it’s not like I really needed a business class seat. But at that price, how could I say no?

What Makes it So Awesome?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll spare you some reading.

I’ve had my heart set on flying Starlux business class for years now. While I’d undoubtedly like to experience it on a longer trans-Pacific flight, I figured this would be a cheap way to get a taste.

Speaking of which … even though it’s a shorter flight, Starlux still pulls out all the stops with its in-flight food and drink service, so it’s not like I’m getting “short-changed” there.

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll have already taken this flight. Here’s to hoping it lived up to my lofty expectations!

– Jackson Newman, senior editor

📱 Buying Apple Products? Use Flying Blue’s Shopping Portal

Buying a new iPhone or another pricey Apple product? Before you go straight to Apple, check whether that purchase could earn you airline miles, too.

Shopping portals are usually an easy way to earn extra rewards, but Apple often excludes its newest products. But Flying Blue has a separate Apple storefront where members can earn miles on a wider selection of devices, including the new iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, AirPods 5, and soon-to-be-released iPhone Duo.

Why it’s worth a look:

• Your purchase could earn thousands of Flying Blue miles on top of your credit card rewards, and in some cases, can actually be cheaper than buying from Apple directly
• Flying Blue’s Apple Store earns miles on new Apple products that other shopping portals, like Rakuten, often exclude.
• Flying Blue miles can be incredibly valuable for booking flights to Europe or saving on a domestic flight with Delta.
• There are trade-offs to check before buying, including how many miles you will earn, return restrictions, and how delivery works.

Bottom line: If an Apple purchase is already on your list, a few extra clicks could bring you closer to your next trip.

Read our full story here!

– Kyle Thomas, Award Travel Content Creator

🎙️ Starter Kit: Tips for Traveling Better & Cheaper

🧳 On this episode of Starter Kit, the guys walk through the little things you can do to improve your entire trip, from the planning process to booking lodging, rental cars, and trains – and even how to beat jet lag and find activities to do abroad.

Watch it now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And stay tuned for the next installment next week!

✈️ Other Travel Tidbits

• 🦘 Qantas just announced the first-ever nonstop flights between Australia and New York, launching in 2028 as part of Project Sunrise. It follows Sydney-Las Vegas service launching later this year and Sydney-London nonstops coming in 2027. (Qantas, via Twitter)
• 🇯🇵 Kyle flew Japan Airlines’ new A350 business class suites to Tokyo, calling it one of the best business class experiences in the sky. Check out his full review.
• 🚆 Bilt added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its first rail partner, letting members transfer points at a 2:1 ratio starting today, with redemptions starting as low as 400 Amtrak points. (Bilt)
• 🇳🇴 Norse Atlantic is cutting its JFK-London and JFK-Rome routes on Oct. 25, leaving just one U.S. route: Orlando to London Gatwick. (Upgraded Points)
• 💳 Bilt is now letting select cardholders upgrade without a hard credit pull, some with a bonus attached. It’s limited to once every 12 months. (Miles to Memories)