Personal Finance Tips

Thomas Cook Forex Card Review: Variants, Benefits, Charges, and Is It Good?

Yadana Chaw

08.12.25

Read time 5 minutes

If you’re planning a trip abroad, finding a good forex card can help you avoid unnecessary fees and make your money go further. A popular option available in India is the Thomas Cook Forex Card.

This review walks you through the Thomas Cook Forex Card’s variants, features, benefits, and application process. We'll also introduce you to the Wise Travel card, which allows you to hold 40+ currencies in on card and spend without any forex markups or hidden fees.

Table of contents
What is the Thomas Cook Forex Card? Thomas Cook Forex Card: Features and benefits Thomas Cook Forex Card: Charges Thomas Cook Forex Card’s exchange rate How to apply for a Thomas Cook Forex Card How to use the Thomas Cook Forex Card Summary: Is the Thomas Cook Forex Card good for travelling? Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

What is the Thomas Cook Forex Card?

Thomas Cook, one of India’s oldest names in travel and foreign exchange, offers a range of prepaid travel cards designed for international spending. These cards allow you to make purchases and withdraw cash at ATMs worldwide, reducing the need to carry physical currency.

Depending on your travel needs, Thomas Cook offers four main variants:

Card Type	Ideal For	Key Highlights
One Currency Card	Single-country Travel	Load USD and spend globally with zero cross-currency markup
Borderless Prepaid Multi-Currency Card	Multi-destination travellers	Load and use up to 12 currencies Lounge access at select international airports.
Student Buddy Card	Students	Instant reloads by parents from India Free ISIC card Insurance up to USD 10,000
Enterprise FX Card	Business travellers	Complimentary SIM Airport lounge access Emergency cash assistance

Is the Thomas Cook Forex Card safe?

Thomas Cook’s forex cards are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and comply with international remittance and FEMA norms.

Thomas Cook Forex Card: Features and benefits

Before we see how to apply for the Thomas Cook Forex card, let’s review the main features and benefits of the cards compared to the Wise Travel card, a multi-currency travel card that lets you hold 40+ currencies:

	One Currency Card³	Borderless Travel Card⁴	Study Buddy Card⁵	Enterprise FX card⁶	Wise Travel card
Currencies supported	Only US dollars (USD)	Load up to 12 foreign currencies	Load up to 11 foreign currencies	Load up to 12 foreign currencies	Load up to 40+ currencies, including USD, EUR, and AED
Exchange rate	Thomas Cook rate	Thomas Cook rate	Thomas Cook rate	Thomas Cook rate	Interbank rate
Loading methods	Online or at any Thomas Cook branch	Online through Thomas Cook website	Online and offline, Facility offered to parents to load from India	Online or at any Thomas Cook branch	Online through bank transfers via RTGS, NEFT, and IMPS
Perks	Zero cross-currency conversion fees Insurance cover up to INR 7,50,000 for added security	Lounge access at select international airports in India	Free ISIC card Instant reloads by parents from India	Complimentary Airport lounge access Earn TC Edge Reward Points	Currency conversion always at interbank rate Free unlimited ATM withdrawals up to 200 USD monthly

Thomas Cook Forex Card: Charges

The Thomas Cook Forex Card is convenient, but that does not mean it comes without any charges.⁷

Fee	Thomas Cook Forex Card	Wise Travel card
Loading Fees	No loading fees	A transparent load fee
Card Issuance Fees	No Issuance fees	460 INR + GST - waived until 10 Feb 2026 for delivery to Indian addresses
Currency Conversion Fees	No currency conversion fee if used in designated usage areas Usage in non-listed countries includes currency conversion fee of 3.25% - 4.25%	No fee to spend a currency you hold Low, transparent fee which varies by currency for spending a currency you don’t hold
ATM Withdrawal Fee	Applied by non-partner banks outside the All Point Network, varies by currency	Unlimited free ATM withdrawals up to USD 200 per month. For withdrawals above USD 200, USD$1.40 per withdrawal + 3.25% of the withdrawal amount
Balance Enquiry Fee	Applicable at ATMs, varies by currency	No fee
Cash Over the Counter	0.5% for Study Buddy Card 10 USD for Borderless Travel Card and One Currency Card⁸	NA
Inactivity fees	6.99 USD for Borderless Travel Card and One Currency Card	No fee

Thomas Cook Forex Card’s exchange rate

Thomas Cook publishes its daily rates on its official website, using its own rates. It’s important to compare against the interbank rate to ensure you’re not paying for hidden markups. Wise is a provider that always uses the true interbank rate with a small, transparent fee, so you know exactly what you’re paying for. So, do compare to see what might be a better deal for you.

How to apply for a Thomas Cook Forex Card

Before we explore how to apply for a Thomas Cook Forex card, let’s discuss the eligibility norms and document requirements.¹¹

Eligibility Criteria:

Indian citizen with a valid passport
Confirmed international travel within 60 days
Valid visa or air ticket

Documents Required

You must submit the following documents to apply for a Thomas Cook Forex card:

Valid passport
Airline ticket or visa
Basic Travel Quote Form (BTQF)
Any additional document that Thomas Cook might ask for, such as LERMS letter for business travel

Complete these steps to apply for a Thomas Cook Forex card¹²:

Visit the official Thomas Cook website to start your application.
Click on the “Buy card” option.
Select the card type according to the purpose of travel.
Complete the application form online, upload the documents, and fund your card using UPI, net banking, or debit/credit cards.
You can opt for doorstep delivery OR collect your travel card from the Thomas Cook office.

Generally, it takes one to two days for Thomas Cook to deliver your card. Thomas Cook offers same-day delivery in select cities through platforms like Blinkit.

How to use the Thomas Cook Forex Card

Use your Thomas Cook Forex Card the same way you use your international debit and credit cards.¹³
More than 35 million establishments worldwide accept Thomas Cook forex cards.
You can withdraw cash from over 2 million MasterCard ATMs globally.
Tap N Pay facility is available for small payments.

Summary: Is the Thomas Cook Forex Card good for travelling?

If you’re still wondering whether you should opt for the Thomas Cook Forex Card, here are some of its pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros	Cons
Variants for tailored needs Student and travel benefits	Reloading fees ATM withdrawal charges

The Thomas Cook Forex Card is a trusted and convenient travel companion for students, tourists, and business travellers alike.

However, if you travel frequently across multiple countries and want more flexibility in holding and spending multiple currencies at transparent, real-time exchange rates, the Wise Travel Card might be better suited for you.

Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

With no hidden markups, the Wise Travel card is a smart way to spend abroad. You'll always get the real interbank exchange rate for conversions across 40+ currencies. Wise's transparent, low pricing, plus no foreign transaction fees or forex markups, usually means you are getting the best value for your money.

The fully digital account opening and vKYC process allows you to sign up from the comfort of your home, and there are no annual or monthly fees either. Simply order your card, show proof of your travels, load your funds, and you're all set. Plus - card orders are currently free to Indian addresses (only until February 10, 2026)! A physical Wise card enables you to make secure chip and PIN payments and get some free ATM withdrawals while you're overseas. You can also instantly freeze or unfreeze your card in the app anytime for peace of mind.

Wherever your travels take you, the Wise Travel card is the only forex card you'll need to make spending internationally simpler and cheaper.

🚀 Get a Wise Travel card

Sources:

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.