I travel quite a bit, and over the years I’ve tried just about every way of managing money overseas — cash, bank cards, travel cards, and a few expensive mistakes along the way. These days I keep it simple and use the Wise card.

What I like most is how straightforward it is. I can hold and spend multiple currencies in one account, so whether I’m paying for a hostel in the UK, buying a train ticket in Europe, or grabbing a coffee in Prague, it works.

The exchange rates are refreshingly fair too. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate rather than the padded rates many banks quietly add.

If I need more currency, I can transfer money into my account in seconds through the app and convert it instantly with very low fees.

One unexpected bonus is that Wise gives you local bank details in several countries. I discovered just how useful this was when my Rome-to-London flight was cancelled and the airline needed a local account to process the refund. Instead of wrestling with international bank transfers, I simply gave them my Wise details and the money arrived without drama. It’s the sort of thing you don’t think about when booking flights — but it’s very handy when plans go sideways.