The world’s your oyster: Win a dream vacation from YouTrip and fly anywhere for just S$1
As the year draws to a close, more Singaporeans are eagerly mapping out their year-end travel adventures. In fact, half of the city-state’s population intends to take more international trips than they did during the pandemic.
According to a recent survey, Singaporean travellers have ranked Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, and the United States as their top five destinations. Notably, the influx of Singapore tourists heading to Japan is anticipated to double between September and December this year.
Whether your wanderlust leads you to explore the vibrant streets of Thailand, immerse yourself in the sights of Japan, or fulfill your K-drama dreams in Korea, YouTrip is presenting an irresistible offer – the chance to turn your dream vacation into a reality for just S$1.
Beyond Asia, the world unfolds with endless possibilities. Picture yourself wandering through the historic streets of Rome, indulging in delectable pasta and gelato. Explore the archaeological wonders of Machu Picchu in Peru, where ancient history meets stunning mountain vistas, or immerse yourself in the diverse landscapes and cultures of New Zealand, from the geothermal wonders of Rotorua to the breathtaking fjords of Milford Sound.
With YouTrip’s remarkable offer, the world becomes your oyster and the dream destinations on your bucket list are now within reach.
We are thrilled to announce the return of YouTrip’s spectacular campaign, “Destinations: Anywhere with S$1”. From now till 31 October 2023, six of you can stand a chance to snag S$1 flight tickets to anywhere in the world.
What’s the roadmap to victory though? You can start by following @YouTripSG on Instagram and make sure to show some love by giving their pinned post a like.
Then, share your most epic YouTrip travel experience and unveil your secrets to securing those unbeatable rates. You can do this on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok through a Story, Post, or Reel – but be sure to set your profile to public so that YouTrip can spot your entry.
Lastly, don’t forget to tag them @YouTripSG and use the hashtag #YTDestinations to ensure your entry is counted.
Additionally, you can secure a bonus chance at winning when you comment on YouTrip’s pinned post with your dream travel destination and what you plan to splurge on with YouTrip.
If history is any indication, we anticipate fierce competition for these coveted prizes, so fastest fingers first! Remember to also mark your calendars, because YouTrip will unveil the six lucky winners by November 30.
YouTrip provides the best foreign exchange rates
YouTrip’s S$1 flight giveaway perfectly aligns with its mission of making travel more affordable and convenient.
There couldn’t be a more opportune moment to launch this giveaway than now, given that travel costs have increased by around 30 to 40 per cent since the onset of the pandemic, leaving many Singaporeans with pent-up wanderlust.
Furthermore, YouTrip makes the perfect travel companion, offering seamless overseas payments and the best foreign exchange rates, which can come in handy for Singaporeans as 44 per cent of them plan to dip into their savings to fund leisure travel this year.
Users get to make both in-store and online purchases with the best rates, as compared to other payment options, in 150+ countries across the globe without incurring any transaction fees and hidden charges through its multi-currency card.
Moreover, the YouTrip app also essentially serves as a mobile money changer, allowing its users to exchange 10 major currencies – SGD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, HKD, AUD, NZD, CHF, and SEK.
This means that you can lock down the most competitive rates before they fluctuate at any given time via your smartphone, eliminating the need to rush to a physical money changer before your trip.
This not only saves valuable time but also provides significant savings, making your travel experience even more hassle-free and enjoyable.
Save while you travel with zero ATM fees
The value provided by YouTrip extends even further with its recent rebranding to “YouTrip 2.0”, which introduced a slew of new features that provide even more convenience and savings to travellers.
One standout feature of the brand refresh is the elimination of ATM withdrawal fees for withdrawals up to S$400 in foreign currencies each month. While a two per cent fee will be imposed on the amount withdrawn once you surpass the S$400 threshold, this threshold surpasses what other multi-currency cards typically offer.
For comparison, multi-currency wallets like Revolut and Wise limit fee-free withdrawals to a maximum of S$350 in foreign currencies per month, making YouTrip an attractive option for cost-conscious travellers.
Furthermore, YouTrip’s daily withdrawal limit, which is capped at S$5,000, provides its users with added flexibility when accessing their funds abroad, given that it is the highest daily withdrawal limit amongst all available multi-currency cards in Singapore.
Alongside these perks, YouTrip has also introduced a virtual card that enables users to spend immediately upon their successful registration on the YouTrip app. The virtual card, which is completely free of charge, allows users to enjoy the best rates for all online payments without having to wait for the arrival of their physical card.
Both the virtual and physical cards offered by YouTrip are compatible with Apple Pay, allowing users to make payments in over 80 countries worldwide through their Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches – all it takes is just a few quick taps.
Thanks to YouTrip’s integration with Apple Pay, you’ll no longer have to bring your wallet around and spend time rummaging through it to make payments. And if you’re an Android user, don’t fret – YouTrip plans to make its cards compatible with Google Pay too by the end of this year.
Sign up for YouTrip to participate in the giveaway
Undoubtedly, YouTrip provides users with unmatched convenience, savings, and the best rates in the market for all their travel adventures.
Thanks to YouTrip’s ongoing giveaway, you can look forward to even greater savings on your upcoming travels.
For those who are not yet YouTrip users, the good news is that the sign-up process for the multi-currency card is remarkably simple. Simply download the YouTrip app and complete the registration using MyInfo, or manually submit your documents – the whole process only takes less than three minutes.
Sign up for a YouTrip account here to participate in the giveaway and score the chance to explore your dream destination for just S$1.
In conjunction with YouTrip’s giveaway, we’d like to extend an additional opportunity for our readers to win a mystery box of travel essentials. All you need to do is comment on our Facebook post with your memorable YouTrip travel experience and we will pick the most creative/best answers. It’s that easy, so let’s seize every opportunity to make our travel dreams come true!
This article was written in collaboration with YouTrip.
Featured Image Credit: YouTrip
Also Read: YouTrip was my travel companion for my Vietnam trip – does it still offer best rates in 2023?
YouTrip was my travel companion for my Vietnam trip – does it still offer best rates in 2023?
In the wake of the global pandemic, the travel industry has witnessed a remarkable boom in what has been coined as “revenge travel”.
Since borders opened and travel restrictions eased, wanderlust-filled individuals, including myself, have eagerly embraced the opportunity to hop on a plane and explore the world.
One of my recent escapades is a six-day trip to Vietnam, exploring the bustling streets of Hanoi and the breathtaking landscapes of Sapa.
Throughout my journey, I relied on my YouTrip card, Singapore’s first multi-currency wallet with a linked Mastercard. This is not the first time I’ve used YouTrip – I used it for all my past travels to simplify my payment processes and to ensure that I receive the best rates.
YouTrip provides extensive support for payments in 150+ countries worldwide. With the ability to exchange 10 major currencies (SGD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, HKD, AUD, NZD, CHF and SEK) within the app itself, YouTrip basically serves as an in-app money changer, eliminating the need for external currency exchanges.
For other supported worldwide currencies, YouTrip offers the Mastercard wholesale exchange rate at zero fees. This convenience and cost-saving feature allows me to leave the hassle of currency conversion to YouTrip and enjoy the best rates all day.
Before delving into my Vietnam trip, it’s worth mentioning that YouTrip recently underwent a rebranding to “YouTrip 2.0”, introducing a virtual card, a newly-designed physical card and app, as well as exciting features such as free ATM withdrawals to ensure seamless payment throughout the trip.
In line with its rebranding, YouTrip is also hunting for its ‘Best Rates Boss’, offering the chance to win a pair of free return flight tickets to anywhere and S$5,000 YouTrip credits, so users can enjoy hassle-free spending during their travels.
Convenient payment and favourable rates
One of the standout features of YouTrip is its ability to top up instantly using any Singapore credit or debit card. Prior to my trip, I topped up S$100, ensuring I had sufficient funds for my expenses in Vietnam.
The YouTrip app allows users to hold up to S$5,000 at any one point in time in a secure mobile wallet. When my funds on YouTrip ran low during the trip, I could easily make top-ups in-app via PayNow at no charge, ensuring uninterrupted payment capabilities.
My first transaction using the YouTrip card in Vietnam was at convenience store Circle K in Hanoi, where I purchased drinks and snacks. The payment process was seamless, living up to its promise of fuss-free payments – you just need to tap the card on a payment terminal, and there’s no need to input any PIN codes or sign on any receipts.
With each tap, I received push notifications on my mobile device, keeping me well-informed about every transaction I made. YouTrip’s instant payment alerts are especially useful for budget-conscious travellers like myself, as it enables me to stay on top of my budget and track my spendings effortlessly.
Moreover, YouTrip’s competitive Wholesale Exchange Rates ensured that I received the best rates for my transactions.
Wholesale exchange rates refer to the rates used by big organisations, like banks and companies, when they need to exchange large amounts of money from one currency to another. In simpler terms, they are real-time rates that are very similar to the ones you find on websites like Google, XE.com, and other financial sites.
However, I observed that while cards are widely accepted in Hanoi, some local merchants – such as food establishments and spa businesses – charge a three per cent transaction fee for card purchases.
Despite this, the convenience of using the YouTrip card outweighed the additional cost, as I could still enjoy the best rates throughout my trip.
For instance, I decided to try out a herbal bath (a traditional bathing ritual practised by the Red Dao ethnic minority in northern Vietnam) along with a 45-minute Swedish massage.
After a 10 per cent discount for hotel guests, the total bill for two persons was 900,000 VND, but an additional three per cent charge for card transactions brought the final amount to 927,000 VND.
In contrast, there are some businesses that do not charge an additional fee. When I bought multiple packs of Vietnam’s signature coconut coffee (my latest obsession) at their local coffee joint, the bill amounted to 415,000 VND. This equates to S$23.74 on Google, and I was charged lower on YouTrip at S$23.68.
Cash is king in certain places, but YouTrip still comes in handy
During my visit to Sapa however, I discovered that the region heavily relies on cash transactions, with most businesses not accepting card payments. I was low on cash then, so I resorted to withdrawing cash from a local ATM, for which I was charged a S$5 flat fee.
S$5 may not be a huge sum, but I’m pleased to learn that YouTrip will be removing this fee soon.
From June 15, YouTrip is offering zero ATM fees for the first S$400 in foreign currency withdrawals per calendar month, resetting on the first of each month. A two per cent fee applies to subsequent withdrawals.
This feature enables the convenience of last-minute cash withdrawals, so users can get access to cash whenever they need it without worrying about additional fees.
In Sapa, I also used the YouTrip card to pay for a private trekking tour with a local guide, amounting to US$66 for two persons. The guide converted it to VND first (927,000 VND) before charging it to my YouTrip card, although it’s possible to charge directly in USD.
Similarly, on my last day of the Vietnam trip, I encountered many merchants at the Noi Bai International Airport who charge in USD.
When given the choice, users should always opt to pay in foreign currency instead of local currency (in this case, SGD) to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees and obtain better rates.
YouTrip gets even better with “YouTrip 2.0”
Besides a newly-designed physical card, one of the most notable additions to YouTrip 2.0 is the introduction of a virtual card. With this feature, users no longer need to wait for their physical YouTrip card to arrive in the mail before they can start using it.
In fact, they can immediately start spending with the YouTrip virtual card upon approval of application.
The virtual card also offers unmatched convenience, as it can be accessed anytime and anywhere via the YouTrip app. Even when your physical card is not with you, you can still use the virtual card for online purchases.
Additionally, it offers enhanced security, adding an extra layer of protection for online purchases. As the virtual card is not physically issued, the card number isn’t exposed, reducing the risk of card theft or misuse.
Complementing the cards is the sleek and intuitive YouTrip 2.0 app. Its user-friendly interface allows easy access to features like YouTrip Perks and Insurance directly from the homepage.
The YouTrip app also effectively manages both the virtual and physical cards, allowing users to view their transactions in-app as well as lock or unlock their cards with a simple tap. This one-click lock system ensures that funds remain secure in case of loss of theft, providing users with a peace of mind.
Despite all these new upgrades, one thing remains the same: YouTrip still offers the best rates.
Unlock convenience and savings when you travel
All in all, using the YouTrip card throughout my Vietnam trip was an absolute breeze. The reliability of the card was unquestionable, as I never encountered any issues with payments or acceptance.
It simplified my payment processes, offered the best rates, and allowed me to track my transactions. The convenience of instant top-ups, the upcoming removal of ATM withdrawal fees, and the ability to hold multiple currencies in a secure mobile wallet makes YouTrip the ultimate travel companion.
YouTrip’s recent rebranding shows its commitment to innovate and provide an unparalleled user experience. Whether you’re also exploring the vibrant streets of Vietnam or planning your next global adventure, YouTrip is undoubtedly the go-to solution for seamless payments and favourable rates.
For those who are eager to experience firsthand the advantages of using YouTrip, you’ll be pleased to know that signing up is a straightforward process. It takes just three minutes to create an account via MyInfo, and there are no sign-up fees involved.
Your YouTrip card will be delivered to your doorstep, ensuring you’re ready to embark on your next adventure with ease.
To sweeten your travel experience, YouTrip just launched its Best Rates Boss campaign. By simply sharing your ‘best rates’ stories on social media, you have the chance to win a free pair of Singapore Airlines return tickets to anywhere and S$5,000 YouTrip credits.
Don’t miss out on this chance to maximise your travel savings and enjoy the perks of YouTrip. Sign up here today and unlock a world of convenience and savings for your future travels.
This article was written in collaboration with YouTrip.
Also Read: Challenging The Banks With A Single Card: Caecilia Chu, YouTrip CEO
