Both the Visa Gift card and the Visa TravelMoney card come with a preloaded amount of funds and each time the card is used the purchase amount is deducted from the card balance. Also, you may use both cards at any merchants that accept Visa Debit cards.
You can purchase a Visa Gift card in person at grocery stores, banks, gas stations and other retailers, as well as through online vendors. The Visa TravelMoney card is available at fewer bricks-and-mortar businesses than the Visa Gift card. A search through the online retailer locator at the Visa website shows that local AAA offices are one of the main vendors of Visa TravelMoney cards.
In 2010, fees for purchasing a Visa Gift card ranged from $1.95 to $3.95 in addition to the amount of money the purchaser loads onto the card. According to the AAA, the fees for Visa TravelMoney cards vary at the organization's local offices.
AAA Visa TravelMoney cards are limited to maximum loads of $3,000 daily in a branch location, and $1,500 weekly online or by phone, with a minimum card load of $300 (2010 rates). At Giftcardmall.com, you can load from $20 to $500 on a Visa Gift card.
All Visa TravelMoney cards allow you to obtain cash at a Visa/PLUS ATM. Only certain Visa Gift cards allow ATM transactions. Fees apply to all ATM transactions.
Unlike the Visa Gift card, the Visa TravelMoney card comes with numerous travel benefits, including emergency card replacement and cash disbursement, zero liability for fraudulent use of a stolen or lost card, lost luggage reimbursement, and travel and emergency assistance services.
A Visa Gift card is non-reloadable. The amount on the card is set by the person who purchased the card and the gift card recipient cannot add more money later. You can add more funds to the Visa TravelMoney card where you purchased the card, online or by phone. Use a credit card, a debit card, a bank account transfer or cash to add money to a TravelMoney card.
