The Travel Card I Never Leave Home Without: Why I Love My Wise Card

The Travel Card I Never Leave Home Without: Why I Love My Wise Card

One of the most common questions I get about travel is: “What card should I use overseas?”
After years of hopping from country to country and testing different options, I finally found the perfect solution for stress-free money management while traveling — the Wise card.

I use it on every trip, and honestly, I don’t know how I ever managed without it. Here’s why I recommend it to anyone who travels overseas.

👉 Sign up for Wise here to receive a free card and start saving on fees before your next trip.

Why the Wise Card Is a Game-Changer for Travelers

Accepted Everywhere I Go

From coffee shops in Paris to street food stalls in Bali, Wise card works seamlessly. It’s linked to Apple Pay on my phone and watch, so I rarely even pull the physical card out of my wallet. Basically it acts like a Visa or a local debit card, so as long as they take card - they will accept Wise.

Super Low Fees

Traditional banks love to sneak in hidden charges when you use your card overseas. With Wise, the fees are transparent and minimal, which means I keep more of my hard-earned travel money. Using a New Zealand debit or credit card overseas typically incurs fees of 1.3% to 4.5% of the transaction value, depending on the bank and card type, which includes a currency conversion fee and potential foreign exchange margin.

Multi-Currency Wallets

Have multiple trips lined up? No problem. Wise lets me create different wallets for different currencies. I can hold, spend, and receive money in over 40 currencies without juggling multiple cards or accounts. I like being able to transfer money between the accounts really easily too.

Full Transparency

I love being able to open the app and instantly see all my wallet balances and recent transactions. It will show you the original amount you spent in local currency and the conversion. Super handy!Exchange When It Makes Sense

Wise gives me the option to convert money when the exchange rate looks favoUrable. But if I don’t want to think about it, Wise automatically converts at the real-time rate. Either way, I know I’m getting the best deal.

Splitting Costs With Friends

Traveling with friends who also have Wise? Splitting dinner bills or reimbursing each other for tickets takes seconds. No more awkward “who owes what” conversations. When my friend Laurie and I were together in Scotland we used it countless times - use the ‘split bill’ feature, enter in the amount and who you are with and it will send the request off to them there and then to pay.

My Personal Hot Tip 💡

I actually use Wise like a travel savings account. Each month, I set up an automatic transfer from my main bank into my Wise account. By the time my next trip rolls around, my spending money is already set aside. It’s a simple hack that makes budgeting for travel so much easier.

Final Thoughts

Managing money overseas doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. The Wise card has made my travels smoother, cheaper, and more enjoyable. If you want to save on fees, easily manage multiple currencies, and simplify your travel budgeting - this is the card I’d recommend every time.

👉 Get your Wise card here and see how much easier your next trip can be. This is an affiliate link.

My Favourite Paris Stay: Hotel du Lion d’Or Louvre (+ 20% Off for You!)

My Favourite Paris Stay: Hotel du Lion d’Or Louvre (+ 20% Off for You!)

If you’re planning a trip to one of my favourite places - Paris - whether it’s your first or your fifth, let me share a little gem with you that I keep coming back to.

We recently spent three days in Paris before heading home, and we stayed once again at Hotel du Lion d’Or Louvre, a gorgeous little hotel tucked away on a quiet street right in the heart of Paris. It’s honestly one of my favourite places to stay in the city - and if you’re dreaming of waking up steps from the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, and shopping at the beautiful Galeries Lafayette, this one’s for you. The location honestly just cannot be beat. I’ve been to Paris 15 times, so you can trust me when I say this is the best location.

And good news! The hotel has kindly given me an exclusive 20% off code for my community - just use JUSTINE20 when you book directly. I’ll pop the details at the bottom of this post.

🗺 Why I Chose This Hotel (Again!)

I first stayed at Hotel du Lion d’Or in the summer of 2023, and it instantly became a favourite. What drew me in was the incredible location - it’s less than a three-minute walk to the Louvre Museum and Tuileries Garden, and also close to Opéra Garnier and Galeries Lafayette. The metro is just two minutes away in either direction, which makes getting around super easy.

But even better? It’s nestled down a lovely quiet street. No hustle and bustle. You can wander outside in the morning and barely see a soul. It’s the kind of peaceful corner you dream about when staying in such a busy city.

THE Rooms: SPACIOUS, Beautiful, and So Comfortable

We’ve now stayed here twice, and both times the rooms have been fantastic. Keep in mind we have only tried the below two rooms types, and my recommendations are based on these.

Last year, we had a one-bedroom suite with a pull-out sofa for Aiden and a little kitchenette. It was simple but super comfortable, with a lovely Parisian view out to the street.

This year, we booked what I believe was the junior suite with a mezzanine, and it was perfect for our family. There was a huge bed downstairs (so comfy, I didn’t want to leave it!), plus a table and chairs, a cosy armchair, and a mini kitchen and bathroom.

But the real winner? The loft level upstairs with two single beds. Aiden absolutely loved it - it felt like his own little space within the room. There was also a big-screen TV, double French doors that opened onto the quiet street below, and lots of natural light. If you’ve ever stayed in Paris, you’ll know how rare it is to find a room that feels this spacious and calm.

And yes - fluffy white towels, soft linens, and a great fridge for your market finds are all included!

🤍 The Staff Make It Even Better

Something I really value, especially when travelling (and dare I say especially when I’m in France), is feeling welcomed and looked after - and the team at Hotel du Lion d’Or do exactly that. From the moment we arrived both times, the staff were warm and friendly, greeting us every time we walked in. They were so flexible with check-in and checkout times, and really made sure we were comfortable.

It’s little touches like that which make a hotel feel like a home away from home.

🥐 A Parisian Breakfast to Start Your Day Right

If you stay here, please make sure to include breakfast - it’s honestly so good!

Fresh croissants, pain au chocolat, cake, cold cuts, yogurt, granola, cereals, fresh juice, coffee, and eggs - it’s the perfect mix of French pastries and hearty options. It’s served in a cosy downstairs area and feels like such a relaxed, gentle way to start the day before heading off to explore.

💸 Book With My Code – 20% Off Your Stay!

I’m thrilled to be able to share a 20% discount for anyone in my community who’s thinking about visiting Paris. Use the code JUSTINE20 when booking directly with Hotel du Lion d’Or Louvre and you’ll get 20% off your stay. It’s valid for a limited time, so don’t wait too long!

Final Thoughts

Paris is one of those cities that stays with you—and where you stay can really shape your experience. For me, Hotel du Lion d’Or Louvre has been the perfect base to explore, unwind, and feel part of the magic. I hope you love it as much as we did.

Feel free to message me on Instagram if you have any questions about the hotel or planning your trip - I always love chatting travel!

How I Earned Hundreds of $$$ from My Holiday

How I Earned Hundreds of $$$ from My Holiday

Let’s be real - holidays can be expensive. Between flights, accommodation, food, and activities, the costs add up fast. But what if I told you that you could actually earn money while booking your trip? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, I did exactly that, and I currently have a balance of $910 in my ShopBack account to prove it!

My Secret to Earning While Booking a Holiday

When I was planning our European adventure for this June, I knew we’d be spending a decent chunk on accommodation. For us it ends up being the biggest cost so I try to save money where I can. I have always used booking.com, I just find it easy and convenient to have all my bookings in one place. I then discovered that they were on ShopBack… so I decided to make every dollar count by booking through ShopBack and getting cashback on my bookings. 

Here’s how it worked: I researched the hotels we wanted to stay at, kept an eye on ShopBack’s offers, and when their super deals popped up (offering 10% cashback on Booking.com), I jumped on them! So simple, and only a few extra clicks.   
And just like that, I was getting real cash back from bookings I would’ve made anyway.

I wish I’d known about ShopBack when booing our flights as you can even earn cashback on those too. ShopBack partners with Flight Centre, Expedia, Qatar Airways, Trip.com, and more, meaning you can get money back on your airfare as well. They also have car rental companies, so if you're hiring a vehicle on your trip, you can save there too.

If you check their website under the travel section, you’ll also find a handy calendar showing when deals are coming up, so you can plan your booking dates accordingly and maximize your cashback! You will also get their emails a few days in advance of the super deals – definitely opt in for these.

What Exactly is ShopBack?

For those unfamiliar, ShopBack is Asia-Pacific’s leading shopping and rewards platform that allows you to earn cashback whenever you shop online. It partners with thousands of brands - think Booking.com, The Iconic, Sephora, Cotton On, Adidas (and loads more) - so you can get a percentage of your money back every time you shop through their platform.

Currently, ShopBack serves over 45 million shoppers across 13 markets, including New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and is now currently expanding globally, including Europe and North America.

How You Can Start Earning with ShopBack

If you want to start making money while you book your next trip (or even just your online shopping), here’s how – and I’ve even got a little kickstarter for you. ShopBack has given me an exclusive $5 bonus code for you.  Use code "JUSTINE5" or THIS LINK when you download the app to get started with $5 in your wallet!

1. Download the ShopBack app on your mobile phone for easy purchases or
   Use ShopBack on your web browser https://app.shopback.com/nzl/partner/JUSTINE5

2. Sign up and log in

3. Click through to your preferred retailer from ShopBack’s platform before making a purchase (e.g., Booking.com, The Iconic, Cotton On, Sephora, etc.).

4. Shop as usual!

5. Your cashback will be tracked within 2 days and confirmed once verified by the partner brand (usually between 45 to 120 days).

6. Once you hit $10 in confirmed cashback, you can withdraw it straight to your PayPal or bank account.

What I’ll Use the Cashback For

The BEST PART!  One of the best things about earning cashback while booking a trip is that it frees up money for extra experiences we might not have been able to justify otherwise. The $910 cash back means we were able to book tickets to Disneyland Paris for a day which Aiden is SO EXCITED about!    Our shopback money covers our day passes AND accommodation (which I will earn more cashback on… are you seeing the pattern here?!). It’s such a great feeling knowing that by being a little savvy, we get to enjoy more special experiences on our trip that I’m sure will be a highlight. 

The Verdict?

Earning cashback is such an easy way to make your holiday budget go further. Whether you’re booking a trip or doing everyday online shopping, why not get paid for it? A few extra steps could mean hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket - just like I did with my European trip!

If you haven’t already, give ShopBack a go and start turning your purchases into actual cash.

Happy saving (and spending)!

Justine x

Five Things To Add to Your Paris Itinerary

Five Things To Add to Your Paris Itinerary

Having visited Paris ten times, I’ve been continuously discovering new places to visit over the years. We all know you have to stand under the Eiffel Tower and see the Arc de Triomphe, but the City of Love is full of hidden gems that are just as memorable & impressive as its famous icons.

Here are five things you need to include in your Paris itinerary this summer, it also happens to make up the perfect day.

1.     Wander the streets of Le Marais

This is my favourite area of Paris, and it also happens to be the oldest. It is home to hidden alleyways, beautiful architecture, secluded gardens, amazing street art, the Jewish quarter & Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris.  You will also find Paris’ oldest covered market, Marché des Enfants Rouge here, which is well worth a visit. Also check out the impressive Sainte-Chapelle Chapel.

2.     Eat Falafel and take in the charm on Rue des Rosiers

Rue des Rosiers

In the heart of le Marais, this mostly cobblestone and pedestrianised medieval street is my favourite in Paris.  Along with it’s beautiful architecture, it houses incredible food with the best falafel in the city at L’as du Falafel, and Jewish bakeries selling mouth wateringly good pastries.  Don’t miss the cozy Le Loir dans La Théière café tucked away at the end of the street selling slices of pie and cake made fresh daily with seasonal produce – and great coffee.
Go earlier in the day to avoid the crowds.

3.     Visit Rue Cler: The most Famous market street in Paris

You might not read about Rue Cler in the guide books, but this beloved market street will give you one of the most authentic experiences in Paris.  This is where the locals go for their produce and daily needs. Uncover hidden treasures along this street which is brimming with cafes, boulangeries, specialty shops and every food stall you can imagine. The fruit & vege stalls are a destination all on their own.  
Stop at Amorino for an epic macaron gelato sandwich.

4.     See A Different Side of The Eiffel Tower

If you want to see a different side to the Eiffel Tower, hit up these alternate view points which offer the best views & photo opportunities. Start at Trocadéro and see the tower from across the Seine in all its glory. Then, take a leisurely walk to the Seine and along its banks to Pont de Bir Hakeim bridge for the most romantic views. Continue to the tower to see it up close. Lastly, head to Rue de l'Université for a view of the tower through this charming tree lined residential street.

Rue de l'Université

Trocadéro lower level

5.     Have dinner at Le Cafe de la Régence

This gem can be found on busy Rue Saint-Honoré, a quick 5 min walk from the Louvre. The food is out of this world good, ambiance lovely and staff friendly.  Try French delicacy Foie gras here – it’s the best I’ve had. I can also vouch for the Poulet Rôti (Roast Chicken) and Entrecôte and Frites (steak and chips). Top it off with the classic crème brulee for the perfect end to your perfect Paris day.

WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS?

If you’re visiting Paris, I can highly recommend Hotel Lion Dor Louvre! Amazing location that can’t be beat, great sized rooms, incredible breakfast and staff. Use code JUSTINE15 when booking on their website for 15% off.

The days selection at Le Loir dans La Théière