You know Visa gift cards have a limitation when it comes to making big purchases. Many Visa gift cards have small balances, usually between $25 and $100, which makes them difficult to use for larger purchases like travel bookings, hotel reservations, or high-priced retail items.
However, with a few tricks, you can combine your Visa gift cards to cover larger expenses. This guide will show you different ways to help you make the most of your Visa gift cards for travel or big purchases.
Why combine visa gift cards?
Travel expenses: Flight, hotel and other travel bookings often require a single payment, which is difficult to achieve with multiple small-balance cards.
High-value items: Purchases like electronics, home goods, and furniture typically cost more than a typical Visa gift card balance.
Advantages: Consolidating balances into one payment method makes it easier to manage and reduces the risk of unused card balances.
Whether you’re planning a vacation or making a big purchase, here are some effective ways to combine Visa gift cards:
Load Your Visa Gift Cards onto a Digital Wallet
One of the easiest ways to consolidate Visa gift cards is by adding them to a digital wallet, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Most retailers and travel booking platforms accept these wallets as payment, allowing you to use your Visa gift cards seamlessly.
How to Add Visa Gift Cards to Digital Wallets
Log in to your PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay account.
Navigate to “Add Payment Method” and select “Add Debit or Credit Card.”
Enter the Visa Gift Card Information, including the card number, expiration date, and security code.
Confirm and Save the card to your wallet.
Note : Once added, you can use the digital wallet to pay for larger purchases by combining the balances of multiple gift cards.
Pros: Widely accepted at most online and in-store locations; allows you to use multiple cards at once.
Cons: Some retailers may not accept digital wallets, and there may be limits on the number of cards you can add.
Use Your Visa Gift Cards to Buy a Single Store Gift Card
If you have a specific store in mind where you plan to make a large purchase (like Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy), consider consolidating your Visa gift cards into one store-specific gift card. Many online platforms allow you to buy their gift cards using Visa gift cards as payment, so you can load multiple Visa cards to purchase one high-balance gift card.
How to Buy Store Gift Cards with Visa Gift Cards
Visit the Retailer’s Gift Card Purchase Page (e.g., Amazon Gift Card page).
Select the Desired Amount you wish to load onto the store gift card.
At Checkout, choose to add your Visa gift card details as the payment method.
Complete the Transaction, repeating as necessary until you reach the desired amount.
Note : This method is especially helpful for stores like Amazon or Walmart, which have a broad range of products and accept their gift cards for most items.
Pros: Allows you to consolidate balances for use in a single retailer; ideal for larger purchases.
Cons: Tied to a specific store, which may limit your flexibility if your plans change.
Transfer Balances to a PayPal Account
If you’d like more flexibility with your Visa gift card funds, you can transfer the balances to a PayPal account. Once loaded, you can use PayPal to make purchases almost anywhere, from online travel agencies to retail stores.
How to Transfer Visa Gift Cards to PayPal
Log in to PayPal and navigate to your Wallet.
Click “Link a Card” and enter your Visa gift card details.
Once added, you can transfer the balance to your PayPal Cash account by making a small transfer purchase and refunding it to your PayPal balance.
Use Your PayPal Balance to make large purchases directly.
Note : This method offers flexibility and ease of use, but it may require a few extra steps depending on the retailer’s policies.
Pros: Gives flexibility to use the balance on any PayPal-accepting retailer; not tied to a specific store.
Cons: May involve small fees for certain transactions or transfer limits.
Convert Visa Gift Cards to Amazon Balance
If you’re an Amazon shopper, using your Visa gift cards to increase your Amazon balance is a convenient way to combine funds. Amazon accepts Visa gift cards and allows users to reload their gift card balance using multiple payment methods.
How to Add Visa Gift Cards to Amazon Balance
Go to Your Amazon Account, and navigate to the “Gift Cards” section.
Select “Reload Your Balance” and enter the amount you wish to add.
Add Your Visa Gift Card as a Payment Method and complete the reload.
Repeat as Needed until the desired amount is reached.
Note : This method is useful for consolidating Visa gift card funds specifically for Amazon purchases, especially if you’re planning a large order.
Pros: Quick and easy to use for Amazon purchases; no need to worry about remaining balances.
Cons: Balance is limited to Amazon, so it’s less flexible than other options.
Make Partial Payments with Split Tender
Some retailers and travel websites allow split tender payments, which let you use multiple payment methods for a single transaction. This approach is ideal if you’re purchasing travel tickets, booking hotels, or buying a high-cost item from a store that accepts split payments.
How to Use Split Tender Payments
At Checkout, enter the first Visa gift card as a payment method and specify the amount to charge.
Use a Second Gift Card or another payment method to cover the remaining balance.
Complete the Transaction once all gift cards are used up or the balance is covered.
Note : Split tender payments may be available at select online and in-store locations, so check the retailer’s policy first.
Pros: Allows the use of multiple cards for a single large purchase; no need to convert cards to other forms.
Cons: Not all retailers offer this option, and it may not work for certain online purchases.
Consolidate Visa Gift Cards into a Prepaid Debit Card
Another effective method for combining Visa gift cards is by transferring their balances onto a single prepaid debit card. Some prepaid debit cards allow for multiple balance transfers, which can help you create a larger spending balance.
How to Transfer Balances to a Prepaid Debit Card
Select a Prepaid Debit Card Provider that allows multiple balance reloads, such as a Green Dot or Netspend card.
Register the Prepaid Card, if needed, and log in to your account.
Transfer the Visa Gift Card Balances to the prepaid debit card following the provider’s instructions.
Use the Prepaid Card for your travel or large purchase.
Note : This method requires some setup but allows you to consolidate funds into a single, reloadable card.
Pros: Combines balances onto one card for easier use; accepted widely for larger transactions.
Cons: Some prepaid cards have fees for balance transfers or reloading.
Tips for Combining Visa Gift Cards Effectively
Check Balance Fees: Some Visa gift cards may charge inactivity fees, so consolidate and use them as soon as possible.
Use Up Remaining Balances: When combining cards, try to use up exact balances to avoid small leftover amounts.
Verify Expiration Dates: Visa gift cards typically have expiration dates; confirm that none of your cards are expired before attempting to combine them.
Conclusion: Combining Visa Gift Cards for Large Purchases and Travel
Combining Visa gift cards doesn’t have to be complicated. From using digital wallets and prepaid debit cards to split tender payments and store gift cards, there are plenty of ways to pool your funds together for large purchases or travel expenses.
Experiment with these strategies to find the best method for your needs, and enjoy the flexibility and purchasing power that combining Visa gift cards can offer.