Not so sure about the Gift Card idea...

Not only the risks of foreign currency fees;
but the danger of Theft or Loss -

most of those cards have NO theft prevention features -
whoever HAS the card is considered the "owner".

To my way of thinking, it's like carrying a $1,000 dollar bill -
to risky for me in public.

And some of the cards DO start charging for "lack of use" after
a year - I read the fine print on one proposal that deducted
$5.00 per Month after the first 12 months.

/s/ Phred
.