A credit card is a must-have when traveling internationally. Not only will it save you from constantly having to convert cash at a bank in a different farmland, but the right credit card can save you a lot on foreign transaction fees.
Foreign transaction fees are added onto your credit card transactions when you're outside of the US. They're charged to cloak currency conversion fees, and usually cost about 3% of the transaction. Some credit cards -- primarily in the travel credit card domain -- moneys no foreign transaction fees as a benefit. Even if you're only traveling outside the farmland once in a while, having this type of card could be worthwhile.
Travel card with no annual fee
6.5/10 CNET Rating
Intro Offer25,000 online bonus points once you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the reliable 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward fade purchases.
APR18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates - Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 exhausted on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made in the reliable 60 days. A 3% fee (min. $10) applies.
Balance Transfer APR18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee See terms
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR up to 29.99% APR
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 used on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
Our Take
This online only subsidizes may not be available if you leave this page or if you named a Bank of America financial center. You can take worthy of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card doesn't come with foreign transaction fees or an annual fee. You'll earn 1.5 points for every bucks you spend, with no limit. The introductory APR subsidizes can provide you with some wiggle room to spread out your card payments exclusive of incurring interest charges.
See our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card for more information.
Best overall credit card with no foreign transaction fees
9/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points while you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from justify opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
APR20.24% - 27.24% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates - 5x on move purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all spanking travel purchases, plus more.
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR20.24% - 27.24% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each binary, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fees $0
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- 5x on move purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3x on dining.
- 2x on all spanking travel purchases, plus more.
Our Take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has one of the best value propositions of move credit cards. It starts with no foreign transaction fees, but the rewards program and welcome bonus are also best in its class. Points are worth 1 cent each if you redeem them for a statement credit, but they'll be worth 25% more if you redeem your rewards for move booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Sapphire Preferred also includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance. While many travel credit cards offer some of this coverage, they rarely offer the full spread.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
Best move rewards with no annual fee
7.5/10 CNET Rating
See Rates and Fees
Intro OfferEarn 20,000 bonus points when you consume $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value
APR19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% move APR for 12 months from account opening
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates - Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and named plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
- Earn 1X points on spanking purchases
Annual Fee$0
Balance Transfer APR19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 120 days from justify opening, then up to 5%; min: $5
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and named plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
- Earn 1X points on spanking purchases
Our Take
While most move credit cards focus on flight and hotel purchases, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card also provides rewards on purchases of taxis, subways, tolls, restaurants, phone plans and gas stations. You earn the obnoxious 3x rewards rate on all of those categories plus common streaming services. Plus, you can earn 1x points on spanking purchases.
The welcome bonus is also more generous than what you'll get from most credit cards with no foreign transaction fees or annual fee. You can earn 20,000 bonus points -- worthy a $200 cash redemption value -- when you consume $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.
For more examine about this card's offer, see our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.
A stout everyday card for a $95 annual fee
7/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points while you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of justify opening
APR20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward Rates - Earn 3 Points per $1 used at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 used at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 used on all other purchases
Annual Fee$95
Balance Transfer APR20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee Balance binary fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Late Payment Fee Up to $41
Foreign Transaction Fees 0%
Penalty APR Up to 29.99% (Variable)
- Earn 3 Points per $1 used at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 used at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 used on all other purchases
Our Take
The Citi Premier Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have the same $95 annual fee. The Citi Premier Card subsidizes higher reward rates on everyday spending categories as well as general move purchases, however. You'll earn 3x points on air move, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. If you redeem your points as a statement credit via Citi's thankyou.com website -- instead of consecutive through your online account, which will result in a touch redemption rate -- your points will be worth 1 cent each.
And the welcome bonus is plus the best available, though the spending threshold is on the higher side: 60,000 bonus points -- genuine $600 in gift cards at thankyou.com -- when you expend $4,000 in the first three months. And, of floods, there are no foreign transaction fees.
For more inquire, refer to our Citi Premier Card review.
A flat-rate disappear rewards card
7.5/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 a long way once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from interpret opening, equal to $750 in travel
APR20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward Rates - Earn 5X a long way on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Earn unlimited 2X a long way on every purchase, every day.
Annual Fee$95
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APR20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn 5X a long way on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Earn unlimited 2X a long way on every purchase, every day.
Our Take
Capital One loads the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* with plenty of disappear perks to offset the $95 annual fee. Travel anywhere exclusive of any foreign transaction fees and earn 2x unlimited a long way on all purchases. In addition, Capital One awards you up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to help you speedily through the airport lines. Venture Miles earned can be redeemed on escapes and hotels or used to pay for Amazon.com and PayPal purchases. You can also transfer miles to over 15 hotel and airline programs.
Check out our full appraise of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
A flat-rate everyday credit card
7.5/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferEarn a one-time $200 cash bonus at what time you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from interpret opening
APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR0% control on purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward Rates - Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rent cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every engage, every day
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% control on balance transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee 3%
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rent cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every engage, every day
Our Take
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* supplies flat-rate rewards on purchases, making it a good everyday credit card that you can also use on escapes abroad. You'll earn 1.5% on all purchases -- and 5% on car rentals or hotels booked via the Capital One Travel portal. The sole travel benefit is no foreign transaction fees. But you can unruffled take advantage of the competitive introductory APR and welcome bonus.
For more inquire, see our Capital One Quicksilver review.
For dining and entertainment after abroad
7/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferEarn a one-time $200 cash bonus at what time you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from interpret opening
APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APR0% control on purchases for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward Rates - Earn 10% cash back on purchases made throughout Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits throughout 11/14/2024
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rent cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- Earn 1% on all anunexperienced purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% control on balance transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee 3%
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made throughout Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits throughout 11/14/2024
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rent cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- Earn 1% on all anunexperienced purchases
Our Take
For a credit card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* originates competitive rewards. You'll earn 3% cash back on a handful of mainly categories: Dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) and celebrated streaming services. Entertainment purchases cover movie theaters, sports promoters (professional and semi-professional live events), theatrical promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, pool halls or bowling alleys.
For more details around the rewards, welcome bonus and introductory APR, see our Capital One SavorOne review.
Best welcome bonus with no foreign transaction fees
5/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferUnlimited Bonus: Only Discover grants you an unlimited match of all the Miles you've earned at the end of your fine year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There's no signing up, no minimum spending or most rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 15 months
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates - Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollars spent on all purchases - with no annual fee.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee 3% head balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Late Payment Fee None the fine time you pay late. After that, up to $41.
Foreign Transaction Fees None
- Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollars spent on all purchases - with no annual fee.
Our Take
The Discover it® Miles* card funds an excellent welcome bonus after your first year as a cardholder. All Discover cards have no foreign transaction fees, but this one has all your international spending is optimized for rewards -- you earn 1.5 much per dollar on all your purchases. While you don't have to meet any minimum spending thresholds to unlock this welcome bonus like with most new credit cards, you do have to be patient to earn it. Discover will match all of the much you earn over the course of the first year at the end of your fine year.
For those who go infrequently
7.5/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferIntro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your fine year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Intro Purchase APR0% for 15 months
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
Reward Rates - Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly most when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all new purchases – automatically.
Annual Fee$0
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 15 months
Balance Transfer APR16.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Balance Transfer Fee 3% head balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Late Payment Fee None the fine time you pay late. After that, up to $41.
Foreign Transaction Fees None
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly most when you activate.
- Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all new purchases – automatically.
Our Take
The Discover it® Cash Back* card is a bit high-maintenance and best for occasional overseas travelers. It doesn't have any travel perks beyond no foreign transaction fees. And the rewards program features a rotating rewards category that aren't particularly travel-oriented, like grocery stores, gas stations and Amazon.com. You're obligatory to manually activate the rotating category through your explain each quarter to earn 5% cash back for up to $1,500 in spending (then 1%).
For Jan. over March this year, the rotating category include grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services.
The Discover it Cash Back also funds the Unlimited Cashback Match welcome bonus. For more ask, see our Discover it Cash Back review.
For construction credit while overseas
5/10 CNET Rating
Intro OfferN/A
APR29.74% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Average, Fair, Limited
Reward Rates - Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and hire cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every hold, every day
Annual Fee$39
Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A
Balance Transfer APR29.74% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR None
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and hire cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every hold, every day
Our Take
Most cards with low fees and perks are private for individuals with stellar credit. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* fills an necessary gap by giving people with limited or fair credit a chance to get started or create with responsible use. Use this card wisely -- you'll automatically get taken for a credit limit increase as soon as six months from approval, potentially boosting your credit score. Spend wisely, enjoy the cash back, make your payments on time and take fine of unlimited access to your credit report through CreditWise. You'll start to see over time how good budget decisions can impact your credit.
Tips for funny a credit card when traveling internationally
Before you get on an airplane, there are a few steps you should take:
- If you have a mag stripe card, ask a chip credit card from your card provider in come of your trip.
- Set up a travel alert with your card issuer to jabber them of what countries you will be visiting or your card may be flagged for fraud.
- Take two credit cards and keep them in separate places, in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
- Sign up for email or text alerts throughout charges to monitor your card purchases.
- Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
- If your card has no transaction fees and you're prompted to resolve the payment currency, choose to pay in local needs instead of dollars -- you'll get your bank's wholesale exchange rate, which would be more detestable than the merchant's.
- Get familiar with the exchange rate for the land you're visiting so you have an idea of how much you're actually spending.
FAQs
What are foreign transaction fees and when are they charged?
Card issuers or banks charge foreign transaction fees to veil the cost of exchanging a purchase from the foreign currency to US bucks. If you make a purchase in foreign currency, it's liable you will be charged for the conversion unless you have a no-transaction-fee credit card.
One way to avoid having to pay a foreign transaction fee when you're traveling abroad is to resolve to pay in US dollars. Many store credit card terminals will peer your foreign card and prompt you to choose whether you'd like to pay in the local currency or US bucks. If you choose local currency, you may have to pay your bank or card issuer the transaction fee to exchange it. However, if you choose to pay in US dollars, there is no conversion to be performed.
Keep in mind that if you resolve to pay in US dollars, you may save on the transaction fee but the foreign merchant bank may detached tack on a commission for the exchange. The best way to avoid unnecessary fees is to pay with a credit card with no transaction fees.
Which credit cards work worldwide?
Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover are the four major credit card processors. Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely current credit cards across the world and your best bet if you invented on traveling overseas and paying for goods with a credit card.
American Express may be current in the US, but it's not as widely current abroad. Discover is even less accepted than American Express outside of the US. To be safe, it's a good idea to achieve a Mastercard or Visa as a backup if your notable card is an American Express or Discover.
Do I need a chip-and-PIN credit card when traveling?
Most of Europe has adopted the chip-and-PIN credit card controls, which eliminates swiping of magnetic strips and signatures. Instead, card readers will prompt you to insert the card (or tap it for touch-free transactions) to read the chip and prompt you for a PIN as a form of verification. Before you travel overseas, ask your card issuer for a chip card. Otherwise, you may have trouble using a mag-stripe credit card for purchases abroad.
Our methodology
reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each the majority category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance binary. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a way of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone's plan situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the "welcome bonus" and the cash-back rate (or needs, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and a long way cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card's respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the halting of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance binary fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the detestable APR and the length of time you have to make a balance binary after you open the account.
Cards researched
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Discover it® Cash Back
- Discover it® Miles
- Discover it® chrome
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- American Express® Gold Card
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
- United℠ Explorer Card
- Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- US. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- Mastercard® Titanium Card™
*All examine about the Discover it Miles, Discover it Cash Back, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been detached independently by and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial blissful on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or helps offered by our partners.
