


Before your next trip outside of the country, consider adding one of these international travel credit cards to your wallet.īest credit cards for international travel in 2023Ĭhase Sapphire Reserve®: Best card for hotels abroadĬhase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best value for the annual fee Our best cards for international travel range in perks, depending on what you’re planning to spend the most on. Add in the benefits of not being charged added fees for spending while abroad, as well as perks when you’re traveling internationally, and you have a great card to use on your next vacation outside of the US. In some cases, you’re thousands of miles away from home in unfamiliar territory, so having the backing of your credit card to ensure a safe and comfortable travel experience can go a long way. For one, when you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want additional protections. The criteria for determining the best international travel cards is different from the best credit cards for domestic travel. With the right credit card, you’ll not only receive a slew of protections, but you can also maximize your spending so you’ll earn enough points on vacation to cover your next jaunt abroad. Gone are the days when you needed to purchase travel insurance or worry about bringing enough cash to cover your expenses. Luckily, by having one of the best credit cards for international travel in your wallet, you can have some peace of mind knowing you’re protected. Traveling abroad can be exhilarating, fun and sometimes a little stressful. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. If you travel often and don't already have a no foreign transaction fee credit card, you may want to consider applying for one.Your CNN account Log in to your CNN accountĬNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. Apply for a card with no foreign transaction fees You can also convert currency at the airport should you need some last-minute funds, but remember that some airports charge a higher percentage for currency exchange. You can convert the money at your home bank or order the currency online and take it with you. Get an idea of how much cash you'll need before your trip. But also, you might find yourself in a location where credit cards aren't widely accepted. You may not want to walk around an unfamiliar place with a ton of cash. If you opt to pay with the local currency, your bank will deal with the conversion and likely give you a better rate. This practice is called dynamic currency conversion. If you choose USD, the merchant decides the exchange rate, which could be inflated. That way, you're able to pay for everything using the local currency, without having to worry about vendors along your trip not accepting USD. Choosing the local currency may be the better move here. If you're using your credit card for a purchase in another country, you may be asked if you'd like to use USD or the local currency. But there are other ways to get around added fees while traveling. The easiest way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to get a credit card that doesn't apply them, if you don't already have one. But there are issuers that do not impose foreign transaction fees on the cardmember as well. It also includes websites based outside of the U.S.įoreign transaction fees typically range from one to three percent on average. This isn't just limited to brick-and-mortar locations abroad. What is a foreign transaction fee?Ī foreign transaction fee is a charge assessed by your credit card issuer on transactions made in any currency other than U.S. Foreign transaction fees, also called foreign purchase transaction fees or foreign currency transaction fees, are important to consider when using any form of electronic payment while traveling abroad.
