What is the American Express Business Platinum card exchange rate?

American Express is accepted in more than 160 countries and territories internationally. That includes all the members of the United Nations, except for those under U.S. sanctions. Amex cards are more widely accepted in some international destinations than others, though. It should be pretty easy to find merchants that take American Express cards in Australia, Canada, Mexico and India, for example. But it will be much tougher in smaller countries that aren’t known for doing business with the U.S. or attracting American tourists. … read full answer

Overall, American Express credit cards and prepaid cards aren’t nearly as widely accepted internationally as cards that belong to the three other major U.S. card networks. Visa is accepted in 200+ countries and territories. And Mastercard works in 210+. So you should probably bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card with no foreign transaction fee when you travel abroad, at least as a backup to your Amex.

On that note, it’s worth mentioning that some American Express credit cards will cost you more to use internationally than others. Several American Express credit cards have no foreign transaction fee. Others charge 2.7% of every international purchase.

The best American Express credit cards for international travel are the Starwood Preferred Guest and Gold Delta SkyMiles® cards. Both offer great travel rewards, including nice initial spending bonuses. Neither charges foreign transaction fees. And Amex waives their annual fees the first year your account is open.

You may also want to consider the USAA Rewards American Express Card, which is the best credit card on the Amex network for other types of international perks. It gives you very good travel insurance coverage, for example. And you can even get financial assistance for emergencies while you’re out of the country. You don’t have to worry about paying a foreign fee or an annual fee, either.

There are several American Express credit cards that have no foreign transaction fees, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and cards with rewards for Hilton, Marriott and Delta. The Amex cards without international fees have annual fees ranging from $0 to $500+. They also offer valuable travel benefits, such as free checked bags and luxury airport lounge access.… read full answer

The best American Express credit card with 0% foreign transaction fee is the Hilton Honors American Express Card because it’s one of the two general-consumer offer with a $0 annual fee. The Hilton Credit Card also has a nice initial bonus, giving 100,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, plus up to $100 in statement credits for purchases made at any of the Hilton family hotels in the first 12 months. The ongoing rewards are pretty good, too; cardholders earn 3 - 7 points per $1, depending on the type of purchase.

American Express Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees:

• American Express Platinum card ($695 annual fee)
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ($95 annual fee)
• Hilton Credit Card ($0 annual fee)
• American Express® Gold Card ($250 annual fee)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card ($450 annual fee)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($0 intro 1st yr, $99 after annual fee)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card ($250 annual fee)
• American Express® Green Card (($150 annual fee)
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ($95 annual fee)
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card ($0 annual fee)

While American Express no-foreign transaction fee credit cards make it cheaper to travel with your Amex card, they’re not accepted everywhere. You should be able to find businesses that accept American Express in places like Canada and Mexico. However, it’ll be harder in smaller countries, especially those that don’t typically do business with the U.S.

Yes, using a credit card internationally is the best way to go about paying for things when you’re abroad. It’s safer because you don’t have to carry as much cash, and all major credit card companies offer $0 fraud liability guarantees. Using a credit card internationally also gets you the … read full answerbest currency exchange rates, and it’s a great opportunity to earn rewards.

Using a credit card internationally isn’t the same as using a credit card domestically, though. There are a few guidelines to follow, such as using a no foreign transaction fee credit card on the Visa or Mastercard network. And there are several other items you should be aware of, including travel alerts, chips and dynamic currency conversion.

Here are some tips for using a credit card internationally:

• Full protection from unauthorized charges: Credit cards allow you to minimize the amount of cash you carry abroad and provide the opportunity to earn rewards. They also come with $0 fraud liability.
• Avoid foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards come with foreign transaction fees when you buy from internationally-based merchants. These fees are typically 1%-3% of the purchase amount. If you go abroad, you should get a card with no foreign transaction fee.
• Set travel alerts: Many credit card companies ask that you set a “travel alert” before leaving the country. It’s not mandatory. But if you don’t, they might suspect that international purchases are fraud and suspend your spending privileges until you notify them otherwise.
• Wider acceptance and more protection with chip cards: You’ll have a smoother experience using a credit card internationally if it’s a “chip” card. Many unmanned payment terminals abroad will not take cards that have only a magnetic stripe. And merchants may even give you a hard time if your card doesn’t have a chip.
• Refuse Dynamic Currency Conversion: Choose to pay in the local currency. Merchants may offer to let you pay in U.S. dollars, a practice known as Dynamic Currency Conversion. But it’s often an excuse to use an unfair exchange rate (often as much as 7% higher) and overcharge you.
• Avoid cash advances: Credit card cash advances allow you to get cash from your card’s credit line. However, cash advances are subject to hefty fees and interest rates that accrue immediately, with no grace period. So it’s best to avoid them outside of emergency use.

If you’re in the market for a credit card to use internationally, check out our editors' picks for the best credit cards for international travel.