If you’re unfamiliar with foreign transaction fees, they’re a surcharge for using a credit card with a foreign merchant. Credit cards with foreign fees usually charge 1%-3% of the purchase price. That can really add up, especially since Amex’s 2.7% foreign fee is on the higher end of the spectrum.… read full answer
Here are the American Express foreign transaction fees:
American Express cards with foreign transaction fees charge 2.7%.
Many American Express credit cards have no foreign transaction fees.
Amex foreign transaction fees apply when you buy things abroad or shop at foreign merchants online.
Some of the best American Express cards with 0% foreign fees include:
If you’re looking for an international credit card, it’s best to get one with no foreign transaction fees, and American Express does have a good selection. But American Express cards aren’t accepted by nearly as many foreign merchants as Visa and Mastercard. So, you may find yourself somewhere your Amex won’t work. And that’s why it’s probably better to have a Visa or Mastercard for travel.
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, offering 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 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:
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.
*All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by WalletHub. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is no longer available to new applicants through WalletHub, but may be available on the American Express website.
The best Amex travel credit card is American Express Platinum card. It offers 80,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, access to 1,000+ airport lounges, and 5 points / $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year) and prepaid hotels booked with Amex. This credit card’s annual fee rings in at $695.… read full answer
While there are several other good Amex travel credit cards, finding the best one for your needs is all about figuring out your spending habits and your preferred type of travel.
Here are some of the best Amex travel credit cards:
It’s worth noting that Amex cards don’t have the high global acceptance rates of Visa and Mastercard credit cards, so you could run into trouble if it’s your only travel option.
If you’re interested in non-Amex alternatives, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. This card’s annual fee is only $95.
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