Are Visa credit cards accepted everywhere internationally?

Visa cards are accepted in more than 200 countries and territories. So you can use a Visa credit card pretty much everywhere that takes plastic around the world. Visa is not the most widely accepted card network, however. That distinction goes to Mastercard, which is accepted in more than 210 countries and territories. You can use a Visa card far more places internationally than a Discover or American Express card, though. 

One of the nice things about using a Visa card internationally is the fact that you’ll automatically get a low currency conversion rate. Foreign transaction fees are one thing to watch out for, though. Most Visa credit cards still charge them. And foreign fees can apply to any purchase processed internationally, whether you’re physically abroad or not. But there are hundreds of no foreign fee Visa cards to choose from, so you should have no problem finding an offer that meets your needs.

Here are some of the best Visa credit cards for international travel:

• Best Overall: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Airline Miles: British Airways Credit Card
• Best for Hotel Points: Radisson Premier Visa Signature® Credit Card
• Best for Students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Best for Business: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best for Fair Credit: USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card
• Best for Bad Credit: USAA® Secured Visa Platinum® Card

One other thing you need to watch out for when using a Visa credit card internationally is called Dynamic Currency Conversion. That’s when a merchant offers to convert your purchase total to U.S. dollars as an excuse to use a high exchange rate and profit a bit more. But as long as you make sure the transaction is expressed in the local currency, there’s nothing to worry about.