Best Credit Cards For International Travel

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards can be used internationally. However, Visa and Mastercard credit cards are more widely accepted abroad.

Credit cards without foreign transaction fees are also crucial when traveling internationally. You’ll save an average of 1.52% on each purchase, compared to a card with a foreign transaction fee. As a result, Visa and Mastercard credit cards with no foreign fees are the best credit cards to use internationally.

Notable Credit Cards for International Travel

When purchasing from international merchants, remember to also watch out for dynamic currency conversion. By avoiding foreign transaction fees and dynamic currency conversion, you could save up to 10% when using a credit card abroad.

Be aware that chip-and-PIN cards will be slightly more useful when traveling abroad than chip-and-signature cards. Unmanned kiosks, for example, may require a PIN from a chip-and-PIN card. That said, you’ll get around fine if you have any low-fee card on the Visa or Mastercard network and some of the local currency as backup.

International credit cards are necessary for people that travel abroad, even once. I learned this the hard way after my bank put a hold my credit card after making my first purchase abroad. I had to call my issuer and verify that I was in a foreign country. ( A call that cost me $$) Then I had to wait another several hours for the hold to be lifted. In all reality, I spent thousands of dollars to travel abroad and sit, doing nothing because I had no access to my money. When my hold was finally lifted, I learned about all the extra fees associated with using a credit card in a foreign country. If you don't have an international credit card then the value of your dollar can go down as much as 10%. When you have a budget of $1000 spending money, you suddenly lose $100 of it to fees.

To decide whether you should get a credit card or debit card for international travel, it's important to consider aspects like fraud protection and costs associated with purchases and cash withdrawals.

All major-issuer credit cards and debit cards come with $0 liability guarantees, meaning you won’t be held liable for any unauthorized charges. However, credit cards do make fraud easier to deal with.

Having said that, our suggestion is to use international credit cards for purchases and international debit cards for cash withdrawals while traveling abroad. The answer to this question is, therefore, both.

You don’t need to let your credit card company know you’re traveling, but it’s always a good idea. To protect you from fraud, credit card issuers look for charges that seem to be out of the ordinary, or “suspicious activity”. So, if they suddenly start seeing charges pop up on your card in a different state or country, they may decline the charge, assuming it’s fraudulent. In order to keep your credit card from being declined while you’re traveling abroad, you should submit a travel notice to your issuer.

Issuers like Capital One and Barclaycard have stopped recommending travel notices, thanks to the increased security of EMV chip cards. They still offer the ability to set a travel notification, but state that it’s not necessary. American Express has actually stopped letting cardholders set travel notices altogether, saying their confidence in their fraud protection makes it unnecessary.

Submitting a travel notice to your credit card company can be done quickly and simply. Most credit card issuers let you submit a travel notice online or through their app. If you’re not sure how to submit a travel notice, you can always call the number on the back of your card and submit a travel notice over the phone. When you submit a travel notice, you should tell your issuer where exactly you’ll be traveling and the dates of your trips. If you’re going to multiple destinations, be sure to make that clear.

The best credit card for travel in Europe is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because it gives 2 - 5 miles per $1 on purchases, with no redemption restrictions, plus an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The Venture Card also has a $0 foreign transaction fee.

If you’re looking to rely on a popular European airline, the British Airways Credit Card and the Lufthansa Credit Card are both good choices. There are plenty of other cards capable of saving you lots of money on European travel, too.

Best Credit Cards for Travel in Europe

Each of the best credit cards for travel in Europe has its own unique perks. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months and gives a $300 annual travel credit if you book through Capital One Travel. It also offers up to 10 miles / $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership. Just bear in mind thatCapital One Venture X has a $395 annual fee and requires excellent credit.

One thing’s for sure, though: The best credit cards for travel in Europe have no foreign transaction fees. You don’t want to be charged up to an extra 3% on all of your European purchases, after all. It’s also best to get either a Visa or a Mastercard, as other networks have lower rates of international acceptance.

No, you don’t need a special European credit card before going to Europe. But you do want a card on a network that’s widely accepted in your destination of choice. Mastercard and Visa are your best options, as they’re both accepted pretty much everywhere in over 200 countries and territories. American Express is accepted in all European countries but may not be accepted by the specific merchant you’re doing business with, particularly if it’s a small operation. It’s ideal to get a card with no foreign transaction fee and extra rewards on travel, too.

Some of the Best Credit Cards for Traveling in Europe

The Capital One Venture card offers a bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. You also get 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. Capital One Venture charges $0 foreign fees. The card has a $95 annual fee and requires at least good credit.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. You also get 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Points worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. With this card, you also get a 1:1 point transfer to 13 airline and hotel loyalty programs. That card has a $0 foreign transaction fee and $95 annual fee. Chase Sapphire Preferred requires at least good credit.

The JetBlue Plus Card offers $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months. You also get 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. The Capital One Quicksilver has a $0 foreign transaction fee and a $0 annual fee. The card requires at least good credit.

The Capital One Quicksilver card offers $200 for spending $500 in the first 3 months. You also earn 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. This card has a $0 foreign transaction fee and a $0 annual fee. Capital One Quicksilver requires at least good credit.

Things to Know About Using a U.S. Credit Card in Europe

If you’re wondering about whether European card readers are compatible with American credit cards, you’ll be fine anywhere there’s a person to check you out. That’s true whether you have a chip card or an older card with only a magnetic stripe. The one place you may need a specific type of card is at an unmanned payment terminal, such as you might find in a train station or parking garage. In that case, not even a chip-and-signature card will work. You’ll need to use a chip-and-PIN credit card or cash. But that shouldn’t amount to much more than a minor inconvenience, even though most U.S. chip cards are the signature variety. 

All in all, finding a credit card with no foreign transaction fees should be a bigger concern before traveling to Europe. The average credit card charges 2-3% of every purchase you make abroad, which can add up to a lot over the course of a trip.

Ultimately, you might also want to set a travel notice to tell your card’s issuer where and when you’re going. That way, your purchases away from home won’t be confused with fraud.

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 best 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.