No Foreign Transaction Fee Debit Cards

It's a good idea to get an international debit card before traveling abroad, in addition to the best international credit card for your needs. You won't be able to use plastic for every purchase. So you're going to need some cash. And while you could convert hard currency at a bank or airport kiosk, both options are far more expensive than using a Visa or Mastercard debit card to withdraw cash as needed.

You just need to find one with no foreign transaction fee and a low international ATM fee. In general, an ATM fee below 1% is a pretty good deal.

You can avoid foreign transaction fees by getting a credit card that doesn't charge them. Considering that about 25% of current credit card offers don't charge foreign fees, and those cards are available to people of all credit levels, there's really no reason to pay these fees. The 10 largest credit card companies all offer at least some cards without foreign transaction fees. And some, like Capital One, Discover, USAA, HSBC and PenFed, don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their credit cards.

Foreign transaction fees tack on as much as 4% extra to purchases made abroad, which can truly dampen a vacation. Foreign transaction fees aren't charged by the merchant; they're charged by the credit card company. And the fees are also charged for online purchases processed abroad, even if you're sitting in front of your computer at home when you make the purchase. If you're using a rewards card for purchases abroad, a foreign transaction fee will quickly negate the rewards you're trying to rack up. The fees are declared in all credit card terms, so make sure you look for that language when you're applying for credit cards.

That said, if you already have a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees, there's not much you can do to avoid them, save for not using the card abroad. Consider applying for a travel credit card with good ongoing rewards and no foreign transaction fees. There are plenty to choose from.

One last thing to think about regarding foreign transaction fees: Don't forget to find the right debit card for your travels. Many debit cards also charge foreign transaction fees and international ATM fees. But having a debit card while abroad is important, as it will allow you to get cash when you need it, which is far cheaper (and safer) than converting money at airports or banks. So make sure to bring a Visa or Mastercard debit card with a low international ATM fee and no foreign transaction fees when you head out of the country.

When it comes to choosing between an international credit card or an international debit card, it's important to consider aspects like fraud protection and costs 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.

The best debit card to use in Fiji is any debit card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. Some of the debit cards with no foreign transaction fees are those attached to HSBC Premier Checking, or the Capital One 360 checking account.

International debit cards are simply debit cards that can be used to make purchases and/or withdraw money from ATMs outside the U.S. International debit cards are integral to any trip abroad since not all merchants accept plastic. Some cards might not even be compatible with certain aspects of a foreign country's payment infrastructure.

When it comes to using debit cards for cash withdrawals while aboard, there are a couple of factors to consider.

First, while you know that the owner of the foreign ATM will charge a fee for withdrawals, you must determine whether your issuing bank will also institute ATM charges.

Second, you need to find out what foreign transaction fees, if any, will apply to such a transaction.

Both of these things impact the cost of using a debit card internationally. So both must be considered when comparing international debit card offers.