International travel can be both thrilling and costly; having the appropriate credit card can help lower these expenses and offer valuable perks that reduce them significantly.
The best international travel cards typically include no foreign transaction fees, generous earn rates on travel spending and various protection features. Here are six key features to keep an eye out for.
No foreign transaction fees
Foreign transaction fees can quickly add up when traveling abroad, as these charges typically amount to around 3% each time you make a purchase in another currency.
Fees may be assessed when purchasing items such as restaurant meals and souvenirs from international online merchants, withdrawing money at an ATM machine, and using international ATM machines.
Many top credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, enabling you to avoid these costly extra charges while taking advantage of travel perks that go beyond saving on foreign transaction fees.
If your credit cards have foreign transaction fees, consider applying for one that doesn’t before embarking on your next trip. That way, you can take advantage of its many advantages – like travel rewards and purchase protection – without incurring extra charges for purchases overseas. Some cards even offer sign-up bonuses where the fees will be waived during their first year as an effective way of testing whether or not a particular card fits with you best.
Travel perks
Credit cards designed for international travel offer many travel perks that can save money. From access to airport lounges and trip cancellation/interruption insurance policies to credits towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications, these card benefits could save hundreds each year when booking travel arrangements.
If you are an avid traveler, choosing a credit card that enables you to accumulate points through airline loyalty programs is ideal. Or choose one with travel rewards points such as Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal that earns bonus points when used for international hotel bookings or rental car reservations can also be rewarding.
Credit cards designed specifically for international travel offer travelers many travel perks and protections, such as no foreign transaction fees, flexible rewards and travel rewards programs. You may incur an annual fee but consider doing the math to see if its benefits outweigh this expense.
Widespread acceptance
When traveling abroad, finding a widely accepted credit card that does not impose foreign transaction fees and offers generous rewards on travel expenses is of utmost importance.
Many cards offer travel perks like airport lounge access, elite status boosts and hotel privileges that can save both time and money during your journey. These benefits provide peace of mind during travel as they help save you both money and stress during travel.
To maximize your card’s earning power, select one with wide merchant acceptance. Visa and MasterCard have large networks, making it likely that it will be accepted in most countries around the world. If a lot of places only accept cards equipped with chips or PIN numbers – like Chase Sapphire Reserve does – ensure your card offers both features.
Flexible rewards
Credit cards designed specifically for international travel should offer flexible rewards programs that allow you to easily accumulate and redeem points across a range of uses, no foreign transaction fees and widespread acceptance, plus some may even include complimentary international travel insurance policies.
An ideal credit card for international travel should waive foreign transaction fees, which can add up quickly when making purchases abroad. Opting for one that doesn’t charge these fees could save money over time.
As part of your search, consider which credit card offers credits toward TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs to expedite security checks, making annual fees of some travel cards worth paying. Also think about whether a sign-up bonus would suit you better – usually offered for reaching certain spending thresholds within the first several months.
