The Best Credit Cards for International Travel
Earlier this month we cautioned readers about foreign currency credit card fees. But is there a credit card out there that stands above others as the best card for international travel?
American Express cards are often noted for their customer service for cardmembers traveling abroad, and they do charge 1-2% less than other card companies for foreign transactions. Of course, although AMEX cards are widely accepted around the world, they are not accepted everywhere Visa and MasterCard are.
If you’d rather have a Visa or MasterCard in your pocket, Capital One Cards do not charge a foreign currency transaction fee, although their currency conversion rate may not be as favorable as AMEX’s. Combined with the Capital One no-hassle airline miles rewards program, any air travel rewards Capital One credit card is a great choice for traveling abroad.
If you have excellent credit, I recommend the Capital One No Hassle Miles Rewards card. There’s no annual fee, a competitive interest rate, and you’ll earn 1.25 miles for every dollar spent. There’s also a version for borrowers that have good, but not excellent, credit that offers the same rewards but at a slightly higher interest rate.
You can compare Capital One, AMEX, and other cards at CreditCards.com.
Related Posts
- Avoid Credit Card Foreign Currency Transaction Fees
- The Better Deal: Cash Back or Miles Credit Cards?
- Cancelling Credit Cards: What Would You Do?
- Charge Cards: American Express Offers an Attractive Alternative to Credit Cards
- For the Lowest Credit Card Interest Rates, Look to Small Banks
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I'm David, a 20-something ex-financial journalist with a mission: To help you learn about personal finance, take control of your money, and get on with life!
If you have AMEX Costco card you get 2% cashback for travel charges…so really it cancels out the fee.