Going abroad today is easier than ever, especially if you’ve got the flexibility to make your travel arrangements at the last minute to get some of the great deals that are around with airlines, hotels, and car rentals.
And with the holidays and New Years behind us, I know a lot of us are planning and thinking about the next time we are going to pack up and head out on our next trip.
Whether you’re simply crossing the border to Canada or Mexico, or heading to Europe, Asia or elsewhere around the globe, the best credit cards for international travel are accepted nearly everywhere and do not charge foreign currency transaction fees—sometimes called FX fees.
Even better, some offer 24/7 international concierge service. Here are our picks—all require excellent credit:
What’s Ahead:
Overview of the best credit cards for international travel
| Card | Best for |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best for large sign-up bonus |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Best for strong rewards program |
| Citi Premier® Card | Best for air travel, restaurant and supermarket rewards |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Best for straightforward rewards with no annual fee |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Best for bank of America customers |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Best for small business owners |
Details: Best credit cards for international travel – no foreign transaction fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
In A Nutshell
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card sets the standard for travel rewards by offering an excellent 2x points on all travel and dining at restaurant purchases. And points are worth 25% more when you redeem travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means that the killer 100,000 point sign-up bonus is worth $1,250 towards travel.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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A monster of an up-front bonus. 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
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2x points per dollar spent on all travel and dining at restaurants, worldwide
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Points are worth 25% more when you redeem travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Our best offer ever! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
If you have excellent credit, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the must-have card for any serious traveler and also an excellent choice for anyone heading abroad. It has a $95 annual fee—still well worth it if you’ll do a bit of spending on the card. It has no foreign transaction fees, plus chip-enabled for enhanced security and wider acceptance when used at a chip card reader.
Best yet, Sapphire’s points-based travel rewards program quickly earns you free travel. You’ll earn 2X points per dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
When redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, these points can be traded via 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs. Or, you can get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 10,000 points are worth $125 toward travel. Those points are also worth $100 in cash, if you prefer not to spend your points on travel.
This card also has an award-winning 24/7 dedicated customer service line that can come in handy while you’re traveling.
There’s also a generous bonus for new cardmembers: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,250 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Learn more—get card details or apply online:
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
In A Nutshell
Capital One’s leading product is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and it shows. A one-time 60,000 mile bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months is flat out AWESOME, and 2X miles per dollar spent is about as good as it gets with a travel rewards credit card.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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2X miles earned for $1 spent on all purchases
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Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Redeem on travel—including flights, vacation rentals, car rentals and more. Plus transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
For years, the Capital One Venture and VentureOne Rewards Credit Cards have been our go-to recommendation for young travelers looking for a credit card to take abroad that offers no foreign transaction fees and a straightforward rewards program.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases that can be redeemed for any travel at any time. Miles don’t expire and there’s no limit to how much you can earn. As a new cardmember, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The card’s annual fee is: $95.
There’s also a no annual fee version, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card that earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on every purchase.
You can read our full review and comparison of the Venture and VentureOne Rewards Credit Cards, but most people will get far more miles by paying the fee and earning 2x miles per dollar spent. If you want a no annual fee card for international travel or simply earning miles, the aforementioned Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has a better rewards rate than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Learn more–get card details or apply online:
Citi Premier® Card
In A Nutshell
The Citi Premier® Card kicks off with a great 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Point intro offer after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. The everyday rewards program offers 3x points per dollar spent in a variety of categories and has no foreign transaction fees.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. These points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards at thankyou.com
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Three points per dollar spent at Gas Stations, Supermarkets, Restaurants, Hotels and on Air Travel
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No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Opening a Citi Premier® Card is an ideal way to offset the expense of a big upcoming trip.
As soon as you cross the $4,000 spending threshold within the first three months, you’ll get 80,000 ThankYou® Points credited to your account, redeemable for $800 in gift cards (when redeemed at thankyou.com). Plus, if you book a hotel stay over $500, the card’s Annual Hotel Savings Benefit will immediately comp you $100.
Last but certainly not least, this card’s greatest draw is its evergreen 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, and hotels, but also on essential categories like gas and supermarket spending. Plus, you’ll get 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Citi Premier® Card’s chief drawback is its $95 annual fee.
Learn more—get card details or apply online:
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
In A Nutshell
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has a litany of benefits including a 20,000 mile one-time bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (after which the standard rate of 15.49% – 25.49% variable applies), 1.25 miles per dollar spent on ALL purchases and no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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A one-time bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 in the first three months
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1.25 miles earned on every $1 spent
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No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 15.49% - 25.49% variable APR after that
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns rewards at a lower rate than other cards on this list, but it remains a decent choice for someone looking for a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. If you’re not a big spender, you might want to opt for a card like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card instead of a card with a large annual fee you’ll struggle to justify.
The card’s reward structure is simple, unlike some other cards’, which might force the user to keep track of quarterly rewards category. You’ll also get a healthy sign-up bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account, which is a $200 value.
Learn more—get card details or apply online:
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
In A Nutshell
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers you 25,000 online bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days, which is one of the best sign-up bonuses you can get on a card with no annual fee.
Read review- Good/
- Excellent
What We Like:
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A terrific sign-up bonus – 25,000 online bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days
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Hassle free 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases
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No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR ends, 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR will apply
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% - 75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn up to 2.62 points for every $1 spent.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases and your points don’t expire. There’s also a sign-up bonus—you can earn 25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. That’s worth $250 as a statement credit toward travel.
Although not as valuable as the 80,000 points Chase offers, the $250 sign-up bonus is one of the highest I’ve seen from a card with no annual fee.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good option for any traveler, but it’s especially rewarding if you use other Bank of America® products. Preferred Rewards clients can earn even more.
Learn more—get card details or apply online:
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
In A Nutshell
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card blows you away with a 100,000 point bonus after you spend $15,000 in the first three months and keeps you coming back with 3 points per dollar spent on travel and select business categories for the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 in the first three months (Worth $1,250 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®)
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3 points earned per $1 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
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No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- $95 Annual Fee
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great option for small business owners with frequent travel expenses. Cardholders earn an impressive 3x points on all travel spending. They also earn 3x points on categories including shipping, internet, cable, phone, and online advertising on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases, as well as 1x points on all other purchases.
In addition to these rewards, the card also comes with a generous welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points when cardholders spend $15,000 in the first three months. This amounts to a value of $1,250 when borrowers redeem points through travel rewards with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Another perk for business owners who travel frequently is the absence of foreign transaction fees, meaning you won’t incur any additional fees when you use your card internationally. While there is a $95 annual fee, in most cases borrowers will earn much more than that in rewards, meaning that the card more than pays for itself.
Learn more—get card details or apply online:
Summary: Best credit cards for international travel
| Card | Sign-up and Miles | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Global concierge service. 100,000 sign-up bonus points (worth up to $1,250 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®) after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. | $95 annual fee |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 2x miles per dollar spent on every purchase. | $95 annual fee |
| Citi Premier® Card | 80,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 3 points per dollar spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, plus 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. | $95 annual fee |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | 20,000 miles (worth $200 in travel) sign-up bonus after spending $500 in three months. | $0 annual fee |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | 25,000 bonus point (worth $250 in travel) sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. Unlimited. 1.5 points per dollar spent. | $0 annual fee |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | 100,000 bonus points when you spend $15,000 in the first three months 3x points on all travel spending, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and online advertising on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases, as well as 1x points on all other purchases | $95 annual fee |
Should you get a travel credit card?
Not sure you want a travel credit card? Looking for a cash rewards card? Or maybe you want to snag a generous sign-up bonus? Finding the right credit card for you is much simpler if you know your credit score, and can narrow your search to only the cards you know you’ll get approved for. We’ve made it easy for you. If you don’t already know your score, use our quick and free Credit Score Estimator tool – then find the perfect card for you!
- Best credit cards for a credit score over 750
- Best credit cards for a credit score between 700 – 749
- Best credit cards for a credit score between 650 – 699
- Best credit cards for a credit score between 600 – 649
- Best credit cards for a credit score under 599
Summary
Even if you don’t get a new credit card before you leave the country, do check with your existing credit card companies and bank to learn their fees on foreign transactions before you go, and try to stick with the cheapest method. Typically, withdrawing cash at an ATM or using your credit card will be less costly than using money changers.
It can also be helpful to call your credit card companies before you travel to let them know you’ll be out of the country; this way it’s less likely they’ll put a hold on your card after you use it in Bangkok. (For this reason, it’s also a good idea to have more than one credit card with you in case this happens … or at least some cash as backup!)
Read more:
Look for rewards to put toward an upcoming trip? Here are some more of the best credit cards of 2021.
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Article comments
Very interesting. While I have several credit cards I will now start using ones I have not used in awhile in order to not get them canceled. I plan on spending more time abroad as I retire so I can search for a Better country to live in during retirement. This one is getting too lawless.
Hi, thanks for the article!
I was wondering if these cards, in addition to not having foreign currency transaction fees, also guarantee the “real” exchange rate when you make a purchase (that is, the exchange rate you would see if you looked at google in the same instance you make the purchase). If not, then just “not having fees” might not be enough if they have a very bad (for us, good for them) exchange rate.
Cheers!
That’s not a very common thing, usually it will be the providers chosen rate. TransferWise has a debit card though that has the benefit of the mid-market rate and not having foreign transaction fees. There’s no travel bonus etc, but those bonuses might not be relevant to all people.
Your Discover card will work at the ATM at the Pankow station in Berlin. There may be a few others that one I know for sure works. It accepts Diners Club International and allows you to draw euros for your travel experience in Germany/Europe.
I need a visa card drawn on a non-us bank and I’m a US citizen. Anyone know how this can be arranged?
Thanks
Got problems with fraud protection with Capital One.
All cards I used so far (including the ones who advertise no foreign transaction fees) shave off some amount of money in the exchange rates.
With my Sapphire,I even get different exchange rates for transactions done the same day.
Hi! There’s something else going on when you are purchasing internationally. When you swipe your card in another country or even online for a purchase in another currency, you are at the vendors’ mercy. Your credit or even debit card may not charge you a fee for foreign transactions, but they aren’t exchanging the rate for you either. So one shop may say the currency rate from Euro to USD is $1.67 while another may say $1.25. The really crazy part is that even though that’s what they are charging as vendors to convert your money, the exchange rate could be closer to $1.07 that day. Best to pay with cash.
3rd time CapitalOne-Venture rejected card while traveling international. Called the 1st and 2nd time and told me its fixed.. but apparently not. Totally unreadable in my hands. I understand the need for security but all that becomes pointless if the card is unusable.
I got the Capital One card when I traveled to a Caribbean country that uses US dollars. That worked out GREAT. (If I had used my Chase Freedom, which I used daily domestically, I would have been charged a transaction fee despite requiring no currency exchange.) No problems using it abroad or after I returned.
Just one piece of partial contention about your Sapphire post. While you are correct that the sign up bonus would get you $500 in travel…there is a much more lucrative aspect to that sign-up bonus. The beauty of the Ultimate Rewards program is in the ability to transfer points 1:1 to frequent flyer/hotel programs for an extremely higher $ value. For example. 100,000 UR points would get you $1000 in travel using the Chase travel portal…OR…you could transfer those 100,000 points to 100,000 United Miles and book a round-trip business class ticket to Europe…this ticket would be valued at between $5,000 and $10,000…a much higher payout!
We are traveling to Japan in February for 4 years. Most of our spending will be on a US Air Base. Would the foreign transaction fees apply still?
Under The Citi ThankYou℠ Premier Card you refer to it as being a Visa. This card is actually a Citi Amex card or at least it is for me.
PenFed (Pentagon Federal Credit Union) has the Promise Visa with no Fees, including no Foreign Transaction Fees. It works really well and has no annual fee, but you have to be a member or pay the 15$ entrance fee. I also take along an AmEx just in case I need their services. However, the last time I called to tell them I was leaving the country, AmEx told me I no longer had to inform them I would be using the card outside the country. I think I find this a little more disconcerting than convenient.
AmEx told me this, too….and the next time I traveled out of the country and tried to use it, it was declined. I had to call them and get them to lift the fraud freeze on the account.
I can understand a fee for transferring from pesos to dollars but we bought a timeshare in Mexico in dollars and we were still charged a transaction fee.
What is this for? This was a simple on-line transaction. BofA would not back down on waiving this so we are going to Capital One.
A lot of cards charge a fee for all transactions abroad, regardless of currency. That’s why I got a card with specific travel benefits.
Which card? I got a Capital ONe card because they said it had no fee, but I don’t trust that company. They have no customer service and a record of tongue-lashing customers. My card is NOT a chip card, and the company won’t issue one.
It is NOT a Venture card, so I expect to be charged a hefty fee.
I am looking for suggestions. I have had my two other cards for 30 years and they are rock-solid, but they exact a fee
internationally.
I would caution anyone using a capital one card for foreign travel…they may not charge a foreign transaction fee, but, if you need to access their investigative solutions for any financial disputes abroad, they are non-existent. We had an issue in Mexico that they have repeatedly avoided assisting us on. They use what should be considered exploitive customer service tactics for a service they tout as “protection abroad”.
Thanks for the word of caution.
I also want to add another word of caution on Capital One’s “no foreign transaction fees.” I just got back from Belize and used my Captial One Visa while there. I noticed the conversion was about 1% more than the actual cost.
So, Capital One does have an unofficial 1% foreign transaction fee.
Every review says that Capital One aborbs the 1% fee that VISA/MASTERCARD charge, so not sure what you mean.
Technically, they do. But their conversion rate turns out to be 1% higher than the actual conversion. So your purchase will be 1% more expensive paying with the credit card rather than paying with cash.
I’ve read the same holds true for Charles Schwab’s debit card that has no foreign transaction fee.
Would you mind posting any of your transaction history showing this? I’m looking at my transactions for the Chase Sapphire and trying to unravel all the hidden charges. I’d love to have a link as proof as to what the real cost of the Capital One cards are.
Lee, abendinthearrow.com
Lee, I’m just going by my statement, from what the cost should have been, to what I was billed. There was a transaction that was supposed to be $10, and I was charged $10.09, which is almost 1%.
Also, I just compared the exchange rate for that date and compared it to the exchange rate that was listed for that $10 item. Capital One’s exchange rate for that day was $1.98321 vs. $1.99149 actual exchange rate. My calculations show that’s a .5% mark-up.
OK– so after I typed the above, I saw another transaction from Belize that shows the correct exchange rate, so apparently, this whole thing is a YMMV!!
If you have AMEX Costco card you get 2% cashback for travel charges…so really it cancels out the fee.