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 |
| 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 5x points on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases. And points are worth 25% more when you redeem travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means that the killer 60,000 point sign-up bonus is worth $750 towards travel.
Read reviewWhat We Like:
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A monster of an up-front bonus; 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
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5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
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Points are worth 25% more when you redeem travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 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 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, & 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 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 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 14.99% – 24.99% 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; 14.99% - 24.99% 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 15 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. 60,000 sign-up bonus points (worth up to $750 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 |
| 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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