Best of International Travel Cards
When traveling overseas, the appropriate credit card is just as important as your passport. A superior credit card can increase your reward points and provide you with important protections and perks. By using a credit card, you can safeguard your purchases from theft and unauthorized use and prevent having to pay foreign transaction fees.
Certain credit cards come with perks that might improve the comfort of your travels, such as lounge access, VIP incentives, and travel insurance.
Obtaining a credit card that offers travel insurance, bonus points on excursions, and waives international transaction fees is essential for any traveler. To save you from having to guess what to bring on your trip, we’ve put together a list of the best credit cards for international travel:
Summary List of Best Travel Credit Cards with no Annual Fee
Top 5 Travel Credit CARDS
This is a perfect card that is suitable for international travel because it ticks all the boxes when it comes to perks you will need when taking a trip overseas. It provides key travel protections and earns priceless perks at a fair $95 annual fee. Cardholders do not need to pay foreign transaction fees which is usually around 3 percent on other credit cards. The card is accompanied with travel insurance which is important when travelling abroad. Also, cardholders have the opportunity to earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4000 in the first three months of opening the account. In terms of rewards, you can earn 5X points on travel, 3 X points on restaurants dining, 3X on online grocery purchase and many more. You are expected to have a good credit score to be eligible for this credit card. Here are the Pros and Cons;
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Generous sign-up bonus. | Annual fee is not waived for Year 1 |
| Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal. | Points transfer to partner airlines and hotels is subject to point devaluation. |
| Excellent travel and purchase protection benefits. | Limited travel benefits compared to premium cards. |
| Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program with various transfer partners. | |
| Excellent travel and purchase protection benefits. | |
| No foreign transaction fees. |
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None other compares to the American Express Platinum Card when it comes to travel perks. It offers over a $1500 in annual statement credits for hotel booking, ticket fees and so on. There is an opportunity to upgrade to an elite status which gives you access to additional perks like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and enhancing your accommodation experience. This card gives you added peace of mind with trip delay and cancellation coverage. Cardholders earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within six months of opening the account. In terms of travel benefits you can earn up to $1,200 credit which is spread across airline fee credit, hotel booking credit, Uber cash up and many more. Its annual fee is $695.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High reward potential on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel | Very high annual fee |
| Multiple credits can help justify the fee | Maximizing the statement credits takes some work and could be unworkable for many |
| Comprehensive airport lounge access | Reward rate outside of travel is sub-par for a premium card |
| Luxury travel benefits and elite status with Hilton and Marriott with enrollment |
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It’s not just because it’s one of the most promoted credit cards available, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is among the most commonly used credit cards. It pays a high rewards rate on all purchases, not just on travel expenses, and you are also allowed to use your rewards to pay for any travel-related item without being constrained by when you travel, which airline you fly with, or which hotel you stay at, unlike the airline-branded cards it was created to compete against. Additionally, cardholders get six months of complimentary membership to The Cultivist which gives you access to over 60 museums and the option to bring three guests for free. It has a straightforward reward structure and stress-free redemption process. Cardholders earn 75,000 bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening the account and its annual fee is $95.
When you consider that all new cards receive a sizable bonus, it makes so much sense why so many people love this card.
Here are the pros and cons of using this card;
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A substantial sign-up bonus | Limited redemption options |
| Flexible redemption options | Limited lounge network compared to other cards |
| No foreign transaction fees | Transfer ratios to most partners are mediocre at less than 1:1 ratio. |
| Solid travel insurance and purchase protection benefits | Capital One airline partners do not include any large U.S. airlines. |
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The major function for American Express Gold Card is to garner points for grocery and restaurants. Members get Membership Rewards points for making use of the card, which can be exchanged for travel credits at partner hotels and airlines. It offers so many culinary and travel benefits, the American Express Gold Card is among the best travel rewards cards for the wealthy who can afford the $250 annual fee. It provides a large, recurring benefits for dining out, travel, and grocery shopping. In addition to that, it includes annual credits worth hundreds of dollars that can be help pay for the cost of restaurants, Uber, and some accommodations. Cardholders earn 60,00 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 in the first six months of opening the account. Your credit score is expected to range from good to excellent to qualify for this card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent rewards on dining and groceries. | High annual fee. |
| Travel credits and benefits. | Limited travel perks compared to premium cards. |
| Membership Rewards points have many transfer partners. | Rewards are primarily focused on dining and groceries. |
| No foreign transaction fees. |
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For travelers that want a card that helps you earn generous rewards and minimal fees the Wells Fargo Autograph Card is a smart choice for international travel. The card waives foreign transaction fees, which is rare for a card with no annual fee. It provides ample bonuses on most travel spending categories. You earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first three months of opening the account. You also get to earn 3X points on most travel spending categories and 1X points on other purchases. You earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months of opening the account. Here are the pros and Cons of using this card;
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No annual fee | No luxury perks |
| Bonus categories | Requires good/excellent credit |
| No reward caps | |
| Cell phone insurance | |
| New cardholder bonus offer |
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If you go abroad frequently, you should consider obtaining an international credit card. These credit cards bear the burden of some of the additional expenses and inconveniences that come with going abroad. If you choose the right credit card, you can gather bonus points in frequently used categories that are prohibited overseas.
Also, you don’t need to be a frequent traveler to make use of these cards. It acts as a backup option for payment in the event that your debit card or cash gets lost or stolen while you’re away, they can ease your mind. Actually, even when you’re simply going about your everyday business, the correct credit card can be of great assistance to you.