Best Credit Cards for International Travel
The non-negotiables
Two things matter most abroad: no foreign transaction fee (which saves roughly 3 percent on every purchase) and network acceptance. Visa and Mastercard are accepted most widely worldwide, so favor those overseas and carry a backup on a different network. See the best no-FTF cards.
Rewards and protections
Beyond fees, a good travel card earns well on travel and dining (useful abroad) and includes travel protections like trip delay, baggage, and rental car coverage. Transferable points let you book international flights through partners. Lounge access eases long layovers. These turn a fee-free card into a genuinely valuable travel tool.
Use it right overseas
Always pay in the local currency, never dollars, to avoid the dynamic currency conversion markup (see using credit cards abroad). Know your PIN for chip-and-PIN terminals, set up alerts, and bring a backup card. A no-FTF Visa or Mastercard plus a second card on another network covers almost any situation.
Frequently asked questions
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