The Best Credit Cards for International Travel

Note: All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by 10xTravel.

Every time you swipe your travel rewards credit card, you’re one step closer to your next points-and-miles-funded vacation.

A travel rewards credit card earns points or miles on purchases, which are rewards currency that can be redeemed for travel purchases. You can open co-branded airline and hotel cards, which earn points with specific loyalty programs tied to the hotel or airline. You can also open a general travel rewards credit card, which gives you maximum flexibility in how you redeem your points for travel.

However, knowing which credit cards are best for international travel isn’t always easy, given the wide variety of international credit cards on offer. Picking a travel credit card that’s ill-suited to your spending habits and travel goals can end up costing you more in annual fees than you’ll earn in perks and rewards.

Luckily, with the right strategy, the best credit cards for international travel can save you money while giving you access to luxury perks. You could save on hotel stays, flights, TSA PreCheck^®, airport lounge access, insurance and much more.

Let’s take a look at the best credit cards for international travel, as well as the pros, cons and any other considerations to make before selecting a card.

The Best International Travel Credit Cards for 2023

Here are the best international travel credit cards of 2023. After this quick overview, we’ll dive into each card, detailing its pros and cons.

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is an excellent pick if you want to earn points on everyday spending.

You’ll earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points thereafter. You’ll also earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, as well as on takeout and delivery in the U.S.

This ability to earn points on everyday spending makes offsetting its annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees) much easier.

If you book flights directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, your purchases will earn you 3X points. Likewise, when you book a property belonging to The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel, you’ll gain a $100 experience credit to enjoy at the property (a minimum stay of two nights is required).

The American Express^® Gold Card is free of foreign transaction fees, allowing you to continue earning points abroad.

Pros

• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, as well as on takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X points thereafter).
• Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com.
• Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
• Up to $120 Uber Cash, given as Uber Credits, issued in $10 monthly increments, when you add your card to your Uber account for Uber Eats order or Uber rides in the U.S. (enrollment required)
• Up to $120 annual dining credit, issued in $10 monthly statement credits, when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations (enrollment required)
• Receive a $100 experience credit (minimum stay of two nights required) when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel.
• No foreign transaction fees. (See rates and fees)

Cons

• Annual fee is somewhat high for a mid-tier card.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card comes with a host of benefits that help offset its hefty annual fee of $550.

This card rewards and supports travel, giving you a $300 annual statement credit for airline incidental fees as well as a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership application fees. It comes with four annual complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge visits and will enable you to save 20% on domestic and international airfares of any class when you pay with points.

If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you’ll enjoy 25% to 75% more points per purchase. To qualify as a Preferred Rewards member, you need to have a Bank of America checking account, as well as have a three month average combined balance of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts.

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card charges no foreign transaction fees.

Pros

• Earn 25% to 75% more points per purchase as a Preferred Rewards member.
• Save 20% on domestic or international flight tickets for any class when you pay with points.
• 2X points on travel purchases
• 2X points on dining purchases
• 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Receive four complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select lounges.
• Complimentary 24/7 full service concierge
• No foreign transaction fees
• $300 annual statement credit for airline incidental fees
• $150 annual statement credit for lifestyle conveniences, such as video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services
• $100 in statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years

Cons

• Bonus category rates are low for a premium card

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers simple rewards for a $0 annual fee.

With this card, you’ll enjoy a flat rate of 1.5X points on all purchases, everywhere. That means you can earn on everyday purchases, as well as on purchases made abroad. This card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so racking up points on spending abroad is easy.

If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn between 25% and 75% more, translating to between 1.87X to 2.62X points.

Pros

• 1.5X points on all purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Preferred Rewards members can earn between 25% to 75% more points.

Cons

• Limited perks
• No bonus spending categories

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

For an annual fee of $395, the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card offers significant value.

You get complimentary access for yourself, authorized users and up to two accompanying guests for Capital One, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select lounges. This perk alone more than offsets the annual fee in monetary terms.

You’ll also enjoy an annual statement credit of up to $300 when you book travel through Capital One Travel.

Capital One miles can be transferred to up to 18 different hotel and airline transfer partners, at a ratio of 1:1 in most cases, giving you maximum redemption flexibility and making it one of the best credit cards for international travel points.

You’ll also be able to continue using the card abroad as it’s free of foreign transaction fees.

Pros

• Complimentary access for you, your authorized users and up to two guests for Priority Pass Select, Capital One and Plaza Premium Group lounges (enrollment required)
• Transfer your Capital One miles to 18 hotel and airline partner programs.
• 10X miles on rental cars and hotels when booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy cardholder benefits, including experience credits and room upgrades, when staying with the Premier or Lifestyle Collections.
• Up to $300 annual statement credit when booking travel through Capital One Travel
• No foreign transaction fees
• Receive 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary.

Cons

• 10X miles can only be earned when booking through the Capital One Travel portal.
• The $300 annual travel statement credit applies only on travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best travel credit cards for international travel.

As a cardholder, you’ll receive a $300 annual travel statement credit, as well as a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership application fees every four years. You’ll also receive complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. These perks make offsetting the annual fee of $550 a breeze.

Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to a range of hotel and airline partner loyalty programs at 1:1 transfer ratio. You can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal at 1.5 cents a point.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^®   card has zero foreign transaction fees, allowing you to spend abroad with total freedom.

Pros

• $300 annual statement credit for travel purchases
• 5X points on flights when purchased as travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
• 10X points on car rentals and hotels booked through Chase Travel (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
• 3X points on eligible delivery service purchases, takeout and dining out
• 3X points on travel purchases (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
• 10X points on Chase Dining purchases via Ultimate Rewards
• Redeem points for 50% more value when used for travel purchases through Chase (1.5 cents per point).
• Transfer points at 1:1 ratio to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
• No foreign transaction fees
• $100 statement credit reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, every four years
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership

Cons

• Hotel and car rental purchases must be made via Chase Travel to earn 10X points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card offers competitive bonus category rates for a comparatively low annual fee of $95, making it one of the best travel rewards credit cards for beginners.

You can earn 3X points on everyday purchases such as dining at restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)and select streaming services. This allows you to rack up Ultimate Rewards on everyday spending, getting you to point-funded travel more quickly. These points can be transferred to Chase’s transfer partners at a ratio of 1:1, giving you excellent redemption flexibility. Alternatively, you can use your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards for a 25% boost in value (1.25 cents per point).

On top of that, you’ll earn 5X points for travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel statement credit).

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card has zero foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for international travel.

Pros

• Receive up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, every account anniversary year.
• Earn an annual account anniversary point bonus equivalent to 10% of your total yearly expenditure.
• Redeem your points for 25% more value when purchasing travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (1.25 cents per point).
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfers with Chase airline and hotel partners
• 5X total points on travel purchases, when purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (points will not be earned on hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit)
• 3X points on eligible delivery service purchases, takeout and dining out
• 3X points on online grocery purchases (excludes Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 3X points on select streaming service purchases
• 2X points on eligible travel purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

Cons

• 5X points can only be earned on travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

If you’re a frequent guest on board American Airlines flights, the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^® could be of excellent value to you.

Its most outstanding benefit is that you’ll get a complimentary Admirals Club^® membership, worth up to $850.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also enjoy a host of other benefits when flying with American Airlines. For example, the first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation on domestic itineraries will fly for free. Likewise, you’ll enjoy priority check-in, screening and boarding, as well as 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases when you pay with your card.

The card is free of foreign transaction fees and also comes with a $100 statement credit toward fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.

If you are a frequent flyer with American Airlines, you’ll more than offset the annual fee of $595.

Pros

• Complimentary Admirals Club^® membership
• $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
• First checked bag flies free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation.
• Priority check-in, screening and boarding when flying with American Airlines
• 1X Loyalty Point per eligible AAdvantage^® mile earned from purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• 4X miles on American Airlines Purchases (after spending $150,000 within a calendar year, you’ll earn 5X miles thereafter)
• 10X miles on hotels booked through aa.com/hotels
• 10X miles on rental cars booked through aa.com/cars

Cons

• Perks and bonus spending categories are restricted to American Airlines-centered benefits.

Citi Premier® Card

For an annual fee of $95, the Citi Premier^® Card offers strong bonus spending category rates as well as zero foreign transaction fees.

This card earns 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to a range of airline and hotel partners, giving you flexibility when redeeming your points.

As a Premier Card holder, you’ll also enjoy an annual $100 discount off a hotel stay worth $500 or more when you book through thankyou.com (excluding taxes and fees).

Pros

• 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels
• 1X points on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• $100 off a hotel stay worth $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com, every calendar year

Cons

• Limited perks

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card offers frequent flyers with Delta excellent value for a reasonable annual fee of $150 after the first year (see rates and fees).

You’ll enjoy perks such as a” first checked bag flies free” policy.

This card earns 2X miles on a wide range of purchases, from direct purchases with Delta to U.S. takeout and delivery services, meaning you can earn points on everyday expenses.

It’s also free of foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international travel.

Pros

• 2X miles on direct purchases with Delta
• 2X miles on dining including restaurants, takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets
• 1X mile on all other purchases
• First checked bag flies free policy
• Save 15% on award travel bookings through delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
• Enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding on Delta flights.
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• As with all co-branded airline cards, your redemption options are restricted to the airline.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

If you’re a frequent guest at Hilton properties, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card will offer you a range of outstanding perks for an annual fee of $550.

Simply holding the card gives you Hilton Honors Diamond status. You’ll receive a $400 annual statement credit, issued in $200 semi-annual increments, for eligible purchases at Hilton resorts, as well as a $200 annual statement credit, issued in quarterly $50 increments, for qualifying airline charges made directly with the airline or through amextravel.com.

Additionally, you’ll receive an annual free night reward every year you hold the card. If you spend $30,000 within a calendar year, you’ll receive a second free night reward and you can receive a third free night after spending $60,000.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card has zero transaction fees and comes with a $189 statement credit for CLEAR^® Plus membership, making it ideal for travel.

Pros

• 14X points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via amextravel.com, as well as car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies
• 7X points at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases
• Receive complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status.
• Up to $400 annual statement credit, issued in $200 semi-annual increments, for eligible purchases at Hilton resorts
• Receive an annual free night reward (receive a second free night after spending $30,000 within a calendar year and a third free night after spending $60,000).
• $189 statement credit for CLEAR Plus membership
• Receive a $100 on-property credit for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, when you book a two-night stay.
• Up to $200 annual statement credit, issued in quarterly $50 increments, for qualifying airline charges made directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Points and perks categories are centered around Hilton.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The The Platinum Card® from American Express offers some of the most luxurious perks out of all the cards for international travel, making it one of the best credit cards for international travel.

The combined value of statement credits—from a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit to a CLEAR Plus application fee statement credit—is worth more than double the annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).

As a Platinum cardholder, you’ll enjoy access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, giving you access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. You’ll also receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status (enrollment required), as well as access to the Fine Hotels and Resort Collection for bookings made through American Express Travel.

There are zero foreign transaction fees, so this card will serve you well when you’re spending abroad.

Pros

• 5X points on eligible flights booked with American Express Travel or directly with the airline, on up to $500,000 in charges per calendar year
• 5X points on eligible prepaid hotel reservations when booked with American Express Travel
• Up to $200 hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (a minimum two-night stay is required) bookings through American Express Travel
• Up to $240 digital entertainment credit, issued in $20 monthly statement credits for eligible purchases on Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock and the New York Times (enrollment required)
• Up to $300 Equinox credit, given in the form of statement credits.
• Up to $189 per year in statement credits toward a CLEAR Plus membership
• Up to $200 airline incidental fee credits, given in the form of statement credits
• Up to $200 Uber Cash, issued in increments of $15 per month with a bonus $20 in December
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum card.
• Complimentary premium status for numerous car rental companies (enrollment required)
• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, with 1,400+ lounges across 140 countries (including Airspace Lounge, The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select)
• Access to the American Express International Airline Program
• Access to the Fine Hotels and Resort Collection for bookings made through American Express Travel
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status (enrollment required)
• No foreign transaction fees (See rates and fees)

Cons

• Bonus spending categories are limited to purchases with American Express Travel.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect Visa Signature^® Card offers a host of rewards and perks for an annual fee of just $95, which is waived in the first year of card membership.

As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy four complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select lounges per calendar year, as well as a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years.

You’ll also earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards center, 4X points on travel at gas stations and EV charging stations and 2X points at grocery stores, on grocery delivery and on dining and streaming services.

The U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect Visa Signature^® Card is free of foreign transaction fees, so you’ll be able to continue earning points abroad.

Pros

• 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the Altitude Rewards Center
• 4X points on travel at gas stations and EV charging stations
• 2X points at grocery stores, on grocery delivery and on dining and streaming services
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Four complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select lounges per calendar year
• $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years
• Special access to Visa Signature benefits
• $30 credit for purchases with Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and more
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Limited range of transfer partners

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude^® Reserve Visa Infinite^® Card touts some heavyweight travel benefits for an annual fee of $400.

You get eight complimentary annual visits to Priority Pass Select lounges, as well as a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit. You’ll also receive an annual $325 statement credit for eligible travel, dining, takeout and restaurant delivery purchases.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers access to the Visa Infinite^® Luxury Hotel Collection.

Pros

• 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center
• 3X points on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending on Apple Pay^®, Google Pay™ and Samsung Pay
• 1X points on all other eligible purchases
• Up to $325 in annual credits for eligible travel, dining, takeout and restaurant delivery purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, giving you eight free annual visits
• Access to the benefits of the Visa Infinite^® Luxury Hotel Collection
• $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every four years

Cons

• Bonus spending categories are limited.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

For a $0 annual fee card, the Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Card offers strong bonus spending category rates.

You’ll earn 3X points on travel, transit, restaurants, gas stations, popular streaming services and cell phone plans. This wide variety of triple-point bonus categories is rare for a $0 annual fee card, making it a valuable option for your wallet.

If that wasn’t good enough, it’s also free of foreign transaction fees, so you can continue to earn 3X points on purchases made abroad.

Pros

• 3X points on travel, transit, restaurants, gas stations, popular streaming services and cell phone plans
• 1X points on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Cell phone protection included
• Visa Signature benefits such as 24/7 concierge service and access to the Luxury Hotel Collection

Cons

• Limited range of transfer partners

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase offers frequent Hyatt guests a range of rewards and perks for only $95 per year.

You’ll earn 9X points on Hyatt hotel purchases, as well as 2X points on restaurants, local transit and commuting, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, and fitness club and gym memberships.

You’ll enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status, as well as receive a free night reward for any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt resort or hotel every account anniversary year. You can earn an extra free night when you charge $15,000 to your card within a calendar year.

This card charges no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for your next vacation abroad.

Pros

• 9X points on Hyatt hotel purchases
• 2X points at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, on local transit and commuting, and on fitness club and gym memberships
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Receive an annual free night reward at any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year. You can earn an additional free night after spending $15,000 on your card within a calendar year.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Receive five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year. Earn an additional two qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000 with your card.
• Receive complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status.

Cons

• Hyatt has fewer properties compared to other hotel chains such as Hilton.

How to Choose the Right Credit Card for International Travel

Choosing the best travel credit card begins with analyzing your spending habits and travel goals.

You want to select a card that will reward you the most for your current and future spending habits. For example, if grocery purchases make up a significant amount of your monthly expenditure, selecting a card with grocery purchases as a bonus category will give you the greatest return on your spending. This will make it easier to earn welcome bonuses, as well as easier to earn points on everyday spending, without feeling pressured to overspend.

Once you’ve identified a selection of cards that suit your spending habits, you’ll want to go for the one that best supports your travel goals. For example, if airport lounge access, rental car insurance or a TSA PreCheck statement credit are high priorities for you, go for the card that offers these travel-related perks. Likewise, if you travel frequently with a specific airline or are a regular guest at a particular hotel chain, opting for a co-branded airline or hotel card could be of great benefit to you.

On the flip side, if airport lounge access or rental car insurance are low priorities, don’t let yourself be led astray by such perks. You need to choose a card that best aligns with your travel goals. So if most of your travel goals revolve around domestic road trips, for example, go for a card that earns big on gas station purchases, such as the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card. It’s key to focus on cards that match your goals, as you’ll gain a much higher return value.

If you’ll be using your card when traveling internationally, you also need to ensure it’s free of foreign transaction fees. You can do this by checking your card user agreement. Foreign transaction fees should be avoided at all costs as they will negate the points earned on your spending abroad, defeating the purpose of using a travel rewards credit card for international travel.

You should also consider which countries you’re likely to travel to in the future as certain card issuers are more widely accepted abroad than others. For instance, Visa and Mastercard have higher international acceptance rates compared to American Express and Discover. Your best bet is to conduct some research on accepted payment methods in your next holiday destination.

Lastly, you need to consider annual fees. Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to avoid annual fees outright. Instead, calculate the monetary value of the perks and benefits of a card, as well as its bonus category rates, to see the degree to which you can offset the annual fee. Keep in mind that as long as you’re earning a greater return than you’re paying in annual fees, you’ll still benefit from holding the card.

Remember that the best credit card is not necessarily the one with the lowest annual fee, but rather the one that gives you the greatest return value.

Different Types of Travel Credit Cards

Let’s take a look at the different types of travel credit cards.

Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards are a type of co-branded card best suited to people who fly frequently with a specific airline. For example, the United^SM Explorer Card suits frequent flyers with United Airlines while the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card suits frequent flyers with Southwest Airlines.

These cards’ perks and bonus categories tend to be centered around the specific airline. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card offers Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights and you’ll earn 2X miles on direct purchases with Delta.

Generally, you can expect at least some of the following perks from an airline credit card:

• Priority boarding
• First checked bag flies free policy
• Companion fares
• In-flight discounts or statement credits
• Annual point boosts toward elite status

Miles earned on airline cards tend to be redeemable with the airline only, meaning you can’t transfer them to a wide range of partners. In some cases, you might be able to transfer them to certain hotel loyalty schemes, although often at a poor transfer ratio.

These cards are best suited to those who fly at least semi-frequently with a specific airline. The more you fly with the airline, the easier it will be to offset the annual fee of the card. That said, in some cases, a single perk of the card, such as a complimentary companion fare, could be valuable enough to offset the annual fee.

Hotel Credit Cards

Much like airline cards, hotel credit cards are a type of co-branded card designed to allow you to earn points with a specific hotel loyalty scheme.

Hotel cards offer hotel-related perks, from free night rewards to elite status, and they earn the most points on purchases with the specific hotel chain. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card earns 17X total points on purchases with Marriott and offers a free night reward every account anniversary year.

Like airline credit cards, you can usually redeem points only with the specific hotel chain, limiting your redemption flexibility.

General Travel Rewards Cards

General travel rewards credit cards earn you points you can redeem for a wide variety of purchases. You can redeem these points as cash back to offset the upfront cost of purchases, as points used to reduce the cost of travel purchases or they can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for discounted rates.

The advantage of general travel rewards cards is that you have maximum flexibility when it comes to point redemption, instead of being locked into one airline or hotel loyalty program.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and The Platinum Card^® from American Express are two examples of top-tier premium general travel rewards credit cards. For example, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and a range of bonus category spending categories.

Chase currently has 14 transfer partners, to which you can transfer Ultimate Rewards at a ratio of 1:1.

While general travel rewards cards can’t offer benefits such as priority boarding or free night rewards, they still come with some outstanding perks, such as airport lounge access, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement and annual statement credits toward travel and other purchase categories.

Pros and Cons of Using Travel Credit Cards

Deciding whether or not to break into the world of travel credit cards can be difficult. However, with the right strategy and responsible card usage, travel credit cards come with a lot of advantages.

One of the top advantages of a travel credit card is that it can help you avoid foreign transaction fees abroad. Instead of using a standard debit card for all purchases abroad, you can use a travel credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary fees.

In addition to avoiding foreign transaction fees, using a travel rewards credit card enables you to continue earning points and miles on purchases you make abroad.

This benefit depends on the specific bonus category spending rates of your card, but it could enable you to continue to rack up hundreds of miles and points while on vacation, offsetting the upfront cost of your spending. Instead of simply saying goodbye to your money, you can earn points on your spending abroad to offset the cost of your next travel adventure.

Another advantage of a travel rewards credit card is the welcome bonus. Generally speaking, the higher the annual fee a card charges, the greater the welcome bonus will be. If you can earn a card’s welcome bonus through organic spending, it can easily offset the travel cost of your next vacation. For example, the welcome bonus of the Chase Sapphire Reserve typically has a value of around $900 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Travel rewards credit cards often also come with a host of insurances and consumer protections. Auto rental damage collision waivers, trip delay/cancellation insurance, a 24/7 global hotline and extended warranty for purchases are some of the common insurances and consumer protections offered by travel rewards credit cards.

In some cases, these insurances might be sufficient for your upcoming trip, saving you from having to take out a separate insurance policy. In this way, a travel credit card can actually save you money.

Despite the clear advantages of using a travel rewards credit card for international travel, there are some factors and disadvantages to consider.

One of the main factors to consider when selecting a travel rewards credit card is its annual fee. While annual fees aren’t automatically a disadvantage, you need to consider if you can offset this extra cost through perks and rewards offered by the card. Likewise, if you’re outright against paying an annual fee regardless of the card’s return value, you’re going to struggle to find a card that’s heavy on perks, as these tend to come with annual fee-only cards.

A related factor to consider is how often you travel. Offsetting the annual fee in the first year tends to be straightforward, as many cards waive the annual fee in the first year. Similarly, earning the welcome bonus in the first year tends to offset the annual fee outright.

However, as you continue to hold the card in subsequent years, you’ll need to ensure you can continue to offset the card’s annual fee through perk usage and redeeming points for travel. If you’re an infrequent traveler or if you’ve selected a card that doesn’t match your spending habits, it’ll become much more difficult to continue offsetting the annual fee. If you are an infrequent traveler, a simple cashback rewards credit card or a $0 annual fee card may suit you better.

Lastly, an important factor to consider is the spending requirement for a card’s welcome bonus. Spending requirements can run high on premium travel rewards credit cards. If you can’t meet the required spending without overextending your budget, you’ll lose out on hundreds of dollars of value. If you overspend just to earn the welcome bonus, you’ll run into a host of other problems, including the inability to pay your balance off on time.

Therefore, selecting a card with a welcome bonus you can earn realistically is key.

How to Make the Most of Your International Travel Credit Card

Making the most of your international travel credit card begins with opening it at a time that coincides with periods of naturally high expenditure. Black Friday and the Christmas holiday shopping season are two great examples of periods of high spending.

By opening your card when you’re planning to spend a large amount of money, you make earning its welcome bonus—one of the most lucrative aspects of a travel rewards credit card—far easier.

After earning the card’s welcome bonus, you’ll want to keep your card at the front of your wallet, using it for everyday purchases, especially in its bonus categories. This will enable you to earn points for your next vacation more quickly.

Just be sure to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%. Your credit utilization ratio is simply a measure of how much of your total available credit you’re using. Keeping it below 30% protects your credit score, as going over 30% can be seen as a sign of financial distress by credit bureaus.

So while you should definitely use your card for the majority of your purchases, keep your credit utilization ratio in mind. This will protect your credit score in the long run, making it easier to get approved for premium cards with premium perks.

You should redeem your points and miles for travel-related purchases for the best value. You can do this either through your card issuer’s portal or by transferring points to transfer partners, such as hotels and airlines. You should also keep an eye out for limited-time offers from your card issuer, which you can utilize to double-dip on point-earning.

If you follow this strategy and ensure that you never carry too large a balance, you’ll be guaranteed success in the world of points and miles.

FAQs

Here are some common FAQs about the best cards for international travel:

Is Visa, Mastercard or Amex Better for International Travel?

Visa and Mastercard have the highest acceptance rates globally, so it’s a safer bet to use one of them over American Express. That being said, Amex is still accepted internationally in a wide range of places. You should find out which cards are and aren’t accepted in the countries you’re hoping to travel to before applying for a card designed specifically for international travel.

Is It Better to Use a Credit Card or Travel Money Card Overseas?

A travel money card allows you to load foreign currency onto a card at a fixed exchange rate before you go on vacation. It’s a separate account from your standard everyday bank accounts, which reduces risk if it’s lost or stolen.

However, with a credit card, you’ll have access to consumer and purchase protections, as well as a credit limit. You’ll also be able to continue earning points on your purchases while abroad. On top of that, you’ll have access to the current exchange rate at the time of purchase, which could be of benefit to you compared to having all your funds converted at once using a fixed exchange rate.

Which Credit Card Has the Lowest International Transaction Fee?

All the cards reviewed in this article are free of foreign transaction fees. There are also many other cards left out of this article that are free of foreign transaction fees. You should consult a card’s terms and conditions to find out what fees it charges.

What Exactly Are Foreign Transaction Fees, and How Can They Affect Me?

Foreign transaction fees are assessed by your card issuer each time a foreign (i.e. non-U.S.) bank processes your card. The typical foreign transaction fee is 3%. Card issuers can choose to absorb this fee or pass it on to you. This means that if your card passes foreign transaction fees on to you, you’ll incur an extra fee every time you use your card abroad or to fund a purchase on a non-US website.

So if you pay $100, that’ll cost you an extra $3 in foreign transaction fees. These fees can add up and cancel out the benefits of point-earning while abroad.

Should I Get a Credit Card for International Travel?

A travel rewards credit card is a great option for international travel. You can benefit from cardholder perks such as lounge access and travel insurance, while earning points on purchases made abroad. It also has more built-in consumer and purchase protections than a debit card.

Just be aware that if given the option to pay in your home currency or foreign currency when abroad, you should always pick your home currency to avoid paying hidden markup fees associated with dynamic currency conversion.

Likewise, you won’t want to use your credit card for ATM withdrawals, as it will count as a cash advance, costing you a significant amount in interest payments. For that, you’ll need a debit card.

Wrapping it Up: Making the World Your Oyster with the Right Travel Card

Overall, a travel credit card can be of massive value to the traveler.

If you select a card that suits your spending habits and travel goals, and you ensure to open it during a period of naturally high expenditure (and commit to never carrying a balance over 30%), you’ll be on your way to having your next vacation funded by points and miles.

However, if you’re an infrequent traveler, you may be better suited to a $0 annual fee card or a straightforward cashback rewards card.

Once you’ve selected the best international credit card for you, keep up with the latest posts from 10xTravel for insider tips on maximizing your credit card points and strategy.