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When it comes to traveling abroad, most people put a great deal of thought into the clothes and accessories they're packing. While that's certainly important, it's also worth considering which types of credit cards you should be bringing along with you.
Credit cards aren't just a safe and convenient payment option — many of them also come with valuable benefits that can improve your travel experience and come to your aid in case of an emergency. With the right credit cards, you can skip buying travel insurance and still have peace of mind in knowing you'll be protected if your travels are ever interrupted or canceled.
Of course, there are other things to look for when it's time to pack your wallet for an international trip. You'll want to bring multiple cards that are widely accepted, especially those that waive foreign transaction fees and offer generous travel rewards. And while you may be able to accomplish this by bringing a single credit card, it's always best to have a backup or two, just in case. Here are five types of credit cards to take with you on your next trip overseas.
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No foreign transaction fees
Traveling abroad is costly enough when you tally up your hotel bill, ground transportation, dining and the occasional shopping expedition. Imagine having to pay 3% on top of those expenses just for using your credit card.
Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees for purchases originating outside the U.S. Fortunately, these fees can be easily avoided when you use the right kind of credit card. Plenty of travel rewards credit cards — including the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and the ultra-premium American Express Platinum Card® (see rates and fees) — don't charge foreign transaction fees as part of their standard cardholder benefits.
Several no-annual-fee credit cards — such as the Discover it® Miles and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card— waive foreign transaction fees as well, so there really shouldn't be a reason to have to pay them.
By packing one of these cards for your trip abroad, you'll be able to save on pesky fees while potentially earning even more travel rewards for all your overseas purchases.
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is a stand-out benefit for a no-annual-fee card.
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No annual fee
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
- No travel credits and limited travel protections
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X 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
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Foreign transaction fee
None
Earns bonus points on travel
When you're planning a trip abroad, bringing along a travel rewards credit card is a must. Travel spending is one of the most lucrative bonus categories out there, so you'll want to take advantage of the opportunity to maximize it.
While plenty of travel rewards credit cards offer bonus points for flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel expenses, the following four cards can provide especially lucrative points-earning opportunities.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a very generous 10X miles per dollar spent when you book your hotel and rental car via the Capital One Travel portal, plus 5X miles per dollar on flights booked directly through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 2X miles per dollar, making this a valuable card to take with you on a trip abroad — plus, you won't have to worry about paying any foreign transaction fees. Although the card comes with a $395 annual fee, it can be offset by taking advantage of perks like the up to $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 toward travel).
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an excellent choice if you're planning to travel abroad, as it offers 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
The card, which has a hefty annual fee of $795, also waives foreign transaction fees and offers an up to $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year, which is an excellent way to save on your travels.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® (see rates and fees) is a budget-friendly alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, offering a modest $95 annual fee and generous rewards on travel spending.
Cardholders earn 5X points per dollar spent on Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the annual hotel credit); 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery shopping (except Target, Walmart, and other wholesale clubs); 3X points per dollar on dining, including takeout and delivery; 3X points per dollar on certain streaming services; 2X points per dollar on all other travel-related spending; and 1X points per dollar for all other purchases.
The card also comes with an annual $50 credit that's valid on hotels booked through Chase Travel℠, and offers a 10% points boost on your anniversary.
Overall, it's a solid option if you're looking for a rewarding card that waives foreign transaction fees and has a reasonable annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
American Express Platinum Card®
American Express Platinum Card® is on the pricier end with a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), but lets you earn 5X points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or via the Amex Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel® including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings, and 1X points on all other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
While the points-earning category bonuses are more limited than those offered by other travel rewards credit cards, the Amex Platinum does come with a full suite of valuable travel protections to help make up for the lack of rewards, which brings us to the next point.
Offers travel protections
Earning points on purchases and saving money on foreign transaction fees is great, but one of the most important benefits you can have when you're traveling abroad is travel protection. A lot can go wrong when you're out of the country and travel insurance can help you recover nonrefundable travel expenses and get help during an emergency. You'll want to bring a credit card that comes with trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage, and baggage insurance.
For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers one of the most comprehensive collections of travel protections, including up to $10,000 per person in trip cancellation and interruption coverage. Cardholders also receive primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 in the U.S. as well as abroad. Lost luggage reimbursement covers up to $3,000 per passenger for lost or damaged luggage, while the included trip delay coverage gets you reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for meals and lodging if your flight is delayed by six hours or longer.
There are plenty of credit cards out there that offer this type of travel insurance, so be sure to familiarize yourself with your preferred card's benefits and pack one that will have you covered if things don't go quite as planned.
Learn more: How does credit card travel insurance work?
Grants airport lounge access
Traveling abroad can be exhilarating, rewarding, and life-changing, but navigating unfamiliar airports can sometimes be stressful. If you're traveling during high season, you might encounter crowded gates with nowhere to sit, let alone enjoy an overpriced coffee.
That's where airport lounges come in. Typically reserved for business-class and first-class passengers, they offer a relaxing reprieve from the chaos of busy terminals.
While you can pay around $50 per person for a day pass, the right credit card can provide you with lounge access free of charge. Better yet, you can often bring a friend or two in with you. The American Express Platinum Card®, for example, offers the most comprehensive lounge perks, including access to its Amex Centurion Lounges, the Priority Pass network (Requires enrollment for Priority Pass™ Select), Escape lounges, and *Delta Sky Club lounges, among others.
*With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year.
If you don't want to shell out $895 for the Amex Platinum's annual fee (see rates and fees), the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card's $395 annual fee is more palatable and provides access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges as well as those in the growing network of Capital One Lounge and Landing locations — plus, you can bring up to two guests in with you free of charge.
Visa or Mastercard backing
When traveling abroad, it's important to carry a reliable form of payment, and credit cards backed by Visa and Mastercard are among the most widely accepted forms of payment worldwide. Taking a Visa or Mastercard with you can provide peace of mind with the knowledge that you can easily access your funds and make purchases without worrying about currency exchange rates or other fee-related issues.
These types of credit cards also offer included benefits such as travel insurance, fraud protection, and purchase protection, which can come in handy if your trip is interrupted or canceled for covered reasons.
If your card happens to be a Visa Signature or Mastercard World Elite credit card, you can even access premium travel perks and discounts. For example, both Visa Signature and World Elite Mastercard cards provide access to exclusive rental car perks, fine dining experiences, and discounts at participating hotels. These benefits can vastly improve your travel experience and help save you money as you go.
If you're going to be traveling with a Mastercard, bring a Visa credit card as backup, and vice-versa. You never know when you might need one or the other, and aside from ensuring your credit card will be accepted, bringing a backup along will come in handy should you lose your primary credit card.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Bottom line
Traveling internationally can be an exciting adventure, but there's always a chance you could encounter some challenges along the way. By having the right credit card line-up, you can help to mitigate some of the difficulties you may face, all while saving money, earning travel rewards, and enjoying peace of mind.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
