Best credit cards for international travel

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Traveling internationally can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but comes with a fair share of challenges. One of the best ways to prepare for international travel is to have a credit card specifically designed for it. Not only do these cards offer rewards and perks, but they can also provide security and convenience while abroad. Here are some of the top cards that can enhance your international travel experience.

Comparing the best credit cards for international travel

The top travel cards offer rewards on travel purchases, few fees and travel protections that can cover you for various issues. If you’re planning an international trip, here are some of the best cards to consider.

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Top credit cards for international travel

Best for luxury benefits

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5

4.8

• Bankrate’s view

  The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with the broadest airport lounge access and luxury benefits available. Although the annual fee is high, the many travel perks and benefits can easily offset it. Benefits include a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, up to a $189 CLEAR® Plus credit, a $200 airline incidental credit, $200 in Uber cash, a $200 hotel credit and much more. You’ll also get excellent travel protections which can help with issues you may encounter when you travel.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • This card offers extensive travel benefits, including elite status with multiple hotel and car rental programs.
  • The laundry list of credits can far exceed the annual fee.

  

  Cons

  • The annual fee is among the highest on any card.
  • Some of the credits may be difficult to use, which can reduce the card’s value.

Best for travel protections

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5

• Bankrate’s view

  Although it has a high annual fee, The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with some of the best travel protections and benefits available, including airport lounge access, primary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay coverage, and more.

  When booking through Chase Travel, you’ll also earn 10X points on hotel stays and car rentals and 5X on flights, as well as 3X points on general travel and restaurant purchases. You can redeem your points in many ways, including through Chase Travel and transfers to travel partners. And points are worth 50 percent more when you redeem them on travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards with this card.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You’ll get some of the best travel coverage available just for paying for a portion of your trip with the card.
  • The annual travel credit covers a broad definition of travel categories.

  

  Cons

  • The welcome offer is identical to the Sapphire Preferred, which has a much lower annual fee.
  • Chase doesn’t have as many international transfer partners as American Express.

Best for flexible rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5

4.8

• Bankrate’s view

  The Chase Sapphire Preferred is better suited for more casual travelers than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, offering solid benefits and protections that don’t match its premium counterpart, particularly with a lack of airport lounge access.

  However, the Sapphire Preferred offers plenty of similar value, including a 25 percent rewards boost when you redeem points through the Chase Travel Portal. You’ll also receive an annual anniversary points bonus and $50 hotel credit and have access to the same set of transfer partners as the Sapphire Reserve.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You’ll get the same initial value as the more expensive Sapphire Reserve with an identical welcome bonus.
  • Ultimate Rewards points can be combined with other Ultimate Reward-earning cards to boost the value of your points earned across all cards.

  

  Cons

  • The card lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access.
  • The coverage levels of the travel protections don’t match the Sapphire Reserve.

Best for flat-rate travel rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5

• Bankrate’s view

  The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a lot to love if you want a travel card that earns flat rewards on purchases. When booking through Capital One Travel, you’ll earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights, and an excellent flat rate of 2X miles on all other purchases.

  The Venture X also offers strong benefits like no foreign transaction fees, airport lounge access, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, and travel accident insurance.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • The high annual fee is one of the easiest to offset among travel cards, even if you only travel occasionally.
  • The rewards-earning structure is simple and makes the card a solid choice for any purchase.

  

  Cons

  • Capital One’s transfer partners aren’t as extensive as other issuers.
  • The travel protections aren’t as robust as other cards.

Best for no annual fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

• Bankrate’s view

  If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, but still want solid travel value, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards could be a good fit. This card has no foreign transaction fees and earns 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center purchases and 1.5X points on all other purchases.

  If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25 percent to 75 percent more rewards based on your status level, which can greatly increase the value of the card. Platinum Honors status could bump earnings on this card to a whopping 2.625 percent on every purchase, which is difficult to beat.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You’ll get a competitive intro APR on purchases and balance transfers that could help finance your travel expenses.
  • Redeeming rewards is simple, without the need for transfer partners or figuring out point values.

  

  Cons

  • Redemption options are limited to statement credits on dining and travel purchases.
  • There are no additional travel benefits or protections.

How to choose the best credit cards for international travel

There are many options available when choosing a card for international travel. Consider these tips to help you choose the best card for your needs.

• Earn the rewards you’ll use the most. Choose a travel credit card that offers valuable rewards, but more importantly, rewards you’ll actually use. If you can’t decide which type of travel rewards you want, consider flexible rewards credit cards that give you multiple redemption options like transferring to travel partners, earning statement credits, using rewards for gift cards and more.
• Make sure your card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. One of the most important card features you want for traveling internationally is no foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you’ll pay an extra 3 percent on average for each purchase abroad. These fees add up quickly and can erase the value of any rewards earned.
• Look for airport lounge access. Airport lounge access can significantly improve your flight experience, especially if you loathe waiting at a crowded airport gate or have a long layover. These cards typically charge higher fees, but the extra space and free food and drinks you’ll receive can help offset those costs.
• Consider cards that offer credits for expedited security screening. Many cards offer a statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. These programs let you skip domestic airport security and passport control lines when returning from international travel, which can easily save you significant wait time.
• Have some level of travel protection. Credit cards can help protect your trip and recoup expenses when you need to make travel adjustments. Pay attention to the travel protections offered, when they take effect and what you’ll potentially get reimbursed for. These benefits can give you much-needed peace of mind during stressful travel scenarios.
• Make sure your card rewards international purchases. Not all issuers reward international purchases in the same way as domestic purchases. While you’ll earn the base rate on international purchases, you may not always get the same bonus multiplier. For example, American Express often specifies bonus categories as earning only with U.S. purchases, meaning a purchase abroad in that same category would not earn the bonus rate. You’ll also find that merchant category codes abroad don’t always match up to their U.S. counterparts. For example, a restaurant may code as general merchandise, meaning you wouldn’t earn a restaurant category bonus.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need to notify my credit card issuer about international travel?

  While not mandatory, it’s highly recommended that you inform your credit card issuer of international travel to avoid having your transactions flagged as suspicious. Many issuers have advanced fraud detection systems and may not need a travel alert, but it’s best to confirm with your company. Alerts can typically be set online, via a mobile app, or by calling customer service.

• Which transfer partners are most valuable for international travel?

  Valuable transfer partners among the various flexible points programs include ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca Lifemiles. ANA offers excellent value, especially for business class travel to Europe, while Aeroplan allows for stopover bookings at a low point cost. Avianca’s Lifemiles are good for booking mixed-cabin and saver-level awards without extra fees. British Airways Avios are also valuable for short-haul trips and can be used with Aer Lingus, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways, whereas Air France-KLM Flying Blue provides options across the SkyTeam network.

• Which payment networks work best for international travel?

  Visa and Mastercard are generally the best payment networks for international travel due to their widespread acceptance and the availability of cards with no foreign transaction fees. Carrying one of these cards can help you save on costs and ensure you can make purchases abroad.

What’s next?

Check out the resources below to find a card that matches your travel needs and to help budget for your next trip.

The bottom line

Choosing a card that offers benefits specifically for international travel, such as no foreign transaction fees and travel protections, will help keep your trip more convenient and affordable. But it’s crucial to thoroughly research and understand the benefits and fees associated with a card before signing up, as well as having a good handle on your travel needs and expectations. With the right credit card, you can enjoy a worry-free and rewarding trip overseas.