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Traveling around the world with credit cards can make a lot of sense. They're more secure than debit cards and often more convenient than cash. But using your credit card abroad can come with an extra cost if your card charges foreign transaction fees. You can often get around this drawback by using one of our best no foreign transaction fee credit cards. Read our full guide to learn more.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Travel points transfers
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth up to $750), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s the only low annual fee card we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
Great for: Welcome bonus
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels, 1x points on other purchases
1x - 3x points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 ThankYou® Points
Citi Premier offers 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels – a unique combination of bonus categories for a low annual fee card. It comes with a welcome bonus that's redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards, no foreign transaction fee, and access to Citi's ThankYou® Rewards program, a standout in the industry. Read Full Review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Premium travel rewards
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Airport lounge access
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Great for: Dining
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$250
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000
This card offers considerable value, as it earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and 4X points at restaurants. Plus, earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel. Meanwhile, $120 in annual dining credits and $120 in Uber cash can offset almost the entire $250 annual fee. (Terms apply.) Overall, it’s an incredibly lucrative card for those who spend a lot in those categories. Read Full Review
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Great for: No annual fee travel card
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
25,000 points
This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases offer might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier). Read Full Review
Great for: Unlimited travel points
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top. Read Full Review
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Unlimited rewards
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
This is one of our top travel credit cards overall, because of its highly lucrative, yet dead simple rewards program. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and use them to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or to book a trip through Capital One Travel. TSA Pre✓® credit and the opportunity to earn a massive 75,000 Miles sign-up bonus (worth $750 in travel) make this credit card one of the best travel companions. Read Full Review
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students
Great for: Students
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
25,000 points
With a generous sign-up bonus and a rewards program, it'll be harder to find a better card for students. Read Full Review
A foreign transaction fee -- sometimes called an FX fee -- is a fee charged by your credit card issuer when you make a foreign purchase. Most often, this means purchases made in a foreign currency, which is anything other than U.S. dollars (USD). However, it can also occur with transactions that route through foreign banks, regardless of the currency used.
Foreign transaction fees are charged as a percentage of the transaction and are usually between 1% and 3% of the total transaction amount.
For example, say your card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. If you make a purchase worth $100 while in another country, you could be charged a $3 fee.
Foreign transaction fees are typically charged after the purchase is converted to U.S. currency. You may get a receipt from dinner that says 91 euros, but see a $103 charge on your card. This is from the initial purchase -- 91 euros is approximately $100 at current conversion rates -- plus the 3% foreign transaction fee.
You can find your card's foreign transaction fee listed in the Schumer box along with your other rates and fees in the terms and conditions. If there is no line for the foreign transaction fee, this typically means the card has a 0% fee.
In general, card issuers charge foreign transaction fees because of the extra processing required for purchases made in other countries or dealing with foreign banks. Another reason some banks charge FX fees is to cover the additional risk of moving money from country to country.
One common misconception is that the foreign transaction fee is the same as the currency conversion fee. This isn't -- entirely -- the case. The foreign transaction fee charged by your issuer may include the currency conversion fee, but the issuer can also add on its own fee.
The credit card network, not the card issuer, is typically responsible for converting your purchase. Networks usually charge a 1% fee for this. Cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees often absorb that fee as a feature of the card.
Some merchants may offer to convert the transaction for you using Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). However, the DCC rate is often much higher than the typical market rate. You're almost always better off letting your card network handle the conversion for you. This is especially true when using a travel card that doesn't charge an FX fee.
The best way to avoid paying foreign transaction fees is to choose a credit card that doesn't charge them in the first place. Whether your credit card charges them can vary by issuer and by card.
Capital One, for instance, does not have any cards with FX fees. Neither does Discover. Other issuers may charge foreign transaction fees for some cards, but not others.
In most cases, travel rewards credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees. Even travel rewards cards with no annual fee will often forgo FX fees. Therefore, the best credit cards for international travel will often be cards specifically marketed as travel cards or travel rewards cards.
You may think you can avoid foreign transaction fees by using cash. Well, you're half right. You won't be charged an FX fee when using the local currency abroad -- but you'll need to make cash withdrawals at some point.
It's more than likely your ATM or debit card will charge a foreign transaction fee when you make an ATM withdrawal in another country. Your debit card will also likely charge you a foreign transaction fee for any purchases you make with a merchant while traveling internationally.
Although foreign transaction fees are most commonly charged while traveling abroad, you may also run afoul of them when online shopping. That's because you can be charged a foreign transaction fee any time you make a purchase in a currency other than U.S. dollars. Foreign transactions fees can also be charged any time a transaction routes through a foreign bank.
So, if you shop online with a business in another country, you could wind up being charged a foreign transaction fee. This can occur even if the website charges you in U.S. dollars, as the purchase may still route through a foreign bank.
Another common example is when contributing to crowdfunding campaigns operated by a foreign person or company. For example, if you pledge a Kickstarter campaign launched by a user in Europe, you will typically be charged in euros. This could lead to a foreign transaction fee.
The simplest way to choose the best credit card with no foreign transaction fees is to go with a travel rewards card. Most, if not all, cards advertised for travel will skip the FX fees. But with so many travel cards out there, you may need more specific criteria to narrow down the best card for you. As you're shopping around, here are some things to look for.
Many travel cards earn points or miles on everyday purchases, such as dining out, groceries, gas, and travel purchases. The trick is to find a travel card whose rewards program will give you maximum points for your spending. For instance, if a large portion of your monthly spending goes toward groceries and dining out, you might benefit from a card that gives you bonus points for those purchases, like the American Express® Gold Card.
Don't forget to scope out the welcome bonus. A great welcome bonus can be worth thousands of dollars, so definitely do some comparison shopping before you make a final decision.
Many cards have extra benefits beyond bonus points and rewards programs. Some of the best travel rewards credit cards will come with perks like airport lounge access or an annual travel credit. If you travel regularly, these extra perks can be well worth any annual fees. Some common travel perks to look for include:
Another thing to consider when comparing credit cards for traveling abroad is the network. Visa and Mastercard are generally more widely accepted. Amex and Discover both have large footprints, but they may not be as universally accepted as their competition.
And on the topic of ease of use, many other countries, particularly in Europe, utilize a chip-and-PIN verification system. In contrast, most U.S. credit cards operate with chip-and-signature verification. While you can still use your chip-and-signature card to make purchases at most places abroad, you may have issues at some automatic terminals.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel points transfers |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Welcome bonus |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Premium travel rewards |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Airport lounge access |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Dining |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: No annual fee travel card |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited travel points |
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited rewards |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Students |
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate travel credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes rewards systems and bonus categories, rewards redemption flexibility, and sign-up bonuses.
Our highest-rated travel credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Yes, you can usually get foreign transaction fees refunded if you return an item you purchased while abroad or otherwise get a refund on a transaction made in a foreign currency. However, you may need to call your credit card issuer to get the fees refunded. That's because it's the issuer, not the merchant, who charges the foreign transaction fee in the first place.
Keep in mind that getting a refund for a purchase in a foreign currency is subject to the current exchange rate. So, if the exchange rate has changed between the time of purchase and the time of refund, the refunded amount may be different than the initial purchase amount.
A simple way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to choose a credit card that doesn't charge them. Most travel rewards cards have 0% foreign transaction fees. You can also find a number of non-travel cards without foreign transaction fees if you're willing to do a little research.
Foreign transaction fees are only tax deductible if the purchase itself is deductible. For example, if you incur a foreign transaction fee on a deductible business expense, then typically the fees are also deductible.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.