Last Updated on July 30, 2024 by Elizabeth
If you’re traveling outside the country, you’ve likely plunked down a significant sum on flights, hotels and other travel expenses. Don’t make a rookie mistake and bring the wrong credit card.
Use a bum credit card on an overseas trip, and your next bank statement can deliver a major sticker shock. Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, which adds up to 5% on every purchase you make abroad. That really adds up over the course of a week in Paris or Australia.
Here are five credit cards that let you avoid foreign transaction fees:
5 Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees
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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
This card will not zonk you with foreign transaction fees. With its relatively affordable $95 annual fee, this is a great starter card for travelers on so many levels. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. That adds up to $750 that is redeemable towards car rentals, airfare, hotels, cruises, or more. Additionally, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card members also get two times the points on travel costs and dining—even internationally. Besides what you save on not paying foreign transaction fees, travel rewards stack up fairly quickly with this card.
Renting a car? Among many outstanding perks, this card provides primary collision (CDW) insurance. Most credit cards offer secondary coverage. That means it kicks in only after your personal auto insurance coverage has been depleted.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
This Amex card is a fantastic card for people who hate fees. There is no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. This card has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. There are a ton of ways to earn cash back while you’re on the go.
You’ll earn 3x points on dining out, ordering in, gas purchases, ride sharing, transit services, flights, hotels, vacation rentals and more. Other benefits include 24-hour emergency travel assistance, roadside assistance and emergency towing. If you’re flying, there’s also insurance for lost and damaged baggage. Cardholders also get Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance coverage up to $150,000.
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Renting a car? Like other AmEx cards, the Wells Fargo Propel card offers secondary car rental insurance for North American rentals and primary coverage for international rentals. Secondary car rental insurance kicks in only after your personal auto insurance coverage has been depleted. Don’t want your auto insurance company getting involved? Consider buying over-the-counter insurance at the car rental agency.
Capital One Venture X Card
This premium card is great for international travel, as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. It has a fairly steep $395 annual fee, but there are lots of ways to earn that back and then some. Cardholders can earn up to a $300 credit annually for bookings made on Capital One Travel. You get 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (equal to $100 towards travel). This card also pushes travel rewards by offering 10x the points earned when you use it to book hotel rooms. There are countless ways to redeem your points, from rental cars to airlines, hotels and more. Travelers get up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, as well as unlimited access to Capital One airport lounges and also to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges internationally, plus two guest passes. It all adds up.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
This upgrade from its sister Preferred card is arguably the most coveted credit card for travelers. And, no surprise, it does not charge foreign transaction fees. You’ll score 3x the points for travel and dining expenses. You’ll receive up to $300 in statement credits each year as a reimbursement for travel purchases. And you’ll get 50 percent more value when redeeming points for car rentals, airfare, hotels, cruises, and other travel expenses. Compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, this card has a much heftier annual fee.
Renting a car? Like its sister Preferred card, the Reserve card offers primary car rental insurance in the U.S. and secondary everywhere else.
Capital One Venture Card
This is another terrific card for international travel, as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. Cardholders earn 2x the miles per dollar on every purchase for an unlimited number of miles. This card also pushes travel rewards by offering 10x the points earned when you use it to book hotel rooms. There are countless ways to redeem your points, from rental cars to airlines, hotels and more. Lastly, international travelers can receive up to a $100 credit for certain expedited security screening programs at airports.
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Renting a car? This card includes secondary Visa Signature collision and damage insurance.
Costco Anywhere Card by Citi
This co-branded card offers a nice array of all-around perks for Costco members. This card has no annual fee for Costco members and no foreign transaction fees. Perhaps the best reason to get the Costco Anywhere Card is that it earns cash back with every purchase. You’ll earn 4% cash back on the first $7,000 you spend each year on gas (then 1%), 3% cash back on dining and eligible travel, 2% cash back on Costco purchases and 1 percent cash back on everything else. Other benefits offered by the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi include trip cancellation and interruption protection. Whether you’ve experienced health or personal issues, or your travel is interrupted by severe weather or another emergency, you’re eligible for up to $3,000 of compensation. Furthermore, this card offers other benefits, like 24/7 roadside assistance anywhere in the U.S., including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Renting a car? The Costco Anywhere Card is one of few Citi cards to still offer car rental insurance and other travel benefits. This card offers secondary rental car insurance for domestic rentals and primary coverage for international rentals, covering damages or vehicle replacement up to $50,000.
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