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Traveling internationally can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but comes with its 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.
Top credit cards for international travel
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5XEarn 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®.
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 $199 CLEAR® Plus credit, an up to $200 airline incidental credit, $200 in Uber cash, an up to $200 hotel credit and much more. You’ll also get excellent travel protections that can help with issues you may encounter when you travel.
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.
While flights and prepaid hotel stays booked through American Express Travel® earn elevated points, all other purchases only earn 1X points.
Card Details
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
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®.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your 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.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world’s most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
8xEarn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠.
4xEarn 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct.
3xEarn 3x points on dining worldwide.
1xEarn 1x points on all other purchases.
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.
You’ll earn 8X points on all purchases booked through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, and 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct (after earning your $300 travel credit). Plus, earn 3X points on dining worldwide and 1X points on all other purchases. You can redeem your points in many ways, including through Chase Travel and transfers to travel partners.
Pros
You’ll get some of the best travel coverage available just by 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 only a slight step up from the Sapphire Preferred, which has a significantly lower annual fee.
Chase doesn’t have as many international transfer partners as American Express.
Card Details
Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
Earn 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
$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 Pass™ 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 $250 annually
5xEarn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3xEarn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2xEarn 2x on all other travel purchases.
1xEarn 1x on all other purchases.
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 statement credit and have access to the same set of transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Pros
You’ll get similar value to that of the Sapphire Reserve for a much lower annual fee.
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.
Card Details
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 Travel℠, 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 Travel℠
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.
10 Miles10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 Miles5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
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 $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit.
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.
Card Details
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 locations and 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®
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Reward Details
3XEarn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
1.5XEarn 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.
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
You’ll get a competitive intro APR on purchases and qualifying 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.
Card Details
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.
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.
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
If you have fair credit and want a card with no annual fee, the Capital One Platinum is a good choice as a travel card, especially since it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). After receiving the card, be sure touse it responsibly, keep your credit utilization ratio below 30 percent and pay your monthly bill early or on time, since all these steps play an important role in raising — or lowering — your credit score.
Based on cardholder reviews, you could have a chance of approval with only fair credit, or a FICO score as low as 580.
There’s an automatic account review after six months to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit, which could keep your credit utilization ratio low.
There’s no annual fee to offset each year.
Cons
The card isn’t part of a rewards program, meaning even cards with a low rewards rate can be more valuable in your wallet.
It has no intro APR offers that could temporarily save on its high interest rate, a feature typical for no-annual-fee credit cards.
The perks don’t benefit you outside of credit building and card monitoring.
Card Details
No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee – and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
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.
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 one 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 what 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 1-3 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. Some travel cards that come with higher annual fees offer airport lounge access. These lounges can significantly improve your flight experience, especially if you loathe waiting at a crowded airport gate or have a long layover. The extra space, seating options, free food and drinks and access to in-person help in case of flight issues, can help offset the card’s costs.
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 — including trip interruption/cancelation, trip delay reimbursement, delayed/lost luggage, car rental insurance, emergency transportation and evacuation and roadside assistance — 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.
Frequent travelers have choices when it comes to credit cards. Some may prefer a travel rewards card, while others who are loyal to one carrier may prefer to have an airline credit card. Like travel cards, there are pros and cons to airline cards.
With an airline credit card, you can earn miles at a higher rate per dollar spent when you pay for flights, luggage fees and inflight charges, including food, beverages and WiFi with the card. Other perks include a free checked bag, priority access to airport security checkpoint and priority boarding. Some cards also offer perks like free companion tickets and lounge access. You can earn elite status on a carrier, and the miles earned on airline credit cards can be used to book flights and on upgrades.
If your airline belongs to one of the three global airline alliances — Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance — you can use the miles you earn to fly on member carriers. For example, United Airlines, my back-up carrier, is part of the Star Alliance. I’ve used my miles to book flights on member carriers, including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Swiss.
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, along with 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Put spending alerts on your smartphone and check your card statement to catch trouble before it happens. But if your card is lost, stolen or hacked by scammers, lock the compromised account and call your card issuer immediately. Quickly file a complaint with econsumer.gov, an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), in which more than 65 countries, including the U.S., participate. Your information will be automatically sent to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and entered into a consumer complaint database.
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.
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. While I carry an American Express card when I travel, I also bring a Visa card, which came in handy during a trip to Morocco, where most vendors didn’t accept my Amex card.
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