The Best Credit Cards for International Travel

Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain. This page may include information about American Express products currently unavailable on Slickdeals. American Express is not a partner of Slickdeals.

Traveling internationally can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but traveling with the wrong credit card can be costly in more ways than one. The right international credit card should offer a range of features and benefits that make it easier and more affordable to use your card while abroad. Some cards not only help you earn rewards and save money overall, but can also enhance your experience abroad through access to unique travel perks. From cards with travel insurance to free lounge access, we've compiled some of the best credit cards to consider if you're preparing and planning for a trip overseas.

Recommended Travel Credit Cards

Credit Card	Intro Bonus	Annual Fee	Rewards Rate	Learn More
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Apply Now	60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)	$95	1x- 5xPoints More Info 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.	Apply Now
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Apply Now	$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent:	$69	1x - 2xPoints More Info Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.	Apply Now
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	60,000 More Info Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.	$95	1x - 5xPoints More Info Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	75,000Citi ThankYou® Points More Info Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base)	$95	1X-10XPoints More Info 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations 1x -- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases	Apply Now Rates & Fees

Best for Overall Travel Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is best for travelers seeking a card that checks all the boxes (generous rewards, travel protections, perks) at a reasonable annual fee.

International Travel Benefits

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip)
Auto rental collision damage waiver (up to the cash value of the car)
Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 for five days)
Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket)
$50 annual statement credit towards hotels booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
No foreign transaction fees

Why We Like It

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the best overall card for international travel, thanks to numerous factors. The card earns generous rewards on travel and dining purchases — two major spending categories for international travel. It also includes a generous suite of travel protections, providing peace of mind when visiting abroad. The card's $95 annual fee is partially offset by an annual $50 hotel credit through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. All in all, it provides the most value for jetsetters who want to level up their rewards potential.

Best for Travel Protections

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is perfect for those seeking a premium travel credit card with best-in-class travel insurance and ongoing card benefits that largely offset the $550 annual fee.

International Travel Benefits

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip)
Travel accident insurance (up to $1 million)
Trip delay reimbursement ($500 per ticket)
Travel and emergency assistance services
Auto rental collision damage waiver (up to $75,000 in coverage)
Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for five days)
Emergency evacuation and transportation services (up to $100,000)
Emergency medical and dental benefits (up to $2,500)
$300 annual travel credit
Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership includes access to participating airport lounges, restaurants, cafes and markets
Exclusive perks and discounts at hotels booked through the Luxury Hotels & Resorts Collection
Up to $100 TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee credit every four years
No foreign transaction fees

Why We Like It

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers top-of-the-line travel protections and luxury perks, making it ideal for international travel. Cardholders get a comprehensive suite of protections, including emergency medical and dental coverage — a rarity among credit cards. Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership will make traveling abroad more comfortable too, as you'll get access to over 1,300 VIP lounges worldwide.

The Sapphire Reserve also earns 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, 10x on Chase Dining, 5x on air travel booked through Chase Travel and 3x points on travel and dining purchases worldwide. These elevated reward rates make the card an exceptional choice for those who want to earn more points for international travel and protect their travel bookings.

Best for Global Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express is best for international travelers who want a high-end travel credit card with exceptional lounge benefits and travel protections.

International Travel Benefits

Complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the most comprehensive airline lounge network
Access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline for timely coordination and assistance services
Elite-type benefits at over 1,500 hotels worldwide through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program and The Hotel Collection. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay
Global Dining Access by Resy
Discounted premium airfare through the International Airline Program
Up to $200 hotel credit through Amex Travel
Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash (can only be used in U.S.)
Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits (with a pre-selected airline)
Annual $189 CLEAR Plus credit
Up to $100 TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee credit every four years
Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
No foreign transaction fees
Enrollment is required for select benefits and terms apply

Why We Like It

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a great choice for luxurious international travel, providing elevated rewards on travel spending, a wide variety of travel insurance and enticing perks like access to exclusive restaurants when booked through Resy. Plus, the card's lounge benefit allows you to visit over 1,400 lounges worldwide. They include Amex's exclusive Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Lufthansa lounges, Escape, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges.

Cardholders can save on premium economy, business and first-class travel through the International Airline Program. The $695 annual fee (see rates and fees) is quite steep but can be worth it once you add up your potential to save on nearly every type of travel expense. Even the statement credits alone offered by the card will more than make up for that high annual fee.

Best for Dining Abroad

The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent choice for travelers who spend significantly on dining abroad and want to enjoy useful credits and perks.

International Travel Benefits

$100 experience credit and other perks through The Hotel Collection for stays of 2+ nights.
Up to $120 annual Uber Cash (U.S. Uber Eats and rides only), issued in $10 monthly credits; Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit
$120 annual dining credit with select merchants
Baggage insurance plan (up to $500 for checked bags and $1,250 for carry-on)
No foreign transaction fees

Why We Like It

The American Express® Gold Card is a great choice for international travel, thanks to its practical perks, recurring statement credits and generous rewards on dining and travel. Cardholders earn 4x Membership Rewards points on dining purchases worldwide and 3x Membership Rewards on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel. You can even save for your next international trip faster with 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year).

Best for Cash Back Equivalent Rewards

Travelers who want a cash-back-equivalent credit card with basic travel protections and elevated rewards on common everyday categories will benefit from the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card.

International Travel Benefits

Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary coverage)
Travel and emergency services assistance
Premium benefits on Visa Signature Hotel stays
No foreign transaction fees

Why We Like It

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is one of the most underrated travel rewards credit cards for international travel. Earning rewards at home and abroad is effortless with the card's unlimited 3x points on popular spending categories like restaurants, travel, transit, streaming services, gas and phone plans. The card also has no foreign transaction fees and provides useful protections when traveling internationally. Points are redeemable for travel purchases at a flat one cent each, making this akin to a cash-back credit card.

Best for No Annual Fees

Travelers (especially renters) looking for solid travel protections and elevated rewards on travel spending without an annual fee should consider the Bilt Mastercard®.

International Travel Benefits

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
No foreign currency conversion fees
Learn more by reading Bilt's Guide to Benefits

Why We Like It

The Bilt Mastercard® is an excellent choice for international travel, thanks to elevated rewards on travel purchases and no annual fee. Cardholders earn 2x Bilt Points on travel purchases, 3x on dining and 1x on all other eligible purchases. On the first day of the month (known as "Rent Day"), these rates double, allowing you to supercharge your earnings. In order to earn rewards, you must use the card 5 times each statement period (Bilt's Guide to Benefits).

This card does not have an annual fee, making it a good alternative to the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, since it offers similar rewards on dining and travel. Both cards also share a few of the same travel loyalty program transfer partners: Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.

Bilt also has the unique distinction of allowing cardholders to earn 1 point per dollar spent on rent payments without a transaction fee (up to 100,000 points per calendar year), which can help you earn rewards for your next international trip faster.

Best for Business Travelers

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers business travelers a rewarding card for international travel, along with practical card benefits at a reasonable annual fee.

International Travel Benefits

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip)
Auto rental collision damage waiver when traveling for business
Cell phone protection (up to $1,000 per claim)
Employee cards at no additional costs help you earn rewards faster
No foreign transaction fees

Why We Like It

With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can redeem points for international travel through the Chase portal, where they're worth 25% more. You'll get valuable travel protections for your trip too, including trip cancellation insurance and travel and emergency assistance services. Employee cards are offered at no additional cost, so you can earn points even faster.

Cardholders can also earn 3x points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases across common business categories like advertising, telecommunications and shipping purchases. If your business spends heavily in these areas, you can easily make up the $95 annual fee through rewards earned.

Don't overlook the generous sign-up bonus. New cardholders can score a whopping 90,000 points after spending $8,000 within three months of account opening.

How to Choose the Best Travel Card for International Trips

iStock

Getting the right credit card in place before you travel can save you a lot of hassle and even some money. Here are some factors to consider as you research the best travel credit card for your trip abroad:

No foreign transaction fees: These fees can add up quickly, especially if you use your card frequently while traveling. Many cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee per transaction, so look for one without this fee so you aren't hit with extra charges while overseas.
Bonus rewards on travel purchases: A lucrative rewards program can help you earn points or miles on purchases. Rewards can be redeemed for travel, hotel stays or other perks to help you save money and get more out of your trip. Look for credit cards that offer bonus rewards on purchases like flights, hotels and rental cars. Some even offer lounge access and free checked bags.
Travel insurance: Travel insurance is a safety net. This benefit varies per issuer but often provides trip cancellation, lost luggage and medical expense coverages, which can help protect you from unexpected costs and disruptions. Some cards offer more comprehensive insurance than others, so read the fine print to learn what's covered.
International acceptance: No one wants to find out their card isn’t accepted once they reach their destination, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to check. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most places around the world, but American Express and Discover have more limited acceptance in some countries.
Emergency assistance: It's better to have this benefit and not use it than to need it and not have it. The best cards for international travel offer 24/7 customer service and emergency assistance, including lost or stolen card replacement and emergency cash advances, which can be invaluable if you run into issues while traveling.
Currency conversion rates: Some cards offer better conversion rates than others, which can save you money when using your card to make purchases in foreign currency. Check exchange rates before you travel so you know what to expect when using your card abroad.

Clear/Global Entry Fee Credit

CLEAR

CLEAR and Global Entry are programs that help travelers get through airport security more quickly and efficiently. If you’re looking to save time and hassle when traveling internationally, you’ll want these perks:

Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and enables expedited customs clearance when returning to the United States.
CLEAR is a separate program that lets members bypass the standard security screening process at select airports and stadiums in the U.S.

Some credit cards offer credits to cover the application fees for these programs in the form of a statement reimbursement, making them even more valuable.

Quick Tips When Using Your Credit Card Abroad

The right credit card can help make your next trip even more enjoyable, as long as you do a little advance planning. Here are some steps to take to set up yourself up for headache-free spending abroad:

Notify your issuer ahead of time: Let your card issuer know about your trip in advance so they don’t suspect fraud when you pay with your card. The last thing you want to deal with is a card getting declined or frozen when you’re in a foreign country.
Avoid cash withdrawals: You’ll likely face high fees if you have to withdraw cash with your credit card when traveling, so it’s often better to stick to plastic or carry a small amount of cash if you need it.
Make a back-up plan: If your card is lost or stolen, or you find it’s not as widely accepted as you thought, having some cash or another card on hand could be invaluable to help you get through our trip.
Check your card's expiration date: It only takes a second to double-check your expiration date to ensure your preferred card will be active the whole time you’re traveling, preventing the potential financial pinch of an inactive card.
Bring and use the right cards: Do your research into factors like foreign transaction fees and travel rewards so you can save the most money and even benefit from rewards and other perks while you travel.
Avoid dynamic currency conversion: Be on the lookout for dynamic currency conversion services. Some vendors offer this as a way for customers to both see prices and pay in their home currency, but they’ll often charge you a much higher rate for the convenience.
Check your travel protections: Many travel credit cards come with some level of travel coverage, like trip cancellation insurance and baggage protections. It’s worth refreshing yourself on what your cards cover in case you need these services while traveling.
Review your travel perks: It’s not all about preparing for a crisis when you travel. Also look into what benefits your travel cards offer. You might be able to take advantage of lounge access or other perks during your travels to make your trip a little more comfortable.

Pexels

The Bottom Line

Preparation is key when planning an international trip and choosing the right credit card can be just as important as booking flights and accommodations. By considering factors such as foreign transaction fees, rewards programs, travel insurance and more, you can find a credit card that offers the features and benefits you need to make your trip more enjoyable and affordable.

With the right credit card in hand, you can have peace of mind and take advantage of travel-related perks and rewards, saving you money and making your travel experience memorable. Happy travels!

Studio Simpatico

Johan Mengesha is the Editorial Director at Slickdeals.net where he manages a team of writers who cover news related to the best deals on the Web. He loves to travel the world when there's a good flight deal available, such as his last trip to Australia which only cost him $1,000 for two round-trip tickets. So far he has traveled to countries like England, Ethiopia, Italy, Mexico and Argentina. Mengesha has written for print and online media outlets since 2003 and has a journalism degree from Cal State Northridge.

The Best Credit Cards for International Travel

Recommended Travel Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Overview

Pros

Cons

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Overview

Pros

Cons

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Overview

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Overview

Pros

Cons

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Overview

Pros

Cons

Bilt Mastercard®

Overview

Pros

Cons

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Overview

Pros

Cons

How to Choose the Best Travel Card for International Trips

Clear/Global Entry Fee Credit

7 Best Credit Cards That Include TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

Quick Tips When Using Your Credit Card Abroad

The Bottom Line

Studio Simpatico

Follow the Money

Articles Get the latest in personal finance news, offers and expert tips. Dive into more personal finance advice and guides

Who Should (and Who Shouldn’t) Get the Chase Ink Business Cash

The Best Ink Business Preferred Credit Card Perks & How You Can Still Earn Free Travel

I Save Hundreds of Dollars Each Year With Gift Cards. Here’s My Secret

5 Best Credit Card Combinations That Can Maximize Your Rewards

Who Should (and Who Shouldn’t) Get the Ink Business Unlimited

Ink Business Premier® Credit Card Review: $1,000 Bonus and Up to 2.5% Cash Back

7 Unique and Underrated Credit Card Perks You Should Know

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited Is Still the Best Daily Credit Card

5 Best Credit Cards for Restaurant and Dining Rewards

Select Chase Cardholders: Earn 10% Back on Online Walmart Purchases

When Is Travel Insurance Worth Buying?

How Do Prepaid Travel Credit Cards Work?