3 Best Credit Cards for International Travel

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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.

Card	Bonus Offer	Rewards Rate	Annual Fee	Best for	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: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)	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.	$95	Best overall	Apply Now
Chase Sapphire Reserve® 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: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)	1x - 10xPoints More Info Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.	$550	Best for travel protections	Apply Now
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply Now	90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,070 (90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)	1x - 3xPoints More Info Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 of combined spending in a number of key business categories	$95 More info This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.	Best for business travelers	Apply Now

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 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: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.

Pros

• Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
• Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
• Excellent travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Not ideal for the highest spenders
• $95 annual fee

Best for Overall Travel Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. This travel credit card helps users earn points quickly with accelerated rewards in everyday spending categories like travel and dining.

Cardholders enjoy perks like a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, 10% anniversary point boost and access to the Chase Travel℠ portal.

New cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after using their credit card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 in travel reservations booked through Chase Travel℠, but potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR21.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$550
• Sign-Up Bonus 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: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge network.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a generous sign-up bonus that can be used for travel-related spending booked through Chase Travel℠. Transfer the points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners and they’re potentially worth even more.

Pros

• An array of premium travel perks including access to Priority Pass lounges
• Easy-to-use $300 travel credit that helps offset card's annual fee
• Generous rewards rates for spending

Cons

• High annual fee may be a deterrent for some
• Perks are starting to get stale relative to newer competition

Best for Travel Protections

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is among the top premium travel cards available. While this credit card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve is packed with travel perks that more than make up for the expense.

Right off the bat, the Chase Sapphire Reserve features a $300 annual travel credit. You also get free access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options in airports around the world. Those lounges usually give you free food and drinks, cleaner bathrooms, fast internet and a comfortable place to sit outside of the ruckus of an airport terminal.

New cardholders can also earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after they spend $4,000 during the first three months of account opening. This Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus is worth $900 in travel redemptions when booking through Chase Travel℠ — where each point is worth at least 1.5 cents. Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.49% - 26.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95 More info

  This fee includes extra cards for authorized users, such as employees, at no additional charge.

• Sign Up Bonus 90,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $2,070 (90,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)

Those with travel and advertising expenses will like the high earning rates in these categories, plus cardholders can eke out even more value with fully transferable rewards through the Chase Travel℠ portal. One drawback is the modest annual fee, though many can offset this with the card’s earning potential.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

This card offers a whopping 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months — with the card’s 25% bonus on travel booked through Chase, that’s worth $1,125. But you could potentially get more through one of the bank’s transfer partners. The rewards you earn from the Ink Business Preferred Card can be transferred to 10 different airline partners including United, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore and British Airways, as well as hotel partners Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.

Unlike the other two Ink Business cards, you can use this card to transfer your rewards directly to airline miles and hotel points. Travelers may also like this card’s cellphone protection policy that will cover up to $600 per claim.

Pros

• 3x points on 5 different categories (up to $150,000)
• Robust travel, purchase and cellphone protections
• Ability to earn transferable points to use on travel partners
• No additional charge for extra cards for additional authorized users

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Businesses that don't spend on the category bonuses won't benefit

Best for Business Travelers

If you’re a sole proprietor or small business owner who travels a lot for work or pleasure, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an ideal choice. That's because points earned with this business credit card can be redeemed for free and discounted travel in the Chase Travel^SM portal. And the Ink Business Preferred makes earning points easy with bonus categories that are important to small business like travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines.

In addition to all of that value, the Ink Business Preferred Card offers new cardholders a sign-up bonus of 90,000 points after spending $8,000 with the business card in the first three months of account opening. Those 90,000 points are worth $1,125 in free travel when redeemed through Chase Travel, where points are worth 25% more. Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

How to Choose the Best Travel Card for International Trips

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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.

Related Article

Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Reimbursement

Read More

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 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.

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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!