Best Credit Cards for International Travel

International travel requires the right credit cards. Foreign transaction fees can cost 3% on every purchase. Wrong cards get declined. Poor rewards leave value on the table.

Here are the best credit cards for international travel in 2026.

Best No Annual Fee: Capital One VentureOne

Why we like it: Solid rewards, no foreign transaction fees, and zero annual cost.

Feature	Details
Annual Fee	$0
Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Rewards	1.25X on everything
Sign-Up Bonus	20,000 miles after $500 spend

Best for: Occasional travelers who want no-fee international usability.

Best for Dining Abroad: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Why we like it: 3X on dining worldwide, lower fee than Reserve, great travel protections.

Feature	Details
Annual Fee	$95
Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Rewards	3X dining, 2X travel
Hotel Credit	$50/year via Chase Travel
Travel Insurance	Trip delay, cancellation, baggage

Best for: Budget-conscious travelers who eat out frequently abroad.

Quick Comparison

Card	Annual Fee	FTF	Best Reward Rate
Sapphire Reserve	$550	None	3X travel/dining
Venture X	$395	None	2X everything
Sapphire Preferred	$95	None	3X dining
VentureOne	$0	None	1.25X everything
Hyatt Card	$95	None	4X at Hyatt

The International Travel Card Stack

Budget Stack ($0-95/year)

Card	Use For
Sapphire Preferred ($95)	Dining, travel bookings
Freedom Unlimited ($0)	Everything else

Strategy: 3X on dining abroad, 1.5X elsewhere, all pooling to valuable Chase points.

Premium Stack ($550-695/year)

Card	Use For
Sapphire Reserve ($550)	All travel and dining
Amex Platinum ($695)	Lounge access (Centurion), airline credits

Strategy: Ultimate travel perks with both Priority Pass and Centurion access, plus backup acceptance with Visa (Chase) and Amex.

Value Premium Stack ($395)

Card	Use For
Venture X ($395)	Everything

Strategy: One card does it all—2X everywhere, lounges, $300 credit, no FTF.

International Travel Tips

Before You Go

1. Notify your card issuers

• Set travel notifications in your app
• Prevents fraud blocks on your card
• Most can be done online now

2. Know your PINs

• For unattended kiosks and cash advances (emergencies only)
• Call to set if you don’t know them

3. Download issuer apps

• Lock/unlock cards instantly
• Check transactions
• Get fraud alerts

4. Bring backups

• At least 2 different cards
• Different networks (Visa + Mastercard)
• From different issuers

While Abroad

1. Always choose local currency When asked “pay in local currency or dollars?” choose LOCAL.

“Dynamic currency conversion” (paying in dollars) adds 3-7% in hidden fees.

2. Use credit cards for major purchases Hotels, restaurants, tours, shopping. Better fraud protection and rewards.

3. Get cash from ATMs, not exchange bureaus If you need local currency:

• Use ATMs (with a card that reimburses ATM fees)
• Avoid currency exchange kiosks (terrible rates)

4. Save receipts For disputed charges and purchase protection claims.

If Something Goes Wrong

Card lost or stolen:

1. Lock card in app immediately
2. Call issuer’s international collect number
3. Request expedited replacement (some send within 24-48 hours)

Card declined:

1. Try another card
2. Call issuer to verify no fraud block
3. Use cash as last resort

Fraud charges:

1. Document everything
2. Dispute through app or phone
3. Zero liability protects you

Travel Insurance Deep Dive

What Premium Cards Cover

Trip Cancellation/Interruption:

• Sapphire Reserve: Up to $10,000/trip
• Venture X: Up to $2,000/trip
• Amex Platinum: Up to $10,000/trip

Trip Delay:

• Sapphire Reserve: $500 after 6 hours
• Sapphire Preferred: $500 after 12 hours
• Venture X: $500 after 6 hours

Baggage Delay:

• Sapphire Reserve: $100/day for 5 days
• Sapphire Preferred: $100/day for 5 days

Emergency Evacuation:

• Sapphire Reserve: Up to $100,000
• Amex Platinum: Up to $1,000,000

Important Notes

• Must pay for trip with the card
• Read the actual policy documents
• File claims promptly with documentation
• Coverage is secondary to other insurance (usually)

The Bottom Line

For most international travelers: The Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/year) offers the best combination of no foreign transaction fees, strong rewards, and travel protections at a reasonable price.

For frequent travelers: The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) or Capital One Venture X ($395/year) deliver premium lounge access, better travel protections, and credits that offset the fees.

For budget travelers: The Capital One VentureOne ($0/year) provides no foreign transaction fees and solid rewards without annual cost.

Whatever you choose, make sure your card has:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Visa or Mastercard network
• At least basic travel protections

Leave cards with foreign transaction fees at home. The 3% fee adds up faster than you’d think.