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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
Choosing the wrong credit card can be incredibly costly if you get caught by expensive foreign transaction fees when you’re off catching some winter sun or shopping for some last minute gifts from an overseas business. The credit cards featured on this page are specifically designed to avoid costly conversion fees.
Applicants with low credit scores may be eligible Avoid currency conversion charges when spending abroad No annual fee
What is a travel credit card?
A travel credit card is simply a credit card that’s specifically designed for overseas use. Unlike standard credit cards, a travel credit card can help you avoid paying hefty foreign transaction fees when you spend or withdraw cash on your credit card abroad.
It’s important not to confuse travel credit cards with airline credit cards which offer rewards such as air miles.
How do travel credit cards work?
A travel credit card works in much the same way as any other credit card. You can spend on your credit card as and when you need to, up to your set credit limit, and then you repay the amount borrowed in flexible monthly repayments. If you don’t pay off the balance in full each month, interest is usually charged.
Where they differ is that travel credit cards won’t charge a foreign transaction fee when you spend on the card overseas. Some also won’t charge a fee when you withdraw cash from an ATM. However, in most cases, interest is still charged on cash withdrawals from the moment you get your cash – even if you pay off your balance in full that month.
The fees you could incur when travelling
There are different fees you could end up paying on your credit card when you travel overseas. These include the following:
Foreign transaction fee
(charged by your card issuer)
Most credit cards in the UK market charge you a fee for every non-sterling transaction. Usually this is between 2% and 3% of the amount spent. For example, if your card had a fee of 3%, and you made a purchase for £100, this would cost you £3 in fees.
Best way to avoid this fee: Opt for a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign currency conversion fees.
Foreign cash advance fee
(charged by your card issuer)
Withdrawing cash on a credit card at home or abroad is usually a bad idea because you’ll be charged a fee of around 3%. Even cards that bill themselves as specifically designed for travel may still charge this. When abroad, you’ll be charged this fee on top of any foreign transaction fee, which means if you withdraw £100, you could be charged a 3% fee for the cash withdrawal (£3) and a 3% foreign transaction fee (£3), bringing your total charges to £6.
Note that cash advances are also usually exempt from any interest-free days, which means you’ll be charged interest from the date of the transaction – even if you pay off your balance in full that month. Interest rates are usually higher too.
Best way to avoid this fee: Don’t withdraw cash using a credit card.
Cash machine fee
(charged by the cash machine provider)
Some ATMs will also charge you a fee of around £3 for withdrawing cash so make sure you check first.
Best way to avoid this fee: Don’t withdraw cash using a credit card (and for debit/prepaid cards, look for an ATM that won’t charge you for withdrawing cash.
Dynamic currency conversion fee
(charged by the merchant’s bank)
Ever been asked by a merchant if you’d like to pay for your goods in sterling rather than the local currency? If you have and you accept, the retailer will do the currency conversion for you but likely at a less competitive exchange rate. This means you’ll pay more than necessary for your purchase. Similarly, at a cash machine, if the bank the machine’s attached to converts the currency for you, it’ll be their fee structure which will apply.
Best way to avoid this fee: Get a card with no overseas fees and then always pay in the local currency.
And a final extra “pro tip”: if you’re an Uber user and you get yourself a dedicated card with no fees on overseas spending, set it up as your default payment option before you go (because you’ll get billed in the local currency).
Here’s a section from a popular credit card’s summary box which serves as an example of how much extra you could pay to use your credit card abroad.
Fee-free exchange rates
Underlying each credit card’s exchange rate is the network’s exchange rate. When you use a Visa card to pay for something in a different currency, Visa’s exchange rate is used. When you use a Mastercard, it’s Mastercard’s exchange rate that applies. Card issuers then normally add their own charge on top of this, but if you’re using a card that doesn’t charge non-sterling transaction fees (like those listed on this page), you’ll enjoy the network’s exchange rates with nothing added on top.
How to compare the best credit cards to use abroad
If you’re looking for a credit card to take with you on holiday, you’ll need to consider the following when carrying out your comparison:
Is there a foreign transaction fee? Look for a credit card that won’t charge you for spending on your credit card abroad. The cards we’ve listed in the table above all waive the foreign transaction fee.
Is there a foreign cash withdrawal fee? There are a handful of credit cards that also won’t charge you for withdrawing money at a cash machine. If you think you’re likely to withdraw cash abroad, look for a card without fees.
Will you get interest-free days on foreign transactions? Almost all cards on the UK market offer up to 55 or 56 days where you won’t pay interest on your purchases. But to enjoy this benefit, you must have cleared your balance in the previous billing cycle and you must clear your balance each month. Crucially, while almost all cards offer this benefit, not all extend it to cover non-sterling transactions. You can find this information in a card’s “summary box”
Is interest charged on cash withdrawals? In the case of almost all UK credit cards, you’ll be charged interest on cash withdrawals from the moment you get your cash, but it’s still worth checking. The Barclaycard Rewards Visa card is the exception here.
What’s the interest rate? Most travel credit cards do not offer 0% interest deals on purchases, so you’ll need to pay your balance off in full each month to avoid interest charges. Bear in mind that if you have bad credit, you may be offered a higher rate (or your application may be declined).
Is there an annual fee? Double check whether your card charges an annual fee and whether this is worth paying.
Are there any additional perks? Check whether your card offers cash back or other travel benefits such as frequent flyer points. A few credit cards might also come with travel insurance, but be aware that these cards usually charge annual fees and might have stricter eligibility criteria.
APR and foreign transaction fees
Credit card promotions have to include an annual percentage rate (APR) which all card issuers must calculate in the same way.
Credit card fee structures can get fiddly, so the APR’s designed to benchmark the yearly cost to borrow, with a view to helping consumers compare cards against one another. It takes into consideration the default interest rate plus any mandatory, regular account fees.
However, be aware that APR doesn’t take into account other fees such as those you may be charged when you travel abroad. A credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees might have a higher APR than other types of credit cards, but it will save you a lot in fees if you regularly travel abroad. Provided you clear your balance each month, the fact it doesn’t charge fees will be of more importance than the APR.
Finally, always keep in mind that credit card companies only have to offer their advertised representative APR to 51% of the people who are approved for the card. The rest may get a higher rate depending on their circumstances. That’s why it’s usually referred to as “representative” APR.
Looking for a travel debit card instead?
Travel credit cards aren’t for everyone and you typically need to have a pretty healthy credit rating to receive the most competitive rates. With a travel debit card, fee-free overseas spending is still possible, and you won’t have to worry about going into debt (unless you go into an unplanned overdraft).
You can use our guide to compare a range of low or no-fee debit cards.
Need to know when using a credit card overseas
Before you apply for a travel credit card, there are a few key points to be aware of.
For a start, while using a credit card can enable you to side-step sneaky foreign transaction fees, it can also encourage you to spend money you don’t have. If you don’t pay off your balance in full each month (or you withdraw cash on your card), the amount of interest you’ll pay can far outweigh any benefits of using the card itself. For this reason, it’s important to stick to a budget, make sure you don’t overspend and always do your best to clear your balance each month.
If you’re worried about this, you might prefer to use a prepaid currency card or a debit card instead. Some of these cards can also help you to avoid paying foreign transaction fees, but make sure you check first. Prepaid cards can be loaded up with currency before you go on holiday and you can then only spend what’s on the card, making them a good option for budgeting. A debit card lets you spend the money you have in your current account.
Technically, you can add funds to your credit card account before you go on holiday too, and then spend these funds in the same way as a debit card. This can help you to avoid paying interest.
However, card providers don’t take any responsibility for funds you add to your credit card account. So, if your card is lost or stolen and used for unauthorised transactions, you might lose out on valuable funds. Finally, be aware that while a travel credit card can offer you a good deal while you’re abroad, it might not offer the best solution when you’re back home. For this reason, you might want to keep your travel credit card for overseas spending only, and use a different type of credit card when you’re home.
Pros and cons of using a travel credit card
Pros
Global acceptance. If you’re using a Mastercard or Visa credit card, you’ll be able to use it in millions of locations around the world. American Express and Diners Club cards are also accepted worldwide although in fewer places than Visa or Mastercard.
Fee-free foreign transactions. Many travel credit cards can enable you to avoid paying expensive fees for spending and withdrawing cash abroad.
Security. A credit card can be safer than carrying around a wallet full of cash when you’re on your travels. They can also be used as a backup in an emergency if you lose your cash or debit card. Most cards also now come with an app that you can use to freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it or it’s stolen.
Purchase protection. Even when spending abroad, you’ll still benefit from protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This means purchases costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 are covered if something goes wrong.
Competitive exchange rates. Many credit cards offer competitive exchange rates when you spend abroad
Cons
Can be expensive. If you’re not careful, you could end up paying high rates of interest on your purchases, as well as any cash withdrawals you make.
Can encourage you to overspend. It can be easy to spend more than you can afford to pay back on a credit card.
You’ll often need a good credit rating. Most of the top deals require that you haven’t had credit problems in the past.
We've analysed the average prices of coffee in 163 capital cities around the world, so you can find out where your country ranks and whether you're getting a good deal on your morning brew. The table tab also shows how coffee prices compare to beer prices in each location!
How much Brits can save on coffee in popular holiday hotspots?
Out of Brits' top ten most popular travel destinations, the cheapest cup of coffee can be found in Italy, where your morning cup of joe will cost you just £1.49 on average, 80% cheaper than the UK average of £3.47.
On the other end of the spectrum, travellers popping across the pond are going to shell out 20% for their morning brew in the USA, with an average price of £4.42.
If you’re a frequent traveller or regularly shop online with international retailers, using a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees can save you a lot of money.
When deciding which card is right for you, check exactly what fees you could be charged and whether you will benefit from any perks such as cashback on purchases or reward points.
Keep in mind that even if your card doesn’t charge a fee for cash withdrawals, this type of credit card transaction is usually best avoided as you are likely to be charged interest from the date of the withdrawal.
Once you’ve done your homework, the next step is to use an eligibility checker to find out which cards you’ll get approved for. If you haven’t done so already, it’s worth checking your credit score and report first so that you know how likely you are to get accepted. The better your credit score, the higher your chances of acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Section 75 applies to transactions made overseas as well as in the UK. This means that if you buy something that turns out to be faulty or the retailer goes out of business, you should get your money back.
When you use your credit card to pay for something in a different currency, your provider will exchange at the Visa, Mastercard or American Express wholesale rate. These are usually close to the rates used by the currency markets.
Possibly, yes. Although you won’t have access to every credit card on the market, some providers are more lenient and will accept borrowers with lower credit scores. Bear in mind that the interest rate offered is likely to be higher, making it more important to clear your balance each month.
Although its not always required, it’s always good to let your credit card provider know incase they decide to block your card. You can usually do this through your provider’s app or contacting customer services.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio
Chris's expertise
Chris has written 582 Finder guides across topics including:
Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio
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Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
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