How to choose a credit card for international travel

When you’re traveling internationally, a credit card can be a convenient and straightforward way to pay. A card might also let you earn rewards for your purchases and offer security features that are useful when traveling.

But how do you choose the right credit card for international travel? Here are a few things you might look for.

What you’ll learn:

• Some features that make a credit card good for international travel include flexible rewards, travel-related benefits and fraud protection.

• Finding a card that helps you avoid foreign transaction fees can help save you money.

• Capital One offers a range of travel credit cards that can help make traveling more rewarding.

• It can help to familiarize yourself with your card’s benefits before you set off on your trip.

These days, credit cards are widely accepted around the world. But they’re not all tailored to international travel. Some charge fees for foreign transactions. Others may not offer the kinds of protections that can be useful when you’re far from home. 

Travel rewards credit cards are designed for frequent travelers or anyone who’s got things to buy and places to go. You can use them to earn rewards to use on airfare, hotel stays and more. Many come with exclusive benefits to help make travel smoother and more enjoyable. 

Every travel rewards program is different. If you’re wondering about the best travel card for you, here are some potential features to consider:

You earn rewards by making purchases on a travel credit card. The rewards may come in the form of miles or points. The value of the miles depends on the card, the rewards program and how the cardholder redeems them. 

Some travel cards come with enhanced benefits like priority boarding, access to airport lounges and reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. And some card issuers have their own travel sites, where cardholders can book trips and earn elevated rewards for doing so. 

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that some credit card issuers add to transactions made outside the U.S. Foreign transaction fees can vary, but they’re typically about 1%-3% of every purchase. A travel-ready card with no foreign transaction fees can help you avoid extra costs. 

Some credit cards offer travel insurance when you use the card to book and pay for your trip. This could cover you for things like flight delays and cancellations, accidents, medical emergencies, lost luggage and more. 

Credit cards generally offer more protection from fraud liability than other payment methods. Tools like a mobile app and account alerts can help cardholders monitor their accounts and stay on top of their spending at home or abroad. 

Capital One travel credit cards have exclusive benefits and elevated rewards. Finding out more about each could help you decide which Capital One travel card is right for you. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:

Capital One travel cards earn unlimited miles for every purchase, from flights and hotels to dining and everyday spending, with no blackout dates or restrictions. Rewards don’t expire for the life of the account. And there are a variety of ways to use the miles you earn, including:

• Redeeming them for travel purchases, cash or gift cards.

• Checking out at Amazon.com or through PayPal.

• Transferring them to one of Capital One’s miles transfer partners.

Eligible cardholders can earn extra rewards on flights, hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars with Capital One Travel. You can conveniently pay for your trip with your rewards, your card or both. Plus, you’ll have access to features that help you book with confidence, like price predictions and alerts and price drop protection.

Capital One works with credit card networks to offer travel insurance benefits on some Capital One credit cards. So if you use your eligible Capital One credit card to book your trip, you could be insured for any covered losses.

When you’re traveling abroad, you won’t have to worry about the extra percentage that some issuers charge on international purchases. Capital One credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, no matter where or when you travel. View important rates and disclosures.

Capital One can help you keep your account safe, wherever you are, with tools and features like fraud alerts, card lock, instant purchase notifications, $0 fraud liability for unauthorized charges, Capital One Mobile app access and virtual card numbers.

A little preparation can go a long way when using your credit card for international travel. Here are three simple ways to make spending easier and safer on your trip:

1. Understand all your card’s benefits. Eligible Capital One cardholders, for example, can receive a statement credit of up to $120 for the TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee.

2. Opt out of dynamic currency conversion. On top of foreign transaction fees, you might run into what’s known as a dynamic currency conversion fee. Dynamic currency conversion immediately tells you what the foreign currency-to-dollar amount is at the point of purchase. But you don’t have to use or pay for dynamic currency conversion to access your money abroad. You can reject it at the point of sale.

3. Check whether you need to share your travel plans. Capital One no longer requires you to share your travel plans when you’re heading out of the country. But it still recommends you check that your contact information is up to date in case it needs to reach you. However, some credit card issuers might still request that you set up a travel notification when you’re away from your home country.

The right credit card can make traveling abroad more convenient and rewarding. You can look for a card with strong security features, no foreign transaction fees and the ability to earn rewards on every purchase. When your card’s working for you, it’s easier to stay focused on the adventure, not the expenses.

Capital One offers travel rewards credit cards with exclusive benefits and elevated rewards that can help make your travel experience more enjoyable. 

• Earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary, with the Venture X card.

• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, and earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Venture card. 

• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day, with no annual fee with the VentureOne card. View important rates and disclosures.