Best credit cards for international travel in 2023 (2024)

Traveling abroad can be exhilarating, fun and sometimes a little stressful. Luckily, by having one of the best credit cards for international travel in yourwallet, you can have some peace of mind knowing you’re protected. Gone are the days when you needed to purchase travel insurance or worry about bringing enough cash to cover your expenses. With the rightcredit card, you’ll not only receive a slew of protections, but you can also maximize your spending so you’ll earn enough points onvacationto cover your next jaunt abroad.

The criteria for determining the best international travel cards is different from the bestcredit cards for domestic travel. For one, when you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want additional protections. In some cases, you’re thousands of miles away from home in unfamiliar territory, so having the backing of your credit card to ensure a safe and comfortable travel experience can go a long way. Add in the benefits of not being charged added fees for spending while abroad, as well as perks when you’re traveling internationally, and you have a great card to use on your next vacation outside of the US.

Our best cards for international travel range in perks, depending on what you’re planning to spend the most on. Before your next trip outside of the country, consider adding one of these international travel credit cards to your wallet.

Best credit cards for international travel in 2023

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best card for hotels abroad
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:Best value for the annual fee
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best card for travel insurance and for lounge access while traveling abroad
• American Express® Gold Card: Best card for dining abroad
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best no-annual-fee card

Whether you’re looking foraccess to airport loungesor a full suite of insurance coverage, these cards offer protections that you should look for in a credit card to use abroad. Before we dive into the benefits of each of these cards, take a few minutes to understand the perks that make for a good card for international travel.

CNN Underscored’s comprehensivecredit card methodologycompares every aspect of each international travel credit card to determine which cards can potentially bring you maximum value.

Things look for in a credit card for international travel

When you’re looking for a credit card for international travel, there are benefits that can save you money and provide peace of mind. Perks like travel insurance would typically cost you money, but many credit cards offer it free of charge.

Of course, there are restrictions to these protections. In most cases, you’ll also need to charge your travel expenses— such as airfare or accommodation — to the card for the benefits to apply. Be sure to read the fine print on any card you’re applying for to make sure you understand the rules governing these perks before relying on their coverage.

That being said, here are the six benefits you should look for in a quality credit card to use abroad.

No foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards charge foreign transaction fees of around 3% on purchases made abroad. This may not sound significant until you factor in large expenses likehotels,rental cars,diningandshopping. On cards that charge this fee, you’ll incur a $30 fee for every $1,000 spent — and that can add up quickly.

If you spend more than $3,200 per year abroad, getting a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees makes sense. That’s because you’ll incur about $96 in fees, which is more than the annual fee on many cards. For example, theChase Sapphire Preferred® Cardcharges a $95 annual fee, but it charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid option to use when you’re traveling internationally.

Travel insurance

Trip cancellation and interruption insurancecan provide the ultimate peace of mind when you’re traveling abroad. This type of coverage providesreimbursem*nt for nonrefundable expensesif your trip is delayed or canceled due to unforeseen circ*mstances. Covered circ*mstances include accidental injury, loss of life, sickness, severe weather and jury duty, to name a few.

Trip delay reimbursem*nt comes in handy if your trip is delayed for more than six hours or requires an overnight stay. Several cards offer this protection, such asThe Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers up to $500 per ticket to cover meals, lodging and other eligible expenses if your trip is delayed for a covered reason. You must have paid for the round-trip ticket entirely withThe Platinum Card® from American Expressin order to be eligible for the protection.*

There are few worse feelings than arriving at your destination only to realize that your bags didn’t make the trip. Baggage delay insurance is helpful when the airline you’re traveling with loses your luggage during your journey. For example, theAmerican Express® Gold Card card (terms apply, see rates and fees) covers up to $1,250 forcarry-on baggageand up to $500 forchecked baggagein the event that your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen when you purchase the entire fare for a common carrier on the card.**

Bonus points on travel expenses

Some of the most significant expenses incurred during travel include airfare, hotels, rental cars and meals. Of course, you’ll want to get a credit card that rewards you generously in these categories.

Here’s a look at some of the best credit cards and what they reward you with for purchases you make on vacation:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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.
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply, see rates and fees).
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms Apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms Apply.

Travel perks

Travel can be tiring and stressful, but plenty of credit cards offer perks to improve your travel experience and save you money. Some of the best credit cards for international travel offer benefits likelounge access,free hotel nightsand elite benefits.

Hands down, the best credit card for travel perks is theAmex Platinum, which offers a slew of credits and benefits. Card holders get Hilton Honors and Marriott Gold elite status (enrollment required), making them eligible for room upgrades, bonus points and complimentary breakfast at Hilton hotels. TheAmex Platinumalso includes access to more than 1,000 airline lounges in thePriority Pass network(enrollment required) as well as access to its own network ofCenturion LoungesandDelta Sky Clubsso long as you’re flying with Delta (this benefit is changing in 2024). Plus, card holders get up to a $200 airline fee credit and up to $200 back in statement credits each year on select prepaid hotel bookings with Amex Travel.

Welcome bonus offers

If you’re going to get a credit card for international travel, the perks are essential. But, you should also look at bagging a highwelcome bonus offerwhile you’re at it. For the highest, most versatile bonus, you should opt for a card that earns transferable rewards. Here are some noteworthy welcome bonus offers.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express:Earn Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms Apply.
• American Express® Gold Card:Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®:Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card:Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

Contactless credit cards

If you’ve traveled abroad in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed a sharp rise in contactless card payments. This makes paying faster, and you can often skip having to sign for a purchase when you tap your card instead of swiping or using the chip. Some automated kiosks in Europe and Asia have completely done away with chip readers, too.

With this in mind, all of the cards mentioned below have contactless capabilities. You can simply tap any of these cards on a contactless card reader and your payment will be processed quickly and securely.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what makes for a good card to use for international travel, let’s dive into our choices of the best cards. Here are the details of each of our best international travel credit cards so you can see how they stack up.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best card for hotels abroad

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

TheChase Sapphire Reserve®is an excellent card for international travel because it checks most boxes. It’s great for earning tons of points and ensuring you get to your destination in comfort. The card comes loaded with premium perks like aPriority Pass Select membershipforlounge accesson your trip, a $300 annual travel credit and up to 10x bonus points on travel spending.

Card holders get up to a $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus fee credit every four years, enabling them to speed through the airport on international or domestic trips. Keep in mind that if you apply for and are approved for a Global Entry membership, you automatically receive TSA PreCheck.

This card is particularly appealing for international hotel spending because you can earn up to 10x points on bookings made through theChase Ultimate Rewards®travel portal. The portal offers great deals on hotel and rental car bookings, making this a fantastic card benefit. When you book your hotel with this card, you can even use your annual $300 travel credit toward it.

Also notably, theChase Sapphire Reserve®charges no foreign transaction fees and offers partner perks, so the card offers value both when you’re traveling abroad or staying at home. It comes with a $550 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Best value for the annual fee

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

If the $550 annual fee on theSapphire Reserveis more than you’re willing to spend, theChase Sapphire Preferred® Cardis a reasonable — and lucrative — alternative. The card has just a $95 annual fee and more pared-down travel benefits, but it still offers great value, especially as a card to use internationally. For example, card holders receive an annual $50 credit toward hotel bookings made throughChase Ultimate Rewards.

The card comes loaded with travel benefits, including trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance,car rental protectionsand more. Notably, it charges no foreign transaction fees, so you won’t be charged extra for using the card abroad.

Overall, this is an excellent card if you want generous perks and a reasonable annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also has an increased offer over the Sapphire Reserve and with a lower annual fee. Currently, on the 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months after opening the account, which are worth a guaranteed $900 when you redeem them for travel via the Chase travel portal you’ll earn Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

The Platinum Card from American Express: Best card for travel insurance and lounge access while traveling abroad

Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peaco*ck, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

If you want to travel like an elite and professional traveler,The Platinum Card® from American Expressis hands-down the best credit card for international travel. TheAmex Platinum cardcomes packed with travel credits, hotel perks and elite status perks. Card holders pay a hefty $695 (terms apply, see rates and fees) fee for these benefits, but you may find it worthwhile if you manage to make use of them every year.

If you’re looking for an upgraded hotel experience, theAmex Platinumoffers instant Marriott and Hilton Gold elite status once you enroll in the benefit. This is pretty significant, as Hilton Gold members get complimentary breakfast and bonus points. Platinum Travel Services can help you plan yourdream vacation, while the International Airline Program can get you discounts on international premium economy, business and first class seats. Meanwhile, Global Dining Access by Resy can get you a table at sought-after restaurants in the US, France, Italy, Peru and Spain. Notably, the card charges no foreign transaction fees (terms apply, see rates and fees).

American Express is renowned for its protection benefits, and theAmex Platinum cardis no exception. Card holders get peace of mind when they book a round-trip ticket entirely with their Amex Platinum with up to $10,000 in trip cancellation insurance per trip. Additionally, you’ll get up to $500 per trip in trip delay coverage if your flight is delayed more than six hours, as well as access to the Global Assist Hotline when you travel more than 100 miles from home. TheAmex Platinumis truly is the most well-rounded card, offering every type of travel benefit imaginable — especially if you’re planning to travel internationally.

American Express Gold Card: Best card for dining abroad

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

TheAmerican Express® Gold Card (terms apply, see rates and fees)is one of the best cards for international travel thanks to a host of valuable perks and generous earnings on vacation spending. Card holders earn 4x points on restaurants worldwide, which can add up substantially — especially considering the card charges no foreign transaction fees. Card holders also earn 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline of their choosing or when booked through Amex Travel.

This card doesn’t charge as high an annual fee as theAmex Platinum— you’ll pay $250 each year — but you’ll still get some of American Express’ valuable travel protections. For example, you’ll get up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage protections if your luggage is lost, damaged or stolen and you paid for the entire airfare with yourAmerican Express® Gold Card card. Plus, if you travel more than 100 miles from home, you’ll have access to the Global Assist Hotline.**

TheAmerican Express Membership Rewards programis one of the best loyalty programs out there. Not only is theAmex Gold cardgreat for earning Membership Rewards® points on international travel, but those points will also go quite far when you’re ready to cash them in for your next trip abroad. For example, consider transferring 26,000 of your American Express Membership Rewards points to British Airways for a round-trip economy class ticket between the East Coast and Ireland (plus taxes and fees).

Capital One VentureOne: Best no-annual-fee card

Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

The great thing about theCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (terms apply, see rates and fees) is that it not only hasno annual fee, but also still offers practical travel benefits. The card earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on every other purchase. All other purchases earn 1.25 miles per dollar, which is great if you want to maximize earnings on vacation spending without worrying about category bonuses.

The card also offers travel accident insurance, which is rare for ano-annual-fee card.

Capital One also has theCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which charges a modest $95 annual fee and comes with added benefits, such as unlimited 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Additionally, you’ll get two free visits to theCapital One Loungeeach year, no foreign transaction fees and more.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees of Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, please visit this page.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguidefor more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguidefor more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.