Which credit card is the BEST for travelers?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by No Vacation Required on September 30, 2010 at 5:27pm

Great topic. We like to use a Capital One card for international travel because they won't hit you with those pesky foreign exchange fees on every transaction.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by WanderingTrader on October 1, 2010 at 10:50pm

Stay away from big banks... they always charge an additional foreign conversion fee. Capital One is pretty good for travelers but you have to have excellent credit. The best option would be a good credit union in your area, decent rates and they keep fees to a minimum. Hope that helps

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Erin M. on October 4, 2010 at 8:01pm

Capitol One credit card (mileage award points plus no foreign exchange fees)
Schwab online high yield interest earning checking account (will reimburse any atm fees from anywhere in the world and no foreign exchange fees)

Neither have annual fees.

I should blog about this...this is like the 10th question I have answered in the last week about overseas banking without opening a bank account (mostly emailed ?s from expats). :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by WanderingTrader on October 4, 2010 at 8:04pm

Im actually working on one as we speak! lol

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Erin M. on October 4, 2010 at 8:11pm

That's too funny. It's a hot topic right now... Maybe this is a sign of people renewing their interests in traveling!!! *fingers crossed*

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Travel Blogger on October 5, 2010 at 3:59am

Hi, I'm in Paris right now writing for 30 DAYS IN PARIS my new media travel project on Facebook. I came to France with: 400e cash I got from my bank in the US, a Travelex CASH PASSPORT card loaded with 400 Euros, my Bank Of America ATM card, and several credit cards. The only problem I've had is that my Chase CC is refused sometimes. But then the next day it worked OK at Office Depot. Then later that same day refused again at a restaurant.

It appears that when the merchant is using a handheld credit card processing device, it fails to clear. "Abandon Debit" is what prints out of the little machine. I give them my pre-charged CASH PASSPORT debit card and it always works. Note: I have notified all my CC providers of the dates I would be traveling and locations. This is very important.

Also locate a bank in your area that has an ATM relationship with your bank at home. In Paris that is BNP Paribas, they don't charge transaction fees on my Bank Of American ATM euro withdrawls.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Monica Gonzalez on October 8, 2010 at 10:37am

Great topic. I've never used a CC overseas. I take my ATM cards and get cash for the whole trip. I do take one card for emergencies but so far I've never had to use it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Karen Bryan on October 12, 2010 at 12:05pm

I recently researched the best cards for UK residents to use abroad, the best credit card is the Halifax Clarity:
http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/2010/10/07/using-debit-cards-a...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mariellen Ward on October 12, 2010 at 12:53pm

American Express just held a dinner for bloggers in Toronto, with special guest Julia Dimon, the Travel Junkie, to announce their new rewards and redemption travel card. I think it's available very soon, and it's worth looking at. It will be free for the first while (six months? I can't remember) and it is supposed to be a whole new type of card that makes it really easy to accumulate and use points. We all agreed that AMEX was doing a good job at using social media and reaching out to bloggers -- they were a sponsor at TBEX in NYC in June, too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Meliha on December 15, 2010 at 9:34pm

Can you tell me more about this? Thx

 

--Meliha

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul D on October 12, 2010 at 1:57pm

Like Costa Rica said, the Schwab debit card linked to the checking account is the best.

ATM fees are refunded worldwide and no FX fees. Wrote about it a couple months ago here:

http://lifeinasack.net/2010/05/13/5-things-every-backpacker-should-...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Savvy Tourist on October 15, 2010 at 11:08pm

I did a post a few years back about choosing the right credit card for international travel. Check it out if you want.
http://www.thesavvytourist.com/the_savvy_tourist/2008/02/no-interna...

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page