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When traveling internationally, you’ll want to use a credit card that doesn’t charge international fees. It’s also nice if your card has some kind of travel rewards. The best travel cards for me are Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Marriott Bonvoy credit card. I also use the Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account debit card because they reimburse ATM fees.
One important thing to know when using any credit or debit card internationally is to decline the conversion. When you withdraw money at ATMs it will ask if you want to use their conversion rate. Always decline because your bank will give you a much better rate. Similarly, when paying with cards at stores, restaurants, or hotels, sometimes it will ask if you want to pay in USD or the local currency. Always choose the local currency to get the best conversion rate.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve are popular credit cards for traveling. They both have zero international fees and include travel insurance for trips less than 60 days.
They also both use Chase Ultimate Rewards. You earn points with your purchases and can redeem points for flights, hotels, cashback, or other rewards. Your points are worth more when redeeming for travel. If you always fly the same airline, it might be better to use the airline’s credit card. But Chase Ultimate Rewards is a better option if you want more flexibility.
Like most credit cards, the biggest rewards will be in your sign up bonus. Time signing up for the new card so you can use the sign up bonus points toward your trip. The sign up bonuses change depending on different promotions. The current sign up bonus for Chase Sapphire Preferred is 60,000 bonus points. This is worth $600 as cashback or $750 if redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal. Note that you need to meet the requirements to receive the sign up bonus. For this bonus you need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Chase Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee of $95 and Chase Sapphire Reserve has an annual fee of $550. This is why I use Chase Sapphire Preferred. But the extra annual fee for Chase Sapphire Reserve does give you some extra benefits, including a $300 travel credit and airport lounge access. The benefits are always changing for new cardholders so double check before you sign up.
If you want a travel credit card with no annual fee, Chase Freedom is a good option. It uses the same Chase Ultimate Rewards portal as Chase Sapphire, and you can combine points if you have both.
Best Hotel Credit Card
My favorite hotel credit card is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. There are currently 3 options for Chase Marriott Bonvoy cards with annual fees ranging from $0-$250. Compare the benefits and sign up bonuses of the different cards here.
Marriott has a lot of different brands at different price points. There’s a Marriott owned hotel in most of the places I travel so this card made sense for me.
In addition to your sign up bonus and points from purchases, you also get a free night each year. The more you stay at Marriott hotels the more benefits you’ll receive, such as late check out and welcome gifts.
Best Debit Card for International Travel
The Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account is the best debit card to use abroad because they reimburse ATM fees. This card doesn’t have an annual fee, but it also does not have rewards or a sign up bonus. I only use it for ATMs and use my credit card when making purchases. It is a huge relief to not worry about ATM fees when traveling.
Keep in mind that you will still be charged the ATM fee when you withdraw money and will be reimbursed at the end of the month. This can make a big difference when your balance is low.