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Although I like to talk about using points and miles to travel for free, the truth is there are a number of fees involved in the process. Credit card annual fees, fees on award tickets, the list goes on. But one fee that you should – and can – avoid at all costs is foreign transaction fees on your credit card.
These fees are insidious and unnecessary. Unlike foreign exchange fees, they can be charged even if your purchase is in USD. You can even run into them when making purchases in the United States, if your merchant is registered outside the US. A classic example of this would be booking plane tickets on a foreign airline directly from their website.
More and more credit cards are recognizing that these fees do nothing more than generate ill-will with their customers and are waiving them. In fact, all of my top card offers at the moment waive foreign transaction fees. Here are a few of the cards that earn a coveted spot in my wallet when I travel internationally.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has been one of my favorite cards since it launched in 2016 and is my go-to card when I’m on the road. Most of the purchases I make abroad are for either food or travel, so I love earning 3 points per dollar with the Sapphire Reserve. I get a lot of value out of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, especially by transferring them to travel partners like Hyatt and United. In addition to the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, and global entry credit, I love knowing that my purchases on this card are covered by Chases’s amazing travel insurance and purchase protection.
Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 points after $4,000 spent within the first 3 months
If you like being rewarded for eating out and traveling, but don’t want to pay the $450 annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be the card for you. While it doesn’t come with all the same perks as it’s more premium sibling, it offers 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, travel and baggage insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee on this card is only $95 (waived for the first year), making the Sapphire Preferred a great way to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points without paying too much out of pocket.
Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 points after $4,000 spent within the first 3 months
Forbes has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. Forbes and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers.
Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express
The Starwood Preferred Guest Card has always been a winner at home, but since Amex removed its foreign transaction fees in 2015 it’s become a winner abroad as well. I consider Starpoints to be the most valuable of any rewards currency mainly because of the multitude of ways you can use them. SPG has reasonable prices for hotel award nights, or you can transfer the points 1:3 to Marriott instead. You can also transfer your points to over 30 different airline partners, and you even earn a 5,000 point bonus for every 20,000 points you transfer. This opens up some incredible options including transferring to Alaska Airlines or American Airlines to book Cathay Pacific’s incredible first class product.
Welcome Offer: 25,000 points after $3,000 spent within the first 3 months
The Platinum Card from American Express
By far the best use of the Amex Platinum is earning 5x points for purchasing airfare through Amex travel or directly with the airline. Thankfully this card has no foreign transaction fees, so you can enjoy the full benefits of what I consider to be a 9.5% return on spend. This card is an ideal travel companion for other reasons as well, including access to Centurion lounges around the world, complimentary gold status with Hilton Honors and SPG, and access to an amazing concierge team that’s helped me on numerous occasions.
Welcome Offer: 60,000 points after $5,000 spent within the first 3 months
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One is very unique in that none of their cards have foreign transaction fees. The Venture Rewards card earns miles instead of points, which can be redeemed for travel purchases for a fixed value making them extremely flexible. The card now offers an incredible 10 miles per dollar for hotels.com bookings made it hotels.com/venture allowing you to enjoy even more rewards on your travel purchases.
Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 miles after $3,000 spent within the first 3 months
Whatever card(s) you decide to carry with you on the road, make sure you’re not leaving any money on the table! Odds are you already have a card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees and if you don’t, there are plenty of great offers to consider before your next big trip.
