Best credit cards for international travel 2020

Independent travel is a trend that people around the world have actively taken up. Moreover, there are many offers from airlines, rental services, etc. For many companies, this situation has become a signal for the development of the category “goods and services for travel”, and banks are no exception.

Over the past few years, travel credit cards have significantly changed. While previously an offer rarely went beyond earning miles from a particular airline, today, banks are betting on the guaranteed cashback, airport services, the ability to use the card for daily expenses, etc. profitably.

It’s very convenient to use a credit card when traveling. It is easier to get than a consumer loan, and it is more convenient to pay for various purchases than using cash. You can apply for the best travel credit card online with delivery to a bank branch or personally. This page contains the latest travel credit card offers. When choosing, take into account the credit limit and grace period, interest rate, opening and maintenance costs, bonus programs, and other conditions.

What to pay attention to when using a credit card abroad?

To avoid an awkward situation, it’s better to think about how you will pay in buses, hotels, and shops before boarding a plane. Sometimes, knowing the currency of the state is not enough. You should find out which payment systems work in this country, whether cards are accepted in cafes and gas stations, and how many ATMs are there.

Learn in advance how things are with the payment infrastructure and fraud in the chosen country. Search the Internet for Russian-speaking communities: locals and tourists willingly share their tips and experience. Usually, in the popular tourist destinations – countries of Europe, Turkey, Thailand, and others – a tourist can easily pay by a card or withdraw money at the nearest ATM.

However, in many exotic countries, paying with a card or even finding an ATM is a big problem. Sometimes, local banks don’t work with any of the largest international payment systems. In this case, it may be easier to change the currency in advance and (just in case) find out where you can find exchangers with the best rate.

Find out if there are many ATMs where you go and how safe it is to use them. You can use Google Мaps or special apps and check if there are ATMs near your place of residence.

It is better to use an ATM in a bank branch or in a protected area of a hotel/shopping center. So, there is less risk that fraudsters will steal your card data, since installing illegal programs on an ATM in such a place is much more difficult.

Check the commissions. Ask what fees your bank takes for cash withdrawals at ATMs abroad and for payment of purchases. Ask what fees your bank takes for cash withdrawals at ATMs abroad and for payment of purchases.

Some banks offer to open the best credit cards for international travel, which you can use to pay for purchases at a favorable rate or withdraw cash abroad without a commission. However, it is better to find out in advance whether there are restrictions on the number or amount of operations.

International banks can have a wide network of their own ATMs in certain countries, and preferential terms apply specifically for them.

Obtain a few cards. It is better to choose different banks and (just in case) different international payment systems and. Unfortunately, payment systems can have temporary failures, and staying abroad without access to the account even for several hours may be very unpleasant. Specify in advance which payment systems are most popular in the selected country.

Warn the bank before the trip. When you select and apply for the best travel credit card, tell the bank when and where you are going. Don’t forget to name all transit points (if any). Otherwise, the bank may consider your foreign payments suspicious and block the card. Make sure that the bank has your contact phone number that you have during the trip.

Download useful apps to your smartphone. For example, currency converters and interactive cards with ATMs and bank offices.

What should be the card for traveling abroad?

Reliable bank. It would be unpleasant to find out that your bank has burst while being abroad. Yes, money in bank accounts is insured, but the payment of compensation begins 14 days after the license is revoked. If you find yourself on vacation or a business trip during these two weeks, you’ll be left without funds. Credit ratings will help you choose the most stable banks.

Optimal international payment system. Different payment systems are popular in different countries: most ATMs and payment terminals are set up for them. For example, China has its own payment system — UnionPay and Japan — JCB.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, but there are exceptions. It is better to clarify this in your bank before traveling. Anyway, you should take a couple of cards from different international systems with you.

Personal. Your name and surname must be indicated on the map. And it is desirable that they coincide with what is written in your passport. When paying by card abroad, hotels, rental companies, and shops with a large purchase may require a passport. Some meticulous employees compare each letter.

With a chip. In Europe (and not only), most payment terminals are adapted only for the chip cards. If you have a valid card with a magnetic strip only, it is better to order another one with a chip. However, in the USA, the opposite is true: there are payment devices that work only with magnetic strips, and not with chips. You should ask your bank in advance if it allows magnetic stripe transactions. Not all banks permit it, and some of them even immediately block the credit card for international travel if you try to use a magnetic stripe and not a chip.

Allowing you to pay online. Make sure that your card allows you to pay online. As a rule, it must have a CVV or CVC code on the back. It is a very convenient option for foreign trips. You can rebook the hotel online, book and buy regional train tickets, tickets to theaters and museums not to stand in lines. In many countries, it is often more convenient to pay for services (for example, taxi) via mobile applications by adding your bank card.

Conclusion

Many people prefer to spend their holidays abroad. However, in the present circumstances, foreign travel can be pretty expensive for the family budget. In this case, you can draw credit and rest on credit. But what to do if you don’t have time to collect the required package of documents and expect a loan decision from a bank?

It is much easier and faster to apply online for a tourist credit card, get it at any time convenient for you without thinking whether you have enough money for the trip. The best credit card for travel benefits is a high credit limit, a long grace period, an acceptable interest rate, and a quick decision.