Packing the wrong card for an international trip can cost you real money. Foreign transaction fees typically add around 3% to every purchase, and the wrong card can also lock you out of lounge access, free checked bags and hotel perks that make long journeys far more tolerable. A new roundup from The Points Guy breaks down which cards actually earn their place in your wallet abroad, and the details are worth knowing before your next booking.
The starting point is simple: whatever card you carry should have no foreign transaction fees. Beyond that, the right choice depends on how you travel. For all-round value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) gets a top nod — it earns 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide, 2 points on travel, and bundles trip delay, trip cancellation and primary rental car coverage. What it doesn't give you is lounge access, so if airport comfort matters, look elsewhere.
For a more premium setup, the Capital One Venture X ($395) earns a flat 2 miles per dollar on everything, throws in a $300 annual travel credit (booked through Capital One Travel) and 10,000 bonus miles each year, plus entry to Capital One and Priority Pass lounges. The catch: the credit only works if you book through their portal, and the fee is hard to justify if you travel rarely.
Dining-focused travellers have options too. The American Express Gold earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide up to $50,000 in annual spend, but Amex acceptance is patchier outside the US, so a Visa or Mastercard backup is essential. The fee-free Capital One Savor, with 3% back on dining and entertainment, covers the same ground for casual travellers.
At the top end, the Amex Platinum ($895) unlocks the Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges — genuinely useful on long layovers, but only if you'll actually use the credits and perks. Airline loyalists might prefer the United Quest ($350), which includes a $200 United credit, free checked bags for you and a companion, and expanded saver award availability. Hotel loyalists can look at the World of Hyatt Card ($95), which includes automatic Discoverist status and an annual free night, or the Hilton Honors Aspire, which comes with Diamond status and complimentary breakfast at many properties abroad.
A few practical threads run through the whole comparison. Cards with portal-specific credits (like the Venture X) only pay off if you're happy booking that way. American Express works well in the US but less reliably in some markets, so always carry a second card on a different network. And premium cards with fees approaching $900 only make sense for frequent travellers who'll use lounge access, statement credits and elite status repeatedly — for a once-a-year holiday, a $95 or no-fee card is usually the smarter buy.
If you're planning a trip abroad in the next few months, it's worth ten minutes reviewing what's in your wallet now. Apply early: new cards take time to arrive, and some welcome bonuses require hitting a spending threshold within the first few months — best done before you leave, not after.
