The best credit cards for international travel for September 2024

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Choosing the right travel credit card can make your international trips smoother and more rewarding. Whether it saves you money with every swipe, gets you into an airport lounge, or reimburses you for a flight delay, a great travel card turns travel roadblocks into minor bumps.

When choosing a card for overseas travel, look beyond just avoiding foreign transaction fees. The ideal travel card offers a mix of travel protections, rewards on travel spending, and perks that elevate your experience abroad.

From premium cards with luxury benefits to no-annual-fee options with solid rewards, there's a card for every traveler.

Best credit cards for international travel

None of these cards charge foreign transaction fees, and all offer travel rewards to boost your next international trip:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury travel and high-end perks

The Amex Platinum is a premium travel rewards card known for its luxury perks and travel benefits. It comes with a high annual fee, but if you want to travel in style, it's worth its weight in platinum.

Rewards:

• 5X Membership Rewards® Points on travel booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1X)
• Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through American Express Travel
• 1X on all other purchases

Redemption options: Transfer to over 20 airline and hotel partners, book travel through Amex Travel, statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.

Additional perks:

• Recurring travel credits toward eligible airline incidental fees, CLEAR® Plus membership, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fees
• Prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel, benefits with Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection properties, and more
• Annual credits for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, Walmart+ membership, Equinox fitness membership, Saks Fifth Avenue products, and several digital entertainment subscriptions (Terms Apply)
• Airport lounge access through American Express Global Lounge Collection, including complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, Delta Sky Club membership, and more
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Premium status with complimentary car rental programs (Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and National Car Rental® Emerald Club) and a variety of other travel perks
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection, including cellphone protection and return protection

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

If you travel frequently and regularly stay in hotels, the Amex Platinum injects extra luxury into every international trip. Just note that American Express isn't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, so factor that in if you plan to use your card while abroad, too.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: Best for perks and travel rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve combines bonus earnings on everyday spending with high-end travel perks. It offers a variety of travel protections and lounge access options, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers who are willing to pay for these benefits.

Rewards:

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠ (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 10X points on Chase Dining purchases booked through Chase Travel℠
• 10X points on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
• 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠ (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
• 3X points on other general travel worldwide (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 1X points on all other purchases

Redemption options: Points are worth 50% more when you redeem through Chase Travel℠, which means 50,000 points would be worth $750 when redeemed through the portal.

You can also transfer those points to Chase's travel partners, redeem points for gift cards, statement credits, cash back, Pay with Points at checkout with Amazon.com and PayPal, Chase Dining, Shop Apple products, or book other unique and exclusive experiences.

Additional perks:

• Up to $300 of statement credits on travel purchases each account anniversary year.
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge access after enrollment
• Application fee credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• Comprehensive travel insurance, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and more
• Complimentary, limited-time credits and other partner perks with Lyft, DoorDash, Peloton and GoPuff
• No foreign transaction fees

Annual fee: $550

If you're after high-end perks and protections, The Chase Sapphire Reserve has them in spades. While it comes with a price tag, it’s similar to other premium travel cards like the Amex Platinum. To make these cards worth it, you'll need to take advantage of enough perks to offset the annual fee.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for high rewards rates and redemptions

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One's best travel card for several reasons. Its annual fee is lower than that of other premium travel cards, the rewards structure is straightforward, and the card offers various travel perks.

Rewards:

• 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Redemption options: Book travel through the Capital One portal, transfer to airline and hotel partners, redeem miles for cash back, gift cards, and more.

Note that the value of Venture X miles varies based on the program and redemption, despite the 1:1 transfer ratio to multiple travel partners. It may not always provide the best value, so choose your redemption options carefully.

Additional perks:

• Up to $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years
• 10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on first anniversary), worth $100 toward travel
• Access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges
• Hotel perks through Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection
• Travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car insurance, travel accident insurance
• No foreign transaction fees
• Price drop protection through Capital One Travel — up to $50 in travel credits if the price drops within 10 days of booking

Annual fee: $395

Venture X offers excellent rewards, benefits, and travel protections for those who frequently book through the Capital One Travel portal. However, potential redemption inflexibility may be a drawback for some.

Citi Strata Premier® Card: Best for earning rewards at gas stations and supermarkets

The Citi Strata Premier Card earns bonus points in many categories conducive to international travel.

Rewards:

• 10X ThankYou points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3X points on air travel, other hotel purchases, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, and restaurants
• 1X points on all other purchases

Redemption options: You can redeem points for gift cards, travel on thankyou.com, or transfer to ThankYou travel partners.

Additional perks:

• Annual hotel benefit of up to $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com
• Trip delay protection
• Common carrier trip cancellation and interruption protection
• Lost or damaged luggage protection
• MasterRental coverage

Annual fee: $95

While the Strata Premier doesn't have all the lounge access and other premium travel perks of other cards on this list, it also has a lower annual fee of $95. This card offers a good middle ground if you want to boost your international travel without paying a higher annual fee.

United℠ Explorer Card: Best for regular United fliers

While airline-specific credit cards often offer fewer benefits than flexible point cards, the United Explorer Card provides numerous perks that make it great for international travel.

Rewards:

• 7X total miles per dollar on United flights
• 2X on other United purchases, dining, and hotels booked directly with the hotel
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Redemption options: You can redeem points for United flights, upgrades, partner transfers, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, and gift cards.

Additional perks:

• Two United Club one-time passes per year
• Priority boarding
• Free first checked bag for you and one companion
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

While other airline credit cards — even United cards — might have more perks, they also have much higher annual fees. The United Explorer Card packs a punch for international travel with a modest annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for everyday spending with no annual fee

Unlike other cards on the list, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card has a $0 annual fee. If you’d rather not pay for a travel rewards credit card, this is the one for you.

Rewards:

• 3X points on travel, restaurants, gas stations, transit, streaming services, and phone plans
• 1X points on other purchases

Redemption options: You can redeem points for gift cards, travel, statement credits, or PayPal purchases.

Additional perks:

• Cell phone protection — up to $600, minus a $25 deductible, when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card
• Auto rental collision damage waiver insurance
• No foreign transaction fees
• Interest-free intro period on purchases

Annual fee: $0

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card may not offer top-end airline or hotel perks, like free checked bags or resort credits, the tradeoff is not paying an annual fee. For some people, that's the best deal out there.

How to choose a credit card for international travel

Think about your travel habits and spending patterns – the best card for you is one that aligns with how you actually travel and spend.

Key factors to consider

• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel protections and insurance
• Rewards rate, welcome offer, and annual fee
• Travel partners and transfers
• Airline status, priority boardings, and free checked bags
• Airport lounge access
• Hotel status and perks

Every card on this list will earn bonus points and allow you to redeem them for travel. Most of the cards with higher annual fees offer credits and services that help offset their costs, but you need to use those credits and services to make it worth your while. How much those perks are worth to you depends entirely on how you travel.

Choose a card based on your travel style

Different travelers need different card features. Here's a quick guide:

• Frequent business travelers: Prioritize premium cards with lounge access, elite status benefits, and high earning rates on travel expenses.
• Occasional vacationers: Look for cards with no annual fee or lower fees that still offer solid travel protections and rewards on everyday spending.
• Luxury seekers: Focus on cards providing high-end perks like hotel upgrades, concierge services, and exclusive experiences.
• Budget travelers: Choose cards with no foreign transaction fees and good base earning rates without high annual fees.
• Brand loyalists: Consider co-branded airline or hotel cards if you frequently use specific airlines or hotels.

By aligning your card choice with your travel style, you'll maximize benefits and more effectively offset any annual fees.

How to maximize your card’s benefits for international travel

Here are a few ways you can make the most of your card’s benefits:

1. Leverage transfer partners: While most transfers occur at a fixed ratio, redemptions through airline or hotel partners often value your points at more than $0.01 each, outperforming statement credit options. This can stretch your points further, especially for premium cabin flights or luxury hotel stays.
2. Understand redemption sweet spots: Research the best redemption options for each program. For instance, you might find better value using United miles for flights to Asia or Delta miles for European trips. Consider your frequent destinations when selecting a card, and focus on cards with partners that align with your travel patterns.
3. Optimize point earning: Pay attention to bonus categories that match your spending habits abroad, such as dining, transportation, or specific airline purchases. Some cards offer elevated earning rates on international transactions, so check your card's terms before traveling.
4. Use travel perks: Take advantage of included benefits like lounge access, travel credits, and insurance coverage. These perks can significantly offset annual fees and improve your travel experience.
5. Stay informed: Track promotions or bonus point offers and regularly check your card’s benefits to make sure you’re not missing out on perks that could save you money or upgrade your travel experience.

Frequently asked questions

How we rated the best travel credit cards

To determine the best travel cards, we evaluated each card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available. Read more about our methodology here.

The bottom line

The best travel card aligns with your travel style and financial goals. Maximizing card benefits often requires strategic use, such as booking through specific portals or leveraging transfer partners. The key is choosing a card whose features you'll actually use. Ultimately, the right travel credit card can do more than just save you money — it can elevate your entire travel experience.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.