Best International Travel Credit Cards 2025
Karl says, “For international travel, you need a card with no foreign transaction fees, strong travel protections, and great rewards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top pick for its comprehensive travel insurance, valuable point transfers, and no extra charges on international purchases. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers premium perks like a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and 10X points on hotels. If you’re looking for a card with high earning potential abroad, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a fantastic choice with 10X points on travel booked via CitiTravel and flexible redemption options.”
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Key offer
– Enjoy robust travel insurance that covers trip cancellation/interruption (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip), trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket), baggage delay, and lost luggage protection.
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– Use your card overseas without extra charges, making international purchases more affordable.
– Earn bonus points on travel and dining that are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel, with the option to transfer points 1:1 to top airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Card Rewards
• 5X points on travel purchased through chase travel portal (excluding the $50 annual hotel credit).
• 5X points on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025.
• 5X points on Peloton gear over $150, up to 25,000 points until Mar. 31, 2025.
• 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
• 2X points on all other travel purchases.
• 1X point on all other purchases
Premium Benefits
– Receive a $50 annual hotel credit for bookings made through Chase Travel.
– Benefit from comprehensive travel protections including:
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
• Trip Delay Reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket)
• Baggage Delay Insurance (up to $100 per day for 5 days)
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• Lost Luggage Protection (up to $3,000 per person)
– Enjoy 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service for personalized travel assistance.
– Redeem your points for travel with 25% more value through Chase Travel or transfer them 1:1 to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
– No foreign transaction fees and rewards that never expire, ensuring your card remains valuable for both everyday spending and international travel.
Minimum Qualifications
Chase won’t approve you for this card if you have the Sapphire Reserve or if you have opened this card in the last 48 months. If you want to apply for this card and currently have the Sapphire Reserve, you can call Chase to downgrade it to a Freedom Unlimited. After three days, you can apply for this card.
Foreign Transaction
$0
Key offer
– Enjoy a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, which helps offset the $395 annual fee and makes international travel more affordable.
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– Earn accelerated rewards on travel: 10X points on hotels and rental car bookings and 5X points on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2X points on all other purchases—ensuring you quickly accumulate miles for global trips.
– Benefit from premium perks such as complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status and access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, offering comfort and convenience on international journeys.
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
The Capital One Venture X offers the perfect combination of premium travel benefits, strong international acceptance, and comprehensive travel protection. The card’s Visa Infinite status ensures wide acceptance globally, while offering premium travel insurance and lounge access.
Card Rewards
• 10X miles for each dollar spent on Capital One Travel hotel and rental car bookings.
• 5X miles for each dollar spent on Capital One Travel flight bookings.
• 2X miles for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
– Receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary—boosting your rewards balance for future travel.
– Receive up to a $120 statement credit every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, speeding up security processes when traveling abroad.
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– Enjoy comprehensive travel protections—including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage—providing peace of mind on every international trip.
– No foreign transaction fees and miles that never expire as long as your account is open, this gives you the maximum value from every purchase overseas.
Foreign Transaction
- None
Key offer
– Enjoy accelerated rewards on international travel—earn 10X ThankYou® Points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via CitiTravel, and 3X points on air travel, dining, supermarkets, gas, EV charging, and car rentals—allowing you to quickly build a rewards balance for global trips.
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– Benefit from superior travel protections and flexible redemption options: Transfer your points to top airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeem them directly for travel, merchandise, or gift cards, ensuring your rewards go further on international adventures.
– Receive robust additional benefits like a $100 hotel discount on qualifying bookings, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection that safeguard your international purchases.
Welcome offer
For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Annual fee
$95
Card Rewards
• 10X total ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attraction bookings on CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596).
• 3X ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
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• 1X ThankYou Point for each $1 spent on all other purchases.
• You will earn the 10x bonus ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions (excluding air travel) when booked through the CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596)
• The booking must be posted to your account during the promotional period to qualify.
• This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled.
• For bookings made with a combination of points and your Citi Strata Premier® Card, only the portion paid with your card will earn points.
Premium Benefits
– Earn 3X points per dollar on any travel and dining plus the new category of EV charging.
– Redeem your points for travel redemptions via thankyou.com or transfer them 1:1 to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering high-value options for international travel.
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– Enjoy additional savings with a $100 discount on a hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through CitiTravel, once per calendar year.
– Protect your high-value international purchases with extended warranty protection (adding 24 months to eligible warranties) and purchase protection (up to $10,000 per claim).
– Benefit from comprehensive travel coverages—including trip cancellation and interruption insurance—providing peace of mind on every international journey.
Foreign Transaction
0%
Regional Acceptance & Considerations
| Region | Best Card Type | Key Considerations | Local Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | Chip + PIN Visa/Mastercard | Contactless payments common, PIN required | Local bank partnerships |
| Asia | Visa/UnionPay co-branded | Mobile payments prevalent | JCB, UnionPay |
| Latin America | Visa preferred | Cash still important | Local processors |
| Middle East | Visa/Mastercard | High-end merchants | Regional networks |
Pro Tips for International Travelers
Before Your Trip
- Set up travel alerts
- Download offline maps
- Note emergency numbers
- Check card acceptance
During Adventure
- Always pay in local currency
- Keep receipts for claims
- Use ATM inside banks
- Monitor transactions daily
Emergency Situations
- Contact card issuer first
- Use premium concierge
- Document everything
- Keep digital copies