No spending fees
Most credit cards apply a flat fee of around 3% every time you use them abroad. Travel cards won’t charge or will have a low fee, instantly saving you a hefty sum
Compare travel credit cards for the EU and worldwide
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Apply for a travel credit card in minutes
A travel credit card is a specialist credit card providing travel-related benefits including:
No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad
No charges for overseas cash withdrawals
Competitive exchange rates
Cashback on overseas spending
Many people opt for travel credit cards to use abroad because it makes spending abroad cheaper.
Select your deal: Choose a credit card that offers the features you want, such as no fees or rewards points on your spending
Start spending abroad: You’ll have an agreed credit limit, which you should stick to - whether spending overseas or at home. The average guaranteed credit limit for MoneySuperMarket users searching for travel credit cards is £2500[2]Based on the median guaranteed credit limit of users searching for credit cards to spend abroad through MoneySuperMarket in December 2024, by the highest eligibility rating returned.
Pay off the balance each month: Our data shows that the average representative APR for a travel credit card is 27.1%, however if you were to pay off the balance each month then you wouldn't have to pay any interest. Doing this will also help to increase your credit score. A minimum monthly repayment is required to avoid charges
When you're pre-approved, the deal you see is the deal you'll get. The interest rate and card fees (if applicable) are all confirmed up front (subject to lenders final checks)
Our soft search won't impact your credit score.
You’ll see your personalised chance of approval for all credit cards, so you can easily compare your options and boost your chances of acceptance.
*Based on MoneySuperMarket enquiry data from September 2024
Here is a selection of our best travel credit cards, ordered by lowest foreign purchase fee.
Accurate as of Friday, 24 January 2025
£30 account credit for purchases totalling £2000 or more, made within the first 90 days of account opening. T&Cs apply. Only available through MoneySuperMarket Group, on accounts opened between 30/12/24 and 30/01/25
Halifax
Halifax World Elite Mastercard
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.94% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 55% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
£30 account credit for purchases totalling £2000 or more, made within the first 90 days of account opening. T&Cs apply. Only available through MoneySuperMarket Group, on accounts opened between 30/12/24 and 30/01/25
Lloyds Bank
World Elite Mastercard
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.94% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 55% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
Earn up to 15% cashback with selected retailers on your Credit Card purchases by registering for Cashback Extras. T&Cs apply
Halifax
Clarity Credit Card
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.94% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 23.9% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
This is a selection of our top 3 travel credit cards, ordered by lowest foreign purchase fee.
Using a travel credit card comes with benefits and downsides, such as:
Saves you money: A travel credit card is made to be used abroad, it’ll usually be cheaper than a standard credit card.
Financial protection: A travel credit card can give you financial protection if something goes wrong. Credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000 are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Perks: Depending on the type of card you have, you could benefit from perks such as rewards and cashback. Some travel credit cards will give you cashback on your spending abroad.
Fees: You might have to pay an annual fee for your travel credit card.
High-interest rates: If you don’t pay off your balance on time you can face high interest rates.
Transaction fees: Shops and restaurants could charge you a transaction fee for not using local currency
Yes, you can get a travel credit that will not charge you foreign transaction fees. These fees are usually a 2-3% charge placed on your card when used abroad.
If you get a card that has no foreign transaction fees, it could seriously save you money abroad. And better still, you won’t have to worry about being charged every time you use your card overseas.
Cards without foreign transaction fees work by converting your payments to the local currency.
But it’s worth bearing in mind that cards with no foreign transaction fees may not have the best exchange rates as your money is being exchanged by a third party.
As of January 2025, the base rate stands at 4.75%, after the Bank of England voted for 0.25% reduction on 7th November. More cuts are expected soon, but they're generally predicted to be gradual and in small, quarter-point increments.
While credit card interest rates aren't directly tied to the base rate, they often track it to some extent. A lower base rate can encourage lenders to reduce the interest rates they charge on credit cards, making borrowing more affordable. Therefore, if interest rates continue to fall in the coming months, you will likely start to see APRs start to come down on travel credit cards.
However, it is also worth noting that interest rates, and therefore borrowing costs, are still high compared to recent years, with the base rate being as low as 0.1% just 3 years ago.
A travel credit card is designed for spending overseas and has the following features:
Most credit cards apply a flat fee of around 3% every time you use them abroad. Travel cards won’t charge or will have a low fee, instantly saving you a hefty sum
Exchange rates are one of the hidden dangers of spending on plastic when you’re abroad. Travel cards usually aim to have better rates
If you use an ATM abroad for a cash withdrawal, you’ll usually be charged a fee and interest from the moment the money’s withdrawn. Travel cards may waive this fee
Some travel credit cards offer benefits to customers who travel frequently. These include discounts on travel insurance or reward points for flights
The last thing you want to worry about while on holiday is being ripped-off when using your credit card to pay for things. By choosing the right type of card in advance, you can save yourself a packet as you won’t pay a fee for each purchase and some may even waive cash withdrawal fees. This means you’re left with more money to spend while you’re away instead of that same money going to a credit card provider.
Kara Gammell Personal Finance Expert
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
When you apply for a travel credit card, lenders will look at your credit score and carry out a hard search on your credit file. Were you to rack up multiple hard searches on your file in a short period, it would negatively impact your credit score.
That’s why it’s important you use our eligibility checker before applying. That way, you’ll be able to see how likely you are to be accepted before applying. What’s more, you can rest assured that because we’ll only carry out a soft search, using the eligibility checker won’t harm your credit score.
Comparing travel credit cards couldn’t be easier with MoneySuperMarket. Our eligibility checker will show you the cards you are most likely to be approved for – so you can protect your credit score
We’ll ask you a few simple questions about you and your financial circumstances and what you need from a travel credit card
We’ll sift through travel credit cards from across the market to show you the offers we think will suit you best
You’ll be shown a range of credit cards which you’ll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
You can, both when you’re at home and abroad. You can buy foreign currency from a bureau de change before you leave with a regular credit card at no charge.
You can do the same overseas, but you’ll be charged transaction fees on a non-travel card. And even if you use a travel card to avoid the fees, the chances are that the local exchange rates will be a little less favourable.
Many credit cards come with perks, and travel insurance is one of the more popular offers. Check the small print from your card issuer to see if you have a travel insurance package with your current card.
Travel credit cards are among the cheapest ways to spend money abroad, but it’s not obligatory to bring one. Travel money is another fine option, as are prepaid cards and even travellers’ cheques, though these are declining in use.
You don’t need to let your card supplier know when you’re travelling, but it’s not a bad idea if you’re planning to bring it. A sudden spike in spending in another country may set off automatic alarm bells on your account – and it’ll be helpful should the worst happen and your card is stolen.
Some travel credit cards offer rewards like cashback or vouchers worth a percentage of what you spend.
There are also airline credit cards available. These are designed for domestic spending, but they offer a specific reward: frequent flier miles that can specifically be redeemed on air travel. If you travel often, this type of card can be useful as your main credit card when you’re at home.
You can make a complaint about your travel credit card to your provider directly. You should be able to do this by calling them, emailing them or even visiting a local branch if they have one.
It can be more costly to use your normal credit card on holiday than a travel credit card. This is because your normal credit card was made to be used in the United Kingdom. So, using the card you use at home abroad will likely come with a range of charges such as foreign transaction fees.
If you pay with your specialist travel credit card in the local currency and your network provider is Visa or Mastercard, you’ll probably get the best possible exchange rate available.
Debit cards: A debit card allows you to spend the money in your current account.
Prepaid cards: These cards are topped up with travel money in your chosen currency. They can be used like debit cards.
Cash: You can get travel money in the local currency of your destination. You can compare competitive exchange rates with MoneySuperMarket.
You can get a travel debit card, however they tend to come with more fees and don’t offer the best exchange rates. However, some digital banks, allow you to make purchases abroad without any extra charges.
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
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