If you are going to travel abroad, you might not realise that most credit and debit cards have hefty fees for using abroad or in a different currency. These fees vary between companies.
But there are some cards that have no fees for use abroad or in a different currency, which I have listed in this post. You can save yourself a lot of money by using these cards.
Before you travel, make sure to check your card fees as many debit and credit cards have large fees for using abroad. Don’t assume to know what they are, have a check.
Ideally, you should travel with two cards so you have one for backup in case there are any issue with the first one.
I personally always make sure I have a back up as you never know if something will get blocked as they don’t expect the expense as not all banks allow you to inform them of travel.
I have experienced this myself, so I always carry a second card.
Here is a list of the best UK credit cards and debit cards for using while travelling abroad;
Credit Cards
- Barclaycard Rewards – No foreign transaction fees, plus 0.25% cashback on all purchases
- Halifax Clarity – No foreign transaction fee
- American Express Platinum Card – A range of travel benefits, including airport lounge access, travel insurance and more.
- Zopa – No foreign transaction fees, £3 ATM fee
Debit Cards
- Chase debit card – No foreign transaction fees, plus 1% cashback on all purchases
- Monzo – No foreign transaction fees, 3% if you withdraw more than £200 a month from non-EEA countries (£250 if non-EEA)
- Starling debit card – No foreign transaction fees
- Virgin Money Current Account – No foreign transaction fees
Whichever card you choose, remember to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid paying interest and to keep an eye on your balance so you don’t overspend!
