Travel Credit Cards
One of the cheapest ways to spend abroad

Going abroad or spending on foreign websites? Get a specialist travel credit card for near-perfect exchange rates worldwide. This guide includes best-buy cards, the cards to avoid, and how to check what your card's charging you when you use it overseas.
Best-buy cards overseas
How do travel credit cards work?
Specialist travel cards are so good for spending abroad because they don't charge fees. Use your everyday plastic while on holiday and you could be hit by a host of hidden charges (for full details, read the hidden holiday spending charges note). These include adding a non-sterling transaction fee of around 3%, cash withdrawal fees and interest charges even if you pay off in full (on credit cards).
But there are credit and debit cards that don't charge these fees, making them ideal to use when you're on holiday or buying from overseas websites. Use this checker to find out what you'll pay when using your existing card and check out our best buy cards below to find cards that don't charge.
If you think any cards should be added to the tool, please email us.
Use our eligibility calculator to find cards you're most likely to get, without hitting your credit score
Making an application is recorded on your credit file. While a single one is not a big problem, especially if you've a good credit score, lots in a short time are problematic.
So use our Travel Credit Card Eligibility Calculator to show cards you're most likely to get, so you don't waste an application. And it's NOT recorded as a hard search on your credit file.
The 8 need-to-knows when spending abroad
Top travel credit cards
Good if you spend AND withdraw cash plus 0.25% cashback on spending worldwide
The Barclaycard Platinum Cashback Plus card has no fees on spending or cash withdrawals overseas, plus gives 0.25% cashback on all spending, till 31 August 2023. Unlike other cards in this guide, if you pay off your balance in full each month, you won't be charged interest on overseas cash withdrawals – as long as you let Barclaycard do the conversion for you and not the local ATM.
You can't get this card if you're an existing Barclaycard customer or have had a Barclaycard within the past six months.
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: None abroad, 2.99% (min £2.99) in UK
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest on spending and non-sterling cash withdrawals
Interest on overseas cash withdrawals? No, if repaid in full every month
Representative APR (variable): 21.9% (see Official APR Examples)
Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 27.9%
Card issuer: Visa (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
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The Tandem credit card has no fees for overseas spending as long as you repay IN FULL and as an added bonus, you earn 0.5% cashback when you spend on the card abroad and in the UK. This is credited to your account on each statement date.
There are also no fees for withdrawing cash, though you will pay interest until you pay it off (5p-ish per £100 per day), so minimise this by paying as soon as possible – eg, via internet banking while away. If you get a lot of cash out, you'll likely be better off with the Barclaycard above. To apply, you must download the Tandem app for iOS or Android.
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: None overseas, 2.5% (min £2.50) in UK
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest on spending
Interest on overseas cash withdrawals? Yes, until it's repaid in full (see FAQs)
Representative APR (variable): 18.9% (see Official APR Examples)
Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 18.9% to 24.9%
Card issuer: Mastercard (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
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Good long-term track record for cheap overseas spending, but no cashback
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: None
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest on spending
Interest on overseas cash withdrawals? Yes, until it's repaid in full (see FAQs)
Representative APR (variable): 18.9% (see Official APR Examples)
Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 18.9% (poorer credit scorers may get 25.9%)
Card issuer: Mastercard (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
See how likely it is you'll get this card
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Easier-to-get card that's good for spending, plus 0.5% cashback, but high withdrawal interest
The Aqua Reward* card is designed for those with poor or no credit history, but it still gives near-perfect rates worldwide. It also gives 0.5% cashback on all spending – even abroad (max £100/yr cashback).
However, primarily use this only to spend as it charges 44.9% APR cash withdrawals even if you clear in full, plus a 3% fee (some poorer credit scorers will pay up to 69.9%). Also bear in mind that credit limits offered on this card are low, from £250 to £1,200.
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: 3% (min £3)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest on spending
Interest on overseas cash withdrawals: Yes, until it's repaid in full (see FAQs)
Cashback: 0.5% on all spending (max £100/yr) in UK and abroad
Representative APR (variable): 34.9% (see Official APR Examples)
Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 44.9% to 69.9%
Card issuer: Mastercard (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
See how likely it is you'll get this card
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Best of the rest
There are a few other cards that don't charge non-sterling exchange fees when you use them to spend overseas. If you're choosing a card, remember that Mastercard's exchange rate tends to beat Visa's rate, so factor this in when making your decision.
The cards above are our top picks but if you already have one of the cards below, it's usually not worth switching as the gains are small. Here are the 'best of the rest' of the cheapest overseas spending cards.
Top travel credit cards that charge no fees on purchases |
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TABLE_CELL_STYLE | CARD ISSUER | ATM FEE | CASH W/D INTEREST | REP APR (IF NOT REPAID) | CHECK YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING IT |
Creation Everyday | Mastercard | None | 12.9-21.9% | 12.9% | - |
Santander Zero | Mastercard | None | 18.9% | 18.9% | - |
Post Office Platinum | Mastercard | £3 or 2.5% | 27.9% | 18.9% | - |
Aqua Advance* | Mastercard | £3 or 3% | 44.9-69.9% | 34.9% | Eligibility calculator |
B Credit Card | Mastercard | £3 or 3% | 27.9% | 9.9% | - |
Virgin Money* | Mastercard | 3% | 27.9% | 19.9% | Eligibility calculator |
Curve (1)(2) | Mastercard | None (up to £200/mth) | None | None | - |
(1) Curve is an app-based card that lets you add your normal cards to it. It offers free overseas spending on up to £500/mth (2% fee above this). Free overseas withdrawals are available on up to £200/mth (higher of 2% fee or £2 above this). (2) Curve adds a mark-up on rates at weekends (0.5% for EUR/USD and 1.5% for other currencies). |
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Top overseas debit cards
It's also possible to get non-sterling transaction fee-free debit cards, but you'll need to shift bank account. It's questionable whether it's worth it just for this (as you're forgoing other bank account perks – see Best Bank Accounts), which is why we favour just getting a credit card and using it right.
There are four current account providers offering debit cards without non-sterling transaction fees, although two of them are restricted to certain areas or are only non-sterling transaction fee-free in Europe.
App-based Starling Bank* has a current account that charges no non-sterling transaction or cash withdrawal fees when you use its debit card worldwide. While it's a current account, you don't have to switch to it, pay in a minimum amount or have direct debits set up (so you can treat it like a prepaid card).
It's easier to get than a credit card and Starling won't do a full credit check on you (as long as you don't request an overdraft), so it could be a good option if you don't want other lenders to see it on your file. As an added boon, you'll also earn 0.5% AER interest on up to £2,000 and 0.25% AER interest up to £85,000.
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: None
In-credit interest: 0.5% AER interest up to £2,000, 0.25% between £2,000 and £85,000
Arranged overdraft cost: 15% EAR variable
Unarranged overdraft cost: 15% EAR variable
Card issuer: Mastercard (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
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Monzo Bank offers an app-based current account that has no fees for overseas spending or cash withdrawals.
While it's a similar offering to the Starling card above, fee-free overseas cash withdrawals are limited to £200 in any 30-day period – a 3% fee applies above this.
Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%
Cash withdrawal fee: None up to £200 per 30-day period, 3% above
In-credit interest: None
Arranged overdraft cost: £20 buffer, then 50p per day (max £15.50/mth)
Unarranged overdraft cost: £20 buffer, then 50p per day (max £15.50/mth)
Card issuer: Mastercard (see Mastercard vs Visa vs Amex rates)
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While the accounts above are our top picks, here are some other current accounts to consider:
- Metro Bank: With its current account, Metro Bank charges no non-sterling transaction fees or cash withdrawal fees when you use its debit card in 34 European countries. Outside Europe, you'll pay a non-sterling transaction fee of 2.75%. You can open the account online or in branch.
- Cumberland Building Society: If you have a Cumberland Plus current account with Cumberland Building Society, it charges no foreign exchange fees or cash withdrawal fees on the debit card that comes with the account. However, you need to live in its operating area – it covers Cumbria, south west Scotland, West Northumberland and North Lancashire.
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