An appropriate card can save money and give peace of mind when traveling in Europe. These cards typically don’t charge foreign transaction fees and come equipped with travel insurance policies such as trip cancellation or interruption coverage and lost luggage protection – not to mention bonus points!
Credit cards often provide airport lounge access, priority boarding and other travel-related perks – however not all cards offer these features equally.
Credit Cards
No matter if you’re a student or planning your European adventure, finding a card tailored specifically to your travel needs can save time and money on fees and currency exchange rates. Plus, with so many cards out there to choose from it can even help unlock rewards such as airport lounge access for free traveller or Global Entry membership with trip cancellation insurance! Finding your ideal travel card may prove difficult though with so much variety out there available – the next best card may lie hidden among all these choices awaiting discovery!
Credit cards that offer excellent travel credit in Europe should have no foreign transaction fees and high earnings on purchases like dining and activities that are typical while traveling. When choosing the appropriate card for you, take into account both your needs as well as its terms such as its annual fee structure.
If you’re traveling internationally, make sure your credit card comes equipped with chip-and-PIN capability. This technology is more prevalent in Europe than it is here, helping prevent fraud by requiring a PIN number when transactions take place. Many popular travel rewards cards such as Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier Cards provide this technology.
Make sure that your credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees and offers an advantageous earn rate on non-travel purchases, like Chase’s Ink Business Preferred Card which offers three times Ultimate Rewards when spending $150,000 or more in bonus category spending that includes travel – plus 25% redemption bonus on travel booked through Chase portal! Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also provides 2 miles per dollar spent and 10 miles when booking hotel and rental car stays through Capital One Travel.
Be sure that your credit card offers essential travel protections, such as lost and stolen luggage coverage and trip interruption and delay insurance. Many cards offer this coverage only when charges are made against the card; most also have specific rules on which expenses qualify. If in doubt about whether a particular credit card offers such features, call to inquire and/or consider applying for another before heading out on your journey.
Debit Cards
Traveling through Europe can be one of the most memorable adventures you ever take, but an unexpected bank bill due to high international exchange rates and extra charges can quickly ruin all that fun.
However, making a few wise moves can help protect against costly surprises. One such measure would be using a debit card without foreign transaction or ATM withdrawal fees for purchases or cash advances; similarly a credit card with foreign fee waiver capabilities or high-interest checking account that refunds ATM fees could also prove useful.
Be sure to inform your card issuer of your plans to travel abroad prior to leaving home; doing so can reduce the likelihood that it is frozen in case of a dispute over charges made against it. In addition, look for rewards cards which provide discounts or benefits which can help offset travel expenses.
Make sure your cards are chip-and-PIN enabled – some European machines require you to enter a PIN when making debit transactions. If your card doesn’t already support this feature, ask its issuer about turning it on before heading overseas – many rewards credit cards offer this feature but it is best to confirm before traveling abroad.
Make the most of your trip to Europe by using a credit card with an airfare bonus, like the United Explorer Card with its welcome bonus of 60,000 miles – enough for one round-trip ticket! And with Capital One Venture X Rewards card you’ll earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car bookings as well as 5X miles when booking flights through Capital One Travel.
Remember to always keep some cash handy for things such as public transit and local vendors if your card gets lost or stolen. It could come in handy should something unexpected come up!
If you need to buy something important before your trip, use a credit card that has a balance transfer option – that way you can pay off debt before the big purchase and potentially secure a lower interest rate on it.
Cash
Since credit and debit card use has become much simpler and safer in Europe over time, packing some cash (or Apple Pay/Google Pay) as backup might still prove helpful should something go amiss while traveling.
How you choose the appropriate cash card for European travel will ultimately depend on your personal preferences. Take into account how much you are willing to spend in fees as well as which currencies you intend to use, among others. There are various travel prepaid cards with lower foreign transaction and ATM withdrawal fees than others, but before making your choice it’s essential that you research their features as well as any possible restrictions or features they might entail.
Debit cards with either the Visa or Mastercard logo should be accepted across Europe, while more popular cards will support most if not all major currencies in use, including euros, British pounds and others. Unfortunately, when using traditional debit cards they usually incur currency conversion or foreign transaction fees that could add up quickly if you spend heavily quickly.
Solution: Consider purchasing a travel card from Wise that waives both currency conversion and ATM withdrawal fees, such as their World Elite Mastercard and Chime Money Cards which offer family travel insurance as well as additional perks. Most cards can be loaded with Euros, pounds or dollars before leaving home; most allow users to add currencies in-app to plan ahead for trips abroad.
Consider opening a checking account from one of the more user-friendly banks, offering contactless debit cards without overseas transaction fees – for instance Chime has one with no foreign transaction fees and works seamlessly with mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Opening one with them is free; any fees for overseas transactions would only apply if activated prior to travelling abroad.
Credit Card Perks
There are various credit card perks that can save travelers money when traveling, but it is essential that they understand which cards offer them and how they work. Selecting a suitable credit card for international travel will make your journey simpler and more pleasurable, offering benefits such as travel insurance, airport lounge access, Global Entry membership or other features that help save money or enhance comfort abroad.
When selecting a card for European travel, it is also essential to carefully consider its fees. Cards without foreign transaction fees may be ideal as these allow travelers to avoid incurring expensive currency conversion fees during their journey.
Select a credit card that allows for rewards in multiple categories, such as dining and entertainment expenses that are commonly spent upon in Europe. Cards offering bonus points for these spending areas can quickly accumulate. There are even cards with cash back features – these cards provide even greater opportunities to maximize earnings while meeting any minimum spend requirements of sign-up bonuses available to you!
Before traveling abroad, it is also wise to verify whether your credit card offers chip and PIN capability. Many merchants in Europe require the use of PINs when conducting transactions; so if in doubt about whether your card does support this feature or not, calling your card provider could help make sure everything goes smoothly.
Selecting a travel card that best meets your personal needs and preferences depends on you. One approach would be to review your trip budget, then research which card offers the highest rewards on purchases. It’s also essential to keep in mind any annual fees or extra benefits such as Global Entry/TSA PreCheck membership that could offset its higher annual fee; for example if traveling internationally frequently it could make sense to opt for such an offer with annual membership fees that include free memberships.