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16 Best Travel Credit Cards of July 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

The best travel credit card is one that brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Purchases earn points or miles you can use to pay for travel. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider one of that company's branded travel credit cards. Otherwise, check out our picks for general-purpose travel cards that give you flexible travel rewards without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of July 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Max flexibility + big bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Best hotel card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Best airline card

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card : Best for Credit union benefits

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card : Best for Booking directly with airlines/hotels

Best Travel Credit Cards

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Max flexibility + big bonus

Flat-rate rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, luxury travel perks, business travelers, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, bonus rewards + high-end perks, best hotel card, travel rewards for rent payments, best airline card, credit union benefits, booking directly with airlines/hotels, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Max flexibility + big bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Our pick for: Booking directly with airlines/hotels

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Our pick for: Triple points on everyday categories

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns bonus points on select travel, supermarkets, dining, gas stations and EV stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well. Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: B est airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Best hotel card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Business travelers

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Are you in Canada?

See NerdWallet's best travel cards for Canada.

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How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on June 24 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

Business travel can earn credit card rewards just like leisure travel. Credit cards that earn rewards for travel purchases don't distinguish between one or the other — meaning, if a card pays 3X points on airfare, for example, it's going to pay it no matter why you're buying the ticket. There are also travel credit cards specifically designed for business operators, with benefits and perks better aligned with their needs.

Where things get complicated is when you're not arranging the travel yourself. With credit card points, the rewards go to the cardholder. So if you arrange travel through your employer and the cost goes on the "company card," then the company card gets the points. Put it on your own card and get reimbursed later, and you get the points. (And if you have a company card with your name on it? That may come down to company policy.)

When redeeming travel rewards, you want to get as much value as possible. If you can get more value by using your rewards than by using cash, then it's smart to do so. (And of course, the reverse also applies.) NerdWallet has calculated the baseline values of most major credit card points, airline miles and hotel points. When you get a value that exceeds these baselines, go ahead and use your rewards. If not, consider using cash.

For example, say you could book a trip by paying $400 cash for a ticket or by redeeming 50,000 points or miles. In that case, your points would be getting you a value of 0.8 cents apiece (50,000 x 0.8 cents = $400). If the baseline value of each point is 1 cent, then you're better off paying cash and saving the points for when you can redeem them for 1 cent or better.

That said, you don't want to be overthinking it and hoarding points indefinitely in search of the deal to end all deals. Like any other currency, travel rewards lose value over time. That flight that costs 50,000 points today might cost 55,000 next year. Do you have enough points to get you where you want to go, when you want to go, in the way you want to get there? If so, don't let fractions of a penny stop you from booking your trip. It's your money, and you get to decide how to spend it.

A number of travel credit cards come with "travel credits," which reimburse you for specific expenses. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® , for example, has a $300 annual travel credit; several cards offer credits toward things like airline fees or hotel bookings; and a bunch of cards have a credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry .

The less restrictive a credit is, the easier it is to redeem. The easiest travel credit to redeem is one that:

Applies to a broad range of expenses. Some credits are very fickle. You may get $200 a year in "airline credit," but it applies only to incidental fees (not airfare) on a single airline that you have to choose ahead of time. A card may offer hundreds of dollars in credit toward travel, but you have to go through the issuer's booking portal, where rates may be more expensive and options more limited. Other credits, however, are broad and open-ended: $300 on any travel expense, $100 toward any airline booking, and so on.

Shows up automatically on your statement. Your issuer's system should be able to recognize qualifying expenses and then apply the credit to them without you having to do anything. If the only way to receive the credit is by calling a phone number or submitting receipts or other documentation, that makes it harder to redeem, which in turn makes it less likely that you'll redeem (and that may be the point).

About the author

Sara Rathner

Travel Card

Get our best rate on the award-winning travelex money card. manage your card via our app or online., buy currency, top up card.

Rate last updated Tuesday, 25 June 2024 3:06:21 PM AEST. Please note that these are the Travelex online sell rates.

[fromExchangeAmount] [fromCurrencyCode] Australian Dollar

[toExchangeAmount] [toCurrencyCode] [toCurrencyName]

Enter the card number of the Prepaid Card you would like to top up. The number of the Prepaid Card you are topping up must be the Primary Card Number and must have been originally purchased from Travelex.

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Select the currency you would like to top up to your card

Enter how much you'd like to top up, either in Australian Dollars, or in the foreign currency amount for the currency you have selected.

This section is optional on mobile

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The Travelex Money Card

Travel Card Exchange Rates & Currencies

Choose your currency, $0 currency conversion fee when spending a currency not on your travel card:.

The below calculator is a handy tool to help you estimate the applicable exchange rate for your transaction 2 :

Spend Calculator

You can use this calculator to see what your spend would look like for your trip. It will help you estimate the applicable exchange rate for your transaction.

• Netherlands
• Vatican City
• Czech Republic

Save with the Travelex Money Card

$0 Eftpos Fees

$0 atm fees 1, $0 currency conversion fees ^, $0 online shopping fees*, $0 free delivery to your home, heading to paris this summer.

If you are heading to Europe for one of the many sporting events taking place in summer, plan ahead by ordering euros online and get our best AUD to EUR rates when ordering over $2,000 online. If your itinerary includes countries outside of the eurozone, you can choose from 50+ cash currencies.

Buy before you fly and collect in-store or get free home delivery (Travelex Money Card only). For more tips on managing your travel money, check out our Europe travel money guide and costs to go to Paris this summer .

Whether you’re going for gold medals or winning goals, don’t miss out on witnessing the world’s top athletes in Europe this year.

Features and Benefits

UNLIMITED FREE overseas ATM withdrawals 1

Highly competitive exchange rates

NO fees when you buy online $0 Currency conversion fee ^

24/7 Global Assistance

Convenient Mobile App Download it here

Shop at millions of outlets wherever Mastercard is accepted and on international websites with the local currency

Buy online, collect in-store or get it delivered to your home (allow up to 7 days from when payment is received)

5 ☆ outstanding value award winning travel money card

Exclusive offers with Mastercard Priceless TM Cities

TAP & GO with your Android phone via Google Pay™ and Google Wallet™ Read more

How our Travel Card Works

Order your travel card.

Order your Travelex Money Card online or in-store (passport or driver's license required)

Get your travel card

Collect from a Travelex store or delivered FREE to your home (allow up to 7 days from when payment is received)

Download the App

Download the app from the Google Play and Apple App stores

Register for My Account

Simply activate your card by registering your account via the app or online

Manage and check your balance online and on your mobile

Exchange leftover currency

After your trip, exchange leftover money for another currency, transfer into your bank account or withdraw in-store or at an ATM.

Fees and Limits

NO fees online $0 Currency conversion fee ^

Withdraw daily up to AU$3,000 (or currency equivalent)

Maximum Card limit of AU$50,000

Free initial and replacement card

The following fees and limits apply. Fees and limits are subject to variation in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. Unless otherwise specified, all fees will be debited in AU$ Currency

If there are insufficient funds in AU$ Currency to pay such fees, then we will automatically deduct funds from other Currencies in the following order of priority: AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, THB, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$.

• Online: FREE via travelex.com.au or the Travelex Money App • In-Store: FREE for loads of foreign currency (loads of Australian dollars (AUD) incur a fee of 1.1% of the amount or $15 whichever is greater).

• Online: FREE via travelex.com.au or the Travelex Money App • In-Store: FREE for top-ups of foreign currency (top-ups of AUD incur a fee of 1.1% of the amount or $15 whichever is greater). • BPAY: Top-ups not made via travelex.com.au or the Travelex Money App incur a fee of 1% of the amount. - MasterCard Biller Code: 184416 - Reference No: your 16 digit Travelex Money Card number - Funds will be allocated to your default currency. To check your default currency login to your account.

FREE (note: Some ATM operators may charge their own fees or set their own limits)

• Charged at the start of each month if you have not made any transactions on the card in the previous 12 months
• Unless your card is used again, or reloaded, this fee applies each month until the card is closed or the remaining card balance is less than the inactivity fee.

AU$4.00 per month

• Charged when you close your card or withdraw from your Card Fund. This fee is set and charged by Mastercard Prepaid.
• This is applied when you move your funds from one currency to another currency.

At the then applicable retail foreign exchange rate determined by us. We will notify you of the rate that will apply at the time you allocate your funds from one currency to another.

• Applied when a purchase or ATM withdrawal is conducted in a currency either not loaded or sufficient to complete the transaction and the cost is allocated against the currency/ies used to fund the transaction.

FREE* *The Spend Rate will apply to foreign exchange transactions in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

AU$350 or currency equivalent AU$100 or currency equivalent

AU$50 or currency equivalent

The maximum amount you can load on the card at the time of the initial online purchase is AU$5,000 equivalent.

to a maximum of $10,050 per single top-up; and to a maximum of $10,050 top-up value over 24hrs; and to a maximum of $20,000 top-up value over 21 days.

AU$3,000 or currency equivalent

AU$15,000 or currency equivalent

Other Important Information

Please read the following information about your Travelex Money Card carefully:

• Your Travelex Money Card does not generate any interest or any other similar return. You do not earn interest on the amount standing to the credit of the Travelex Money Card Fund accessed by the card.
• Although the issuer of the card is an authorised deposit-taking institution in Australia, the Card is not a deposit account with the Issuer.

Important Information about Fees & Limits for loads/top ups made online:

• If you are making a purchase or topping up the Card online via www.travelex.com.au (i) the initial load and top up fee may differ to (but not be greater than) those contained in the “Fees and Limits Table” of this Product Disclosure Statement; and (ii) the limits may differ to those contained in the “Fees and Limits Table” of this Product Disclosure Statement. Travelex may also charge a card surcharge if you pay with a credit or debit card. Please refer to the relevant online terms and conditions available at www.travelex.com.au for details of the applicable fees and limits.
• AU$ cannot be loaded or topped up onto a card online via www.travelex.com.au

Terms & Conditions

Download the travelex travel money app.

Convenience on the go

• Top up your Travelex Money Card
• Check your balance
• Quick touch log in

The app requires Android 5.0 and up or iOS 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Special Offer

Load aud on your travelex money card and save when spending in the below currencies.

• Free Online AUD Load and Top-Ups
• $0 International ATM Fees

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Receive an alert when your selected foreign currency has reached your desired rate

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Travelex Travel Card Currency Information

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Getting Started

Using the Card

Topping up the Card

Travelex Money Card FAQ

You can only hold one card in your name at any one time.

Top-up via the Travelex website

Note that you must use your unique reference number when paying or the transfer may be delayed.

Top-up via the Travelex Money App

Move currencies on your card, instantly.

If you have AUD (or any other currency) already loaded on the card, you can move your funds to another currency within the Travelex Money App. Instant top-up!

Top-up in a Travelex store

Direct top-up via bpay:.

Top-ups not made via travelex.com.au or the Travelex Money App incur a fee of 1% of the amount. You must make payment using your own account.

MasterCard Biller Code: 184416 Reference No: your 16 digit Travelex Money Card number

Funds will be allocated to your default currency. To check your default currency login to your account. Top ups will generally take two business days to be processed however may take longer if the payment is not made before 2pm on a business day Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Yes, travel money cards come with a host of advantages that can save you money when travelling. These include the ability to load multiple currencies at a fixed and competitive exchange rate, and the capability to make purchases in-store, online, and at ATMs worldwide with no overseas ATM or withdrawal fees.

• Locking in fixed foreign currency exchange rates and avoiding foreign transaction fees before you travel
• The ability to load multiple currencies onto one card, similar to a travel debit card
• The ability to spend money conveniently and comfortably overseas
• No overseas ATM withdrawal fees
• No fees when making online purchases
• Travel money cards can be ordered online and collected in store next day (when paying by debit/credit card).
• Just walk in store. Cards purchased and loaded in-store are active and ready-to-use on the spot. We will automatically transfer funds between currencies complete your card transactions.
• Home delivery within 5-7 business days (from when payment is received).

Travelex stores abroad cannot provide balance enquiries or offer cash-out as they do not have access to your Australian issued Travelex Money Card details. - For balance enquires, you can check it on the Travelex Money App or call us on 1800 440 039 . - Cash-out may be offered in local shops that provide this service.

Most common questions

The best travel money card for Australians is the one that caters to the currencies available at your destination, removes ATM withdrawal and foreign purchase fees, and has the best exchange rate. The Travelex Money Card is a prepaid travel card and has been awarded the best prepaid travel card by Mozo two years in a row.

A travel money card is a global currency card that allows you to load several foreign currencies into a personal account at a prevailing exchange rate . Like debit and credit cards, a travel money card can be used to make purchases in stores, online, and to withdraw cash at ATMs while travelling. You can buy currencies and add or reload them into your travel money card account via a mobile app whilst abroad.

One of the best ways to use the Travelex Money Card is with the Travelex Money App. The Travelex Money App makes ordering, transferring, and checking currencies quick and simple on your travel card. You can also use the Travelex travel exchange rate tracker to check currencies in real time.

You can order a travel money card online or purchase one directly from a Travelex store. Find a store near you.

• Travel money cards can be ordered online and collected in store next day.
• Home delivery within 5-7 business days.

The Travelex Money Card is a Mastercard travel card, meaning it is free to make international withdrawals at ATMs displaying the Mastercard acceptance mark. It is also free to obtain cash over the counter and to make online purchases with a travel money card. However, some ATM operators may charge their own withdrawal ATM fees. Be sure to check with the ATM in question prior to making cash withdrawals.

Similar to any bank account, you can withdraw money from your travel money card at ATMs worldwide. When withdrawing cash, select the “credit” option on the ATM machine screen to access funds. You will not be charged credit card fees by selecting this option. If the “credit” option does not work, try selecting “debit” or “savings”. The maximum withdrawal amount is 3,000 Australian dollars each 24 hour period. Bear in mind that some ATMs may also have their own ATM fee, adding a cost to your withdrawal.

The Travelex Money Card is a multi currency card that can be used in most countries around the world. Widely considered the best travel money card for overseas travel, the Travelex Money Card can be used in the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, and many more countries.

The initial card fee is free, subject to minimum load amounts. Please see the fees and limits section for more information. There are fees associated with the way you use your card e.g. the type of transaction, the currency you use, and when you move currencies on your card. Limits also apply to top up amounts and method of top up. Please see more information on applicable fees and limits section.

Activity on your Travelex Money Card is monitored every day to detect unusual behaviour, and if something is spotted you'll be contacted to check your transactions. There are also things you can do to help keep your travel money secure: • Sign your card as soon as you receive it • Check your transactions regularly and report anything unusual to Card Services immediately • If you print statements from the internet, keep them safe and shred them when you've finished using them • Never give your personal details to someone on the phone • Don't give out your details in response to unsolicited email • Be wary of anyone who asks for common security details like your mother's maiden name, passwords, date of birth, or information about your work • Never give your PIN to anyone, even if they claim to be from your card issuer • Don't let yourself get distracted when using cash machines or point of sale terminals - somebody may be trying to find out your PIN

Google Pay and Google Wallet are trademarks of Google LLC. Mastercard Prepaid Management Services Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 47 145 452 044, AFSL 386 837) arranges for the issue of the Travelex Money Card in conjunction with the issuer, EML Payment Solutions Limited (‘EML’)(ABN 30 131 436 532, AFSL 404131). You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement for the relevant Travelex Money Card and Target Market Determination available at www.travelex.com.au , before deciding to acquire the product. Any advice does not take into account your personal needs, financial circumstances or objectives and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

* Transacting via some online merchants may incur a surcharge.

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Go to a nearby Western Union agent location. Complete the prepaid services form and present it to the agent along with your card and the cash you wish to load.

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State Bank Foreign Travel Card - Personal Banking

State bank foreign travel card.

• Eligibility

Required Document

How to apply, download section.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card, is a prepaid Foreign Currency card that makes your foreign trip trouble-free and convenient. It is a Chip based EMV compliant Card which stores encrypted and confidential information. It offers you a convenient and secure way to carry cash anywhere in the world (valid worldwide except in India, Nepal and Bhutan).

SBFTC is available in nine Foreign Currencies viz. US Dollars (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (YEN), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).

• ISIC (International Student Identify Card) Membership (Valid upto Sep’2024)
• International SIM card with 28 days validity period and upto 5 GB of data (Valid upto 30.11.2024)
• Issued in association with VISA International and MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd.
• Accepted all over the world except in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
• Available for retail (students, tourists, pilgrims, medical needs, etc) and corporate customers (Companies, Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, etc.).
• Minimum amount of load/Re-load: USD 200/ GBP 120/ Euros 150/ CAD 200/ AUD 200 / YEN 15,800 / SAR 750 / SGD 250 / AED 750.
• Competitive exchange rates.
• Maximum amount of issue: As prescribed by Reserve Bank India (RBI) / Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) / Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) depending on the purpose of overseas visit. Presently, equivalent to USD 2,50,000.00 or equivalent per financial year for Education/ Employment/Medical/ Business Trip/Tourism/Pilgrimage.
• Reloadable any number of times, within the RBI / LRS / FEMA regulations cited above. Card can be reloaded at any authorised Branch.
• Operable by 4 digit PIN at ATMs and by PIN/Signature at Merchant Establishments.
• Free balance enquiry at State Bank Group ATMs in India and VISA /MasterCard ATMs overseas (at a charge).
• Free balance enquiry and view/download details of transactions through  https://prepaid.sbi  (VISA) or  https://www.sbitravelcard.com  (MasterCard).
• Add-on cards, not exceeding two (2) for VISA and one (1) for MasterCard, can be given for use of the card holder in case of loss / misplacement / defacement of the card.
• A 24 x 7 call centre to provide information and hot-listing (block) the card in case of loss / misplacement. Additionally, VISA SBFTC holder may block (temporary / permanent) online at https://prepaid.sbi
• Card can be used for online transaction (e-commerce) POS payment, ATM Cash withdrawal beside balance enquiry at ATM. Validation through VBV and use of CVV2 has been made mandatory in our system for performing e-commerce transaction for ensuring safety of the money of the cardholder. Ecommerce sites allowing transaction without validating VBV and CCV2 will be rejected by the bank.
• SMS/e-mails alerts for each transaction*.
• *Disclaimer: The service is dependent on the infrastructure, connectivity and services provided by the service provider. State Bank of India will not be liable for any delay, inability or loss of information in the transmission of alerts.

Variants :

A. On VISA platform , SBFTC is available as both Multicurrency and Single Currency Card.

Multicurrency Card

• Multi-Currency SBFTC is available in 9 foreign currencies, viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).
• Cardholder has option to load all available currencies on a single card.

Single Currency Card

• Single currency card in eight foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD).

For more details, please refer to user guide, FAQ, Schedule of charges etc at website– https://prepaid.sbi

B. On MasterCard platform, SBFTC is available as Multi Currency card in seven foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).

For more details, please refer to user guide, FAQ, Schedule of charges etc at website – https://www.sbitravelcard.com

• Any resident individual {as per definition of FEMA, 1999 Section 2 (V)}, who plans to travel abroad except Nepal and Bhutan.
• Corporates for their employees whom they plan to send abroad for official purpose subject to completion of KYC norms.
• Parents/sponsors of the students going abroad for higher studies, in student’s name and can be subsequently reloaded up to the statutory ceiling, prescribed from time to time under FEMA guidelines 1999 and subsequent amendments.
• Foreign Nationals residing in India, subject to completion of KYC/FEMA norms.
• Signed application-cum-agreement form.
• Copy of valid Passport.
• Copy of valid PAN card.
• Document confirming intended foreign travel like VISA, Ticket, Proof of admission to a foreign university / institute or any other document.
• Proof of residence in case the address is different from that appearing on passport.

All eligible customers have two options to apply for SBFTC:

Option1: Online Application: You can apply for SBFTC Application through RINB ( https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/ ). Path to apply is ‘e-Services >> e-Cards >> Apply State Bank Foreign Travel Card’. A reference number is generated. Please take a printout of online application, and along with required KYC documents and papers visit any Authorised Branch for further processing for issuance of SBFTC.

Option2: Apply at Branch: Please visit any Authorised Branch, fill the application form and submit along with the required KYC documents and papers.

• List of Branches Selling FTC
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• SBFTC Application Form

Last Updated On : Monday, 12-02-2024

• Interest Rates

8.50%* p.a. onwards

w.e.f. 05.04.2024

*T&C Apply.

11.15% p.a.*

less than Rs.10 Cr. w.e.f 15.10.22

Rs.10 Cr. and above w.e.f 15.10.22

Starts From 8.85%*

SBI Realty Gold Loan

SBI Gold Loan

*T & C Apply

Starts From 7.90%

SBI Personal Gold Loan

Loan amount up to Rs. 3 lakhs

> Rs. 3 lakhs & up to Rs. 5 lakhs

Balance below Rs. 10 crs

Balance Rs. 10 crores and above

8.15% p.a.*

(On Applying through YONO)

2 years to less than 3 year

5 years and up to 10 years

11.25% p.a.

w.e.f 15.06.2024

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Cash back vs. travel points: How to choose credit card rewards

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Key takeaways

• Cash back credit cards are generally the better choice if you want to earn simple rewards on your regular purchases.
• A points or miles card may be a better option if you travel often or want to start earning travel rewards on your purchases.
• If neither option is the perfect fit, it may be worth trying out different credit card combinations and rewards structures to find what works best for you.

Rewards credit cards come in many forms. Some offer cash back, while others offer points or miles, and there can be potential benefits and downsides to both options. If you’re wondering which type of credit card rewards to choose, it helps to understand how these different card types work.

Cash back cards offer cash rewards as a percentage back on your purchases. These cards are often easy to use and primarily feature cash redemptions , though you may be able to choose additional options. Cards that offer points and miles typically have more flexible redemption options, though they’re often most valuable when redeemed for travel.

Travel Bankrate insight Used wisely, points and miles can be a crucial part of your credit card strategy. If you’re paying your balance each month to avoid interest, then credit card rewards are a great way to put more money back in your pocket.  Among cardholders who typically pay their card balances in full, 76 percent make an effort to maximize credit card rewards, according to an early 2024 Bankrate Chasing Rewards in Debt Survey .

But the type of rewards credit card and rewards structure that’s best for you ultimately depends on your spending habits and lifestyle. We compare cash back versus travel rewards here and outline some of the pros and cons of different types of credit card rewards. This way, you can choose which type of rewards structure is best for your spending habits and lifestyle.

What to know about cash back rewards cards

In general, cash back is the better choice for cardholders hoping to earn uncomplicated rewards on everyday purchases.

Cash back credit cards offer a percentage of cash back on each dollar you spend, with some cards offering a higher rate in select categories, like groceries or gas. Some cash back cards offer a flat 1.5 percent to 2 percent cash back for every purchase you make, while others offer higher bonus rewards — ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent back — in fixed or rotating categories .

While a flat-rate cash back card is great for those who want to take a simple, no-fuss approach to credit card rewards, utilizing fixed or rotating category cards can be a very effective strategy tailored to your spending habits and lifestyle.

Redemption flexibility

A major benefit of cash back cards is their flexibility when it comes to redeeming rewards. Depending on the cash back card you sign up for, you may be able to redeem your rewards for a check in the mail, a direct deposit or a statement credit to your account. Some of the best cash back cards let you cash in your rewards for gift cards, merchandise or travel rewards through your card’s travel portal, though the value for these options is often less.

Redemption value

Cash back credit cards tend to be a good value for consumers who rarely travel or prefer to save money along the way, rather than build toward a future experience. Cash back rewards are generally worth 1 cent each. For example, a 2 percent cash back card can yield you $2 for every $100 you spend.

Pros and cons

Consider these advantages and disadvantages when comparing cash back cards to points and miles credit cards:

• Earning and redeeming cash rewards is simple and quick.
• Cash rewards value tends to be straightforward and can be easier to maximize .
• There are many no-annual-fee cash back cards to choose from.
• Cash back credit cards may offer hefty welcome bonuses.
• Most cash back credit cards don’t come with notable travel benefits (but you may be able to earn rewards on certain types of travel purchases).
• Rewards value for cash back cards can be weaker when compared to the best travel credit cards .
• You may have limited redemption options — or no redemption options other than statement credits — depending on the card you choose.

What to know about points and miles cards

A points or miles card may be the better choice for those who travel often or wish to start earning travel rewards. Many types of rewards credit cards fall under the umbrella of “points and miles” cards . These cards include airline credit cards that let you earn frequent flyer miles in a specific frequent flyer program, and also flexible rewards cards that let you redeem points for travel in more than one way.

Points and miles cards also tend to come with useful travel benefits like airport lounge access, travel credits, application fee credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or built-in travel insurance benefits — although cards with the strongest benefits tend to charge high annual fees.

Some of the best travel credit cards on the market today offer strong flexibility when it comes to redeeming your rewards. If you have a travel credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, for example, you may be able to redeem your points for cash back, gift cards, statement credits, merchandise, travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal or even 1:1 points transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners .

Travel rewards tend to be worth more than cash back, and some of the best travel rewards currencies can be worth up to 2 cents each or more . However, your redemption value depends on how you redeem your travel rewards .

For example, if you cash in flexible points for a statement credit to your account, you may only get 1 cent per point in value. But if you transfer your points to a high-value travel partner, your points could be boosted to 2 cents each or more. You may also get more than 1 cent per point in value if you redeem your points for travel through your issuer portal.

Here are some general advantages and disadvantages of choosing a points or miles card over a cash back card:

• Travel rewards provide more value than cash back if you travel often.
• Perks like priority boarding , free checked baggage , airport lounge access or free nights at hotels help you travel in style.
• Many travel cards come with travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees .
• Travel cards generally have higher rewards rates and higher welcome bonuses
• Travel credit cards tend to have higher annual fees than cash back cards.
• Points and miles credit cards typically require more effort than cash back cards when it comes to tracking your rewards and making sure you’re getting the best value out of them.
• Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards often offer limited redemption options.

Which rewards are best for you?

When it comes to cash back versus points, it comes down to your spending habits and lifestyle. If you don’t travel much or care about using your rewards strategically toward lofty travel goals, you’re best suited for cash rewards.

You may want to opt for a flat-rate cash back card so you don’t need to keep up with rotating bonus categories or activating your rewards. No matter which type of cash back card you choose , this move will benefit you due to the sheer simplicity of earning rewards. And you’ll still get something back from your credit card spending, even if you don’t get the most value for your rewards.

If you get a rush out of turning $500 worth of credit card rewards into $750 or $1,000 worth of travel, then you’re a perfect candidate for a card that offers rewards in the form of points or miles. You’d benefit from a travel card that gives you plenty of options for boosted points or miles values and travel upgrades. If you travel throughout the year and want access to benefits to make air travel more comfortable, then an elite travel card may be an even better fit.

The bottom line

To determine whether a cash back, points or miles card is better for you, you’ll need to know what kind of cardholder you are and what type of rewards structure most closely matches your spending habits and lifestyle.

But it doesn’t necessarily come down to choosing between cash back vs. rewards. It’s not uncommon for cardholders to pair a few different credit cards to maximize their rewards , so trying out different credit card combinations and rewards structures could also be an option.

Types of rewards credit cards

A beginner’s guide to credit card points

How to redeem credit card rewards

Are my credit card rewards taxable?

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

How to decide which rewards credit card is best for you

Here Are the Four Best Travel Money Cards in 2024

François Briod

Co-Founder of Monito and money transfer expert, François has been helping Monito’s users navigate the jungle of money transfer fees, bad exchange rates and tricks for the last ten years.

Jarrod Suda

A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.

Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

From the multitude of bank fees and ATM charges to hidden currency conversion fees, there's no question that spending your money abroad while travelling can be costly — and that's saying nothing about the cost of the holiday itself!

As you prepare for your trip abroad, the golden rule is that you'll save the most money by using the local currency of your destination. This means withdrawing local cash at foreign ATMs and using a debit card to pay directly in the local currency. For example, if you're from the UK, using your bank's debit card that accesses your British pounds will likely lose you money to hidden fees at ATMs abroad and at local merchants.

In general, we rate Revolut as the best travel card all around. Its versatile account and card can be used to spend like a local pretty much anywhere in the world. ✨ Get 3 months of free Revolut Premium as a Monito reader with our exclusive link .

If you're from the EU, UK, or US, here are a few more specific recommendations to explore:

• Best for travelling from the UK: Chase
• Best for travelling from the US: Chime ®
• Best for travelling from the Eurozone: N26

If it's not possible for you to spend in the local currency when travelling abroad, then spending in your home currency while using a card that doesn't charge any hidden exchange rate markups from your bank (e.g. only the VISA or Mastercard exchange rates to convert currency) is still a good bet for most people.

In this guide, we explore cards that waive or lower ATM fees and that hold multiple currencies. Spend on your holiday like a local and enjoy peace of mind after each tap and swipe!

Best Travel Cards (And More!) at a Glance

Best travel money cards.

• 01. What is the best best multi currency card? scroll down
• 02. Are prepaid currency cards really it? scroll down
• 03. Monito's best travel money card tips scroll down
• 04. FAQ about the best travel cards scroll down

Revolut: Best All-Rounder

Revolut is one of the most well-known fintechs in the world because it offers services across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

• Trust & Credibility 8.9
• Service & Quality 7.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
• Customer Satisfaction 9.3

Revolut is available in many countries. You can double-check if it's available in yours below:

Here's an overview of Revolut's plans:

Revolut Ultra is currently only available in the UK and EU.

Like Wise, Revolut converts your currency to the local currency of your travel destination at an excellent exchange rate (called the 'Revolut Rate', which, on weekdays, is basically on par with the rate you see on Google), making it a good way to buy foreign currency before travelling abroad. As always though, bear in mind that Revolut's exchange rates might be subject to change.

Revolut's Standard Plan only allows currency exchange at the base mid-market exchange rate for transfers worth £1,000 per month. ATM withdrawals are also free for the first €200 (although third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee, and weekend surcharges may also apply). These allowances can be waived by upgrading memberships.

N26: Good Bank For EU Travellers

One of the most well-known neobanks in Europe, N26 and its debit card operate in euros only. However, N26 is a partner with Wise and has fully integrated Wise's technology so that you never have to pay foreign transaction fees on your purchases outside of the eurozone. While N26 does not have multi-currency functionality, N26 will apply the real exchange rate on all your foreign purchases and will never charge a commission fee — making N26's card a powerful card for EU/EEA residents who travel across the globe.

• Trust & Credibility 8.0
• Service & Quality 8.0
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.3
• Customer Satisfaction 8.5

These are the countries in which you can register for an N26 account:

And here is an overview of the various plans and account:

This low-fee option for banking is also ideal for travellers who do not belong to a European bank but frequent the Eurozone. For example, N26 is available for residents and citizens of Switzerland, Norway, and other European Economic Area countries that do not run on the Euro.

These citizens, who are in close proximity to the Eurozone, will save each time they spend with an N26 card while in Europe. N26 provides three free ATM withdrawals per month in euros but does charge a 1.7% fee per ATM withdrawal outside of Europe.

Take a look at our guide to the best travel cards for Europe to learn more.

Wise: Best For Multi-Currency Balances

Load up to 54 currencies onto this card at the real exchange rate, giving you access to truly global travel.

• Trust & Credibility 9.3
• Service & Quality 8.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

These are the countries in which you can order a Wise debit card:

Unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs, Wise is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your home currency into up to 54 currencies. The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with Wise.

An industry-low commission fee per transaction will range from 0.35% to 2.85%, depending on the currency.

Chase: Great UK Bank For Travel

A recent arrival from the USA, Chase is one of the UK’s newest digital challenger banks and comes with a rock-solid reputation and no monthly charges, no currency conversion charges, no withdrawal fees, and no other charges for everyday banking from Chase. It’s a simple, streamlined bank account with an excellent mobile banking app and a great cashback offer. However, it doesn’t yet offer more advanced features like international money transfers, joint accounts, business banking, overdrafts and loans, and teen or child accounts.

• Trust & Credibility 10
• Fees & Exchange Rates 10

Chime: Great Account For US Travelers

Chime  is a good debit card for international travel thanks to its no foreign transaction fees¹. Unlike multi-currency accounts like Revolut (which let you hold local currency), Chime uses the live exchange rate applied by VISA. This rate is close to the mid-market rate, and Chime does not add any extra markup to your purchases, although out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over-the-counter advance fees may still apply.

• Trust & Credibility 9.5
• Service & Quality 8.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.8
• Customer Satisfaction 8.2

While Chime waives ATM fees at all MoneyPass, AllPoint, and VISA Plus Alliance ATMs within the United States, this fee waiver does not extend to withdrawals made outside the country. For withdrawals abroad, Chime applies a $2.50 fee per transaction, with a daily withdrawal limit of $515 or its equivalent. This is in addition to any fees charged by the ATM owner. Therefore, we recommend Chime primarily for card purchases rather than relying on it for withdrawing cash while traveling internationally.

• No  foreign transaction fees ¹;
• Uses VISA's exchange rate ( monitor here ):
• A $2.50 fee per ATM withdrawal made outside of the United States;
• More info:  Read our  Chime review  or  visit their website .

Best Travel Money Cards in 2024 Compared by Country

In the table below, see our comparison summary of the four best travel cards for 2024 by country:

Last updated: 8 January 2024

What's The Best Prepaid Card to Use Abroad?

Travel cards come in many varieties, such as standard credit cards or debit cards with no foreign transaction fees or cards that waive all foreign ATM withdrawal fees.

What is a Multi-Currency Card?

Multi-currency cards are a specific type of travel card that allows you to own all kinds of foreign currencies, which you can instantly access when you pay with your card abroad. By spending the local currency in the region of travel , you bypass poor foreign exchange rates. ATMs and cashless payment machines will treat your card like a local card.

We have already mentioned a few multi-currency cards in this review, but we will also introduce Travelex . Travelex's Money Card also allows you to top up several foreign currencies — albeit at exchange rates slightly poorer than the real mid-market rate .

Wise Account

Wise has one of the best multi-currency cards available on the market.

Read our full review for more details.

Revolut is impressive for its vast options in currencies and its additional services.

Our in-depth review explores Revolut's services in detail.

Travelex offers a prepaid travel money card that supports 10 currencies and waives all ATM withdrawal fees abroad.

• Trust & Credibility 9.0
• Service & Quality 5.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.1

Travelex charges fees, which fluctuate according to the exchange rates of the day, in order to convert your home currency into the currencies that it supports. But once the currency is on the card, you'll be able to spend like a local. Learn more with our full review .

Don’t Let Banks, Bureaux de Change, and ATMs Eat Your Lunch 🍕!

Are you withdrawing cash at an ATM in the streets of Paris? Exchanging currencies at Gatwick airport? Paying for a pizza with your card during a holiday in Milano? Every time you exchange currencies, you could lose between 2% to 20% of your money in  hidden fees . Keep reading below to make sure you recognize and avoid them.

Currency Exchange Fees Eating My Lunch? What’s That?

You’re often charged a hidden fee in the form of an alarming exchange rate.

At any given time, there is a so-called “ mid-market exchange rate ” — this is the real exchange rate you can see on  Google . However, the money transfer provider or bank you use to exchange currencies rarely offers this exchange rate. Instead, you will get a much worse exchange rate. They pocket this margin between the actual rate and the poor exchange rate they apply, allowing the bank or money transfer provider to profit from the currency exchange. 

In other words, you or your recipient will receive less foreign currency for each unit of currency you exchange. All the while, the provider will claim that they charge zero commission or zero fees.

So the question now is… how can you avoid them? Thankfully, the best travel money cards will allow you to hold the local currency, which you can access instantly with a tap or swipe. Carrying the local currency avoids  exchange rate margins  on every purchase.

Top Travel Money Tips

• Avoid bureaux de change. They charge between 2.15% and 16.6% of the money exchanged.
• Always pay in the local currency and never accept the  dynamic currency conversion .
• Don't use your ordinary debit or credit card unless it's specifically geared toward international use. Doing this will typically cost you between 1.75% and 4.25% per transaction. Instead, use one of the innovative travel money cards below.

By opting for a travel card without FX fees, you can freely swipe your card abroad without worrying about additional charges. However, saving money doesn't stop there. To make the most out of your travel budget, consider using  Skyscanner , one of the most powerful flight search engines available that allows you to compare prices from various airlines and find the best deals.

With Skyscanner's user-friendly interface and comprehensive search options, you can discover cheap flights and enjoy your holidays with peace of mind and more money in your pocket.

Best Travel Money Card Tips

When you convert your home currency into a foreign currency, foreign exchange service providers will charge you two kinds of fees :

• Exchange Rate Margin:  Providers apply an exchange rate that is poorer than the true  "mid-market" exchange rate . They keep the difference, called an  exchange rate margin .
• Commission Fee:  This  fee  is usually a percentage of the amount converted, which is charged for the service provided.

With these facts in mind, let's see what practices are useful to avoid ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges you may encounter while on your travels.

Tip 1: While Traveling, Avoid Bureaux de Change At All Costs

Have you ever wondered how bureaux de change and currency exchange desks are able to secure prime real estate in tourist locations like the Champs-Élysées in Paris or Covent Carden in London while claiming to take no commission? It’s easy: they make (plenty of) money through hidden fees on the exchange rates they give you. 

Our study shows that Bureaux de Change in Paris charges a margin ranging from 2.15% at CEN Change Dollar Boulevard de Strasbourg to 16.6% (!!) at Travelex Champs-Élysées when exchanging 500 US dollars into euros for example. 

If you really want cash and can’t wait to withdraw it with a card at an ATM at your destination, ordering currencies online before your trip is usually cheaper than exchanging currencies at a bureau de change, but it’s still a very expensive way to get foreign currency which we, therefore, would not recommend.

Tip 2: Always Choose To Pay In the Local Currency

Don’t fall for the dynamic currency conversion trap! When using your card abroad to pay at a terminal or withdraw cash at an ATM, you’ve probably been asked whether you’d prefer to pay in your home currency instead of the local currency of the foreign country. This little trick is called dynamic currency conversion , and the right answer to this sneaky question will help you save big on currency exchange fees.

As a general rule, you always want to pay in the local currency (euros in Europe, sterling in the UK, kroner in Denmark, bahts in Thailand, etc.) when using your card abroad, instead of accepting the currency exchange and paying in your home currency. 

This seems like a trick question - why not opt to pay in your home currency? On the plus side, you would know exactly what amount you would be paying in your home currency instead of accepting the unknown exchange rate determined by your card issuer a few days later.

What is a Dynamic Currency Conversion?

However, when choosing to pay in your home currency instead of the local one, you will carry out what’s called a “dynamic currency conversion”. This is just a complicated way of saying that you’re exchanging between the foreign currency and your home currency at the exact time you use your card to pay or withdraw cash in a foreign currency, and not a few days later. For this privilege, the local payment terminal or ATM will apply an exchange rate that is often significantly worse than even a traditional bank’s exchange rate (we’ve seen margins of up to 8%!), and of course, much worse than the exchange rate you would get by using an innovative multi-currency card (see tip #3). 

In the vast majority of times, knowing with complete certainty what amount you will pay in your home currency is not worth the additional steep cost of the dynamic currency conversion, hence why we recommend always choosing to pay in the local currency.

Tip 3: Don't Use a Traditional Card To Pay in Foreign Currency/Withdraw Cash Abroad

As mentioned before, providers make money on foreign currency conversions by charging poor exchange rates — and pocketing the difference between that and the true mid-market rate. They also make money by charging commission fees, which can either come as flat fees or as a percentage of the transaction.

Have a look at traditional bank cards to see how much you can be charged in fees for spending or withdrawing $500 while on your holiday.

These fees can very quickly add up. For example, take a couple and a child travelling to the US on a two-week mid-range holiday. According to this study , the total cost of their holiday would amount to around $4200. If you withdraw $200 in cash four times and spend the rest with your card, you would pay $123 in hidden currency exchange and ATM withdrawal fees with HSBC or $110 with La Banque Postale. With this money, our travellers could pay for a nice dinner, the entrance fee to Yosemite Park, or many other priceless memories. 

Thankfully, new innovative multi-currency cards will help you save a lot of money while travelling. Opening an N26 Classic account and using the N26 card during the same US holidays would only cost $13.60.

Need Foreign Cash Anyway?

In many countries, carrying a wad of banknotes is not only useful but necessary to pay your way since not every shop, market stall, or street vendor will accept card payments. In these cases you'll have two options to exchange foreign currency cheaply:

1. Withraw at an ATM

As we've explored in great depth in this article, withdrawing money from a foreign ATM will almost always come with fees — at the very least from the ATM itself, and so it's therefore the best strategy to use a travel debit card that doesn't charge in specific ATM withdraw fees on its own to add insult to injury. That said, if you need cash, we recommend making one large withdrawal rather than multiple smaller ones . This way, you'll be able to dodge the fees being incurred multiple times.

2. Buy Banknotes (at a Reasonable Rate!)

As we've also seen, buying foreign currency at the airport, at foreign bank branches, or in bureaux de change in tourist hotspots can be surprisingly expensive. Still, not all exchange offices are equally pricey . If you're looking for a well-priced way to exchange your cash into foreign currency banknotes before you travel, Change Group will let you order foreign currency online and pick them up at the airport, train station, or a Change Group branch just before you leave for your holiday. A few pick-up locations in the UK include:

• London centre (multiple locations),
• Glasgow centre,
• Oxford centre,
• Luton Airport,
• Gatwick Airport,
• St. Pancras Station.

(Note that Change Group also has locations in the USA, Australia, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Austria, and Finland!)

Although its exchange rates aren't quite as good as using a low-fee debit card like Revolut, Change Group's exchange rates between popular currencies tend to be between 2% to 3%, which is still a lot better than you'll get at the bank or at a touristy bureau de change in the middle or Paris or Prague!

FAQ About the Best Travel Money Cards

Having reviewed and compared several of the industry's leading neobanks, experts at Monito have found the Wise Account to offer the best multi-currency card in 2024.

In general, yes! You can get a much better deal with new innovative travel cards than traditional banks' debit/credit cards. However, not all cards are made equal, so make sure to compare the fees to withdraw cash abroad, the exchange rates and monthly fees to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.

• Sign up for a multi-currency account;
• Link your bank to the account and add your home currency;
• Convert amount to the local currency of holiday destination ( Wise and Revolut convert at the actual mid-market rate);
• Tap and swipe like a local when you pay at vendors.

Yes, the Wise Multi-Currency Card is uniquely worthwhile because it actually converts your home currency into foreign currency at the real mid-market exchange rate . Wise charges a transparent and industry-low commission fee for the service instead.

More traditional currency cards like the Travelex Money Card are good alternatives, but they will apply an exchange rate that is weaker than the mid-market rate.

The Wise Multi-Currency Card is the best money card for euros because unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs,  Wise  is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your local currency into euros with them.

The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with  Wise . An industry-low commission fee will range from 0.35% to 2.85%. USD to EUR transfers generally incur a 1.6% fee.

Learn more about how to buy euros in the United States before your trip.

There are usually three types of travel cards, prepaid travel cards, debit travel cards and credit travel cards. Each have pros and cons, here's a short summary:

• Prepaid travel cards: You usually need to load cards with your home currency via a bank wire or credit/debit card top-up. You're then able to manage the balance from an attached mobile app and can use it to pay in foreign currencies or withdraw cash at an ATM abroad tapping into your home currency prepaid balance. With prepaid travel cards, as the name indicates, you can't spend more than what you've loaded before hand. Some prepaid card providers will provide ways to "auto top-up" when your balance reaches a certain level that you can customize. On Revolut for example, you can decide to top-up £100/£200/£500 from your debit card each time your balance reaches below £50.
• Debit travel cards: Some innovative digital banks, like N26 or Monzo, offer travel debit cards that have the same advantages than a Prepaid Travel Cards, except that they're debit card directly tapping into your current account balance. Like a Prepaid travel card, you can't spend more than the balance you have in your current account with N26 or Monzo, but you can activate an overdraft (between €1,000 or €10,000 for N26 or £1,000 for Monzo) if you need it, for a fee though.

Note that even if they're Prepaid or Debit cards, you can use them for Internet payments like a normal credit card.

• Credit travel cards: You can find credit cards made for international payments offering good exchange rates and low fees to withdraw money abroad, but you'll need to pay interests in your international payment if you don't pay in FULL at the end of every month and interest on your ATM withdrawals each day until you pay them back.

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Travel Credit Cards

Start your journey today by finding the best travel credit card for your future exploration needs. Compare travel rewards benefits and offers including dining perks and new cardmember bonuses for extra points or miles.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® credit card . Links to product page.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® credit card card reviews (7,829 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

New cardmember offer.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

AT A GLANCE

Premium dining & travel rewards Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 2x on other travel purchases.

21.49 Min. of (8.50+12.99) and 29.99 %– 28.49 Min. of (8.50+19.99) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$95 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Credit Card . Links to product page.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Credit Card card reviews (4,642 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit SM ) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel SM after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.

22.49 Min. of (8.50+13.99) and 29.99 %– 29.49 Min. of (8.50+20.99) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$550 annual fee † Opens pricing and terms in new window ; $75 for each authorized user † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United SM Explorer Card . Links to product page.

United SM Explorer Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 60,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.

Join Us with 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays. Plus, enjoy a free first checked bag, priority boarding and other great United travel benefits. Terms apply.

21.99 Min. of (8.50+13.49) and 29.99 %– 28.99 Min. of (8.50+20.49) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United Quest SM Card . Links to product page.

United Quest SM Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after qualifying purchases.

Pursue your quest SM . Enjoy a $125 annual United purchase credit, two free checked bags, priority boarding and other premium travel benefits. Plus, earn 3x miles on United purchases and 2x miles on all other travel. Terms apply.

$250 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United Gateway SM Credit Card . Links to product page.

United Gateway SM Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 30,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.

Start your adventure with 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. Plus, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, and no foreign transaction fees. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. † Opens pricing and terms in new window After the intro period, a variable APR of 21.99 Min. of (8.50+13.49) and 29.99 %– 28.99 Min. of (8.50+20.49) and 29.99 %, † Opens pricing and terms in new window see pricing and terms for more details. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$0 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United Club SM Infinite Card . Links to product page.

United Club SM Infinite Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.

Travel in luxury. Enjoy United Club SM membership and 2 free checked bags. Plus, earn rewards faster with 4x miles on United purchases, and 2x miles on dining and all other travel. Terms apply.

$525 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Plus Credit Card . Links to product page.

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Plus Credit Card card reviews (2,559 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

Earn 85,000 points after qualifying purchases.

3,000 anniversary points each year. Plus, earn 2X points on Southwest ® purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.

$69 applied to first billing statement. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card . Links to product page.

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Receive a $75 annual Southwest ® travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points each year. Plus, earn 3X points on Southwest purchases.

$149 applied to first billing statement. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Credit Card . Links to product page.

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Credit Card card reviews (3,823 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

6,000 anniversary points each year. Plus, earn 3X points on Southwest ® purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.

$99 applied to first billing statement. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Aeroplan ® Card . Links to product page.

Aeroplan ® Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 70,000 bonus points. Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. That's enough to fly to another continent.

Earn points fast with Aeroplan. 3X points at grocery stores, on dining including take out and eligible delivery services and on purchases made directly with Air Canada. Plus, enjoy free first checked bag and other Aeroplan travel benefits.

21.74 Min. of (8.50+13.24) and 29.99 %– 28.74 Min. of (8.50+20.24) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® credit card . Links to product page.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® credit card card reviews Opens overlay

3 Free Night Awards Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Earn Unlimited Marriott Bonvoy ® points and get free stays faster. Earn points on every purchase and up to 17X total points per $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® .

$95. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful ™ credit card . Links to product page.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful ™ credit card card reviews Opens overlay

85,000 Bonus Points Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

Earn Unlimited Marriott Bonvoy ® points and get free stays faster. Earn points on every purchase and up to 18.5X total points per $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® .

Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® credit card . Links to product page.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® credit card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

Earn Unlimited Marriott Bonvoy ® points and get free stays faster. Earn points on every purchase and up to 14X total points per $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® .

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card . Links to product page.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points After you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn IHG One Rewards points on every purchase. Up to 26X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG ® Hotels and Resorts.

$99 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card . Links to product page.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 80,000 Bonus Points After you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn IHG One Rewards points on every purchase. Up to 17X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG ® hotels and resorts.

Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card . Links to product page.

Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card card reviews Opens overlay

Disney Card Designs

$300 Statement Credit after you spend $1000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Dream bigger with the Disney Premier Visa Card from Chase. Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% on select card purchases and 1% on all other card purchases. Redeem toward most anything Disney at most Disney U.S. locations and for a statement credit toward airline purchases. Enjoy special Disney vacation financing and Disney shopping savings. Terms apply.

19.24 Min. of (8.50+10.74) and 29.99 %‐ 28.24 Min. of (8.50+19.74) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window 0% promotional APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24 Min. of (8.50+10.74) and 29.99 %‐ 28.24 Min. of (8.50+19.74) and 29.99 %. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$49 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Disney ® Visa ® Card . Links to product page.

Disney ® Visa ® Card card reviews Opens overlay

$150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Reward yourself with the Disney Visa Card from Chase. Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. Redeem toward most anything Disney at most Disney locations in the U.S. Enjoy special Disney vacation financing and Disney shopping savings. Terms apply.

19.24 Min. of (8.50+10.74) and 29.99 %– 28.24 Min. of (8.50+19.74) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window 0% promotional APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24 Min. of (8.50+10.74) and 29.99 %– 28.24 Min. of (8.50+19.74) and 29.99 %. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

World of Hyatt Credit Card . Links to product page.

World of Hyatt Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points after qualifying purchases.

Turn your purchases into more free nights at Hyatt with up to 9X total points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & resorts. Plus, get 1 free night and 5 tier qualifying night credits toward status each year.

British Airways Visa Signature ® card . Links to product page.

British Airways Visa Signature ® card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 85,000 Bonus Avios Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Take your dream vacation getaway sooner In addition to the bonus, cardmembers earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia flight purchases, and 2 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations. Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature ® card . Links to product page.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature ® card card reviews Opens overlay

Take your dream vacation getaway sooner In addition to the bonus, cardmembers earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia flight purchases, and 2 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations. Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.

Iberia Visa Signature ® card . Links to product page.

Iberia Visa Signature ® card card reviews Opens overlay

Take your dream vacation getaway sooner In addition to the bonus, cardmembers earn 3 Avios for every $1 spent on Iberia, British Airways, and Aer Lingus flight purchases, and 2 Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations. Earn 1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.

Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card . Links to product page.

Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel rewards when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .

Reward your business with flexible and rich rewards. Earn 3X points on shipping and other select business categories.

21.24 Min. of (8.50+12.74) and 29.99 %– 26.24 Min. of (8.50+17.74) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United SM Business Card . Links to product page.

United SM Business Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.

Earn 2x miles on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. Plus, enjoy a free first checked bag, priority boarding and other great United travel benefits. Terms apply.

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

United Club SM Business Card . Links to product page.

United Club SM Business Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after qualifying purchases.

Travel in luxury. Enjoy United Club SM membership and 2 free checked bags. Plus, earn rewards faster with 2x miles on United purchases and 1.5x miles on all other purchases. Terms apply.

$450 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card . Links to product page.

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Earn 4X points on Southwest ® purchases and 2X points on purchases for your business in select categories. Plus, 9,000 anniversary bonus points each year.

$199 applied to first billing statement. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Business Credit Card . Links to product page.

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Business Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Earn 3X points on Southwest ® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, and 1X points on all other purchases. Plus, 6,000 anniversary points each year.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card . Links to product page.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 140,000 bonus points After spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn IHG One Rewards points on every purchase. Up to 26X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG ® hotels and resorts.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card . Links to product page.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after qualifying purchases.

Make the most of your small business spending with accelerated earning wherever you spend the most. Earn 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter.

$199 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

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Travel charge card

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• Per Diem Lookup

What is the travel charge card? The GSA SmartPay® 3 program provides charge cards to U.S. government agencies, as well as tribal governments, through master contracts that are negotiated with major banks. 

There are currently more than 560 Federal agencies, organizations and Native American tribal governments participating in the program, spending $30 Billion annually, through 100 million transactions on more than three million cards.

There are three types of travel accounts:

• Individually billed accounts are issued to employees to pay for official travel and travel-related expenses. The government reimburses employees for authorized expenses. The employee is responsible for making payment to the bank.
• Centrally billed accounts are established by some agencies to pay for official travel expenses. Centrally billed accounts are paid directly by the government to the bank.
• GSA SmartPay Tax Advantage Travel accounts  are new product offerings that combine an Individually Billed Account (IBA) and Centrally Billed Account (CBA), providing a means to obtain tax exemption automatically at the point of sale for rental cars and lodging charges. The combined features of CBAs and IBAs are a key characteristic of this product. When using the Tax Advantage Travel Account, charges for rental cars and lodging will be automatically billed to a CBA for payment. Charges for other travel-related purchases, such as meals and incidentals, are billed to the IBA portion of the account.

What is the benefit for federal agencies? Each agency or organization using the travel charge card receives a rebate based on sales volume. The sale refund is remitted to the organization. In addition, a separate refund is provided to agencies and organizations based on improving speed of payment.

How can travel managers make it happen? In 1988, Congress mandated that federal employees use the government travel charge card for all payments of expenses related to official government travel, with some exceptions. 

Travel managers should ensure that all of their travelers use their government-issued travel charge card for all purchases of travel-related services or products such as rental cars, hotel rooms, and telephone or Internet service.

Looking for more information on SmartPay?

The GSA SmartPay program provides charge cards to U.S. government agencies/departments, as well as tribal governments, through master contracts that are negotiated with major national banks. Additionally, to contact Travel Program call 888-472-5585 or email [email protected]

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PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

Stay connected abroad and avoid roaming fees with Orange Travel

How does it work.

Choose your destination and select your plan

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Why choosing Orange?

With 250 million customers Orange is able to provide attractive offers worldwide for its tourists and business travelers.

As a telecom operator in 30 countries with partnerships with the best local carriers all over the world, Orange provides one of the best network quality worldwide

Our customer service is available 7/7 to assist you in finding the best offer and activating and using your travel SIM card

State Bank Multi-currency Foreign Travel Card

Chip & PIN Protected Prepaid Card. All your travel currency on one card.

You can easily reload your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card ++ with more funds ahead of your next trip, until the Card expiry date. Simply take your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card, valid passport and Form A2 (available at branches) and top up at FTC issuing branches of State Bank of India – subject to FEMA guidelines and other regulations. Click here for a detailed list of branches.

Reloadable until expiry date on the Card - within the limits of the Card ++

++ Until Card expiry and subject to reload limits (see Fees and Limits table). Limits are subject to FEMA regulations, imposed by The Reserve Bank of India from time to time.

• Multiple currencies on one Card
• Withdraw local currency at over 2 million ATMs worldwide, accepting Mastercard cards, or use your Card to pay directly for goods and services at 34.5 million merchants, wherever you see the Mastercard Acceptance Mark (other than in India, Nepal and Bhutan, or for payment of goods in Indian Rupees or the currencies of Nepal and Bhutan)
• Locking in the value of your Card balance, whenever you (re)load your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card, could help you to avoid exchange rate fluctuations and variances while you're abroad, and clear charges give you the control to manage your budget
• No bank account information is required to obtain and start using your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card
• Manage your Card online, with secure visibility of balances and transaction details, and services like an ATM locator

Your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card is not linked to your bank account and comes with 24/7 Global Assistance. If your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card is lost or stolen, please contact our Card Services team immediately, so that they can cancel it. If you have an additional Card, you can use it to access your funds. If both your Cards are lost or stolen, our Card Services team can offer assistance, including emergency cash replacement up to the available balance on your Cards (subject to availability in the relevant location).

• Chip and PIN protected
• Additional Card available for backup
• 24/7 Global Assistance, including free Card replacement if your Card is lost or stolen
• Peace of mind, as the Card is not linked to your bank account

Here's how it works...

State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card ("Foreign Travel Card") is the smart way to carry your travel money. Simply load one or more of the following currencies- US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros, Singapore Dollars, Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars and UAE Dirham to your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card and when you're travelling, use your Card to withdraw money from over 2 million ATMs worldwide accepting Mastercard® cards, or to pay for goods and services in shops, restaurants and hotels around the globe, displaying the Mastercard Acceptance Mark (other than in India, Nepal and Bhutan, or for payment of goods in Indian Rupees or the currencies of Nepal and Bhutan).

If you have insufficient funds in a transaction currency to pay for a transaction, the balance of the transaction will automatically be deducted from other available currency (ies) on your Card, in the following order of priority: USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, AUD, CAD and AED, subject to the applicable exchange rate and cross currency fee (see Fees and Limits Table).

With the State Bank Multi-currency Foreign Travel Card, you can lock in the exchange rates on your currencies each time you reload+. Simply visit FTC issuing branches of State Bank of India.

Looking for your nearest branch? Click here for a detailed list of branches.

+ Please note that any loads or reloads are made at the relevant exchange rate, applicable for Foreign Travel Card, on the day that the load is processed (this varies from day to day).

SIMPLY PREPAY AND GO!

State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card is a prepaid currency card that can be pre-loaded with your spending money in up to seven Currencies and then used at ATMs and merchants abroad1, displaying the Mastercard® Acceptance Mark.

If you have insufficient funds in transaction currency to pay for a transaction, the balance of the transaction will automatically be deducted from any other available currencies on your Card, in the following order of priority: USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, AUD, CAD and AED, subject to the applicable exchange rate and Cross Currency fee (see Fees and Limits section of this website or the Fees and Limits Table in the Terms and Conditions).

1 Due to FEMA regulations, the State Bank Foreign Travel Card cannot be used at ATMs or merchants in India, Nepal and Bhutan, or for internet purchases where the website is registered in India, Nepal or Bhutan, or at websites accepting payment in Indian Rupees or the currencies of Nepal and Bhutan. In addition, there may be some other countries where usage of the Card is prohibited. Please click here to verify the list of prohibited countries.

Want to put more money onto your card.

Your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card can be reloaded, so you need never run short of money during your travels.

1. Return to any participating branch of State Bank of India, with your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card, valid passport and PAN Card. Fill in the prescribed application form and Form A2 (available at branches)

2. If you think you may need to have your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card reloaded whilst travelling overseas, you can leave a completed Form A2, a copy of your PAN Card and passport, plus a letter authorising a family member or friend in India to carry out the reload on your behalf. We may load the Card on receipt of the above documents from a family member or friend, along with a letter, signed by you. However, State Bank of India reserves every right in such cases, to verify that any person purporting to act on your behalf is so authorised and to identify and verify the identity of that person in accordance with the know-your-customer norms prescribed by The Reserve Bank of India.

• A reload fee applies to all reloads and may vary from time to time
• Reloads are made at the relevant exchange rates on the day that the reload is processed. The exchange rates for the available currencies will vary from day to day and may vary per reload location

DYNAMIC CURRENCY CONVERSION (DCC)

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is an optional service that is sometimes offered by retailers and ATM operators abroad, giving cardholders the choice of paying in either the currency of the country they are visiting or their own domestic currency. You should not use your Foreign Travel Card to make a purchase or ATM withdrawal in Indian Rupees (as you are prohibited from doing so by law) and you should choose to pay in the local currency. Please note that there will be an additional cost if the point of sale transaction or ATM withdrawal is in a currency other than the currencies on the card, or if more than one currency on your card is used to pay for the transaction. Please refer to the Fees and Limits Table for further information in the fees and limits section of this website or in the Terms and Conditions. Other benefits include:

• Multiple currencies on one card
• Card security (benefit of not being linked to a bank account)
• Access to worldwide ATM withdrawals
• 24/7 Global Assistance
• Additional Card to access the same funds
• Competitive exchange rates

RESTRICTIONS

Please note, due to FEMA regulations, the State Bank Foreign Travel Card cannot be used at ATMs or merchants in India, Nepal and Bhutan, or for internet purchases where the website is registered in India, Nepal or Bhutan, or at websites accepting payment in Indian Rupees or the currencies of Nepal and Bhutan.

There are a number of countries where the use of State Bank Foreign Travel Card is currently prohibited. If you attempt to withdraw cash from a cash machine, or use your Card at shops, restaurants, hotels and online in any of these countries, your request will be declined and the reason given as 'Decline, prohibited country'.

The countries currently affected are: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria

Card Security

WE'RE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING YOU Unfortunately, terms like 'ID theft' and 'fraud' are all too familiar nowadays. We are very aware of the threat and concerns you have regarding such issues, which is why fraud prevention is of paramount importance to us.

We know our customers. Every day we monitor transactions on our Cards, to detect unusual behaviour and if we spot something uncharacteristic, we'll contact you to verify your transactions. The State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card is chip and PIN protected, with both cash withdrawals and purchases protected by PIN.

• Sign your Cards immediately when you receive them
• Check your transactions regularly and report anything unusual immediately to the 24/7 Card Services team
• If you print statements from the internet, keep them safe and shred them when you’ve finished using them
• Never give your personal details to someone who phones you claiming to be from a reputable company or even from MasterCard /SBI
• Don’t give out your details in response to unsolicited email
• Be wary of anyone who asks for common security details, like your mother’s maiden name, date of birth, or information about your work
• Never give your PIN to anyone, not even if they claim to be from State Bank of India
• Don’t let yourself get distracted when using ATMs – somebody may be trying to get to know your PIN

Never write down a PIN or keep it together with the Card. Be very alert when using ATMs, and ensure that:

• The machine has not been tampered with
• Nobody can watch you entering your PIN
• Card and cash are concealed and safe before you leave the machine
• You retain any printed records for safe disposal at a later time
• If your Card is retained, contact Card Services immediately for assistance

Always keep your Card in sight when making a purchase or it may get skimmed.

“Skimming” occurs when the genuine data on a card’s magnetic strip is electronically copied onto another card, allowing fraudsters to steal the funds on your card. This can happen at petrol stations, restaurants, bars and at ATMs. Skimmed card information is often sold on to organised crime groups.

Make sure that you're using a secure browser. A secure browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox will indicate whether the website you are visiting is secure or not.

Broken key or padlock = unsecured Unbroken key or padlock = secured

These browsers scramble your personal data before sending it, so no one else can read it. Ensuring that your computer has up-to-date virus protection and a firewall will help protect you from attacks.

Key points when buying goods/services on the Internet:

• Know who you are dealing with. Use a reputable company and type its internet address into the browser yourself
• If the website gives you the option of using a secure checkout, opt for yes
• Just as you save till receipts, in case you need to return or exchange something, you need to keep a record of all transactions too. Print and save a copy of your completed order form and your order confirmation

“Phishing” is an attempt by fraudsters to “fish” for your card or account details. Phishing attempts usually appear as an email apparently from your bank or card issuer. Within the email, you are then encouraged to click on a link to a fraudulent log-in page, designed to capture your details.

We may contact you by email, but we will NEVER ask you to click on a link that directs you to enter or confirm your security details. If you are in any doubt about the authenticity of an email appearing to be from us, telephone Card Services immediately.

“Pharming” employs the same type of tricks as Phishing to lure you to a site address, but uses hidden software to redirect you from real websites to the fraudulent ones.

This is particularly clever, as it hijacks trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and card issuing companies and convinces you to respond under cover of trust to enter your personal details.

Just remember, if you are asked to type your PIN into a website along with your Card details, it is probably a fraudulent website, and you should close the browser and contact Card Services immediately.

If you lose your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card or it is stolen, reporting this to Card Services immediately will help protect the funds on the Card. Our dedicated team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help you get back to enjoying your travels.

Please click here for information on how to report your Card as lost or stolen.

Before you go

TRAVEL TIPS Some ATMs (cash machines) may charge a withdrawal fee, in addition to any fee associated with your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card. Some cardholders advise that they saved the free phone number for the country(-ies) they were travelling to in their mobile to check their Card balances, which is a quick and easy to use service (please note: calls from mobile phones are not free of charge). Cardholder feedback also suggests that some hotels may charge for calls made to free phone numbers, it is wise to check with your hotel beforehand.

PRE-AUTHORISATION It is not recommended that you use your State Bank Multi-Currency Foreign Travel Card as a guarantee of payment (usually for hotels, car hire and cruise lines). These companies may estimate the bill, and if you use your Card as a guarantee for the estimated amount, the funds will be temporarily unavailable to access or spend. You can, of course, use your State Bank Foreign Travel Card to settle your final bill.

When purchasing fuel, make sure you pay the cashier instead of using the ‘pay at pump’ option, to avoid a set amount (greater than your purchase amount) being ‘held’ until the final transaction settles (this principle applies to all payment cards; it is just more noticeable when using a prepaid card).

State Bank Multi-currency Foreign Travel Card is issued by State Bank of India, pursuant to license by Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

• OTP has been introduced for making e-com transactions through INR Prepaid Cards. The OTP will be received on customer registered mobile number.
• The daily transaction limit on SBFTC are displayed on the first page after the Customer Login into the Prepaid portal
• Gift Card Issuance Charges waived till 31.03.2018
• EZ-PAY/IMPREST/SMART PAYOUT/XPRESS MONEY CARDS are enabled for cash withdrawls from NON SBI ATMs Charges Rs.20/- for each cash withdrawls and
• Rs 9/- for Balance enquiry
• *Gift Card issuance charges are waived since beginning of launching the product, currently waived till 31-03-2016, waiver is proposed to be continued till 31.12.2017.
• & **Nil load/reload charges are applicable through CINB/INB.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card

The Smartest way of Carrying Money Abroad.

State Bank Foreign Travel Card is a card in foreign currency that makes your foreign trip secure and convenient. It is a Chip based EMV compliant Card which stores encrypted and confidential information. It offers you a convenient and secure way to carry cash anywhere in the world (valid worldwide except in India, Nepal and Bhutan).. With State Bank Foreign Travel Card (SBFTC), you can shop, dine or visit places abroad without any worries of carrying or losing cash. It relieves you of the Annual fees, joining fees, credit limits, etc., usually associated with International Debit / Credit Cards. All you have to do is produce your 'State Bank Foreign Travel Card' and you will find making payments overseas easy. SBFTC is available as both Single Currency and Multicurrency Card. Single Currency Card Single Currency Card is available in eight foreign currencies viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD). Multicurrency Card Multicurrency SBFTC is available in 9 foreign currencies, viz. US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED).

• Cardholder has option to load all available currencies on a single card.
• Documentation
• FTC Selling Branch Address

Competitive exchange rates.

Reloadable any number of times..

Operatable by 4 digit PIN at ATMs and by PIN/Signature at Merchant Establishments.

SMS / E-Mail

Balance information after each transaction through SMS/e-mail.

Maximum amount of issue

As prescribed by the RBI/FEMA from time to time for the purpose of the visit abroad.

Balance Enquiry

Free balance enquiry at State Bank Group ATMs and VISA ATMs(at a charge).

Free balance enquiry and view / download details of transactions through https://prepaid.sbi/

Add-on-Cards

Add-on-cards not exceeding two in number to be used by the card holder in case of loss/misplacement/defacement of the card.

SMS/e-mail alerts for each transaction

*Disclaimer:The service is dependent on the infrastructure,connectivity and services provided by the service provider. State Bank of India will not be liable for any delay,inability or loss of information in the transmission of alerts.

A 24 x 7 call centre ( +91 18001234) to provide information and hot-list (block) the card in case of loss / misplacement.

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Go-To Cards provide maximum flexibility and ease of use. For buses and trains, you can prepay or get passes for 7 days and 31 days.

Multi-day passes

Valid for unlimited rides for the corresponding cash fare until midnight on the 7th day after first use.

31-Day Pass

Valid for unlimited rides for the corresponding cash fare until midnight on the 31st day after first use.

$3.25 fares

Good for unlimited rides during rush hours for adults on Express buses. Also good for all local buses and METRO lines at all times.

$2.50 fares

Good for unlimited rides rides for the $2.50 fare during rush hours for adults on local bus and METRO lines and on Express buses during non-rush hours.

Good for unlimited rides during non-rush hours for adults on local buses and METRO lines for the $2.00 fare.

Good at any time for persons with limited mobility, who must show proper ID for purchase and use.

$1 rides are also available through the Transit Assistance Program. Get details on eligibility.

My Store Features

Other ways to purchase fares.

Transferring Credit Card Rewards to a Travel Partner? Do This First

E arning rewards when swiping your credit card is an excellent strategy. With a travel credit card, you can redeem your rewards for travel purchases, making an upcoming vacation cheaper.

If you have a travel rewards credit card that allows you to transfer your rewards to travel partners, there are two steps you should take before transferring them. Here's what you should know.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

Some cards allow you to transfer your rewards to travel partners

Some travel credit cards give cardholders multiple ways to redeem the rewards they earn. One redemption option may be to transfer your points or miles to select airline or hotel partners.

Transferring your rewards could be an excellent way to get more value. You can transfer your rewards and book flights or hotel stays. This redemption choice may provide better value, allowing you to stretch your rewards further and save more on travel costs.

But before you rush to transfer your rewards to an eligible travel partner, ensure availability for your award flight or hotel stay booking. You should also research all costs to know what to expect before you finalize your redemption. Here are the steps I suggest you take.

Step one: Search for availability

Whether you're hoping to use your rewards for a flight or hotel stay, you'll want to research availability first. Search for your desired flight or hotel with your preferred dates to see if bookings are available. You can log in to the travel partner's website to do this.

Why is this an important step to take? Once you transfer your rewards to a travel partner, you can't transfer them back to your credit card's issuer's rewards program. The last thing you want to do is find out there is no availability and be forced to use your rewards with one partner.

As a heads up, many travelers book award flights six to 12 months before their trip. If you're looking for last-minute availability, you may need to adjust your trip plans.

Step two: Review all prices

The next step is to review all costs associated with your intended booking. Most credit card reward hotel bookings don't charge additional taxes and fees. However, if you're making a redemption with points and cash, you may be charged additional taxes and fees.

If you use your rewards to book an award flight, expect to pay taxes and fees. Costs start at $5.60 per one-way flight for flights flying out of the United States. But these expenses can vary significantly depending on the carrier and the airport you're flying in and out of for your flights.

These fees can easily cost hundreds of dollars in addition to the points or miles required to book your award flight. Researching the total cost before you transfer your rewards is wise. This way, you don't end up with a big surprise when you get to the checkout screen.

Strategize before using your credit card rewards

It pays to strategize the best way to use your credit card rewards. As you earn rewards, review your available redemption choices to see if there's an option that offers more value. You worked hard to earn your rewards, so finding a way to stretch them is beneficial. If you're looking for a credit card that earns travel rewards, check out our list of the best travel credit cards .

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Department of Defense Travel Card Benefits

Progress informed from the past, and inspired by the future, cardholder guide.

Official travel for the Department of Defense just became easier with the Citi Department of Defense Travel Card. When you are preparing to use your new card, please read What To Do When I First Receive My New Card . For more information regarding your new card, please read the Department of Defense Cardholder Guide .

Department of Defense Travel Insurance

As a cardholder, you will receive global travel accident and lost luggage insurance so you feel safe and secure wherever you travel with a Citi ® Commercial Card.

• Travel Accident Insurance Guide
• Lost Luggage Insurance Guide

MasterCard Guide to Benefits

Visa Guide to Benefits

In addition to the card benefits provided by Citi, Visa provides card benefits such as Car Rental Insurance and Travel and Emergency Assistance. For full details, please read the Visa Guide to Benefits .

Travel Tips

For more information on your Citi Department of Defense Travel Card, please read What to do Before, During and After travel .

Online Tools

Citi's global online tool, CitiManager ® , enables you to manage business expenses from anywhere around the globe from your computer or mobile device; you can view statements online, confirm account balances, sign up for email and SMS alerts, and much more. If you have not already signed up for the CitiManager ® tool, please log on to www.citimanager.com/login and click on the 'Self registration for Cardholders' link. From there, follow the prompts to establish your account.

For more information on the CitiManager ® tool, view our CitiManager ® Cardholder Quick Reference Guide .

Al Ansari Exchange Visa Platinum TravelCard

Take it wherever you go! The Al Ansari Exchange Visa Platinum TravelCard is the smartest and most convenient way to travel. This reloadable multi-currency international prepaid card is every traveler’s dream, with the ability to lock in favorable exchange rates before traveling and to make payments in multiple currencies wherever Visa cards are accepted around the world.

Multi-Currency

Load & manage 23 currencies on a single card

Lock in the best exchange rates and control your spending.

Secure & Convenient 

Chip & Pin protected and accepted worldwide

Exclusive Offers 

Enjoy a wide range of offers, experiences and discounts

Supplementary Cards

Get up to 5 supplementary TravelCards for your family

Manage your cards on the app

You can now manage your cards on the Al Ansari Exchange app

Personalise your card

You can personalise your card with your name at the nearest branch

Earn rewards points 

Earn up to 1,000 Plus Rewards points on your next card transaction

Best prepaid travel card in the UAE!

• Reload & manage your money on the Al Ansari Exchange App.
• Lock in rates before travel and avoid currency fluctuations.
• Get great exchange rates as you spend in any foreign currency.
• Advanced ‘Chip’ technology with contactless  feature for ‘Tap and Go’.

• Chip and PIN protected.
• Access your money safely when traveling .
• No need to carry large amounts of cash.

• Accepted at millions of merchant outlets globally.
• Use unspent funds for your next trip or cash out your Card.
• Use it online, in store , or at ATMs anywhere you see the Visa logo.
• Enjoy a w ide range of offers, experiences and discounts exclusive for Visa Platinum Cardholders on www.visamiddleeast.com .

Reload & manage your TravelCard

On the al ansari exchange app.

Load multiple currencies onto one   Al Ansari Exchange Visa Platinum TravelCard

You can load and manage up to twenty three currencies on one card. With this prepaid reloadable card , you get to choose from:

Al Ansari Exchange Visa Platinum TravelCard… Load & Go!

• Lock-In rates before travel and avoid currency fluctuations.
• Dedicated website and mobile app to manage your money on the go.
• Advanced ‘Chip’ technology with contact-less feature for ‘Tap and Go’.

• Access your money safely when travelling.

• Accepted at millions of merchant outlets globally
• Reload your TravelCard with ease through the Al Ansari Exchange Mobile App or at any of Al Ansari Exchange’s branches across the UAE.
• Use it online, in store or to withdraw local currency from ATMs anywhere you see the Visa logo.
• Wide range of offers, experiences and discounts exclusive for Visa Platinum Cardholders on www.visamiddleeast.com/

Request a TravelCard

For more information on the reloadable visa travel card, please check the TravelCard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) , or visit www.alansariexchangetravelcard.com

TravelCard Call Center – 04 366 2117   |  You can also email us on – [email protected]

TravelCard Terms and Conditions apply

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can i get an al ansari exchange travelcard.

To get a TravelCard, you may visit any of the Al Ansari Exchange branches across the UAE.

Do I have to activate my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard before using it?

Your TravelCard is instantly activated at the time of purchase from any Al Ansari Exchange branch. If you have purchased a replacement card linked to the same account or a personalised card, you are required to complete activation.

How do I use my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard?

TravelCard can be used to pay for goods and services online or in-store. It can be used to pay bills and withdraw money from ATMs worldwide, wherever VISA™ is accepted.

Where can I use my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard?

You can use your TravelCard wherever VISA™ cards are accepted in the UAE and overseas.  It can be used at millions of merchants worldwide, and you can withdraw cash from more than 2.3 million ATMs globally.

Can I use my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard to withdraw money from an ATM?

Yes. The ATM limit is USD 1,400 or equivalent per day.

How do I add funds to my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard?

You can add funds to your TravelCard at any Al Ansari Exchange branch or via Al Ansari Exchange App.

Is there a maximum amount I can top up on my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard?

Yes. The total load limit allowed on your TravelCard is USD 10,000 or equivalent.

How long is my Al Ansari Exchange TravelCard valid for?

TravelCard is valid for 5 years. The expiration date is printed on the front of your card.

Top Credit Cards With Priority Pass Lounge Access

Enhance your next trip by spending time in a lounge before your flight.

Credit Cards With Priority Pass

Getty Images

There is a Priority Pass credit card for each type of traveler.

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners .

Key Takeaways

• Priority Pass has over 1,500 airport lounges around the world.
• Select travel credit cards offer a complimentary membership with free entrance for the cardholder and up to two travel companions.
• Travelers receive complimentary drinks, food, Wi-Fi and more inside the lounge.

Waiting at the airport for your flight can be an uninviting experience. Seats at the gate are often uncomfortable and crowded, while food options are typically overpriced. However, if you have access to an airport lounge, you'll enjoy comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and free Wi-Fi.

Priority Pass credit cards allow travelers to enjoy the amenities inside more than 1,500 lounges around the world. Learn more about Priority Pass lounges, which credit cards offer Priority Pass membership and which factors you should consider before applying.

Priority Pass Lounge Benefits

Benefits can vary, depending on the location. You may find multiple Priority Pass lounges at the same airport that offer different amenities. However, most Priority Pass lounges offer the following complimentary benefits:

• Meals or snacks
• Beverages, including alcohol
• Comfortable seating

According to Zac Hood, founder of Travel Freely, a points and miles app for beginners, "International lounges typically stand out as more upscale with better food," than U.S. lounges.

The Priority Pass website or mobile app provides an overview of the benefits available inside each lounge. A third-party service called LoungeBuddy also shares highlights and user reviews.

How Many Times Can You Use Your Card's Priority Pass Benefits?

Complimentary access to participating airport lounges is often unlimited for people with a Priority Pass credit card. However, not all credit cards that offer this benefit include unlimited access for free. Some cards include just a handful of complimentary visits per year and charge for each additional visit. Other credit cards do not include any free visits and charge every time you want to enter the lounge.

Ben Komenkul, a travel points and miles educator at Ben's Big Deal, says, "Priority Pass cardmembers get full access to Priority Pass airport lounge for up to two guests when flying any airline the same day." However, there can be some exceptions to the rule.

5 Best Credit Cards for Priority Pass Lounge Access

There are numerous Priority Pass credit cards to choose from, so we narrowed down the list to our favorites for each type of traveler.

For Luxury Travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is well-known for its premium travel benefits and top-notch customer service. In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders also receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges. It features numerous benefits, including more than $1,500 in value with its cardholder credits. Cardholders receive Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status for no charge, and they'll earn five points per dollar when booking flights through American Express Travel or directly with the airline. Membership Rewards points can be used to book travel, get statement credits and more, including transferring to 21 airline and hotel partners. You'll pay a $695 annual fee for this card. ( See Rates & Fees )

For Best Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Savvy travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its benefits and flexible rewards. The card earns three points per dollar on dining and travel worldwide and up to 10 points per dollar on purchases through Chase Travel. Points are worth 50% more when booking travel through Chase, or you can transfer to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card also features an annual $300 travel credit that automatically applies to eligible purchases. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

For Hotel Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hotel elite status provides numerous complimentary benefits, including upgrades at check-in, late checkout and higher earning power on hotel spending. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, which is the loyalty program's highest tier. Cardholders also receive a $400 Hilton resort credit and a $200 flight credit every year. Plus, the card includes an annual free night that can be used at almost any Hilton property worldwide. For big spenders, you can earn an additional free night by spending $30,000 and a second free night by spending $60,000. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For Sharing Benefits: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card includes Priority Pass memberships that can be shared by up to four people. While other Priority Pass credit cards allow cardholders to bring up to two guests with them, this card allows cardholders to give Priority Pass benefits to other people. The card also earns two points per dollar on travel and dining plus 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. Customers who qualify for Preferred Rewards can earn up to 75% bonus points. The card also includes $550 in fee credits to offset its annual fee of $550.

The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For No Annual Fee: Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo

Travel credit cards have significant annual fees that are hard to justify for some travelers. The Signify Business Cash Card by Wells Fargo is a business credit card that includes Priority Pass access without charging an annual fee. The card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase and includes a 0% introductory annual percentage rate offer on purchases for 12 months. Whenever you want to visit a Priority Pass lounge, simply pay an entrance fee to use all of its benefits.

The information for the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

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