Traveling to Europe? You Need One of These Top Cards

One of my favorite benefits of earning credit card points, airline miles, and hotel points is being able to book trips that I otherwise couldn't afford. Using travel rewards, I’ve been able to travel to Europe multiple times.

But when traveling internationally, you need to think about which credit cards will make the journey with you. Check out these picks for the best travel credit cards to use when traveling in Europe.

What should you look for in an international credit card?

Not all credit cards are created equal, and your favorite credit cards to use within the U.S. may not have the same allure when traveling to a foreign country. Here are the features to consider when selecting the best credit card to use when traveling in Europe.

1. No foreign transaction fees

Most popular credit cards today don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but you may have some in your wallet that do. Foreign transaction fees are a tax on your purchases when traveling internationally. Usually, these fees add a 3% surcharge to your purchase amount.

Pro tip: When making a purchase, choose to pay in the local currency. This avoids the “convenience fee” that many hotels, restaurants, and other vendors charge for converting the foreign currency price into U.S. dollars.

2. PIN technology

In the U.S., we’re used to chip-and-signature technology on our credit cards. We insert the card and then sign our receipt. Europe has taken the technology a step further to reduce fraudulent transactions. Instead of signing the receipt, you’re asked to enter your PIN instead to verify that it’s you.

Most U.S. credit cards don’t offer chip-and-PIN technology, but I recommend bringing at least one that does with you on your European vacation. Here are some chip-and-PIN credit cards to consider.

3. Global Entry reimbursement

If you typically travel within the U.S., you’re likely familiar with the TSA PreCheck program, which allows you to skip the lines at airport security. Global Entry is a sister program that allows you to expedite your wait at U.S. Customs when returning from an international flight.

Many travel credit cards offer reimbursement for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, so before your trip, consider using one of them to apply for the security program that works best for you.

4. Bonus rewards on international transactions

We love earning bonus miles and points when paying for travel, dining, gas, and other categories. However, if you look at the fine print, many credit cards limit these bonus points and miles to U.S.-based transactions.

If you’re looking to maximize your rewards to get closer to your next free vacation, make sure you have a credit card that offers benefits worldwide.

The 5 best credit cards to use when traveling to Europe

Card	Annual fee	Why it's great
The Platinum Card® from American Express	$695 (Terms apply)	5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, and access to over 1,200 airport lounges (select benefits require enrollment)
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®	$99	Card with chip-and-PIN technology; statement credits for inflight WiFi, free checked baggage, travel coverage
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	$550	$300 annual travel credit, access to airport lounges, and 10X on hotels and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards® (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
Citi Premier® Card	$95	Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card	$400	Up to $325 in annual travel credits, 12 Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes each year, and earn 3X points on eligible travel and mobile wallet purchases

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Annual fee: $695

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: You can earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The Platinum Card from American Express — a luxury travel rewards card — offers benefits that seasoned travelers love. Cardholders have access to more than 1,200 lounges in 130 countries. You’ll also get automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status, plus valuable benefits with The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts, which can make every hotel stay special. Select benefits require enrollment.

And when you return home from that vacation in Europe, you'll be glad you were reimbursed for your Global Entry charge so you can skip the lines at customs.

Check out our full The Platinum Card from American Express Review.

AAdvantage^® Aviator^® Red World Elite Mastercard^®

Annual fee: $99

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days.

Rewards rate: You could earn 2X miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

I like that all of Barclays' credit cards offer chip-and-PIN technology, which is essential while traveling through Europe. And with a host of travel benefits and ample opportunity to earn rewards on travel spending, the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard offers plenty of possibilities.

The card also provides trip cancellation/interruption coverage, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance to give you peace of mind while you’re on the go.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Annual fee: $550

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

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has been one of the most popular premium credit cards since its launch. Although the card is $550 annually, it’s jam-packed with credits and features that make the fee worth paying.

You'll receive a $300 credit each year that will automatically be applied toward travel category expenses. Cardholders also get a Priority Pass Select membership to access airport lounges, plus a credit to cover TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees.

Points can be transferred to 11 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs. When points are used to purchase travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, they’re worth 1.5 cents each.

 Learn more with our Chase Sapphire Reserve Review.

Citi Premier^® Card

Annual fee: $95

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Rewards rate: You can earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Take a look at our Citi Premier Card Review for more info.

U.S. Bank Altitude^® Reserve Visa Infinite^® Card

Annual fee: $400

Welcome bonus: Earn a 50,000 point bonus after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X on prepaid hotel and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards Center; 3X points on eligible travel and mobile wallet purchases; and 1X points for all other eligible purchases.

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card offers tremendous benefits for the frequent traveler. Each year, you'll receive $325 in travel credits as well as bonus points on travel and mobile wallet purchases. Points are worth 1.5 cents toward travel booked through the U.S. Bank portal, so the 50,000-point bonus could be worth up to $750 in travel. 

Cardholders will also enjoy 12 complimentary Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes each year, up to $100 in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry reimbursement every four years, and a Priority Pass Select membership to access airport lounges.

For more details, take a look at our U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve review.

Do this before you leave for vacation

Before you depart for your European vacation, follow these tips to minimize any problems when using your credit cards in a new country.

1. Share travel plans with your bank

Banks are always on the lookout for fraudulent transactions. If your credit card is suddenly being used in a new country, the bank may block your account until it can verify the transactions are from you.

To avoid this scenario, let your bank know where you’ll be traveling. Be sure to include any countries you may have a layover in as well. Many banks now allow you to notify them via their app or website to expedite the process.

2. Download the bank’s app to track purchases

I like to track my money regularly, but you need to be even more vigilant with your accounts while traveling. One of the easiest ways to keep up to date with your accounts is to download your bank’s app to your mobile device. With the app, you can typically track transactions, make payments, or even notify the bank if you’ve lost your credit card.

3. Set up automatic payments

In a perfect world, we all pay our credit cards in full each month to avoid interest. However, that’s not always the case. This is especially true when you're focused on the fun while traveling in a foreign country.

This is why I suggest that everyone sign up for automatic payment of the minimum amount due. Doing so will keep your account in good standing, avoid late payment fees, and ensure you don’t have a late payment reported to the credit bureaus.

Which international travel credit card is right for you?

There are many international credit cards to choose from, but which one is right for you? Analyze the cards listed above and determine which of the benefits are most important to you. They’re all good choices, but their fees and perks may work best for different types of travelers.

Methodology

To identify the best credit cards to use while traveling in Europe, we compared cards from multiple issuers that have travel-friendly perks. We assessed features like foreign transaction fees, PIN technology, Global Entry reimbursement, and bonus rewards to recommend the best credit cards for globetrotters in Europe. We did not include all cards available.