How to avoid foreign currency fees when traveling

Using a credit card while traveling overseas may be convenient, but it can get quite costly when you factor in rates and fees. Learning how to get ideal rates and avoid unnecessary costs — including currency exchange fees and foreign transaction fees — can go a long way toward saving you cash.

How can you avoid travel money fees?

Traveling can be expensive, and fees can accumulate quickly. Here are a few ways to save on your next trip.

No-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards

These cards advertise no fees when you use your card for overseas purchases. You may pay a slightly higher annual fee for this type of credit card, but the money you’ll save on overseas spending might balance that out if you often travel.

Using debit cards

Most U.S. debit cards will charge foreign currency exchange fees when used overseas. To save costs on your next holiday, look for a debit card with low or no foreign transaction fees. Unlike a credit card, debit card transactions don’t incur interest and you can withdraw funds without being charged a cash advance fee. If your card belongs to an international ATM alliance, you can also save on ATM withdrawal costs.

Airline credit cards

Rewards are typically more expensive when it comes to annual fees and interest rates, but you can find some with no foreign transaction fees. If you’re usually able to repay your balance each month, a rewards credit card with no foreign transaction fees could be a great way to get rewarded for your holiday expenses.

Compare rewards credit cards here

Using local currency

Carrying the local currency in cash is another way you can avoid foreign transaction fees on day-to-day holiday expenses. It’s not exactly safe to carry all of your travel budget in cash, though, so look for a card that has low ATM withdrawal fees such as Capital One 360 or Charles Schwab Investor Checking.

Compare credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

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Name	Product	Foreign transaction fee	Annual fee	Purchase APR	Filter values
American Express® Gold Card		None	$250	See Pay Over Time APR		Rose Gold is Back Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 based on our valuation with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express		None	$695	See Pay Over Time APR		New Platinum Exclusive Offer One of the most valuable premium travel cards, featuring two welcome offers worth up to $7,000 based on Finder's valuation, multiple travel credits and unrivaled lounge access. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Luxury Card Mastercard® Titanium Card™		None	$195	14.99% variable		Enjoy unique excursions, privileged access to exclusive events and insider opportunities.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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How do travel rates and fees for credit cards work?

When spending abroad with your credit card, you may encounter foreign transaction fees and currency conversion fees.

• Foreign transaction fee.
  Your card provider may charge this on each overseas transaction. This is typically 3% of the transaction amount, and it can amount to hundreds of dollars if you consistently swipe your card for big-ticket items.
• Currency conversion costs.
  When you use your card abroad, the merchant might ask if you want to pay in the local currency or US dollars. The latter option is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC). If you opt for it, your purchase amount will be converted at the exchange rate set by the merchant’s DCC provider. This rate may be much worse than the market rate, however, which means you’re effectively paying an extra fee.

Luckily, you can avoid these fees. It’s all about choosing the right product for travel spending. You can compare some of your options below.

What are the other costs and features to consider?

Even if your travel money card or strategy helps you avoid currency conversion fees, there are still other costs and factors to consider. When you’re comparing your travel money options, keep the following in mind as well:

• ATM fees. If you’re not careful, you could end up paying fees twice for using an overseas ATM. Unless your bank has a global ATM alliance that allows you to make international withdrawals for free, you could be charged by your bank and the ATM owner for withdrawals.
• Annual fee. Some credit cards — especially the best travel products — have annual fees. If you don’t want to pay an upfront fee for your card, or you don’t think you’ll earn enough rewards to justify the cost, consider a no-annual-fee card. You’ll find many options with no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
• Supported currencies and global acceptance. Make sure the card you’re using will work at your vacation destination. Make sure your credit card is accepted worldwide, as you can expect with a Visa or Mastercard. If you’re using a travel money card, make sure it supports the local currency you’ll be using or doesn’t charge a currency conversion fee.
• Merchant fees. You might find in some places that the merchant adds a surcharge to your transaction for using a foreign credit card. Check your bill before paying to avoid that fee wherever possible, and to have alternative payment methods on hand in those events.
• Exchange rates. Check to see how often exchange rates are updated and if there are additional fees for currency conversion. A good way to avoid negative exchange rate movements is to lock in the rates with a travel money card.
• Additional travel perks. Complimentary travel insurance, 24/7 global emergency customer service line and frequent-flyer rewards programs could offer added value to your card.

Bottom line

How often you travel, the length of your stay and the way you spend money abroad can all factor into the type of credit, debit or travel card you choose to use abroad. Consider your typical expenses and everyday spending when choosing a travel credit card that will offer you the most value.

Frequently asked questions

• Do most credit cards have foreign transaction fees?

  Yes. However, you’ll find many cards — mainly travel products — that don’t have foreign transaction fees.

• How do I know if I'm getting a good exchange rate?

  Check the mid-market, or interbank, rate between the two currencies you’re exchanging. This is what your money is actually worth in global markets compared to a foreign currency. You may find that when you exchange money from a certain service, you’re actually losing quite a bit to a poor exchange rate.

• How do I get foreign currency with no fees?

  One of the best ways is to use a checking account that doesn’t charge fees, such as Charles Schwab Investor Checking. You won’t incur a fee when you withdraw money from an ATM, and you’ll be reimbursed if the ATM operator charges you a fee. Best of all, you’ll get very close to the interbank rate. This way, you can withdraw foreign currency conveniently while you’re in a foreign country.