Compare travel credit cards

Credit cards can improve your trip abroad, from saving a few pounds on fees to making you feel like a VIP with airport lounge access.

The best travel credit card option for you is going to depend on what you need the card to do. Let’s break it down.

Compare travel credit cards

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Finder Score	Foreign transaction fee	Foreign cash transaction fee	Interest-free days on foreign transactions	Interest-free days on foreign cash transactions	Incentive	Representative example
Promoted Finder score 8.7Great Santander All in One Credit Card	Finder score 8.7Great	0%	3%	Up to 56 days	0 days	0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 paid per month. Paid monthly into Card Account.	Representative example: Representative 29.8% APR variable. Based on £3 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 23.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.8Great Lloyds Bank Ultra Credit Card	Finder score 8.8Great	0%	0%	0 days	0 days	Representative example: Representative 12.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 12.94% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 6.2Standard Royal Bank of Scotland Credit Card	Finder score 6.2Standard	0%	3%	Up to 56 days	0 days	Representative example: Representative 12.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 12.9% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 6.2Standard NatWest Credit Card	Finder score 6.2Standard	0%	3%	Up to 56 days	0 days	Representative example: Representative 12.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 12.9% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score Not yet rated Ulster Bank Credit Card	Finder score Not yet rated	within the EU and 0% in other countries	3%	0 days	0 days	Representative example: Representative 12.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 12.9% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

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Priority Pass discounts

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Lounge access with Priority Pass

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How to choose your travel credit card

Even if you go on holiday only once a year, it’s a good idea to have a separate credit card for when you travel. That’s because your needs will be different when you’re on the road or enjoying the sun on a tropical beach from when the longest distance you travel is that between your house and the office. But how do you go about picking a good travel credit card?

The main decision you have to make is which features you want to prioritise. Here’s a basic list of things you may want to consider when comparing travel credit cards:

• Best for 0% purchases travel: Santander All in One Credit Card
• Best for hotel perks: Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card
• Best for airport lounge access: Santander World Elite Mastercard
• Best for airport lounge access: British Airways American Express® Credit Card
• Best for travel insurance: Yonder Credit Card

Balance transfers	Balance transfer fee	Balance transfer limit (% of credit limit)	Purchases	Representative APR	Incentive	Representative example
Best for 0% purchases travel
Finder score 8.7Great Santander All in One Credit Card	23.9%	0%	95	23.9	29.8%	0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 paid per month. Paid monthly into Card Account.	Representative example: Representative 29.8% APR variable. Based on £3 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 23.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Santander All in One is our pick for 0% purchases travel card. True to its name, the Santander All in One Credit Card has almost everything you need in an everyday credit card. From its extended 0% interest periods on purchases and balance transfers to its lack of foreign usage fees, this card will help you fill multiple needs both at home and on holiday. With all these perks there has to be a catch, right? This card does come with a monthly fee of £3 per month, which can be seen as a small price for all these benefits. However, if you don't think you're going to benefit from all these features, there are cards that offer similar benefits for less. Pros & cons Pros No foreign transaction fees Over a year to spread the cost of purchases Earn 0.5% cashback No balance transfer fee 15 months of no interest on balance transfers Cons Account fee of £3 per month Minimum annual income requirement of least £10,500 Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Best for hotel perks
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card Finder Award			0	29.4	52.9%	Earn 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy ® points when you spend £3,000 in the first three months of Cardmembership. New Cardmembers only. Annual fee applies, 18+, subject to status. Terms apply.	Representative example: Representative 52.9% APR variable. Based on £95 annual fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.4% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is our pick for hotel perks. Marriott Bonvoy is the loyalty programme for Marriott International's extensive portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, including Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Delta, and W hotels. You earn points for each stay, which can be redeemed for a wide range of benefits. Frequent users can achieve silver and gold tiers, just like in air miles programmes. However, with a £95 annual fee, it's best to try and work out whether the annual fee would be worth shouldering by looking at how much you'd realistically spend on the card and what that would translate to in rewards. Pros & cons Pros Earn points on purchases Earn 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points Free Travel Inconvenience Insurance Cons £95 annual account fee A relatively high interest rate on purchases Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Best for airport lounge access
Santander World Elite Mastercard Existing Customers Only	18.9%	0%	95	18.9	49.8%	Representative example: Representative 49.8% APR variable. Based on £15 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 18.9% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Santander World Elite Mastercard is our pick for airport lounge access. Cardholders can travel in style with free LoungeKey membership, granting unlimited access to airport lounges in over 120 countries. Plus, there are no non-sterling transaction fees when using the card overseas. Other perks include ongoing cashback, 24/7 Mastercard Concierge, and World Elite Privileges discounts and offers. While there is a hefty monthly account fee, taking advantage of the three additional cards available can help maximise rewards and benefits, potentially making the fee worthwhile. Pros & cons Pros No foreign transaction fees Earn cashback on purchases 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers No balance transfer fee within introductory period Mastercard Concierge. Free LoungeKey airport lounge membership, with complimentary access for additional cardholders. No extra fees for up to three additional cardholders. Cons £15 monthly account fee Must be a Santander Select or Private banking customer. High annual income requirement to open Select or Private bank accounts.
Best for airport lounge access
British Airways American Express® Credit Card Finder Award			0	29.4	29.4%	New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.	Representative example: Representative 29.4% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.4% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The British Airways American Express credit card is our pick for airport lounge access. If you’re a frequent flyer, air miles programmes like Avios are a great way to make day-to-day spending go a little further (literally). This card is a good everyday option for those who like to travel, with no annual fees and the chance to earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent, this could be the card for you. Pros & cons Pros No annual fee Earn Avios as you spend Generous welcome offer Free supplementary cards Companion flight voucher each year you spend £15,000 Use Amex’s referral programme to boost your points earnings. For every friend who is approved, you receive 4,000 Avios (up to 9,000 Avios). Check out our guide to Amex's referral programme Travel accident insurance up to £75,000 (subject to enrolment), plus access to Global Assist® 24/7 emergency assistance Refund Protection (90 days to return, receive max £200 per item, £750 per year) No annual fee Cons Big spenders who clear their balance in full each month may get more from the Premium Plus card If you carry an outstanding balance month-to-month, the relatively high interest rate will cancel out any benefits Welcome bonus limited to new Cardmembers or those who have not held a personal American Express card in the past 24 months. This card carries a 2.99% foreign usage charge
Best for travel insurance
Yonder Credit Card Finder Award			0	29.32	66%	Earn 5 point for every £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at partner locations and choose a dining, fitness or ticketed experiences in London, Manchester, Bristol or Bath. Travel experiences are available nationwide, or equivalent of 0.5% cashback.	Representative example: Representative 66% APR variable. Based on £15 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.32% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it The Yonder credit card is our pick for travel insurance. Yonder offers an rewards benefit of worldwide travel insurance, which is valued at £175. The insurance covers, you, your partner and chidren under the age of 25. Depending on the terms and conditions, you could also be insured for lost or delayed luggage, flight Delay or cancellation, personal liability and medical expenses. As a Mastercard credit card, it also provides access to the exclusive Mastercard World Elite benefits. Additionally, you can earn valuable rewards with each use. However, this card comes with a high monthly fee of £15, which may be worthwhile for those who take full advantage of its extensive benefits and rewards. Pros & cons Pros Use your points towards any flights Worldwide travel insurance cover Earn rewards points on your everyday spending Stylish design and made out of metal Access to Mastercard World Elite benefits No spending fees abroad Smart fraud protection with the Yonder app (available on iOS and Android) Uses open banking rather than traditional credit checks to see if you're eligible for the card Cons Account fee of £15 per month (which is fairly high) Fairly high annual purchase rate compared to other cards Not all banks have integrated with Yapily, the open banking provider Yonder uses, this might draw out your application process Currently, rewards can only be redeemed in London (but it plans to expand and select retailers offer online experiences which can be redeemed anywhere).

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Avoid non-sterling transaction conversion fees

When travelling abroad, avoiding foreign exchange fees can be a tough task, but it’s not impossible. When using your credit card overseas, there are three main kinds of fees you should expect and learn how to dodge:

• Foreign transaction fees charged by your credit card provider. They’re charged every time you pay in a foreign currency and can amount up to 3% of the transaction. The only way of avoiding them when paying on plastic is getting a credit card that allows fee-free spending abroad.
• Fees charged by local merchants. When paying with your card, you may be offered the option of paying in pounds instead of the local currency. If you’ve taken out a credit card designed for use abroad (one that offers fee-free non-sterling transactions) you should opt to pay in the local currency, since you know that your own bank is giving you a favourable currency conversion deal. Outside the EU merchants sometimes also apply a surcharge if you want to pay by card and not in cash. If you’re concerned that this may be the case, it’s worth asking about it before picking a payment method.
• Cash advance fees. Almost all credit cards charge you extra for withdrawing cash, both in the UK and abroad. Out of the country, it’s even more expensive because the cash advance fee will add up to the foreign currency transaction fee, so you should only get cash with your credit card in case of emergency.

Compare 0% foreign fees credit cards

Spread the cost of your getaway

Planning a great holiday but not sure you can afford to pay for it in one go? With a 0% purchase credit card, you’ll be able to spread the cost over a few months without having to pay any interest on it.

0% purchase credit cards can be great for breaking down the cost of a trip into more affordable instalments, but you really need to have paid the sum back by the time the introductory deal expires. Otherwise, your balance will start accruing interest at the card’s standard rate (which is usually not very competitive). It’s essential to work out a repayment plan (divide your expenditure by the number of months in the 0% deal to work out what you should repay each month) and stick to it to make sure you pay the whole sum back on time.

Compare 0% purchase credit cards

Get yourself some hotel perks

A small number of credit cards offer special hotel benefits like room upgrades, priority check-in, later check-out times or the opportunity to earn points that can be redeemed for free stays.

These cards are often offered by the hotel companies themselves and are more suitable to people that travel quite often and stay at the same kind of hotel. If that sounds like you, you’ll be able to make the most of the perks while also earning points quite quickly.

Travel in comfort with airport lounge access

Airports – not much fun are they? But if you can relax in an airport lounge, you’ll cut out much of the stress and feel pretty smug at the same time. You’ll need to be comfortable with the idea of paying an annual or monthly account fee in return for complimentary lounge access (if that’s a deal-breaker, consider a one-off membership to a scheme like Priority Pass). But on the plus side, lounge access won’t be the only benefit these cards offer.

Compare cards with airport lounge access

Collect air miles with a frequent flyer card

Just like credit cards that offer hotel perks, frequent flyer credit cards are meant for people who fly, well, frequently. If you get on a plane once a year, you won’t be able to make the most of them; if it’s more like once a month, they can really be worth it.

They work just like rewards credit cards, but let you earn air miles on all your spending instead of points or cashback. Usually, you’ll earn even more miles when you use the card to purchase tickets with the card’s partner airlines. You can get both basic options without annual fees and premium options that do charge an annual fee in return for a higher earn rate.

Compare frequent flyer credit cards

Enjoy peace of mind with complimentary travel insurance

There are a few premium cards out there that come with travel insurance included and save you the hassle of having to purchase it separately. Expect fairly pricey annual fees in return for a whole lot of benefits, such as airport lounge access.

It’s not easy to calculate when it’s better to get a card that offers it and when it’s more convenient to purchase it separately, but as we said, the travel insurance will usually be combined with other perks, so it’s a good idea to check whether those are appealing to you or not.

Compare travel insurance credit cards

Earn rewards and no FX fees

There are a few cards out there that offer both no FX and rewards, saving you the hassle of dealing with extra charges while earning points on your purchases. Expect fairly pricey annual fees in return for a whole lot of benefits, such as cashback, travel rewards and exclusive discounts.

Compare rewards credit cards

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Chris Lilly

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Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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