Don’t get hit by high fees when using your credit card abroad. Look for a credit card that offers no fees on foreign transactions and preferably some rewards as well.
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Best Travel Credit Cards February 2026
We’ve picked the five best travel credit cards based on 0% foreign usage fees worldwide, low or zero cash-withdrawal fees and helpful extras that matter when travelling like cashback, rewards, or a 0% purchase period.
- Lloyds Ultra Credit Card (Visa) – 0% foreign transaction fees in the EU and worldwide, plus 0% cash withdrawal fee on the Moneyfacts table. Also pays 1% cashback in year one (then 0.25%), so it’s one of the strongest “spend abroad and get paid” options if you clear the balance monthly.
- Barclaycard Rewards (Visa) – 0% foreign usage charges in the EU and worldwide and 0% cash fee on the Moneyfacts table. A simple, no-frills travel card designed for cheap overseas spending, with the added bonus of modest cashback.
- Halifax Clarity Credit Card – A long-time favourite for travel because it keeps overseas card spending cheap with no foreign usage fees (EU and worldwide shown as 0% on the table) and no cash fee listed there. Good “set and forget” option for people who just want fee-free spending abroad.
- Chase Credit Card (Mastercard) – 0% foreign usage charges in EU and worldwide, plus 0% on purchases for 15 months (per the table snippet). Best if you want fee-free travel spending and you’re also planning a big purchase you’d rather spread interest-free.
- Yonder Credit Card – Included because it combines fee-free overseas spending with points-based rewards aimed at travel and “experiences”. It’s the pick for people who care as much about perks as they do about FX fees.
Which is the best travel credit card?
If your main goal is fee-free spending abroad, the best travel credit card is usually the one that charges 0% foreign transaction fees worldwide and keeps cash withdrawal costs low too.
Lloyds Ultra stands out because it combines 0% foreign usage fees with cashback (1% in year one, then 0.25%), so you’re not just avoiding fees – you’re earning something back when you spend. Barclaycard Rewards and Halifax Clarity are also strong picks if you want a simple, no-fee option for overseas spending.
What is the best credit card to have if you travel?
The best credit card to have if you travel depends on how you actually spend money abroad. If you mostly pay by card (hotels, restaurants, shopping), look for a travel card with no foreign transaction fees, good exchange rates (Visa/Mastercard), and no annual fee. If you also take cash out, choose a card that’s fee-free for ATM withdrawals and be careful about interest on cash withdrawals, which can start immediately on many credit cards even when the withdrawal fee is 0%.
For many people, a “two-card setup” works best: one travel credit card for spending and a separate fee-free debit card for cash withdrawals.
What is the 2 3 4 rule for credit cards?
The “2 3 4 rule for credit cards” isn’t a formal UK financial rule, but it’s often used as a simple way to manage cards sensibly: 2 cards for everyday use (a primary and a backup), 3 months as a rough target to clear any short-term credit card debt you put on 0% offers (or at least to review your repayment plan), and 4 key checks before applying: eligibility chance, total fees, interest rules (especially for cash), and how you’ll repay in full.
In practice, the most important travel-focused version of this is: carry two cards (ideally Visa + Mastercard), know the fees, always pay in local currency, and repay in full to avoid interest wiping out the benefit.
Which is the best travel reward credit card?
If you’re asking which is the best travel reward credit card (and what is the best credit card for travel rewards), you’re looking for a card that is both good for spending abroad (0% FX fees) and also pays you back in cashback or points.
The Lloyds Ultra is the clearest “travel + rewards” blend because it’s fee-free abroad and pays cashback. If you want more lifestyle-style rewards (redeeming points against experiences and travel partners), Yonder can fit that brief, but it’s more niche and works best for people who will actually use the rewards rather than just chasing points.
Compare Different Types of Credit Card
Best Credit Cards
Everyday credit cards offer you the most flexibility for everyday use while having a reasonable interest rate, a balance transfer option and an initial interest-free period on purchases.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Astute credit card holders know they can shop around for a new card and transfer the balance from their old one, benefiting from a lower interest rate or even an interest-free period. Balance transfer credit cards are also a great way to consolidate debt from several cards to one.
Rewards Credit Cards
Reward credit cards are an easy way to earn hundreds of pounds in bonuses, just for your normal spending. But while some offers look valuable, you might be paying through the nose in interest fees. Also, consider whether the rewards offered are worthwhile to you.
Cash Back Credit Cards
You’ll be familiar with the cashback concept, where you earn rewards in the form of money or credit on your account when you spend. You must shop around as the “earn rate” varies, while some cards affiliated to a brand reward more for spending with that brand.
Travel Credit Cards
Don’t get hit by high fees when using your credit card abroad. Look for a credit card that offers no fees on foreign transactions and preferably some rewards as well.
Bad Credit Credit Cards
When you have a poor credit score, perhaps because of bankruptcy or some form of previous default, you can begin to rebuild your score using these cards. For those with credit problems here are our top ten bad credit credit cards.
Money Transfer Credit Cards
Using a credit card to pay off your expensive bank overdraft (or another loan) makes total sense when you can do so interest-free. Therefore, look for a card that has the longest 0% money transfer period and pay off as much as you can from the card quickly.
Air Miles Credit Cards
Bag yourself free travel simply by spending on your credit card. But select your card carefully as only some offer air miles, and some are more generous than others.
Purchase Credit Cards
If you use your credit card simply for purchases and are not concerned about balance transfers and other perks, you need to look at any interest-free purchase promotional period, followed by an ongoing generous low APR.