How Credit Cards Actually Work When You Travel
Rewards matter later. When travelling, what matters first is FX handling, acceptance, insurance, limits and whether the card works at real terminals abroad.
Go to Travel & FX hubThe Traveller Reality: Terminals Before Points
Many travellers pick credit cards based on flashy reward numbers. But when you're abroad, the most important factors are far more basic: does the card work reliably, what is the real cost of each purchase, and what backup do you have if it fails?
This page looks at credit cards from the perspective of real-world travel — airports, hotels, taxis, offline terminals and unexpected delays.
Foreign Transactions, FX Fees & Local Acceptance
Three things matter most for payments abroad:
- Foreign-transaction fees: Some cards add 1–3%. Others add 0%.
- Terminal logic: Some countries require chip+PIN, others accept tap-only.
- DCC traps: “Pay in your home currency” is almost always more expensive.
In practice, your main travel card should be the one with stable acceptance and transparent FX fees.
Travel Insurance & What It Really Requires
Travel insurance from a card is useful — but only if you activate it correctly.
- Some require paying the full trip with the card.
- Others only require part of the transport cost.
- Some include baggage delay, others do not.
- Most exclude pre-existing medical conditions.
Always verify activation rules before leaving. Card insurance is not automatic.
Travel Card Roles You Might Use
| Role | Purpose | What Matters | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main travel card | Most spending abroad | 0% FX, good acceptance, app reliability | DCC, network issues |
| Insurance card | Triggers protections | Clear policy rules | Payment requirement |
| Backup card | Used if main card fails | Different network | PIN + contactless working |
Explore Related Travel Minisites
Part of The CreditCard Collection
Travels.Creditcard belongs to The CreditCard Collection — a network of narrow-focus minisites operated by ronarn AS. Each site explains one angle of credit-card usage in clear, neutral language.
Ready to Compare Travel Cards?
Use Travels.Creditcard to understand the real mechanics of card use on trips — then compare actual products on the main hub.
Go to Choose.Creditcard