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Smart Moms Recommended Credit Cards for International Travel

Selecting the perfect credit card for your international traveling adventures is like choosing the right travel companion – it can make your journey a whole lot more enjoyable! Imagine your credit card as a sidekick with a suitcase full of perks and benefits tailored just for globetrotters. From travel insurance that’s got your back when life throws unexpected twists to access to airport lounges where you can kick back and relax, the right credit card can turn your international escapade into a first-class experience.
But it’s not just about the fancy perks; it’s also about saving some bucks for that extra scoop of gelato in Rome or that funky souvenir in Tokyo. Picture a credit card that waves goodbye to foreign transaction fees and says hello to favorable exchange rates and even included trip insurance. Suddenly, every swipe becomes a savvy move, leaving you (and your wallet) happier. 
And let’s not forget about security – the unsung hero of international transactions. The right credit card can safeguard you from theft with its fraud protection, providing an even greater worry-free journey. 
Before you soar through the skies, make sure you’ve got the credit card that’s not just a piece of plastic but something that will best enhance your global adventures with more fun, fabulous protection, and best of all – ways to save. Here’s a roundup of our favorite credit cards for international travel.
Need help getting started with points and miles? Here’s your crash course! 

Best for travel benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express*
Best for simplicity and easy earning: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best for dining and grocery rewards: American Express® Gold Card*

And if you are brand new to using credit card points and miles within your travel strategy, here is a great place to begin!

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for benefits
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This card may be the crème de la crème for luxury travel despite its steep annual fee. But, occasionally, the decision to make a substantial investment becomes worthwhile when considering the advantages of a high-quality card that could save you money in the long run and its abundant perks. Such is the case with the Amex Platinum card. 
This card is about getting more for the money you spend as it unlocks extensive benefits focused on travel, entertainment, dining, retail and wellness.  As examples, the card will open the door for unmatched access to airport lounges worldwide — more than 1,300 including the Centurion Lounges.  It also grants complimentary Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (which will provide you room upgrades and complimentary breakfast on every stay). Cardholders also have access to a 24-hour concierge service by phone that can assist you in booking hard to get reservations and purchasing event tickets. 
Like other cards, you do, of course, also get entry into the Amex Membership Rewards program which provides access to airline and hotel transfer partners, along with exclusive lifestyle and travel credits. Terms, Conditions & Disclosures (americanexpress.com)

●Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
●Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
●$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
●$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
●With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
●$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
●$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
●$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
●$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
●Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
●Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
●Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
●$695 annual fee.¤
●Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.


Capital One Venture Card: Best for Simplicity and Easy Earning
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With the ability to earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, this card ensures a fast track to rewards without too much complication. Once earned, cardholders can transfer miles to 15+ transfer partners, and use miles to pay for travel purchases made within the last 90 days. With a modest annual fee of $95, this is a great option for beginners or less frequent travelers wanting to start their credit card points journey.

●Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
●Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
●Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
●Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
●Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
●Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
●Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
●Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
●Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees.


American Express® Gold Card*: Best for dining and grocery rewards
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With an unmatchable rewards rate for restaurants (covering takeout and delivery in the U.S.!), along with U.S. supermarkets, this card is a tempting treat. * If you are a dining enthusiast who can maximize the annual credits on this card, it more than compensates for its annual fee. 
And, if you’re planning to take flight soon, you’ll also enjoy bonus points on travel – 3x points spent for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Moreover, you can transfer points to several other loyalty programs, including frequent flyer programs from British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. Terms, Conditions & Disclosures (americanexpress.com)

●Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
●Get the American Express® Gold Card in either Gold or Rose Gold.
●Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
●Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
●Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
●Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
●Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
●$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
●$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
●$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
●$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
●Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
●No Foreign Transaction Fees.
●Annual Fee is $325.
●Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
●Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Conclusion: Choosing the right credit card can be a game-changer when it comes to traveling smart and saving money. Many travel-focused credit cards offer lucrative sign-up bonuses that can kickstart your journey with a substantial stash of points or miles. These rewards can then be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, or other travel-related expenses, allowing you to stretch your budget further. Moreover, the right credit card often comes with perks like waived foreign transaction fees, complimentary airport lounge access, and travel insurance, providing both financial savings and added convenience during your adventures abroad. By strategically leveraging these benefits, travelers can elevate their experiences and make the most of every dollar spent.
Interested in a broader list of our favorite cards especially selected for those who may be starting off in the points world? Look no further!


This Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. *Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.  Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company

Updated: 3/6/2025
Updated: 3/6/2025