What is the Best Credit Card* to use Overseas?

Avoid currency conversion and overseas ATM fees and enjoy complimentary travel insurance with a credit card on your next holiday.

There are many ways for Australians to take their cash on holiday, including credit cards designed for overseas use. These credit cards generally charge low or no foreign transaction fees, no currency conversion fees and no ATM withdrawal fees while offering travel-centric perks such as complimentary travel insurance, rewards programs and airline lounge passes. Unfortunately, these cards aren't entirely cost-free though. As the right credit card for you will depend on where you're travelling, your spending plans and your financial situation, you can use this guide to compare your options and find the right card for you.

Compare credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

How to compare credit cards for overseas travel

As a few Australian credit cards on the market are designed for overseas use, here are some of the features you should compare to find the right one for you.

International acceptance

In your hunt for a credit card to use overseas, one of the first features to consider is international acceptance. Credit cards with affiliation to Visa or Mastercard find acceptance in most countries around the world, at ATMs and EFTPOS terminals alike. Acceptance of Diners Club and American Express cards is not as widespread and their use could attract higher fees. Make sure the card that you're using isn't restricted by economic sanctions before you travel.

Credit card fees

To understand how much your card could cost you, consider the following fees when comparing which cards to use outside Australia:

• Foreign transaction fees. When you make an international purchase using your card, your Australian dollars are converted to the local currency. When this happens, you're usually charged a fee between 2% and 3%. If you want to avoid this fee each time you make a transaction overseas, consider a credit card that doesn't charge a foreign currency conversion fee.
• Annual fees. If you have a card that's designed for overseas use and it comes with extra features, it's likely that it could also come with a higher annual fee. Before you apply, make sure the value you get from the card outweighs the cost. Some cards also come with no annual fees for a promotional period or for the life of the card, so you should also factor this into your comparison.

• ATM withdrawal fees. If you use your credit card to withdraw funds overseas, you might be charged a few different fees. Firstly, most credit cards charge a cash advance fee when you use your card for ATM withdrawals (whether you're in Australia or overseas). As well as the cash advance fee, you'll immediately attract the cash advance interest rate. Secondly, many banks charge an overseas ATM withdrawal fee when using your card for this withdrawals outside of Australia. Thirdly, the local ATM provider might also charge a withdrawal fee. If you want to avoid this last fee, consider using a credit card that belongs to an ATM alliance.

Complimentary insurance

If you're travelling overseas, you're going to have to organise international travel insurance. Using a credit card that offers complimentary insurance can help you save the time and money you'd otherwise spend on standalone cover. Depending on the card, the international travel insurance usually includes overseas medical insurance, transit accident insurance and travel delay insurance to name a few. The cover might also extend to your spouse or any dependent children travelling with you. As well as travel insurance, some credit cards offer purchase security insurance and extended warranty so you can shop with peace of mind. Complimentary insurance is often a feature of platinum credit cards, so make sure the feature is worth the cost of the card before applying.

Frequent flyer rewards

Using frequent flyer credit card is an easy way to pick up reward points as you spend overseas. Depending on the card, you might be able to redeem these points for flights with a specific airline, accommodation with partner hotels, travel vouchers, cash back on your account or products from a rewards store. If your card is designed for overseas use, you could earn more points on foreign purchases. Compare frequent flyer credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to earn points without paying an extra cost overseas.

What should I be aware of when using a credit card overseas?

• Adding funds to your credit card. There are certain people who add funds to their credit cards accounts before they leave for overseas, and they then make use of these funds through their card in the form of a debit card. By doing this, you can avoid paying interest. What you should know is that card providers don’t take any responsibility for funds you add to your credit card account. So, if your card is lost or stolen and used for unauthorised transactions, you might lose out on valuable funds.
• Consider other options. Using your credit card is not the only way you can spend money overseas. You can turn to traveller’s cheques and travel money cards, and you can even look forward to using a Mastercard or Visa debit card. In fact, it's wise to organise more than one travel money option before travelling to ensure you're not stranded without cash in case your card is lost or stolen.
• Excessive debt. A credit card may tempt you to overspend while on holiday. It's important to remember that you have to repay everything you charge (plus interest in most cases), so make sure that you're spending with a budget in mind so that your balance doesn't get out of control.

What are the pros and cons of using a credit card overseas?

As you’ve probably gathered by now, the ideal credit card you can use overseas is one that suits your requirements. Given the many options on offer, it’s ideal that you take some time to compare a few. For more tips, see our guide on how to use a credit card for your next holiday.

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