Which credit card for use abroad?

[goldar]

I'm going on holiday next month to the US. I need a card which is accepted everywhere. No fx charges would be great. What's about?

[blueST]

You’d need to recheck the small print, as I haven’t been abroad since before COVID, but I have always used a Halifax Clarity Mastercard as it had no overseas transaction or exchange fees.

[philv]

I always found Halifax credit cards to offer good exchange rates and no additional charges.

[Scrump]

I too use a Halifax card for overseas transactions.

[craig1912]

Halifax Clarity or Starling or Revolut although second two are debit cards

Halifax were also excellent when my card got cloned in the States.

Edited by craig1912 on Monday 22 August 22:24

[goldar]

Cheers.

Someone has mentioned revolut to me. Any good? I don't mind a debit card. Is it a case of topping it up and spend until it runs out? Can you move any remaining funds back to your bank easily?

[Trevor555]

I use my Santander credit card when I travel.

No transaction fees, and I got pretty close to the exchange rate with it last week buying some watches.

[757]

Chase

[Bluemondy]

Zopa works well for me.

Low APR and no foreign use fees.

[R33FAL]

Virgin credit cards dont charge fx fees on purchases made in Europe

[craig1912]

R33FAL said:

Virgin credit cards dont charge fx fees on purchases made in Europe

….the US isn’t in Europe!! ;)

[Far Cough]

I used my Halifax Clarity card for purchases in the USA and a Revolut type pre load one for cash out of ATM's for tipping money etc. All at no charge.

[goldar]

Brilliant. I've been doing some research and Monzo has also cropped up. Is one better than the other?

[craig1912]

goldar said:

Brilliant. I've been doing some research and Monzo has also cropped up. Is one better than the other?

If paying by card Monzo is probably as good as anything but there is a fairly small monthly limit on cash withdrawals - £250 per 30 days without any fees

[superpp]

I would recommend a Halifax Clarity credit card or if happy to use a debit card go with Chase for the cashback aspect.

[h0bbsy]

Not tried this yet but heard that Chase ATM in the US don't charge UK Chase customers for cash withdrawals. The other cards mentioned above may not have foreign currency withdrawal fees but that doesn't stop the US bank imposing them

[jjr1]

757 said:

Chase

Just leaving the US now after one month and Chase has been brilliant. I can not recommend them enough. No issue with any retailer, hotel etc and the FX rate is effectively the spot rate.

Over the years I have had many issues with HSBC and Starling whilst in the US.

[phil-sti]

goldar said:

I'm going on holiday next month to the US. I need a card which is accepted everywhere. No fx charges would be great. What's about?

I’m currently in Florida and have been New York this year and we have used a starling card, just move what you want from your account onto it using the app. No issues at all.

[juggsy]

Just got a Barclaycard rewards credit card which charges no fx fees, 0.25% cashback on purchases (inc. foreign transactions), and also allow fee-free ATM withdrawals provided paid in full on next statement. Also got 5 months of Apple TV, music, news and arcade thrown in.

[JagYouAre]

Be aware of the 'free' limits on all these challenger bank cards. They are only free up to a point after which you will be paying some form of comm/fee (Revolut is £200 max per day and about £1,200 per month I think for their non paid for account for example, Chase is £500, but I think the monthly limit is about £1,500 too, Starling, Monzo etc. have similar limitations).

As above, can't go wrong with Halifax Clarity for credit. You can also withdraw cash on it and if youpay it off immediately there will be no interest/fees to pay. Nationwide also worth a look for debit.