Compare Travel Credit Cards

Avoid paying expensive fees for using your credit card abroad - compare the best travel credit cards with uSwitch today.

Choosing the right option when buying on holiday could save you a small fortune on fees and help make sure your trip doesn't end up costing the earth.

The best perks include commission-free purchases abroad, cashback on spending, and lower interest rates.

The cards below are ordered by interest rate (APR).

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  • The aqua Classic Mastercard
  • Ideal for; lower income, self employed, new to the country or no credit history, plus many more
  • Initial credit limits between £250-£1,600
16.9% APR

Representative Example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 16.90% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 16.9% APR (variable).

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Compare travel cards:

Sort by: 		Representative APR (variable) Best benefits
1
Original

Nationwide Building Society Select Credit Card

  • Low APR of 12.9%.
  • Nationwide credit card perks include commission-free purchases abroad and 0.5% cashback on pound sterling purchases.
  • Only available to Nationwide FlexAccount customers.

12.9% APR

More information

Rewards

Simply Rewards, provides discounts and deals when using Nationwide Visa credit card

More details

  • 0% on purchases for 12 months
  • 0% on balance transfer for 20 months
  • 3.1% balance transfer fee
  • No card fee

Can I get this card?

  • Is available to existing customers
  • Min income required: £5,000
  • Min age is 18
  • Not available for customers with a CCJ

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 12.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 12.9% APR (variable).

2
Original

Nationwide Building Society Credit Card with Balance Transfer

  • 0% on balance transfers for 20 months.
  • 0% interest on purchases for the first 3 months.
  • A low rate of 15.9% APR Representative (variable).
  • Commission-free purchases abroad when you build up your allowance through spend in UK sterling.

15.9% APR

More information

Rewards

Customers will be able to earn commission-free purchases abroad by using their Credit Card each time they make a purchase in Sterling. The calculation will be based on a 5:1 ratio - for example, £5 spent in Sterling will earn an allowance of £1 commission free-purchases abroad. Purchases abroad beyond the earned amount will be charged 2% commission. Simply Rewards, provides discounts and deals when using Nationwide Visa credit card.

More details

  • 0% on purchases for 3 months
  • 0% on balance transfer for 20 months
  • 3.1% balance transfer fee
  • No card fee

Can I get this card?

  • Not available to existing customers
  • Min income required: £5,000
  • Min age is 18
  • Not available for customers with a CCJ

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 15.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 15.9% APR (variable).

3
Original

Post Office Platinum MasterCard

  • With 0% interest on balance transfers for 14 months.
  • No charges for overseas purchases.
  • No cash fee when purchasing Post Office® Travel Money.

16.9% APR

More information

More details

  • 0% on purchases for 3 months
  • 0% on balance transfer for 14 months
  • 2.98% balance transfer fee
  • No card fee

Can I get this card?

  • Not available to existing customers
  • Min income required: £15,000
  • Min age is 18
  • Not available for customers with a CCJ

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 16.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 16.9% APR (variable).

4
Original

aqua Advance Credit Card

  • Offers the chance to cut your APR by 5% a year over 3 years - you could end up with a much reduced APR of 19.9%.
  • Maximum credit limit of £1,600 applies.
  • Aqua accept people who have had CCJs or are on a low income.
  • Free Aqua credit checker worth up to £80.
  • No foreign exchange fees.
  • A 60 second response.

34.9% APR

More information

More details

  • No card fee

Can I get this card?

  • Not available to existing customers
  • Min income required: none
  • Min age is 18
  • Is available for customers with a CCJ

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 34.92% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).

5
Original
Winner - Best Email Customer Service.

The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

  • A reward card offering complimentary hotel and flight bookings with a higher than average £75 annual fee.
  • Welcome bonus of 20,000 Starpoints if you spend £1,000 in the first 3 months - enough for 5 free nights in a top class hotel.

36.2% APR

More information

Rewards

Earn 1 Starpoint for every full £1 per transaction spent on card. 20,000 bonus Starpoints if £1,000 spent on card in first three months.

  • Flight delay/cancellation Insurance
    Free Travel Inconvenience Insurance.

  • Lost/Delayed Luggage Insurance
    £600 for baggage delayed by airline for 6 hours. Additional £850 for extended baggage delay by airline

More details

  • Annual fee of £75

Can I get this card?

  • Not available to existing customers
  • Min income required: £30,000
  • Min age is 18
  • Not available for customers with a CCJ

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 19.9% (variable) per annum, with a £75 annual fee, your Representative APR is 36.2% APR (variable).

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards are cards specifically designed for spending abroad – they can help you avoid expensive fees incurred by using an everyday credit card on holiday.

Certain travel credit cards won’t charge extra for making an overseas purchase in a foreign currency, or if you’re shopping from home on foreign websites.

Some cards also offer free cash withdrawals, good rates on travel money, and discounts on travel insurance.

Credit cards and overseas spending

Using the wrong credit card when you're on a foreign holiday can prove costly – some cards charge foreign currency loading fees of around 2.75% each time you use your card.

If you withdraw cash on your credit card at a foreign cashpoint, you could find yourself paying an extra 3% on top of the amount you take out.

Interest-free periods don’t apply on cash withdrawal, meaning that you could miss out on the usual 56 day interest-free period you normally get on spending.

Should I get a travel credit card?

This depends on how you normally use your credit card – for example, if you don’t want to take your card abroad, you could consider a pre-paid card.

Safer than carrying cash, these cards work by loading on currency before you travel, allowing you to spend or withdraw cash once you’re away.

Some pre-paid cards charge application fees of around £10, while others come with cash withdrawal fees, top-up charges or fees for a getting a replacement card.