In Australia, check out the 28 Degrees Mastercard. In Canada, the Home Trust Preferred Visa card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa card, the Rogers Platinum MasterCard and the Fido MasterCard don’t charge fees for using them abroad (or have cash back programs that offset the fee). Non-Americans can Google the phrase “no foreign transaction fee credit cards” and then just add their country. If you’re based in the States, Google him for advice on the best cards to get. Americans are spoiled for choice, and I think Chris Guillebeau is a smart man to follow for these sorts of things. Other cards that don’t are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cards, the Chase Ink Business Preferred card, the American Express Platinum card, the Citi ThankYou Premier card, and some Discover cards. For Americans, none of Capital One’s cards charge foreign transaction fees when traveling overseas. This can be avoided by using a card that doesn’t charge that fee. For example, if you charge $5,000 on your credit card, you’ll pay $145 just in foreign transaction fees. The first nasty fee is called a foreign transaction fee, which is a nice way of saying you’ll be gouged about 3% for using your credit card in a foreign currency. Money Tip 3: Using credit cards in Italy - avoid feesįoreign travelers get hammered with two fees you need to know about. They almost never have a good exchange rate and they almost always charge a fee on top of the exchange. Try to avoid using the money exchange places you see in airports and in major cities. Sometimes they are out of money (ya know, ‘cause you’re in Italy) and have huge line-ups too - not a very relaxing way to start your trip. This way you don’t have to worry about feeling hassled trying to track down an ATM as soon as you arrive. I recommend that you exchange enough money at home so that you have 50 euro per person in cash when you land in Italy. Read on so we can help you travel right, and keep that money tight. We don’t want you inadvertently padding your bank’s coffers when you don’t have to - that gives us a sad face ? Technology changes so quickly these days, so what you read on the interwebs or did on your trip five years ago might not be the thing you want to do right now. Since our team lives and works both in and out of Italy, we have a unique perspective on traveling there with bank cards, credit cards and cash and are able to advise our clients on what will work for them (and we understand what they find ultra-frustrating too!). If you’re already hip to this stuff, it’ll confirm you’re on the right track.
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Using debit and credit cards in Italy - and buying anything in a foreign currency - does have some nuances though, and our intel could save you a euro or two (hundred!). Getting ready for a biggie trip to Europe (or anywhere!) can be a lot to think about, and sometimes getting your “money stuff” sorted can be the last thing on your mind.