Credit Card

It really depends on what airlines you tend to use and what benefits you are looking for. Chase Freedom doesn't have fees. There are also cards that do have an annual fee but there is a benefit that compensates. For example, my Delta AMEX, has an annual fee of $95, but after you spend a bit, you get a $100 flight credit. Other cards that have an annual fee, but reimburses global entry. VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted. It used to be difficult to use AMEX, but it is getting accepted more and more. We had no problems using it in Portugal.

Any credit card with no fees. Lots of choices. The Capitol One family has a bunch of different credit cards as does the Chase group. Stick to any Mastercard or Visa cards. I used the Sapphire Reserve (Chase Visa) card but it has a substantial fee up front but I like it for the many other benefits. Several of the Capitol One cards are free.

Chase Freedom doesn't have fees.

No annual fee, but it does charge a foreign transaction fee...those fees add up.

So to the original question, whether you have a rewards card or not, make sure it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Like Chase Sapphire...and most rewards cards deemed a "travel card"...

Just use travelers checks.

Capital One are good, as none of their cards charge foreign transaction fees.

Chase has a few that don't - their Amazon Prime card doesn't have fees, but their Chase Freedom one does.

Most airline miles credit cards don't have foreign transaction fees (for example American Airlines Barclaycard) but they do normally have an annual fee so you'd have to see if it was worth it for the miles earned.

And this is just anecdotal, but my brother had an AWFUL time with Bank of America while we were on our trip. They claimed they didn't need to be contacted before we left, but after 75% of his transactions he'd have to call them. They would send a text to approve the transaction but he wouldn't receive them (and he didn't change numbers, he'd added an international cell plan to his regular number). Wouldn't get them in the app either - I swear he must have talked to supervisors 2x a day and they always swore it was taken care of, and the card would work for one or two transactions, and then it would get declined again. It was such a pain.

but it does charge a foreign transaction fee...those fees add up

Just to put it in some context, @ 2%, that would ONLY add an additional $200 to your $10,000 trip.

Thanks, JoJo. Was considering the Freedom card, and now its definitely out.

@Kristi, I had quite a few problems with my Nordstrom VISA in Portugal. Every time I purchased gas or bus tickets, they would freeze the account for possible fraud. They sent texts, but I rarely received them in a timely manner. After the trip I called, and was told that they were working on fraud control measures and that it shouldn't be a reoccurring problem. We travel with two different mastercards, a VISA card and AMEX. I think it is a good practice to have several travel cards from different companies. We actually had the least problems with our Delta AMEX.

I don't think my original post was very clear. Is there a credit card that has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee? Probably too much to ask. I'm really don't care about travel miles or credit or cash back. Strictly for use on my Europe trip.

Is there a credit card that has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee?

Chase Sapphire (2 rewards cards with annual fees depending on the "rewards" you desire). I also have a Bank of America rewards card that covers travel.

There are many, just google it.

My Nordstrom VISA is not really considered a travel card. However, there are no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. I feel like my recent trip to Portugal is an anomaly. I have used the Nordstrom VISA on many trips to Europe with no problem. Plus, I've had this card for a long time and the customer service is excellent. Years ago, I had difficulty buying French train tickets in advance of a trip. I called them and they purchased the tickets for me. It turned out that the problem was related to the French train website and not the VISA.
We acquired a REI Capitalone Mastercard in the last year. There is no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. I've found the Mastercard very helpful in Spain.

AARP has just added a travel card with no foreign transaction fees through Barclay's US - and no annual fee. Capital One is the primary go-to provider for no foreign transaction fees.

I just got a Wells Fargo Visa card that doesn't have an annual fee and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. I haven't tried it for international travel yet.

We use the Chase Sapphire card for everything. It has no fees for foreign transactions. It has a $95/Y fee. Using this card, we accumulate travel miles. In the last 2 trips, we have spent a total of $2.75 for our air transport between the US and Europe.

When you look at a card, it's important to see the entire picture. OP wants a card with no fee. OK, for no fees, you save $95/Y. With the Chase Sapphire card, we have paid all our air travel. So, we have gained something like $800-$1000/travel. The net is $700-$900 in benefits. This is a standard utility calculation.

I have a Capital One Visa-no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees. And you don’t need to let them know before you travel.

I was all set to get the Chase Sapphire card until I realized I wouldn't get the promotional benefit unless I spent a certain dollar amount in a specified time period. Since we don't travel internationally in the summer, there was no way I was going to meet the threshold.

Capital One Visa

And BigMike travelers check are as out dated as Nixon.

Not for Big Mike. Remember he is from W Virigina and likes proven technology.

" Is there a credit card that has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee? " I guess you missed our answers ---- Dozen of credit cards have no annual fee or transaction fees. Pick one you like. Start with the Capitol One family. "What's in your wallet?" There is not a single, best card. It is what best meets your needs.

I have used Capitol One Quicksilver Visa along with a Capitol One Mastercard debit card in many countries without annual fees or foreign transaction fees. Check this page for options and click the "no annual fee" filter: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/compare/ You may also want to see if your local credit union offers something that will work - mine doesn't charge fees either.

Whatever card you pick, make sure it is also a contactless card, that really makes things easier in many places (though some still do want cash).

Capital One Quicksilver card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Our USAA Visa has no annual fee and does not charge foreign transaction fees either. We also take our Amex Platinum. It does have an annual fee, but more than pays for itself for us. It also does not charge any foreign transaction fees.

The AAA Visa (administered thru US Bank) has zero annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Plus, you get cash back from purchases as a bonus. I don’t believe you have to be a member of AAA to get the card, but membership does help if you need to get towed at home!

I don't think my original post was very clear. Is there a credit card
that has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee? Probably too
much to ask. I'm really don't care about travel miles or credit or
cash back. Strictly for use on my Europe trip.

I use the Capitol one Venture Card. No annual fee, no foreign transactions costs and I do get some travel miles/cash back points.
I've been using this for all our trips abroad.