So you’ve finally started planning a trip to Europe. You’ve figured out which countries you’d like to visit, you’re itching to try on that new beret you just purchased, and you’re wondering — what is the best credit card for Europe travel?
The U.S. credit card market is overflowing with cards competing for your attention, which may make it seem confusing when it comes time to actually, well, buy anything. We break it all down to find out the for Europe, both before and during your trip.
The best time to figure out your travel credit card strategy is before you actually begin to buy anything for your trip. Why? Because travel rewards credit cards offer some of the . With a large trip to Europe on the horizon, you’ll ideally want to give yourself enough time to earn the bonus and wait for the to be deposited into your account (so that you can redeem them for hotels, flights and more).
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If want to purchase airfare, hotel rooms, train tickets, a rental car or gas, you’ll want a credit card that maximizes returns on all of these. In this case, your best bet is the . After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, the card earns 5x points on flights, 10x points on hotels and car rentals, and 10x points on Chase Dining purchases made through . With a broad definition of what counts as “travel,” the also earns 3x points on other travel worldwide, including dining at restaurants, via delivery services or takeout. Since the card earns 1x points on all other purchases, it can give Europe-bound travelers some serious value.
In addition to great bonus categories, this card also features premium benefits to ease your travel experience, including airport lounge access and a fee credit.
The comes with a hefty annual fee of , which may be off-putting to some. In that case, the offers the same broad definition of travel and 2x bonus points per dollar while charging only a annual fee.
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Once you get to Europe, you might actually spend more on dining and activities than travel. Take a look at the best credit cards to use during your trip.
First and foremost, you’re going to want to find a credit card that doesn’t charge any . These fees can add up to 3% onto your bill simply for using your card outside the U.S. Thankfully, many credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
If you already have a credit card, you can check if it charges foreign transaction fees online. Otherwise, there are plenty of cards that’ll waive these fees, including , the .
Odds are that once you’re abroad, you’re not going to sit around in your accommodations all day. Whether you’re heading out to the Mona Lisa or spending the day at Disneyland Paris, you’ll want a credit card that’ll maximize every dollar you spend. If you’re willing to pay the annual fee, the will give you a generous 4% cash back on entertainment — and it counts plenty of things as entertainment. These include tourist attractions, movie theaters, amusement parks, theatrical promoters, aquariums, zoos, bowling alleys and even dance halls.
If you’d rather skip the annual fee entirely, you can still earn rewards with a card like the , which offers a respectable 3% cash back on entertainment without costing you a dime.
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Depending on how you travel, you may spend a lot of money dining out.
If you already used one of the Chase Sapphire cards to book the trip, you’re covered on eating out as well. This is because the and the offer 3x bonus points per dollar on dining. Basically, if you want to spend on only one card before and during your Europe trip, pick a Chase Sapphire card.
If you’re simply looking for the maximum amount of earnings on your restaurant spend, the with a annual fee may look appealing to you. This card earns 4x points on dining worldwide, but American Express cards may not be accepted as widely as Mastercards and Visas in Europe. It’s better to have one of the Chase cards (Visa) or the Capital One Savor cards (Mastercard) just in case a restaurant you dine in doesn’t accept AmEx. Terms apply.
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Before you make your selection, ask yourself these questions.
It may not make sense to immediately jump to the conclusion that you need a new credit card. Instead, look at your current points strategy. Do you already have a card with no foreign transaction fees? Do you have enough points to book the flight or hotel?
For example, if you already have a Chase Sapphire card, you might consider getting another card in . You could earn a chunk of points through a sign-up bonus on another card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards®, then transfer those points to your Sapphire so you can redeem them at the higher rate for travel.
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We’ve recommended several different credit cards that excel in certain categories. If you’re not averse to multiple credit cards, you can really maximize the points you’ll earn during your trip by applying for a few different cards to get before your trip. If not, you’ll want to pick a single card whose bonus categories most closely overlap with your predicted travel expenses.
Keep in mind the unwritten , which may curb the number of credit cards you can be approved for in a 24-month period.
The credit cards with the most perks come with the highest annual fees. If you want all the bells and whistles (high earning rates, lounge access, Global Entry membership, etc.), you’ll likely need to shell out for a card with a high annual fee.
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If you’re nearly ready to travel, you likely won’t have time to get more than one credit card, let alone spend enough money to earn multiple welcome bonuses. Consider this before applying for any credit cards.
There are several ways to slice and dice the question of which credit card is best for a European vacation.
Above all, get a card that won’t ding you with foreign transaction fees.
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the , including those best for:
This post was originally published on Nerd Wallet
