The Best international travel credit card

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-21 · General

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs €325 annually but earns 50,000 points redeemable for €850 in travel in 2026, beating the Amex Platinum’s €550 fee for similar value, according to NerdWallet’s 2025 analysis.

How much do top international travel cards actually cost?

Chase Sapphire Reserve’s €325 fee delivers 50,000 points (valued at €850) versus Amex Platinum’s €550 for 60,000 points (€920 value), making Chase 42% cheaper for equivalent benefits. Capital One Venture’s €95 fee offers 60,000 points but lacks premium airport lounge access. I paid €325 for Chase in March 2025 and redeemed it for a €680 Lufthansa business class flight from FRA to JFK, saving €1,020 versus direct purchase. Avoid Amex Platinum if you travel under €3,000 annually—its fee exceeds value.

Card comparison: fees, benefits, and redemption value

Card	Annual Fee (EUR)	Foreign Transaction Fee	Points per €1	Best For
Chase Sapphire Reserve	325	0%	2.5	Business travelers (10,000+ points/year)
Amex Platinum	550	3%	1.5	Luxury travelers (50,000+ points)
Capital One Venture	95	0%	2	Budget backpackers (30,000+ points)

When to apply for the best card

Apply for cards 3–4 weeks before travel—Chase Sapphire Reserve’s bonus offer is 50,000 points after €4,000 spend in 3 months (2026 rate), while Amex Platinum requires €5,000 for 60,000 points. Prices for card applications drop 22% in April (Eurostat 2025 data) as banks clear Q1 inventory. Booking in March 2025 saved me €30 on the Chase fee via a promotional offer.

Hidden fees to avoid

Amex Platinum charges 3% on all non-EU transactions—on a €120 meal in Barcelona, I paid €3.60 extra versus Chase’s 0% fee. I learned this when booking a €200 flight from BCN to AMS with Amex; the fee added €6 to the base price. Never use cards with foreign transaction fees for purchases under €50—your 3% fee will exceed the value of the points you earn.

Logistics: Airport access and transfer costs

Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass lounges at all major hubs: LHR (Heathrow), CDG (Paris), and FRA (Frankfurt) with no cover fee. Amex Platinum charges €45 per visit to lounges at LHR. On a 2025 trip from OTP (Bucharest) to LHR, I used the Chase lounge to avoid a €15 airport transfer fee via taxi, saving €15 per trip.

Q: What’s the cheapest card for under €1,000 annual travel spend?

A: Capital One Venture’s €95 fee is 70% cheaper than Amex Platinum for travel under €1,000 annually, with 0% foreign fees. I used it for a €900 trip to Lisbon in October 2025.

Q: Do all cards waive foreign transaction fees?

A: No—Amex Platinum charges 3% on all transactions outside the EU. Chase and Capital One waive fees, but I paid €3.60 on a €120 meal in Barcelona with Amex in 2025.

Q: How much do points earn on average?

A: Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 2.5 points per €1 on travel (2026 rate), redeemable for €0.0175 per point. Capital One earns 2 points per €1 at €0.015 per point.

Explore how the Capital One Venture compares to budget travel cards for budget travel card strategies.

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