credit cards

Here are our favorite credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and no annual fees.

Earn 60,000 bonus points with this referral link.
*This card does have an annual fee, but it’s worth it for us. Chase customer service has been excellent assisting with fraudulent charges and disputes for cancelled services during our travels.

debit cards

Here is our favorite debit card with no foreign transaction fees and no ATM fees.

All ATM service fees are reimbursed at the end of each month. Earn a $10-$1,000 bonus with this referral link.

When using a credit card out of the country, always pay in local currency and never choose the suggested exchange rate (unless your card has foreign transaction fees).
Withdrawing cash from an ATM using a card with no fees is a better rate than exchanging cash. Always withdraw in local currency and never choose the ATM suggested exchange rate.
Use an ATM inside or attached to a bank if possible. If your debit card isn’t returned at the end of the transaction, it’s much easier to retrieve.
Read ATM reviews on Google Maps to avoid “fake” ATMs or machines with frequent issues.
Avoid using ATMs on weekends and holidays. In some countries, ATMs aren’t replenished until Monday and run out of cash over the weekend. If there are any issues banks may be closed.
We always carry our credit and debit cards in RFID blocking wallets and bags, or add a RFID blocking card.