Select the Right Credit Cards for International Travel

Not all credit cards perform equally when used outside your home country. To maximize points earnings abroad, focus on cards that offer strong rewards on international spending and—critically—waive foreign transaction fees. Here are the features to prioritize:

  • No foreign transaction fees: Cards without these fees save you 2–3% on every purchase overseas, protecting the value of every point you earn.
  • Bonus categories for travel and dining: Many cards earn 2x, 3x, or even 10x points on airfare, hotels, restaurants, and ride-sharing services.
  • Partnerships with airlines and hotels: Co-branded cards let you earn miles directly with your preferred loyalty programs and often include elite status benefits.
  • Chip-and-PIN or contactless capability: In regions like Europe and Southeast Asia, tap-and-PIN cards are widely accepted; signature-only cards may be declined at unattended kiosks or train stations.

Popular examples include the Chase Sapphire Preferred (3x points on dining and travel, no foreign fees), the American Express Platinum (extensive lounge access and airline credits), and the Capital One Venture (2x miles on every purchase). Before you depart, ensure your card is enabled for international use and consider adding a second card as a backup.

Earning Points on Flights: Beyond Booking

Flights are often the largest single expense on any international trip, but earning points on airfare goes beyond simply booking with your preferred airline. Use these strategies to multiply your miles:

Book Through Airline or Credit Card Portals

Many travel rewards cards have dedicated booking portals that offer bonus points. For example, booking a flight through Chase Ultimate Rewards can earn 5x points per dollar, compared to the standard 1x or 2x. Similarly, Amex Travel often provides 5x points on flights booked directly through the portal. Always compare the portal price to the airline’s direct price—if they match, the portal is clearly the better option.

Use Mileage Earning Codes

When booking a flight, ensure your frequent flyer number is attached to the reservation. Even if you’re flying a partner airline, you can usually earn miles in your preferred program. For instance, you can earn United MileagePlus miles on an Air Canada flight or British Airways Avios on an Alaska Airlines flight. Check the airline’s partner earning table before booking to estimate how many miles you’ll receive.

Take Advantage of Bonus Offers

Airlines frequently run promotions such as “double miles on transatlantic flights” or “earn 500 bonus miles per segment.” Subscribe to airline newsletters and turn on app notifications to catch these deals before they expire. Some promotions require registration, so set a reminder to opt in before your trip.

Use Local Transportation and Services That Earn Points

Getting around a foreign country doesn’t have to be a missed earning opportunity. Many local transportation options and service providers partner with loyalty programs or credit cards.

  • Ride-sharing apps: Uber, Lyft, and local alternatives frequently offer bonus points when linked to a specific credit card. For example, Chase Sapphire preferred cardholders earn 3x points on ride-shares.
  • Car rentals: Book through airline or hotel partners’ portals to earn extra miles. Hertz partners with many airlines to give miles per rental day, and some credit cards offer additional points for car rentals booked through their travel portals.
  • Public transit: If you use a contactless credit card or mobile wallet that earns points on transit (e.g., some cards offer 2x points on transit categories), every subway ride, bus ticket, and train fare adds up over a multi-week trip.
  • Local experiences: Book tours, museum entries, and cultural activities through platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide, which may code as travel on your credit card and earn bonus points.

Before spending, check what bonus categories your card offers for overseas transactions—sometimes even small purchases at local markets or kiosks can trigger extra points if they code as “retail” or “entertainment.”

Book Accommodation Through Loyalty Programs or Travel Portals

Hotels and vacation rentals are among the biggest travel expenses. With strategic booking, you can earn a large number of points from each stay. Here’s how to maximize your earnings:

Join Multiple Hotel Loyalty Programs

Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards, and World of Hyatt all offer points per dollar spent, plus elite status benefits like upgrades and bonus points. Sign up for the programs that align with your travel patterns, but don’t limit yourself to just one—diversifying gives you more options for award redemptions later.

Use Airline or Credit Card Travel Portals

Many travel rewards cards have dedicated booking portals (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Travel) that offer bonus points—sometimes 5x or more. Compare the portal price to the hotel’s direct rate. If the portal price is competitive, you can earn both portal bonus points and hotel loyalty points (when you provide your loyalty number at check-in).

Look for Seasonal Promotions

Hotels often run limited-time bonuses such as double points, “Stay 3 Nights, Get 1 Free,” or bonus points for booking via the mobile app. Check the hotel’s promotions page before booking, and stack these offers with your credit card earnings.

Consider Boutique Hotels Through Aggregators

Some independent hotels are bookable through platforms like Hotels.com (which has its own rewards program) or direct through programs like Stash Hotel Rewards. These programs can complement your credit card earnings and provide additional free nights.

Maximize Dining and Shopping Rewards

Eating out and shopping are unavoidable parts of any trip, but they can become major point-earning engines. With the right cards and habits, every meal and purchase adds to your balance.

Use Cards with Dining Bonuses

Cards like the American Express Gold Card offer 4x points at restaurants worldwide. The Capital One Savor provides similar benefits on dining and entertainment. Always pay with a rewards credit card instead of cash or a local debit card, which typically earn nothing.

Duty-Free Shopping

Some credit cards give extra points or statement credits at duty-free shops. Check your card’s merchant category codes to see if these purchases qualify as “travel” or “department stores.” In some cases, you can stack a duty-free discount with your credit card rewards.

Local Specialty Stores and Markets

In many countries, neighborhood shops may code as “retail” or even “groceries” on your card. Certain cards offer bonus points on those categories—for example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x points on all travel and dining, but not on grocery. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back on groceries (up to a limit). Choose the card that best matches the spending category you expect to encounter.

Dining Loyalty Programs

Some restaurant chains worldwide (e.g., Hard Rock Café, Starbucks) have their own rewards programs that can complement your credit card earnings. Link your credit card to these programs to earn points twice: once from the restaurant and once from your card.

Utilize Airline and Hotel Loyalty Program Partners

One of the most powerful strategies for earning points abroad is leveraging the partnerships within airline alliances and hotel groups. These partnerships allow you to earn points in your preferred program even when using a different provider.

  • Book flights with partner airlines: You can earn United miles on an Air Canada flight, British Airways Avios on an Alaska Airlines flight, or Delta SkyMiles on a Virgin Atlantic flight. Always check the partner earning rates before booking to maximize your haul.
  • Stay at partner hotels: Many hotel chains have partnerships with airlines—e.g., Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to over 40 airlines. Some stays even earn both hotel points and airline miles when you opt for “points & miles” instead of just points.
  • Use program-specific credit cards abroad: Co-branded cards often include perks like priority boarding, free checked bags, and bonus points when spending with partner merchants overseas. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex earns 3x miles on Delta purchases and includes a free checked bag.
  • Check for transfer bonuses: Credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards occasionally offer increased transfer ratios to partner airlines (e.g., 1:1.3 instead of 1:1). These limited-time offers can significantly boost your miles.

Always review the terms of your loyalty programs to see which foreign purchases count toward elite status thresholds or bonus mile promotions. Sometimes, spending abroad earns double tier credits or accelerated status during promotional periods.

Take Advantage of Promotions and Bonus Offers

Credit card issuers and loyalty programs constantly run promotions that can supercharge your earnings while abroad. Missing out on these is like leaving free points on the table.

  • Limited-time bonus point offers: Airlines and hotels often have campaigns like “earn 500 bonus points per night” or “double miles on transatlantic flights.” Register for these offers before your trip and use the correct booking channel to qualify.
  • Seasonal travel promotions: Many programs run special deals during off-peak seasons to encourage travel—these can yield extra points without extra spending. For example, Hilton frequently offers bonus points for weekend stays in Europe during winter.
  • Credit card referral bonuses: Referring a friend to a travel card can earn you 10,000–50,000 points, and many programs allow referrals from abroad. If you have friends or family back home considering a new card, send them a referral link before you leave.
  • Retailer-specific offers: Amex Offers and Chase Offers frequently feature statement credits or bonus points for spending at specific merchants while traveling. Swipe through your card’s app before a big purchase—you might find an offer for 10% back at a local department store or restaurant chain.

Subscribe to loyalty program newsletters and turn on notifications for your card’s mobile app to never miss these opportunities. Some offers have limited activation windows, so act quickly when you see something useful.

Be Mindful of Currency Conversion and Fees

Earning points is great, but hidden fees can erode their value. Manage currency conversion costs carefully to ensure every point earned comes from actual spending, not inflated by unnecessary fees.

  • Use cards with no foreign transaction fees: Avoid cards that charge the standard 3% fee, which directly reduces the effective return on your spending. If your primary card has a foreign transaction fee, get a card without one before traveling.
  • Avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC): When a merchant offers to charge you in your home currency, always decline. The exchange rate is typically much worse than what your card issuer uses. Choose to pay in the local currency instead.
  • Monitor exchange rates: While you can’t control daily fluctuations, being aware of the mid-market rate helps you spot unfavorable DCC offers. Use apps like XE or OANDA to check real-time rates before making large purchases.
  • Choose cards with favorable exchange rate policies: Visa and Mastercard generally offer competitive exchange rates, while Diners Club and Amex can sometimes be less favorable. If you have both a Visa and an Amex, use the Visa for everyday purchases and save the Amex for specific benefits like lounge access or bonus categories.

By keeping these factors in check, you protect the value of every point earned abroad.

Advanced Strategies to Boost Points Abroad

Beyond the core tactics above, consider these advanced approaches to further accelerate your point accumulation. These strategies require more planning but can yield substantial returns.

Sign Up for New Credit Cards Before Traveling

If you have a major trip coming up, apply for one or two new travel rewards cards a few months in advance. Meeting the minimum spending requirement (often $3,000–$5,000) through your travel expenses can earn you a huge welcome bonus—often worth $500–$1,000 in travel value. Time your applications so the bonus posts before or during your trip, and use the card for all major purchases.

Use Mobile Wallets with Rewards

In countries where tap-and-pay is ubiquitous (e.g., Australia, the UK, Canada), linking your rewards card to Apple Pay or Google Pay often earns the same points as swiping the physical card. Some mobile wallets also offer separate rewards or discounts on international transactions—for instance, the Apple Card provides daily cash back that can be used immediately.

Stack Earnings with Shopping Portals

Before booking flights, hotels, or buying souvenirs, check if the merchant is part of an online shopping portal (e.g., Chase Shopping, Rakuten, TopCashback). You can earn extra points or cashback on top of your credit card rewards. For example, booking a hotel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal while clicking through Rakuten could earn you points from both sources.

Consider Airline Alliances for Status Runs

If you’re close to elite status with a global airline alliance (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam), traveling abroad can be the perfect opportunity to earn the last few segments or miles needed for status. Elite status unlocks further earning bonuses on future travels, such as 100% bonus miles on flights. Plan a stopover or a connecting flight to maximize segment-earning opportunities.

Leverage Hotel Status Matches

Many hotel chains offer status matches that can be initiated before your trip. For example, if you have status with one program, you can get matched to another (e.g., Hilton to Hyatt) and then earn bonus points on stays abroad under that status. Some programs also offer “challenges” where you earn status quickly by completing a certain number of stays within a short period.

Summary: Key Tips for Earning Points While Traveling Abroad

  • Use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and strong bonus categories for travel, dining, and shopping.
  • Book flights, hotels, and experiences through loyalty program partners and credit card travel portals to earn bonus points.
  • Pay for local transportation (ride-shares, trains, rentals) with a rewards card and check for transit bonus categories.
  • Maximize dining and shopping by using cards that offer extra points on those categories and by joining standalone loyalty programs.
  • Take advantage of limited-time promotions, referral bonuses, and seasonal offers from airlines, hotels, and credit card issuers.
  • Avoid dynamic currency conversion and monitor exchange rates to minimize fees and protect your points’ value.
  • Always use a rewards credit card instead of cash, debit cards, or currency exchanges.
  • Sign up for multiple loyalty programs to diversify your earning opportunities and enable partner transfers.
  • Consider stacking points through online shopping portals and mobile wallets for additional earnings.
  • Plan new credit card applications around major trips to capture welcome bonuses by meeting minimum spending requirements with travel expenses.

Traveling abroad opens up a world of experiences—and with the right strategy, it can also open the door to a wealth of points and miles. By following these tips, you’ll earn rewards efficiently while still enjoying every moment of your journey. Safe travels and happy earning!