Best UK credit cards for travel: Comparison

Have an overseas trip booked? Whether you’re planning a week in the sun or city escape, you’ll need to find a low-cost way to spend while outside the UK. A travel credit card could be a good option, especially if you’re visiting multiple destinations.

But what are the best credit cards for travel? We’ll run through some options in this guide, covering card features, fees, exchange rates and travel rewards.

We’ll also show you a travel-friendly alternative - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account.

You can use it for spending in 150+ countries worldwide, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

💳 Learn more about the Wise card

The 7 best UK credit cards for travel – Overview

There are a lot of travel credit cards out there, so it can be tricky to choose the right one for your needs. We’ve put together a list of some of the best contenders to help you make a decision:

Card	APR	Key features
Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card¹	28.9%	0.25% cashback on eligible purchases No fees on cash withdrawals
Halifax Clarity Credit Card²	Varies	No fees on cash withdrawals
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card³	26.9%	Earn Virgin points when spending Double points when spending with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card⁵	27.9%	1% cashback on eligible travel spending
Santander All in One Credit Card⁷	29.8%	0.5% cashback on all purchases
Bip Cardless Credit⁹	34.9%	Cardless credit
Zopa Credit Card¹¹	34.9%	Credit Cushion feature

Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card

The Barclaycard Rewards Card is a top pick for holidays and travel, as it has no foreign transaction fees, including cash withdrawals. This means you can withdraw cash in foreign currency all over the world, and Barclays won’t charge you a fee. You’ll just need to watch out for fees charged by some ATM operators.¹

The card also comes with some extra perks, such as 0.25% cashback on eligible everyday purchases and protection on purchases over £100. Barclaycard uses Visa’s exchange rate for currency conversion and has an APR of 28.9% (variable), based on a credit limit of £1,200.¹

You need to be over 21 to apply, with an income of at least £20,000 per year. You’ll also need a decent track record of managing credit and making payments on time.¹

Halifax Clarity Credit Card

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is another excellent choice for your holiday spending. It doesn’t charge you for spending abroad, nor for ATM withdrawals. However, some ATM operators might impose a fee.²

There aren’t any particular attractive extras with this card, although your credit account will offer the following features:

• Complete fraud protection
• Multiple payment options
• UK-based customer support
• Protection for purchases between £100 and £30,000²

The interest rate and credit limit you’ll be offered is determined on application. Halifax has an eligibility checker tool you can use before you apply.²

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

Regularly take Virgin Atlantic flights or book trips with Virgin Holidays? If you get the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, you can earn points towards future purchases as you spend.

Here’s what you can earn:

• 0.75 Virgin Points for every £1 spent on everyday purchases
• 1.5 points for every £1 you spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays³

There’s no annual fee to get the card and no foreign transaction fees for payments in Euros, Swedish Krona or Romanian Lei within the European Economic Area (EEA).⁴

There is however a rather hefty 5% handling fee for cash advance services.⁴ You should also bear in mind that interest on cash withdrawals will start to accrue right away, and ATM operators may charge their own fee.

The representative interest rate is 26.9% APR (variable), based on a credit limit of £1,200. Credit limits will vary based on your circumstances.³

You can check your eligibility and apply online at the Virgin Money website.

NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card

The NatWest Travel Reward credit card has a representative 27.9% APR (variable) on purchases. There are no annual fees or foreign transaction fees on purchases and the card uses the Visa exchange rate.⁵

However, there’s a 3% fee for ATM withdrawals, with a minimum charge of £3.⁶ ATM operators in some countries may also charge their own fee. And like other credit cards, interest on cash withdrawals starts to accrue right away.

What makes this one of the best credit cards for travel is the 1% cashback you get on travel expenses, such as plane tickets, hotels and car rental. You can also get up to 15% with their partner retailers and 0.1% on everything else.⁵

Santander All in One Credit Card

The Santander All in One Credit Card comes packed with features, including no foreign transaction fees on purchases and 0.5% cashback on all purchases, with a £10 monthly cap. There’s a 3% fee for cash withdrawals, with a minimum charge of £3.

Santander uses the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency.⁸ The representative APR for this card is 29.8% (variable), while the interest rate for purchases is 23.9% APR (variable), based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.⁷

You can also get various benefits in the first 15 months of account opening, including the following:

• 0% interest on balance transfers for 15 months, and no balance transfer fee
• 0% interest on purchases for 15 months⁷

However, there is a small catch, which may or may not be a deal breaker for you. The card has a £3 monthly fee, adding up to £36 a year. This makes it the only credit card on our list which has a fee.⁷

To apply, you’ll need to be a UK resident over the age of 18, with an income of at least £10,500 a year.⁷

Bip Cardless Credit

This option is a little different than the others on the list. Bip is a UK financial technology company specialising in cardless credit on your phone. It offers digital credit through British financial services company NewDay Ltd.⁹

To sign up, you’ll get the Bip app and apply for digital credit. You can also check your eligibility first. If accepted, you can simply add your virtual credit card to Apple Pay or Google Pay, then make contactless payments using just your phone.⁹

Bip cardless credit has a representative interest rate of 34.9% APR (variable), with starting credit limits from £250.⁹

There are no foreign transaction fees, for both spending and cash withdrawals, although you’ll need to find a cardless ATM. Remember that ATM operators may charge their own fees, and that interest on cash advances starts accruing right away.⁹

Bip uses the Mastercard exchange rate for currency conversions.¹⁰

Zopa Credit Card

The Zopa Credit Card is a great option for travel, especially since Zopa was named Best Credit Card Provider at the British Bank Awards 2024.¹¹

There are no foreign transaction fees for spending outside the UK, but you’ll need to be mindful of the £3 flat fee per cash withdrawal. This fee applies to purchasing foreign currency, sending wire transfers, gambling and paying off debts, as well as using the card at an ATM. Also, keep in mind that interest on cash withdrawals starts accruing right away.¹²

However, if you just use the card for spending, there won’t be any fees. There’s no annual fee either. When it comes to currency conversion, Zopa uses the Visa exchange rate.¹²

Interest rates start from 26.6%, with the representative APR being 34.9% (variable), based on a credit limit of £1,200.¹¹

Other Zopa credit card features include:

• Credit Cushion, letting you set aside some of your credit balance ready for when you really need it
• Instant payment notifications
• Real-time balance updates
• Viewing your PIN securely in the app
• In-app card controls, such as the option to freeze your card if you lose it.¹¹

You can apply for the Zopa credit card by downloading their app. You’ll also continue to manage everything online. There’s even the option to do an instant eligibility check and see if you’d be accepted, without any impact on your credit score.¹¹

Top travel benefits and perks to look for in a credit card

If you’re unsure which features to look for in the best credit cards for travel, here are some of the top perks to consider:

• No foreign transaction fees
• No ATM withdrawal fees
• No annual fee
• Low interest rates on cash withdrawals
• Additional perks, such as cashback or rewards
• Favourable currency conversion rates
• Purchase and fraud protection

Is it worth getting a credit card for travel?

A dedicated travel credit card could be a great travel companion, since they usually come with benefits that regular credit cards don’t offer. If your main credit card charges foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees, using a travel credit card could save you money.

Alternatives to credit cards when travelling abroad

If you don’t use credit cards or don’t want to get another one just for travelling, debit cards are a good alternative. Many travel-friendly debit cards charge no fees for spending or withdrawing cash abroad. If you’re on a budget, this could be a good way to avoid overspending.

You could also rely on cash, but exchanging currency can be inconvenient, especially when travelling to multiple countries. Plus, carrying large amounts of cash with you isn’t the safest option.

Is it better to travel with a debit or a credit card?

If you like to have access to a larger amount of money for emergencies or unexpected expenses, a credit card may be more convenient. However, credit card spending can incur interest, while debit cards don’t. Ultimately, the choice comes down to your travel habits and financial goals, so it’s a good idea to explore both options before making a decision.

Travelling abroad? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

Looking for an alternative for holiday spending? Check out the Wise card. It isn’t a credit card, but is a fantastic option for low-cost spending and cash withdrawals worldwide.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7 or get the virtual Wise card for £0. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

Need cash? You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

And if you need to send money overseas, such as to pay expenses on a holiday home or book a hotel, you can use your Wise account to do it in just a few clicks.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

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Sources used:

1. Barclaycard - Barclaycard Rewards card
2. Halifax - Halifax Clarity credit card
3. Virgin Money - Virgin Atlantic Reward card
4. Virgin Money - Virgin Atlantic Reward card summary box
5. NatWest - Travel Reward credit card
6. NatWest - Travel Reward credit card summary box
7. Santander - All in One credit card
8. Santander - All in One credit card key information
9. Bip - Bip credit card
10. Bip - Bip summary box
11. Zopa - credit card
12. Zopa - Zopa credit card summary box

Sources last checked on date: 03-Jun-2025