Get a No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee Credit Card

The Problem

Your credit card charges 3% foreign transaction fee on every swipe abroad. On a $5,000 trip that's $150 wasted.

The Hack

Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees before traveling: Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, or Discover It. Use exclusively while abroad.

Why It Works

Most credit cards add a 3% fee on international purchases. On a $5,000 trip, that's $150 in hidden fees. No-FTF cards eliminate this completely — same exchange rate, no markup.

Pro Tips

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: no FTF + travel rewards
• Capital One cards: no FTF across all their cards
• Discover It: no FTF + accepted in 200+ countries
• Check your current cards — some already have no FTF