International Credit Card - What To Ask Before Taking Credit Cards Overseas. Credit Cards »Going abroad? Before you get on that plane for your overseas trip, open your wallet and give those credit cards a close look. Using some of those cards in another country would stick you with a trove of unnecessary fees, while others could make your trip cheaper. Find the best credit cards for international travel. Some cards offer protection if your travel plans go awry, but that protection comes with limits that are important to understand. If you're really lucky, your card may even come with a ton of perks that will make your travel plans a breeze.

But do you know which is which? It's important to find out.

· Heading for abroad for a travel adventure in 2017? In addition to your sunscreen and travel guides, you may want to pack a credit card.

· Before you embark on your next overseas trip, make sure that you're packing the right credit card. Some make better travel companions abroad than others. Plan to use a credit card overseas? Asia or elsewhere around the globe, the best credit cards for international travel are accepted nearly everywhere and. No matter where you go or how long you travel, preparing for how you'll pay for things overseas is one of the easiest ways to save money while travelling, period.

· · As you can see, the differences can be massive, yet the winners are simple. Apply for a specialist overseas credit card, then use it every time. Travelling abroad. We use cookies to. and your debit or credit card as a back-up option. We offer a range of foreign exchange products to suit your needs.

The savviest travelers tend to build an itinerary for their credit cards as well as the sights they want to see. You can, too, by asking yourself the following questions. Does my credit card charge a foreign- transaction fee?

There's a nasty little detail hidden in the fine print of many credit cards. It's called a foreign- transaction fee. If your card has one of these fees, it'll charge you up to 3 percent of the purchase price every time you swipe overseas. Your credit card network, such as Visa or Master. Card, usually takes about 1 percent. The issuing bank eats up the other 2 percent.

• · Find the top travel credit cards to use overseas on mozo. Compare top rewards earners, free travel insurance, overseas transaction fees and more!
• · Your credit card can be a lifeline while you're abroad, so make sure you set it up and use it correctly to take full advantage of what it has to offer.
• · 5 Credit Card Tips for Traveling Abroad. Here she shares five of her top tips for traveling with plastic. Before using a credit card overseas.

That may seem like a small bite, but it can really add up over the course of a vacation. Let's say you charge $4,0. Paris. Foreign- transaction fees would tack on $1. That's enough for a ticket to the Moulin Rouge or a top- notch bottle of Bordeaux. So, before you travel, find out if your card has a foreign- transaction fee. Free Google Play Gift Card Code Generator No Survey.

You can check with your card's customer service department if you don't know. If you're shopping for a new credit card and know you have plans to travel to different countries, check out cards that waive the foreign- transaction fee, including Capital One cards and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. Does my issuer have international partnerships? You can get hit with more fees if you use an ATM overseas.

Your hometown bank may help you get around this, however, if it has strong international partnerships."Some banks have huge networks and you can avoid fees totally in that country," says Linda Sherry, director of national priorities at Consumer Action. Call your credit card company for details because affiliations can vary by region. Don't fret if the ATM screen doesn't register the partnership on site. It's a bit confusing," Sherry says.

Sometimes the ATM will say you are going to be charged a fee, but you won't be charged that fee if you're in- network."If your bank has no partner in the country you're visiting, you may still want to use the ATM, says Brian Kelly, founder of The. Points. Guy. com."Paying a few dollars to your bank and getting a good conversion is likely a better deal than trying to exchange cash at a conversion place," Kelly says. Does my card have a chip? Your credit card may be built differently from foreign cards, and that may affect where it can be used. Most U. S. credit cards rely on a magnetic strip for transferring information. Cards in Europe, Asia and elsewhere rely on a fraud- resistant technology using a microchip embedded in the card, often called an EMV card.

Your magnetic strip card will get you by in most places with an attendant who can facilitate the transaction. But it may trip you up at automated kiosks where only EMV cards are accepted, says Kelly, who recommends requesting a chipped card from your credit card company, if it offers them."It's not mandatory to get these cards," Kelly says. But "it's kind of nice to have ..

Chip technology is slowly making its way into the American market, with some banks offering cards with magnetic strips and microchips. Another aspect of this technology is the chip and PIN card, where the microchip requires a special personal identification number, or PIN, to use.

Does my card offer any insurance? Don't confuse your card's "travel protection" with bona fide travel insurance. A credit card's protection has major limits. Typically, coverage only applies if the card has been used to pay for the trip, and the trip is fewer than 3. Compared to actual travel insurance, the list of covered reasons is limited, says Damian Tysdal, founder of travel insurance comparison website Travel.

Insurance. Review. If you need to cancel your trip, coverage is usually limited to extreme circumstances such as illness, injury or death of you, a close family member or your traveling companion."Whereas with travel insurance there's a much more expanded list of covered reasons," such as if you have to cancel your trip due to work or the loss of your home in a fire, Tysdal says. Your credit card also won't likely cover any medical and evacuation care. There's a wide range to the cost, but a good ballpark estimate for a medical evacuation would be around $5. Tysdal says. And while your card may help arrange these services, you're footing the bill, Kelly says."I think of credit card protection as a nice bonus: If you're not the kind of person who buys travel insurance, it can ease the pain a little bit," Tysdal says. But if you're the kind of person who is looking for travel insurance, it can be dangerous to say, 'I can just rely on my credit card.'"Does my card make flying easier?

If any of your credit cards is branded by an airline, you're in luck. Those cards are loaded with valuable perks that can make travel easier.

For example, most airline credit cards will give you free checked bags, which can save you a lot of money, especially if the whole family is in tow. Some can also make your travel smoother, offering priority boarding, discounts on in- flight purchases and flight discounts. And the more you fly or spend on your card, the faster you climb toward elite status. Many cards give elite qualifying miles when you spend a certain amount within a certain time frame. Elite status can smooth out kinks in your travel plans, such as securing accommodations for you when flights are canceled and giving access to spacious airport lounges.

With a certain status, you can qualify for free upgrades when they're available; those cushier seats with more legroom can make all the difference on a long flight. If you don't have a favorite airline, Kelly recommends signing up for a program with transferable points. These programs help you transfer points to a number of different airlines," he says.

It's the same fundamentals as your retirement account. You don't want to put all of your retirement in one stock."Does my card help book travel plans? Have you always wanted your own personal assistant?

Well, ring the butler bell because your credit card might have just that. A credit card's concierge service can be a powerful planning tool when you're on a trip.

They may help find you a cheap flight, get you airport lounge access or set up hotel accommodations. Some have multilingual staff members or use translation services, which can be a huge advantage if a language barrier is tripping up your attempts to make hotel accommodations or reservations in a foreign country. However, many concierge services come with a price: For a $9. JP Morgan Select Visa Signature card offers a concierge service that can find last- minute hotel rooms and show tickets, JP Morgan Chase spokesman Rob Tacey says.

It can even locate and buy artwork after you've left the gallery. Looking for a no- fee option? Check out the Citi Diamond Preferred card. Does my card know I'm traveling?

As soon as you know the dates of your travel, give your credit card company a call and let them know the dates and the countries you will be passing through. Otherwise, those foreign charges may be flagged as fraud and your card will be shut down until you get through to your credit card company. To guard against any other potential credit card mishaps abroad, bring a backup credit card and, in a separate place, carry a copy of your credit card company's international number in case your card is stolen. Know your credit limit, so you don't find yourself maxed out when the dinner bill arrives at your table.

Best credit cards for overseas travel. Here's a simple way to save some money every time you make a purchase on your trip.

Make sure you have the right credit card in your wallet—one that does not charge a foreign transaction fee."About 9. Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of Card. Hub. "Three percent might not sound like much, but when you multiply it by the typical budget of an international trip, it can add up to a lot of money."Does your card have this fee? If you're not sure, check the terms and conditions. A few big- name credit card issuers have started to eliminate this fee on some of their cards.

Chase now has 1. 3 cards that don't have a foreign transaction fee, including the Marriott Rewards Premier credit card, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier card, United Mileage. Plus Club Visa and British Airways Visa Signature card."Most of these cards are designed for frequent travelers and have benefits that would suit their specific needs and wants," said Paul Hartwick, a spokesman for Chase. Features like bonus points for travel purchases and no foreign transaction fees are especially attractive to these customers."American Express recently dropped the fee for its Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta Sky.

Miles credit cards."If your card has this fee, you might want to apply for another one before your trip," said Bill Hardekopf, CEO of Low. Cards. com. "There are a number of really good cards available that you might want to consider."For example, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Bank. Americard Travel Rewards card and the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Master.

Card. A few card issuers—Capital One, Discover and Pentagon Federal Credit Union—do not have foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. The Capital One Quicksilver and Venture Rewards cards come highly recommended by various comparison websites.

See a full list of recommended cards at Card. Hub.)What about a smart card? Unless you frequently travel outside the country, you probably have a credit card with a magnetic strip on the back.

That could be a problem in other parts of the world where they've converted to EMV technology—the so- called "smart card" that uses an embedded microchip to verify your identity."It's a good idea to have the EMV card, but it's probably not as important as some people would have you believe," said Ed Perkins, who writes for Smarter. Travel. com. "I wouldn't stay home because you don't have one." (Read More Whether PIN or signature, smart cards are coming)America is in the process of switching to EMV cards, but there's no need to wait. See if your bank can give you a new chip- based card.

Chase, Citi and Bank of America now offer a number of cards that are EMV compatible—they have both a mag strip and a chip. And as an added bonus, they don't have a foreign transaction fee. See a list of EMV- enabled credit cards on Low. Cards and Nerd. Wallet.)Getting cash in another country. You may be tempted to get some foreign currency at the airport. Travel experts advise against that because the exchange rate is so bad.

Wait until you get to your destination and find an ATM. The average charge for currency conversion is 6. Travelex location, than using a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, according to Card. Hub's 2. 01. 4 Currency Exchange Study. But watch out for other fees.

The average foreign ATM fee is around $2. You may be able to avoid that if you use a cash machine that's affiliated with your bank. Read More Be on alert!

Vacation rental scams an 'epidemic' )Bank of America has a no- fee agreement with banks in many countries, including Australia, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico through its Global ATM Alliance, which will save you $5 per transaction. Keep in mind, there still may be a foreign transaction fee of three percent. A few checking accounts now offer debit cards that don't have a foreign transaction fee, so you can withdraw cash from any ATM without getting dinged. Before you leave. No matter where you go or what card you have, contact your bank or card issuer and let them know about your travel plans. Otherwise, you run the risk that their fraud prevention computer programs might see these out- of- profile transactions, suspect a problem and shut down the card.

It's also a good idea to make sure you've paid off the balance, so you don't run out of credit while you are away. Check with your bank to find out what sort of charges you might incur if you use their card when you're away and find out what, if anything, you can do to avoid those fees. Read More Fight fraud with remote control for credit cards )One more money- saving tip: Never let a merchant convert your purchase into U. S. dollars. That may seem convenient, but you'll get a lousy exchange rate and still have to pay a conversion fee when that transaction is processed by your credit card company."Pay in the local currency and let your card company take care of the conversion for you," advised Charles Leocha, chairman and co- founder of. Travelers United. You'll get the best exchange rate that way."—By CNBC contributor Herb Weisbaum. Follow him on Facebookand Twitter @The.

Consumerman or visit The Consumer.