Travel Tips

Travel Tip: New US Credit Cards for Travel

Credit Cards For TravelWhen you travel abroad, you may have encountered merchants who say they can’t accept your credit card. No, it’s not that you went over your limit…it’s that your card is outdated.

The good news, U.S. banks are finally catching up with the times with new credit cards for travel. The old technology that we’re all used to is the swipe-and-sign credit card. But in Canada, Europe and other parts of the world, they’re moving toward EMV, which is a microchip inside your credit card. Some chipped cards require a PIN, others still stick to the signature for verification

Chase just announced that it’s now providing the chip-and-signature technology to its Sapphire Preferred card customers.

American Express offers EMV embedded credit cards that you can request once you’ve activated your Platinum Card.

Bank of America uses a chip and PIN technology on their Privileges and Travel Reward credit cards.  And it’s not just about how you can use the card, it’s also where. The BankAmericard Travel Rewards credit card earns 1.5 points for every dollar spent on purchases, and then you can turn around spend those points on travel: flights without restrictions or blackout dates, hotels, rental cars, and even attractions and experiences. That dollar amount associated with points is then deducted from your statement.

Here’s the real kicker: The Travel Reward card doesn’t charge that nasty foreign transaction fee when you travel abroad. And that translates into some serious savings.

For more information, visit the travel credit card archives.

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