3–8% — Typical cost of using a standard credit card abroad
| Method | FX Markup | Transaction Fee | ATM Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport cash exchange | 10–15% | $3–8 flat | N/A | Nobody — avoid |
| Standard credit card | 0% | 3% foreign txn | $5–10/withdrawal | Low-fee card only |
| Charles Schwab debit | 0% | 0% | Refunded globally | ATM-heavy destinations |
| Wise travel card | 0.35–1.75% | 0% (2 free ATM/mo) | 2 free/mo then 2% | Multi-currency trips |
| Revolut (Standard) | 0% (weekdays) | 0% | €200/mo free | Europe & major corridors |
| Wise international transfer | 0.35–0.6% | Small fixed fee | N/A | Sending money ahead |
| Cash from home-country ATM | 0.5–1% | Varies by bank | $2–5 foreign fee | Backup cash only |
$247 — Average annual savings by switching from standard to fee-free travel card
| Destination Type | Cash Need | Best ATM Card | Backup Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Europe | Low–Medium | Wise or Revolut | Contactless card everywhere |
| Southeast Asia | High | Schwab (fee refunds) | Pre-exchange $50 at home bank |
| Latin America | Medium–High | Schwab or Wise | Use major bank ATMs only |
| Middle East (UAE, KSA) | Low | No-fee credit card | Dirhams/Riyals from airport (rates decent) |
| Africa (Morocco, Kenya) | High | Schwab | Notify bank; carry more cash |
| Australia/NZ/Canada | Very Low | No-fee credit card | Apple Pay widely accepted |
For most travelers, having two cards is optimal: a Charles Schwab debit card for ATM withdrawals (refunds all fees globally) and a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card like Chase Sapphire Preferred for larger purchases. Wise is the best single-card solution if you want one card for both ATMs and spending in multiple currencies.
Exchange a small emergency amount ($100–200 equivalent) at your home bank before departure, where rates are reasonable and commission-free for account holders. Beyond that, withdraw local currency from ATMs at your destination using a fee-free debit card — this consistently gets you the best exchange rate available to consumers.
Yes, with precautions. Use ATMs attached to bank branches rather than standalone machines in tourist areas. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Enable transaction alerts in your banking app so you're notified immediately of any charge. Wise and Revolut both allow you to freeze your card instantly from their apps if it's lost or stolen.
Enough for 2–3 days of spending in cash-dependent destinations, or just $50–100 as a backup in cashless countries. Carrying large amounts of cash creates theft risk. Withdraw frequently in smaller amounts from fee-free ATMs rather than one large withdrawal at an expensive airport kiosk.
In most destinations, no — direct crypto payments at merchants remain rare. The practical exception is high-inflation countries like Argentina or Turkey, where USDC stored in a local exchange wallet (Lemon Cash in Argentina, for example) can be spent or converted to local currency at better rates than official exchange channels. For standard summer travel in Europe, Asia, or the Americas, stick to fee-free debit and credit cards.
Compare live rates across 370+ corridors on RemitRoutes · methodology.