Best Ways to Pay When Travelling Abroad in 2026

Currency conversion fees can add 3-5% to every purchase you make abroad. These are the best payment methods to minimise costs when travelling.

Foreign transaction fees are charged by most traditional bank cards on every overseas payment: typically 1.5–3% of the transaction amount. On a two-week trip spending £3,000, that is £45–90 in fees alone — before you account for bad ATM exchange rates. The right card eliminates these costs entirely.

Best Cards for Zero Foreign Fees

• Revolut: no FX fee on spending, real rate during market hours
• Wise card: mid-market rate with no markup, small conversion fee
• Monzo (UK): 0% fee on spending abroad, fair ATM limits
• Charles Schwab Debit (US): no foreign fee, reimburses all ATM fees globally
• Steyble crypto card: 0% FX, up to 3% BTC cashback on all purchases

ATM Strategy Abroad

Always withdraw local currency directly from an ATM — never use currency exchange kiosks. At the ATM, always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) when offered: choosing your home currency lets the ATM owner apply its own (worse) rate. Choose local currency every time. Use bank ATMs rather than independent standalone ATMs to avoid surcharges.

Crypto Cards for Travel

• Spend stablecoins or crypto at real exchange rates with no markup
• Some cards like Steyble provide up to 3% BTC cashback on purchases
• Virtual card numbers for hotel pre-authorisations keep your balance safe
• Instant top-up from your crypto wallet, no bank transfer needed
• Works at any merchant accepting Visa or Mastercard globally