virgin money travel card exchange rate

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Virgin Money Travel Card Review - 2024 

Virgin Money UK discontinued their prepaid travel card in 2020, and now has a couple of credit card options that are promoted for travel use - the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, and the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card.

This guide covers the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card features, benefits and fees in detail - with a quick look at the differences compared to the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card, too. Plus we’ll touch on the Wise international prepaid card and the Revolut debit card as alternatives you might want to consider.

Virgin Money travel card: key features

Virgin Money UK directs customers looking for a travel card to the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card and the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card . The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual fee, while the Reward+ Card has an annual charge of 160 GBP, in return for higher reward point opportunities.

This guide focuses on the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, but you can learn more about the Reward+ Card over on the Virgin Money UK desktop site.

Here are a few Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card pros and cons to kick off:

Travel credit cards let you spread the costs of travelling out over a few months, while earning rewards, cashback or points as you spend. However, in return you may find you have to pay interest on unpaid balances, cash advance fees, and penalties if you don’t make a minimum repayment every time.

Travel debit cards can be a cheaper way to hold, exchange and spend foreign currencies. With providers like Wise and Revolut you can hold dozens of currencies and spend with your debit card - with no interest to worry about. Just top up your account in pounds, and spend overseas with low fees and fair exchange rates.

Who is the Virgin Money travel card for?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual fee, and you can earn 0.75 points on every pound spent, which can be redeemed against travel benefits. If you’d rather earn more points, and don’t mind paying an annual fee, there’s also the Rewards+ Card which can suit frequent travellers.

In general, travel credit cards are most economical for people who repay their bills monthly to avoid interest charges, who can also benefit from the rewards offered by the card as you spend.

What is the Virgin Money travel card?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card Virgin Money Credit Card is a no annual fee credit card which allows you to earn points on spending that can then be redeemed against travel benefits such as upgrades on travel, lounge access when you fly, and free flights for friends.

Is the Virgin Money Card a multi-currency card?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is not a multi-currency card, it’s a credit card with benefits optimised for travel, including extra points on some travel spend, and rewards you can redeem against flights.

If that doesn’t suit you, you might prefer providers like Wise and Revolut which have multi-currency accounts with linked debit cards, to add money in pounds and spend internationally with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. More on that. next.

Alternatives to Virgin Money travel card

Travel credit cards aren’t necessarily the cheapest way to spend overseas, because of interest costs and potential penalties, as well as any foreign transaction fees you face.

To help you decide if the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is right for you, let’s look at it alongside a couple of other popular alternatives:

Information taken from Virgin Money Card desktop site and Terms and conditions , Wise pricing page , Revolut international transfer fees .pdf) and Revolut UK ; correct at time of writing, 17th May 2023

There’s a pretty big choice of different types of travel money cards for UK residents - including credit cards and prepaid travel cards from providers like Wise or Revolut. Which suits you depends on how you like to manage your money. Credit cards can be handy to spread the costs of travel over a few months - but more expensive overall.

Options like Wise or Revolut cards can be cheaper and more flexible - but you’ll need to add funds in advance before you can get started. More on Wise and Revolut, next.

Read a full Wise review here

Wise accounts can hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and come with an optional linked Wise card to spend with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.41%, in 170+ countries. You can apply, and manage your account, from your smartphone, and get extra perks like fast payments to 70+ countries, and local bank details for 9 currencies, to get paid easily from 30+ countries.

The Wise card is a debit card, not a credit card - so there are no interest costs and no late payment penalties, just top up in pounds, and you’re good to go.

Revolut accounts come with  linked debit cards, and can hold 25+ currencies. You can either get a standard plan which has no monthly fees, or pay a monthly charge to access extra features and perks. Revolut currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate to plan limits, with fair usage fees after that. Out of hours fees may also apply if you switch currencies when the global markets are shut.

Read a full Revolut review here

Virgin Money travel card fees & spending limits

Let’s look at the costs of using the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card when you’re travelling:

Information correct at time of writing - 17th May 2023

Exchange rates

When you spend overseas with the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card your spending is converted back to pounds using the Mastercard exchange rate, to create your bill.

If you’re paying in EUR, RON and SEK in the UK and EEA, there’s no foreign transaction fee, so the exchange rate is made with the Mastercard rate with no additional charges. All other spending incurs a 2.99% foreign transaction fee, which is added to the rate used to convert your spending back to pounds.

How to get a Virgin Money travel card

To get a Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card you’ll need to complete an online eligibility and credit check.

Eligibility criteria include:

You must be a UK resident, over 18, with a UK bank or building society account

You must have good credit history and an income of at least 7,000 GBP a year

You can’t apply if you’ve recently closed a Virgin Money credit card, or if you have an active Virgin card already

To apply, simply head to the Virgin Money credit card desktop site, to complete the eligibility check and start your application.

What documents and information you’ll need

Virgin Money partners with identity verification service HooYu, to allow you to get verified and set up with your card from your phone. You’ll be guided through the verification process by on screen prompts, but you’ll usually need to upload a picture of your photo ID and a selfie. You’ll also be asked for your current address, and may need to provide proof of this to complete verification.

As the Virgin Money travel card is a credit card, a credit check may apply, and so you may also need to provide proof of income or outgoings.

How to use a Virgin Money travel card?

Use your Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card at home and abroad, just as you would with any other payment card. As the card is issued on the Mastercard network, all you need to do is look out for the Mastercard logo to check if the card is accepted.

How to withdraw cash with a Virgin Money travel card?

To withdraw cash with your Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, just insert your card into any ATM on the Mastercard network, enter your PIN, and the amount you need to receive. Don’t forget, there’s a 5% cash advance fee, and the interest on the withdrawal amount starts to accrue immediately once you’ve made the withdrawal.

Is the card safe?

Yes. Virgin Money issues credit cards through Clydesdale Bank PLC, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA.

How to use the Virgin Money travel card overseas?

The  Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card can be used anywhere you see the Mastercard symbol. If you’re in the UK or EEA, and spending EUR, RON or SEK, there’s no extra fee for foreign transactions. A 2.99% charge applies on all other spending overseas, though.

Conclusion: is the Virgin Money travel card worth it?

Virgin Money UK promotes the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, and the similar Reward+ Card as good options for international travellers. You can earn points on everyday spending, and extra points on travel - which can then be redeemed for free flights, upgrades and lounge access when you’re going on holiday. However, as with any credit card, you may run into interest costs, and with overseas spending outside the EEA you’ll pay a 2.99% foreign transaction fee too.

For a cheaper alternative, compare the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card against a flexible multi-currency account that comes with a debit card - like the popular options from Wise and Revolut we explored earlier. Debit cards are often cheaper overall, and the option to hold and exchange currencies right in your account can also make managing your budget far easier - even when you’re working across currencies.

Virgin Money travel card review FAQ

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is a credit card with no annual fee which offers travel rewards. Compare the benefits to a debit card designed for overseas spending, from alternative providers like Wise and Revolut, to see which suits you best.

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card can be used at home and abroad anywhere you see the Mastercard symbol. If you’re spending in the EEA you may find there’s no foreign transaction fee to pay - but elsewhere, overseas usage costs 2.99% in charges.

If the Virgin Money Credit Card isn’t right for you, there’s lots of choice out there. Compare a few travel credit cards from major UK banks against travel debit cards from a provider like Wise or Revolut to build a picture of the options available, including their features and fees.

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Virgin Money Euro Exchange Rates Compared

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Virgin Money Does not currently offer this currency, the best Euros on offer right now can be found below

About buying travel money.

Buying travel cash online is typically the easiest and cheapest way of buying travel cash. Compare Travel Cash is a free resource to help you find the best currency deals on the internet right now.Our Clever technology is constantantly updating rates from over 60 suppliers to ensure the price you see is what you pay*, we even factor in delier costs into the prices you see you can see at a glance what are the best currency deals in the UK right now.

Currency delivered is normally delivered the next day is fully insured by the Royal Mail.

Questions about Virgin Money

How does the process work for buying currency online.

You need to place an order on the currency suppliers’ site you decide on, and pay for your currency. Each currency supplier will have different payment options, but the options are usually bank transfer, debit card, with some suppliers offering payment by Apple pay and Android pay. Once your order has been confirmed your order will prepared and your currency sent to you by registered delivery, some suppliers even offer next day delivery.

Can I collect my money in person?

We currently only compare currency suppliers that deliver currency.

Is the money sent to me fully insured?

Yes, all currency sent is fully insured.

Is it safe to order money online?

YAll the currency suppliers we show on our website are FCA regulated and we also carry out our own checks. We do however advise all customers to conduct their own due diligence and checks.

Are the rates always the same on the supplier website as on the Compare Travel Cash site?

We constantly update our exchange rates as they change for each supplier, and whilst we try to do this in almost real-time, there will be times when we our data is slightly out of date (in normal circumstances not more than 1 minute).

How can I sell my unused travel currency online?

Once you have made your choice of which currency buyback company you wish to use click on the “More Info” button next to your chosen supplier. You will then be automatically redirected to the website to be able to sell your currency.

What is the process for selling back my unused travel money?

To exchange your unused travel currency, fill in the form on the currency buyback company website and print the order details form and send it together with your currency to the currency company. The equivalent Sterling pounds wills be transferred into your bank within a few days.

How long does it take to receive the money in my bank account?

Typically a few days.

How up to date are your tourist exchange rates?

Our tourist rates are virtually realtime, we update our tourist rates approximatly every minute at least.

Why do the tourist exchange rates change so often?

The foreign exchange market is always open, so exchange rates are constantly moving, suppliers react to this and periodically set their tourist exchange rates based on what the market dictates.

Can I get better tourist exchange rates if I go direct?

The simple answer is no, in fact we have preferential rates from some suppliers so you will hopefully save money when using our site to find the best tourist exchange rates.

If I buy now from a supplier will they honour the tourist exchange rate at the point of order?

Yes, as long as you adhere to a suppliers terms and conditions, some suppliers accept bank transfers so they may need to receive the money in a certain time period to guaranatee any tourist rate you ordered. The best advice is to review the terms and conditions on the website of supplier you choose.

What is the Virgin Money Euro rate?

The Virgin Money Euro rate is currently .

The best pound to euro exchange rate now is 1.1542, which is available from Travel FX.

The worst exchange rate is 1.1147. The difference between the highest and the lowest is 3.42%. This means that if you are buying £750 worth of euros you will get €29.62 more euros by buying with the best euro provider.

This shows you it pays to shop around and get the best rates on travel money!

Euro exchange rate over the last week.

This shows you the best pound to euro exchange rate recorded daily from our UK suppliers over the last week.

In the last 7 days, the rate for Euros has risen by 0.16%.

If you were to order £1,000 today you would get €1.90 more euros for your money than last week.

How do we source the data above? We receive rate feeds travel money suppliers and aggreate the data each evening we save the average rate that occured during the day, and also include the current best rate

How to get the best euro exchange rate.

We compare the pound to euro exchange rates from many of the UK’s biggest travel money providers including exclusively online providers as well as some of the well-known high street banks and supermarket travel money services. Our clever algorithms ensure you get the latest euro rates and see who is offering the best euro to pound currency deals .

Compare Travel cash is a free service that takes the pain and effort out of finding the best exchange rates for buying euro online . Don't forget the price we quote is the price you pay, we calculate the amount including any fees and delivery costs!

Buying Euros online FAQs

Hundreds of customers safely buy euros through online travel money providers sites every day and have a great experience. However, as with ordering anything online, the process is never completely risk-free and you should always take care when transferring money to any company. Compare Travel Cash undertake comprehensive checks on all of our online travel money providers and monitor them to make sure they meet our high standards and continue to do so. Having said that, no company is guaranteed not to come into trouble and we cannot guarantee the solvency of any of the providers listed on our website. We always recommend that you conduct your own due diligence before placing an order with any company.

Its simple! Choose the travel money provider you would like to buys euros from, then: 1. Fill in your details. 2. Select your preferred payment option and make the payment. - Each currency supplier will have different payment options, but the options are usually bank transfer, debit card, with some suppliers offering payment by Apple Pay and Android pay. 3.Enter your delivery preferences whether you want your currency delivered to your door or collection (depending on the supplier). 4.Once your order has been confirmed your order will be prepared and your currency sent to you by registered delivery, some suppliers even offer next day delivery.

Not Usually! We constantly update our exchange rates as they change for each supplier, we try to do this in almost real-time, (in normal circumstances not more than 1 minute difference). Also we sometimes have exclusive offers that you won't find by going direct.

Of course! If you want to exchange euros into pounds you can see the best buy back rate on euros and many other currencies using our buy back comparison tool .

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CompareTravelCash.co.uk is a price comparison service that's designed to help you save money – whilst we do our best to ensure the site is 100% up-to-date, we cannot guarantee this. We advise you to carry out your own due diligence before buying or selling travel money.

Best travel credit cards

We round up the best travel credit cards to help you avoid hidden fees when you're spending abroad

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Using the best travel credit cards can save you money on holiday abroad.  

If you pack the same credit card you use for everyday shopping at the supermarket or when filling up with fuel at home, using it abroad is likely to cost you more with hidden fees and extra charges.

This can make it harder to keep track of your budget, especially if you want a cheap holiday , as you may be charged every time you pay by card, as well as running up a fee for every cash withdrawal you make. In some cases, you could pay around 3% more on purchases and nearly £5 a time on cash withdrawals.

If you’re going abroad and want the convenience and protection that a credit card offers, it’s worth packing one that’s going to help make your money go further.

There are lots of ways to save on holiday and travel credit cards are one of them. Not only can they be handy for paying for holiday car hire , where prepaid travel cards aren’t accepted, they’re handy to have for emergencies and come with built-in legal protection , too.    

While cash may seem an easy alternative, the downside of travelling with a large amount of cash is you may not be covered on your travel insurance if it’s lost or stolen. The maximum you could claim for could be as low as £200, according to consumer group Which? .

But remember, the trick to using travel credit cards is to always pay your bill in full and on time to avoid interest charges.

Why you can trust The Money Edit Our experts spend hours analysing and reviewing products and services to help you find what's best for you. Find out more about how we analyse.

<a href="https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards" data-link-merchant="barclaycard.co.uk"" target="_blank"> Barclaycard Rewards Visa

With this card there are no fees or interest to pay on spending and cash withdrawals abroad, provided you repay in full.

You also get 0.25% cashback on most purchases, which is credited to your account annually (or sooner on request). 

It also offers a free five-month trial of five Apple services, including Apple Music and <a href="https://www.themoneyedit.com/consumer-advice/apple-tv-plus-deals" data-link-merchant="themoneyedit.com"" data-link-merchant="barclaycard.co.uk""> Apple TV+ . However, be sure to cancel the free trial before it ends if you don’t want to continue with the service or make payments.

There is an interest-free period of up to 56 days, but be sure to pay your bill in full each month, as the card’s annual interest rate is 25.9%.

<a href="https://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/travel.html" data-link-merchant="halifax.co.uk"" target="_blank"> Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard  

Halifax Clarity has no foreign transaction fees for overseas spending, and  you won’t be charged a fee for cash withdrawals. However, you will be charged interest on any cash withdrawals from the date of the transaction. 

This works out at around 5p for every £100 per day, according to MoneySavingExpert. If you don’t pay your bill in full, the interest rate on cash withdrawals is 28.94%.

When you pay in local currency or make cash withdrawals, your transaction will automatically convert using the Mastercard exchange rate on that day.

<a href="https://www.natwest.com/credit-cards/the-natwest-credit-card.html" data-link-merchant="natwest.com"" target="_blank"> NatWest Credit Card Mastercard

There are no fees for overseas spending on this card, but ATM cash withdrawals will incur a fee of 3%, with a minimum charge of £3 a time. There’s no interest-free period on cash advances, so you will be charged interest (on a daily basis) on the amount withdrawn at a rate of up to 29.9% APR.

The card can be used worldwide at Mastercard locations.

<a href="https://uk.virginmoney.com/cards/" data-link-merchant="uk.virginmoney.com"" target="_blank"> Virgin Money Travel Credit Card Mastercard

Virgin Money charges no fees on overseas spending, but ATM cash withdrawals abroad incur a 3% fee.

With cash withdrawals, you’ll pay interest straight away. This is accrued on a daily basis, from the date of withdrawal, at 29.9% APR.

<a href="https://www.zopa.com/credit-card" data-link-merchant="zopa.com"" target="_blank"> Zopa Credit Card Visa  

There are no fees on overseas spending with this card, but you will pay a fee of £3 per ATM withdrawal plus interest charged daily at an annual rate of 34.9%. 

How to apply for a travel credit card

Before you apply for a travel credit card, it’s worth using the eligibility checker at our sister site Go.Compare to see if you will be accepted. 

Whether or not you're accepted for a credit card will depend on your credit score . The higher your score , the more chance you have of being accepted and given the best rates. 

What to look out for when using a credit card abroad

• The main fees to watch for when spending abroad are “loading” or transaction fees. These are added by your card provider and can raise the cost of each purchase by 3%. Spending on debit cards can bump up the price by between 50p and £1.50 a time, depending on the provider.
• You may also be charged fees for cash withdrawals. These vary between providers, but can be up to £4.50 a time, and that’s on top of any fees that may be charged by the local bank for allowing you to use its cash machine.
• Always pay in the local currency. Don't take up a retailer’s offer of swapping the price back to sterling as this means it sets the exchange rate and you could be ripped off. Dynamic Currency Conversion , as it’s known, can bump up the cost of your credit card spending by another 5%. 
• Before you leave home, make sure your contact details, especially your mobile number, are up-to-date with your bank and credit card company. If your bank or card company spots what it thinks could be a suspicious transaction, it may call to check you first, or otherwise block your card.
• Always try to clear your card and pay your bill in full to avoid any fees. While some travel credit cards don’t charge fees for cash withdrawals, you may incur interest from the withdrawal date. And if you can’t afford to pay in full, always make at least the minimum payment by the due date to avoid hefty interest charges. 
• Some credit cards offer fee-free cash withdrawals, which means your bank or card company won’t charge you, but the local ATM provider may, so try to avoid using standalone cash machines abroad. If you do use them, watch to see if any information on charges comes up on screen. 
• Exchange rates can change daily and the rate applied to your purchase will be the one on the day your transaction is processed by Visa or Mastercard, not the day you used your card.
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Samantha Partington is a freelance personal finance journalist specialising in mortgages and the property market. Over the past nine years, Samantha has worked for the Daily Mail, trade website Mortgage Solutions and business title Property Week. She regularly writes for national newspaper money pages, such as Money Mail and Sun Money. She also supports property tech firms with content writing.

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Best no annual fee travel credit cards of April 2024

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Travel rewards cards are a lot like gyms. The best ones may come with tons of added benefits (saunas, yoga class, etc.) but they also cost a lot, usually with a big financial commitment upfront. 

As a result, whether you’re considering a Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card (with its $95 annual fee) or a CrossFit membership, you probably have the same question on your mind: will I really use it enough to justify paying for it? 

While there aren’t any free gyms we know of, there thankfully are plenty of no-annual-fee travel rewards cards that require essentially zero commitment. And just like an ab roller or a Richard Simmons DVD, you can simply use them a few times, forget about them, and put them in a drawer until beach season. Or, you can stick with it and make them part of your daily routine—whatever works for you.

You’re also far more likely to see “instant results” with these cards, too. From 100,000-point welcome bonuses to rewards for paying rent, free travel insurance to 3X on gas, these cards offer way more than you’d expect for a fee of $0 per year. 

The best no-annual-fee travel cards for April 2024

Best overall: bilt mastercard, best for hotel rewards: ihg one rewards traveler credit card, best for airline rewards: united gateway℠ card, best for travel earnings: wells fargo autograph℠ card, best for flat-rate earnings: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

The Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points from paying rent and transfer them 1:1 to well over a dozen different travel partners including United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. Toss in some surprisingly robust travel insurance and you have our unconventional—yet logical—choice for the best overall no-annual-fee travel card of 2024.

Bilt Mastercard®

See Rates and Fees

Special feature

Rewards rates.

• 1x Earn 1X points on rent up to 100K/year
• 1x Earn 3X points on dining
• 2x Earn 2X points on travel
• 1x Earn 1X points on other purchases
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Uniquely earns points on rent
• Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
• Robust travel transfer partners
• Cash redemption rate is poor
• No traditional welcome bonus
• Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• See this page for details
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Why we like this card: As mentioned, the Bilt Mastercard’s most compelling feature is that it allows you to pay rent with a credit card—even if your landlord doesn’t take plastic—and avoid the transaction fee paying rent by credit card would typically incur. Then, as long as you complete five transactions each month, you’ll trigger 1X rewards on your rent payments. 

Note that rewards on rent are capped at 100,000 points per year.

In terms of earning potential, if you pay the median ~$2,000 rent in the U.S., you could earn approximately 24,000 points per year which can be used to book travel in Bilt’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point or transferred to any of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, you could likely earn a domestic flight with United or a weekend stay at Hyatt, all for simply paying rent on time.

The Bilt card also provides trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car insurance (terms apply)—perks you wouldn’t typically find on a no-annual-fee credit card.

If you’re looking for a hotel rewards card that offers the most free nights for no annual fee, wait until you read about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. With a six-figure welcome bonus, up to 17X on stays and other compelling rewards, it’s currently the gold standard for no-fee hotel rewards.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Intro bonus.

• 17x Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts 
• 3x Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations
• 2x Earn 2X points on all other purchases
• Generous welcome bonus not typically seen in a $0 annual fee card
• Travel protections that are unusual for a no-annual-fee card
• Fourth night free on award bookings
• Limited redemption options outside of IHG
• IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
• Silver status granted with the card has limited benefit
• Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Gold status
• Foreign transaction fee:None

Why we like this card: We like calling the IHG One Rewards Traveler card the “Liam Hemsworth” of travel rewards cards because it lives in the shadow of its big brother—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —but still delivers plenty of quality and substance in its own right (with no annual fee, to boot). 

For starters, you can get a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, potentially worth around $500 to $700 in IHG redemption. 

Plus, enjoy up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, instant Silver Elite status and a handy bonus where you redeem points for three consecutive nights and get the fourth night in your stay free. So, if you book a three-night stay using your welcome bonus, you’ll essentially be getting a complimentary four-night stay at a nice IHG property for no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards program could be very rewarding for the right traveler.

Check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Traveler .

As a no-annual-fee airline card, the United Gateway℠ Card currently edges out its rival the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card by offering a more generous welcome bonus and travel insurance that the Delta card does not provide. If you fly occasionally and would like to earn miles, but aren’t willing to make the commitment of $95 or more for a mid-tier airline card with more perks, the Gateway is a strong choice. 

United Gateway℠ Card

• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases.
• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
• 1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• Reward bonus categories outside of United Airlines
• Robust travel protections for a no-annual-fee card
• No baggage or expanded award availability benefits like with other United cards
• Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
• United perks: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Other perks: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Why we like this card: The United Gateway card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting plus 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Considering a United Mile is worth roughly around 1.2 cents these days, effectively earning 2.4 cents back on everyday purchases is a solid value proposition. 

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And, you can save with a discount of 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases. 

New cardholders will enjoy a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after 21.99%–28.99% variable applies.

If the United Gateway card has a small lead on the Delta Skymiles Blue Amex at this point, it soars ahead (pun intended) when you look at the included travel and shopping protections. Both cards offer secondary rental car insurance, but only the Gateway includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. 

So, if you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card you can use to rack up miles—and you either tend to fly United most of the time or you’re at minimum not devoted to a competing airline—the United Gateway is the card to beat.

Check out our full review of the United Gateway Card for more info.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page  

With a generous welcome bonus in exchange for an attainable spend amount, 3X on travel, and a fancy name, you’d think the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card would command an annual fee of at least $95. But it doesn’t, making it a superb candidate for general travel use.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus.

• 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
• 1X 1X points on other purchases
• No annual fee
• 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that's a $200 cash redemption value)
• Points transfer to partners
• Car rental insurance is secondary
• No travel insurance
• Transfer partners are limited
• Additional perks: Cell Phone Protection: Provides up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph card. Coverage is subject to a $25 deductible and limited to two claims every 12-month period.
• Foreign transaction fee: N/A

Why we like this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans and even your landline bill too if you have one, plus 1X points on other purchases—all without charging an annual fee. And, to make traveling a little cheaper/less stressful, you’ll also get $600 worth of cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) as long as you pay your phone bill with this card and secondary rental car insurance. 

Cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Wells Fargo’s first wave of transfer partners including Air France‑KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus and 1:2 to Choice Privileges. 

But even if you aren’t a member of those loyalty programs, earning 3X on dining, travel, gas, and more is hard to pass up. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent each to offset past purchases on your account, meaning you can wield the Autograph either as a no-annual-fee travel card or as a cash-back card effectively earning unlimited 3% back in a wide swath of useful categories. 

Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph .

Sometimes, you just want a card that offers a little more than 1X on every purchase—without having to worry about what this quarter’s rotating rewards are, or whether a specific merchant qualifies as “groceries” for the purposes of your card’s rewards. If you value simplicity and the lack of an annual fee in your travel card, you’ll probably be a fan of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and its straightforward rewards program.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Reward Rates

• 5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.25x Earn 1.25x miles on every other purchase
• Flexible travel rewards
• No foreign transaction fee
• Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
• Cash redemption value is limited
• The VentureOne offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Why we like this card: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards offers 1.25X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s pretty much all that you have to remember. You can also get a nice welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is a solid payout for a very attainable spending target. 

Capital One Miles can be transferred to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 rate. Partners include Air Canada’s Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards, among others. Other ways to book travel include redeeming miles through Capital One’s portal or making the purchase directly, paying with your card like normal, then using miles for a statement credit to cover the transaction. 

The Venture One also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, the variable APR will be 19.99%–29.99%). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open , then 4% per transfer for any promotional APR offered after. 

Come to think of it, provided you have the excellent credit needed to apply, the VentureOne could make a great travel companion for a grad student given its simplicity, lengthy intro APR period and low spending threshold required to trigger the welcome bonus.

Check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards .

Frequently asked questions

Which card is best for international transactions without extra charges.

Zero foreign transaction fees is actually a common benefit among travel rewards cards, including many with no annual fee. For example, neither the Bilt Mastercard nor the United Gateway card charges a foreign currency conversion fee. 

What is the best travel credit card for a young person? 

If you’re still paying rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice since it can generate points from rent payments which can then be transferred 1:1 to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners. If you’d prefer a card with a welcome bonus, which the Bilt card lacks, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card currently offers a massive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card—potentially worth hundreds of dollars toward a future IHG hotel stay. 

Is a travel card with an annual fee worth it?

Using a travel rewards card with an annual fee can be worth it as long as you’re extracting enough points and benefits to justify paying the fee each year. If you travel infrequently or just want one less fee to worry about, consider one of the no-annual-fee cards on our list above. But, the best perks and protections are typically available on cards with annual fees.

For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. If you use that every year, you’ve gone a long way toward offsetting the $395 annual fee. You also get 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 toward travel, every year starting on your account anniversary.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best travel rewards cards with no annual fee, the Fortune Recommends surveyed more than a dozen cards currently available from today’s top issuers. From there, we ranked each one based on the following core categories and weights:

• Welcome bonus (10%): Some cards—even those with no annual fee—offer welcome bonuses that you can earn once you make enough purchases within a certain time frame, such as spending $1,000 within three months of account opening.
• Travel earnings (25%): These are the point rewards you’d earn by making travel-related purchases (e.g. 3X on hotels, 2X on airfare).
• Car rental insurance (15%): Many, but not all travel-centric rewards cards include an auto rental collision damage waiver, which allows you to decline a portion of the rental company’s insurance and save potentially up to $30 per day. We gave extra consideration to if a card offers primary rental car insurance versus secondary, because primary kicks in immediately in a covered scenario—whereas secondary only applies after your own, personal insurance. 
• Travel insurance benefits (15%): Some travel rewards cards automatically apply trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/delayed luggage reimbursement and even travel accident insurance on travel bookings made using the card.
• Gas earning (5%): Since road trips remain a common form of travel, whether or not a card offers points rewards at the pump factored into our rankings.
• Dining earning (10%): If a no-annual-fee travel rewards card offered 2X or more on restaurant purchases it favored well in this category.

The remaining 20% was based on the card’s main focus: hotel, airline or general travel rewards. 

• For general travel—points transferrable to partners (20%): Points are literally worth more if you can transfer them to certain partners, so a card’s ability to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners factored into our rankings.
• For hotel rewards—free award night with booking (20%): Some hotel rewards cards offer a BOGO-like perk where if you redeem a certain number of nights with points you get an extra tacked on for free.
• For airline rewards—ability to spend towards status (20%): Most airline rewards cards allow you to earn miles, but not all of them count those miles towards your next loyalty status. If a card treated them as “qualifying miles,” it fared better in this category.

Lastly, just keep in mind that virtually every aspect of a travel rewards card—from the rewards to the welcome bonus and fee structure—is subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.  

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

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