Best Travel Credit Card UK: Expert Review

Whether you enjoy one holiday a year or travel frequently, the best travel credit cards can offer benefits and perks to make your journey rewarding. From relaxing in exclusive airport lounges to avoiding high fees abroad, top travel credit cards can ease the financial burden of your next trip.

Fortunately, we’ve reviewed and selected the 5 best travel credit cards in the UK for 2025, focusing on those with the lowest foreign transaction fees and the most generous perks.

Below, you’ll find our top picks for the best travel credit cards in the UK, allowing you to compare and choose based on your holiday or travel preferences.

Our expert score: 4.8

Pros

Cons

Not only does this card offer a neat 0.25% cashback on all new purchases, but its range of travel benefits makes this the all-round best travel credit card on the market.

There are no foreign transaction fees and no charge for cash withdrawals abroad. Its APR of 28.9% is also on the lower side of the range.

If you clear the full balance by the end of the month, you won’t incur any interest on withdrawals, unlike other travel cards on the market, which begin charging interest from the withdrawal date.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Although Santander's All-in-One credit card offers a marginally higher rate of cashback (0.5%), Barclaycard beats it due to no monthly fee (Santander charges £3) and no interest on withdrawals provided the full balance is paid.

Our expert score: 4.7

Pros

Cons

Yonder offers both a paid membership (for £15 a month) and a free version of its credit card. The good news is that both options promise no foreign transaction charges or cash withdrawal charges.

Impressively, the card also includes travel insurance, which covers customers for medical emergencies, cancellations, and lost baggage.

Yonder also offers rewards based on spending. With the free card, you'll get 1 point per £1 spent, while the paid membership earns 5 points for every pound. Customers can redeem their points to buy flights, curated dining experiences, and weekend getaways. If you’re feeling generous, you can even send points to other friends with a Yonder card.

Why buy? Expert verdict

This upstart card is only a few years old but already provides stiff competition to the best credit cards by having no foreign transaction fees. Halifax Clarity offers low fees but loses out to Yonder in our list due to the latter’s rewards scheme.

Our expert score: 4.5

Pros

Cons

If you’re a regular traveller and comfortable with the £195 fee, you’ll likely find the points and rewards surpass this annual outlay. At the time of writing, Amex also waives the first year for new customers.

Spend over £3,000 in your first 3 months, and you’ll get 30,000 points, which makes it an attractive option for those looking to pay for a holiday on their card.

Amex offers 1 point for every £1 spent or 2 points if you book directly with an airline. For the best returns, buy directly from American Express Travel for 3 points for every £1 spent.

Points can be redeemed with a range of air miles loyalty programmes, including British Airways and Emirates. Amex offers plenty of flexibility, and you can also use the points at a range of retailers or towards PayPal purchases, making this one of the best credit cards for travel rewards.

Why buy? Expert verdict

If you’re on the lookout for the best rewards credit card, then you’ll be pushed to find a more generous offering than this Amex, which also throws in 4 complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits every year.

✍️ Have you used the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card? Share a rating and review for Amex on Review Centre, and check out what others have to say.

Our expert score: 4.4

Pros

Cons

If you want to travel in style, this HSBC card opens access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Unlike other cards, this is an unlimited perk.

Cardholders can also take advantage of fast-track security at any airport participating in Mastercard Travel Experiences. There are also hotel discounts when booking through Expedia (10%) and Agoda (14%).

The card costs £290 a year, which is £360 cheaper than its Amex Platinum competitor (not on our list). Although it’s among the best credit card deals currently on the market, it’s only available to existing HSBC Premier account holders. For an additional annual fee of £60 per person, you can add up to 3 friends or family to join you in earning points and enjoying lounge access. They’ll receive their own card for the account, with all transactions detailed on one statement.

And while there’s a standard 2.99% foreign transaction charge, you'll earn 4 reward points for every £1 spent in another currency. You get 3 points for every £1 spent in Sterling.

Why buy? Expert verdict

If you’re a frequent flyer who enjoys the high life, few other cards can match HSBC’s level of perks, especially if you unlock the 60,000 points (equivalent to 20,000 air miles) on offer for spending £2,000 in the first 90 days of card membership.

✍️ Have you used HSBC? Share a rating and review for HSBC on Review Centre, and check out what others have to say.

Our expert score: 4.3

Pros

Cons

Revolut offers 5 plans, ranging from £0-£45 per month. The free standard plan should suffice for occasional travellers due to its fair usage fees. This plan imposes a 1% fee on currency exchanges exceeding £1,000 per month; otherwise, it's free outside of weekends.

On weekends, a flat 1% fee applies to all exchanges made between Friday 5 pm EST and Sunday 6 pm EST. The standard plan allows up to £200 in fee-free ATM withdrawals per month (or 5 withdrawals, whichever comes first). The Ultra plan allows for £2,000.

Prepaid credit cards are popular among people looking for their first credit card, and customers will have little trouble topping up using Revolut's intuitive smartphone app. Moreover, those who sign up for RevPoints can earn points on daily spending towards seat upgrades and rewards with over 30 top airlines.

Why buy? Expert verdict

If you like the control of preloading your card before you travel, Revolut is the best prepaid travel credit card with its slick app and low foreign transaction rates.

Travel credit cards can be found in several different forms, each designed to cater to customers' travel and spending preferences. Below, we outline the various types available to help you choose the best one for your next trip.

Prepaid travel credit cards

Credit cards can make people a little anxious, especially if they're not particularly organised when it comes to finances. The advantage of prepaid cards is they only allow you to spend the amount you've preloaded, providing reassurance you won't spend more than you can afford.

Reward travel credit cards

These credit cards are designed to offer customers various bonuses in return for spending. This is commonly done via a points system, awarded based on the level of expenditure. Cardholders can redeem accumulated points for a range of benefits. Typically, these include flights, hotels, and other travel-related perks.

Cashback travel credit cards

Like rewards cards above, cashback credit cards reward spending with a percentage of cashback. For example, a card offering 0.5% cashback will reward a customer spending £1,000 with £5 cashback. This is usually redeemed as credit on your statement or transferred to your chosen bank account.

No foreign transaction fee cards

These cards prioritise keeping your costs down when spending abroad. While the typical rate for foreign non-Sterling transactions is 2.99%, these cards offer lower rates on transactions and withdrawals.

Premium travel cards

These cards are aimed at frequent flyers and high-net-worth individuals who prefer to travel in style. They typically command a high annual fee and an uncompromising interest rate, so they should only ever be considered if you can commit to paying off your balance each month. If you can, cardholders are rewarded with a range of travel perks, including fast-track security and airport lounge access.

Given the selection of travel credit cards out there, choosing the best one can be tricky. To make things easier, consider these factors:

First, note how often you travel abroad. If you're regularly jet-setting for work or leisure, then consider a reward travel card. That way, you'll find some of the costs you're spending on travel will be offset by the perks you're getting in return. Occasional travellers may instead wish to look at cards offering low foreign transaction fees to keep costs down when abroad.

Also, consider your typical spending habits. If you're quite frugal and like to keep a close watch on your spending, a prepaid card may be a better fit. This will help ensure you're not spending beyond your means. They're also typically accompanied by intuitive apps that allow you to monitor your spending and top-up if desired.

Lastly, consider how you like to travel. For those more suited to the finer things or others who struggle with anxiety in airports, you may wish to consider paying a little extra for a premium credit card. This will unlock welcome benefits, such as fast-track security and airport lounge access, for a swifter and calmer experience.

Credit cards designed to maximise benefits from travelling can function a little differently from standard credit cards. Here's an overview of the essential things you need to know about how travel credit cards work.

Eligibility

You must typically be over 18 years old to apply for a credit card in the UK. However, some travel credit cards have a higher threshold for acceptance, particularly those that offer premium travel services. Some providers may stipulate that applicants have an excellent credit score, high income, or commitment to certain levels of investment. Other credit cards, like the HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard, require an existing relationship with the bank.

Chances of approval

Even if you meet the predetermined eligibility criteria as outlined above, you’re not guaranteed to be accepted. Before approval, banks will run a credit check and consider other factors, including your employment status, salary and bonuses, outgoings, existing debt, and banking history.

How to open an account

Most credit cards now accept online submissions, and the application process usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. You'll need to prove your identity as part of the process. If successful, you'll receive your new credit card by post, along with information on how to activate it.

Travel-specific cards

Credit cards designed for use when travelling abroad will typically offer tailored features that distinguish them from everyday credit cards. These may include a rewards programme that incentivises customers to earn air miles or hotel discounts. Some may boast low foreign exchange fees and no charges for cash withdrawals, and others may include additional perks such as travel insurance or airport lounge access.

Given the country's love for travel—UK residents enjoyed 86.2 million trips abroad in 2023—it's no surprise that plenty of leading providers offer travel credit cards.

American Express enjoys a deserved reputation for offering its customers top-level travel perks and privileges. However, there is plenty of competition from the likes of HSBC, Virgin, Barclaycard, and Halifax, which all offer travel credit cards with competitive rates and rewards.

Mixing it with the established institutions are ambitious newer names like Revolut, Chase, and Yonder, which also offer some of the best travel credit cards tailored to frequent and occasional travellers.

When weighing up the top travel credit cards, consider the following before making your selection.

Foreign transaction fees

There are few things more disheartening than getting home from a trip to discover you've spent a fortune on foreign transaction fees. These costs can quickly mount for long trips away that involve multiple transactions, especially when using debit or standard credit cards. Fortunately, travel credit cards are designed to reduce these fees, so keep an eye out for those offering low or fee-free transaction rates.

Rewards programmes

If you're a regular jet-setter, you should consider the potential rewards on offer for your trips. Several travel credit cards offer points in return for spending that can be redeemed to purchase flights, hotel stays, and car rentals at discount prices.

Journey and travel perks

Some credit cards are designed to improve the trip itself. For instance, some offer travel insurance as part of their credit cards, while others promise fast-track passage through security or the comfort of airport lounge access.

Annual fees

Credit cards offering the most generous perks often demand an annual fee. It's up to you to decide whether the rewards offered are worth the yearly outlay.

To select our top 5 best travel credit cards, we considered over a dozen of the most popular and respected names in the market. We used the following criteria to make our final selection:

Yes, although travel credit cards are designed to be used outside the UK, many of their benefits can be enjoyed, and their rewards unlocked through everyday spending.

You can have more than one credit card that is tailored for travel. You may find some cards are better for specific trips than others. No matter how many credit cards you own, it's important to manage them responsibly and pay each in full monthly to avoid debt.

You are usually able to withdraw cash with a travel credit card. However, there may be charges and restrictions on withdrawal amounts and frequency. Some cards, like Barclaycard Rewards Visa, allow free cash withdrawals abroad if paid off in full. Ensure you know your card's terms and conditions before you insert it into an ATM.

Our review of the best travel credit cards around should offer you the info you need to choose wisely ahead of your next trip. The top cards above will allow you to enjoy everything from airport lounge access to low foreign transaction fees and even rack up points as you do so. Provided you pay your balance in full each month, your trips will reward you in more ways than one. Safe travels!