The best cards for spending abroad
Foreign spending costs are rarely a single headline fee. Our comparison will separate the exchange rate applied, the transaction fee, the cash withdrawal terms and the insurance actually included.
Meridians Reviews Desk · Methodology published 5 criteria deep
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How we will decide this list
Criteria are fixed before testing starts, so a pick cannot be reverse-engineered from whatever we happened to like.
- 01Exchange rate reference used, and any spread applied above it.
- 02Non-sterling / non-euro transaction fees, stated per market.
- 03Cash withdrawal charges and interest treatment.
- 04Included protection, and its real exclusions.
- 05Eligibility and whether the product is available internationally.
The picks
Best for everyday spending abroad
Not yet awarded
Selection open.
Status: in research
Best for cash withdrawals
Not yet awarded
Selection open.
Status: in research
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