In this article, we’ll be discussing the best travel credit card UK residents can obtain. But, we’ll also be diving into a few of the secret payment cards foreign institutions offer… yes, they actually exist.
In fact, if you’d like to take a look at these alternatives right now you can click the link above to explore a number of different offshore bank accounts with credit cards that most people can get their hands on with a bit of planning.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Best Travel Credit Card UK
- Factors to Consider When Choosing a Travel Credit Card
- How to Apply For Travel Credit Cards in the United Kingdom
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options?
Best Travel Credit Card UK
The best travel credit card UK residents can obtain in the UK isn’t really the best option available. In fact, UK travel rewards programs and loyalty points programs pale in comparison to offers that are available elsewhere. With this in mind, UK residents may want to consider some of the offshore and international options before choosing which card is best for their needs.
Don’t worry, if you’re dead set on getting a UK credit card, we’ll discuss how you can start the process of choosing and applying for the best card today. Of course, we’ll also share where you can find (and access) more attractive alternatives elsewhere, including the lowest cost options for UK residents.
But to start, we’re going to look at the most important factors that everyone should consider when they are hunting for the best travel credit card that can get in the UK.
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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Travel Credit Cards
In case this is your first time searching for a travel credit card, not to mention the best travel credit card in the UK, you’ll want to consider the following factors.
Travel-Specific Benefits to Look For
We’ll talk about travel rewards programs and loyalty programs in a moment. But to start, we’re going to discuss a few of the benefits that you will need while actually traveling. These “on-the-road” benefits include consumer protection, foreign transaction fees, and customer service.
Why are these important factors to consider?
Too often people only look at the rewards that they get from their credit card, instead of considering the actual cost of using the card day-to-day. Likewise, many people ignore how they’ll actually use their travel credit card when they’re traveling.
So, we’re encouraging you to take an extra step and think through these variables before choosing a card. And, while you won’t face any foreign transaction fees or require much travel protection while you’re in the UK (or your home country), you will if you intend to use your card on the road.
Travel Credit Card Reward Programs
Credit card reward programs earn points for the credit card holder when they make a qualifying purchase with their card. In many cases, different categories of purchases earn different points (also known as miles). For example, using a card to make a travel-related purchase may earn five points per dollar spent while all other purchases only earn one point per dollar spent.
Travel Credit Card Loyalty Points
When choosing a travel credit card you need to consider the specific loyalty points that you will earn from the card. This is important because certain cards only transfer to a limited number of airlines. While other cards (like American Express cards) transfer to many different airline partners.
Travel Credit Bonuses
When it comes to selecting the best travel credit card in the UK or abroad, bonuses are an important consideration. Bonuses refer to the number of points that the cardholder receives after passing a threshold of qualifying purchases. This is usually between 3,000 and 5,000 over the course of the first three months. Bonuses are important because they’re an opportunity for the cardholder to earn a large sum of points at a much higher rate per dollar spent. So, they can contribute significantly to your points earning.
Car Insurance Coverage
There are a number of other benefits that you can receive when finding the best travel credit card in the UK. These benefits include car insurance, travel insurance, consumer protection (in case your card is stolen), and much more. These are all important considerations, especially if you are planning on using your card while traveling abroad.
How to Apply For Travel Credit Cards in the United Kingdom
In this section, we’ll discuss what’s needed to qualify for one of the best travel credit cards in the UK. Plus, we’ll also discuss how UK residents can obtain one of the best travel credit cards in the world.
Requirements for Applying for Travel Credit Cards
Like any credit card, in order to be approved for the best travel credit cards in the United Kingdom, you will need to have a UK credit score, be a UK resident, and qualify based on the specific income and requirements of each card. If you are able to pass these specific requirements, you will be eligible and need only to submit an application.
Alternative Travel Credit Cards
As we discuss in the US section of our content (available from the menu above), non-US residents can obtain the best travel credit cards in the world.
There are a number of ways to successfully obtain these cards, especially as a UK resident. Though each of the potential pathways does require a bit of pre-planning before submitting your application. In many cases, it’s even possible to do this remotely.
In fact, if you’re willing to make a qualifying deposit, it’s even possible to obtain some of the best travel credit cards when opening a bank account. Though this has both citizenship and residency restrictions. If you would like to explore these options further, select Credit Cards under our USA Banking content above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are three of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into the best travel credit card in the UK. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Which Credit Card Is Best for Travel?
There are two categories of cards to consider when looking for the best travel credit card, pre-travel and during-travel.
Pre-travel cards will help you acquire relevant points for your desired trips. This can include hotels, rental cars, airline points, and even cash to spend while traveling and using these services.
Cards to use during travel are optimized for international spending and include low (or zero) foreign currency transaction fees, consumer protection, and even insurance benefits on rentals, hotel stays, and much more.
Of course, certain travel rewards cards do meet the requirements in both categories, but not all of them do. So we suggest that anyone looking to obtain a new credit card thinks about these two requirements separately.
Is It Worth Getting a Prepaid Travel Credit Card?
Prepaid travel credit cards are often seen as a more secure way to travel, ensuring that your primary credit card is not stolen while you are on the road. However, prepaid credit cards are not always the best option for travel, whether you are in the UK, US, Canada, or elsewhere.
Instead, we suggest that you look at all the options available. Consider the level of consumer protection, benefits, and even service you receive. This is especially important when trying to determine which company will best meet your needs if you ever do lose a card.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
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