Entreprenista’s Guide: The 5 Best Credit Cards For Your Next Trip to Europe

This summer took me to Mallorca, Sicily, Mykonos, and St. Tropez. And yes, it was every bit as dreamy as it sounds! But in between the sunshine and sangria, I had to deal with the practical side of travel…which included a bit of trouble with my go-to travel card.

The Problem with American Express Abroad

I’m a loyal user of the American Express Platinum Card®, which is fully loaded with travel rewards and benefits that make traveling easier (like access to lounges, discounts to luxury hotels, and travel insurance). Naturally, I planned to use it for the whole trip, from booking flights to daily expenses. But once in Europe, I was surprised to find that about 80% of the places I visited didn’t accept American Express. Cue bewilderment. Visa and Mastercard? Yes. AmEx? Not so much. I ended up using my debit card, which unfortunately meant no rewards and more risk.

Flash forward to today, and I’m currently getting prepared for another trip to Europe. This time, I’m heading on a family trip to visit Rome, Venice, and Paris. I want to keep my AmEx Platinum card for domestic travel and booking international trips (the concierge is a lifesaver for a busy Entreprenista), but I need to find the right Visa or Mastercard credit card to cover my purchases abroad.

Best Credit Cards for Traveling in Europe

I dove deep into the world of travel credit cards to find the best fit for my upcoming European adventure, and am excited to share my top picks with the Entreprenista community. If you already have a solid travel card but it’s not a Visa or Mastercard, the first three can be great, low-cost companions for trips abroad. On the other hand, if you’re searching for an all-in-one solution, I’ve also highlighted two premium travel cards that shine for both domestic and international travel.

Let’s get to it. Here are the five best credit cards for Entreprenistas traveling to Europe!

1. VentureOne Rewards from Capital One (personal card)

Best for: Entreprenistas who want a no-annual-fee credit card with no foreign transaction fees. 

Quick facts:

• Card network: Visa or Mastercard
• Annual fee: $0 
• Rewards: 
  
  • 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.25x miles on all purchases
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• 0% intro APR: 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, after that the variable APR will be 18.99% to 28.99% (balance transfer fee applies)
• Notable travel benefits: 
  
  • Easily transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Hertz Five-Star Status 

The VentureOne Rewards from Capital One is a no-annual-fee personal credit card that can be issued on the Visa or Mastercard network. It offers a flat 1.25x miles on all purchases, which keeps things simple. You can also take advantage of the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, granting you 15 months to pay back your trip’s expenses before the regular variable APR of 18.99% to 28.99% kicks in. A big benefit of this card is that it’s one of the only no-annual-fee cards on the market that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. 

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (personal card)

Best for: Entreprenistas on a budget who travel a few times per year for personal reasons and want some travel perks. 

Quick facts:

• Card network: Mastercard
• Annual fee: $95
• Rewards:
  
  • 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles unlimited on all purchases
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• 0% intro APR: None
• Notable travel benefits:
  
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, every four years
  • Emergency card replacement and cash advances
  • Accident insurance
  • Lifestyle Collection hotel perks
  • Hertz Five-Star Status
    

The Venture Rewards from Capital One is a personal credit card on the Mastercard card network. While it does have a $95 annual fee, there are decent rewards, no foreign transaction fees, and a few travel perks. On the rewards front, you’ll earn 5x miles if you use the card to book hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars through Capital One Travel, plus 2x miles on everything else. Further, you can enjoy perks that help you get the most out of hotel stays and car rentals. 

Flight booking tip: Get this card ahead of booking your trip so that you can use the introductory points to book your flight!

3. Capital One Spark 2X Miles Credit Card (business card)

Best for: Entreprenistas on a budget who travel a few times per year for business purposes who want some travel perks. 

Quick facts:

• Card network: Visa or Mastercard
• Annual fee: $95, waived first year
• Rewards:
  
  • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One 
  • 2x miles unlimited on all purchases
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• 0% intro APR: None
• Notable travel benefits:
  
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, every four years
  • Lifestyle Collection hotel perks
  • Hertz Five-Star Status
    

The Capital One Spark 2x Miles is a business credit card that can be issued on the Visa or Mastercard network, both of which are widely accepted outside of the United States. While it has a $95 annual fee, the fee is waived for the first year. You also won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees. 

As for rewards, you’ll earn 2x miles on all purchases and 5x miles when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One. You’ll also get benefits that can come in handy on your trip, like a credit of up to $120 for the Global Entry program every four years, perks when you book a hotel from the Lifestyle Collection, and rental car upgrades from Hertz. 

4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (personal card)

Best for: The Entreprenista who travels frequently for personal reasons and wants premium travel perks like airport lounge access worldwide. 

Quick facts:

• Card network: Visa
• Annual fee: $395
• Rewards:
  
  • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles on all other purchases
  • 10,000 bonus miles every year
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• 0% intro APR: None
• Notable travel benefits:
  
  • Access to Capital One and 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges
  • Perks at Premier and Lifestyle Collection hotels
  • Hertz President’s Circle Status
  • Free PRIOR subscription 
  • Up to a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry every four years
    

Now, we’re stepping up into the higher-tier cards. The Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card is a personal card on the Visa network with a $395 annual fee. While that may seem relatively expensive, this card makes it easy to earn the fee back (and then some). 

You’ll earn 10x miles by booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, and 5x miles on flights and hotels booked through the same portal. Plus, there’s a competitive 2x miles reward rate on all other purchases, and no foreign transaction fees. 

The card also offers access to over 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, hotel savings, rental car perks through Hertz, a credit of up to $120 to cover the Global Entry fee, and much more. If you regularly travel for personal reasons, both abroad and domestically, this is a competitive premium card that can help you make the most of your trips.

5. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card (business or personal card)

Best for: High-earning Entreprenistas who travel frequently for personal or business reasons—there’s a version for each. You’ll get the most out of the card if you book all your travel through Chase Travel and take advantage of the airport lounge access, hotel perks, and credits. 

Quick facts:

• Card network: Visa
• Annual fee: $795
• Rewards:
  
  • 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel
  • 5x total points on Lyft rides (business)
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
  • 3x points on dining worldwide (personal) or social media/search advertising (business)
  • 1x points on all other purchases
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• 0% intro APR: None
• Notable travel benefits:
  
  • Up to a $300 annual travel credit
  • Up to $500 in credits for stays with The Edit
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
  • Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, every four years
  • Priority Pass Select membership ($469 value)
  • Lineup of credits ($1,000+ per card)
    

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is available in both a business and personal card version. Both cards have a $795 annual fee, which gets you competitive reward tiers, no foreign transaction fees, and a lineup of credits and travel benefits. 

You can make the most of the rewards by using the card to book your trip through Chase Travel, which earns you 8x points. The personal card also notably offers 3x points on dining worldwide. So, you could be racking up triple points while savoring tiramisu in Italy or paella in Spain! 

Overall, this card can be a good fit if you travel frequently and plan to take full advantage of the rewards, benefits, and credits on offer. However, be sure to choose the business version if the majority of your travel is for business purposes, and the personal version if you mostly travel for personal reasons. 

Entreprenistas: Which Card is Right For Your Trips to Europe?

Do any of these cards sound like the right fit for your European travel needs? As you weigh the options, I recommend considering the following:

• Primary travel purpose: Are you traveling primarily for business or personal reasons? It’s best to keep business expenses on a business card and personal expenses on a personal card. If the trip is a mix of both, the cleanest approach is to use two separate cards, one for business and one for personal.
• Travel frequency: How often will you be traveling? Frequent travelers can often get a higher ROI from higher-tier travel cards with better rewards and benefits. 
• Existing cards: Do you have a travel card that you like that isn’t widely accepted in Europe? Consider the specific features you need and want in a supplemental travel card.
• Long-term implications: Credit cards benefit your credit most when you keep them open long-term. Look for a card that is helpful for your European trips, but also good for your budget on an ongoing basis.  
  

Personally, I’m leaning towards the VentureOne Rewards from Capital One to supplement my American Express Platinum card. My trips to Europe are often personal, so I need to go with a personal credit card option. Beyond that, my AmEx offers all the travel perks I need, such as airport lounge access, hotel perks, and concierge services. For my new supplemental card, I just need one that is widely accepted in Europe and low-cost. Due to the no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, the VentureOne Rewards is perfect. 

I hope this helps you find the right card for your next trip to Europe (and avoid bringing the wrong card like I did)! I’d love to hear about your upcoming travel plans and the card you end up going with. Send me a note at courtney@entreprenista.com and let me know! 

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Offer details are accurate as of the publication date, but may change at any time.