For years, my go-to card for international travel was the Chase Sapphire Reserve. But after canceling it earlier this year—well before the annual-fee increase and upcoming category changes—I had to decide which card to bring on our latest trip: a visit to the UK, followed by a cruise to Amsterdam, Belgium, and France.
I needed a card that didn’t charge foreign transaction fees. While American Express is accepted in most places these days, I still prefer to use a Visa or Mastercard when traveling abroad.
After reviewing my options in this post, I took my own advice and brought my new-ish Chase Sapphire Preferred. I didn’t use it for every purchase, but it ended up being the main card in my wallet for most of the trip.
Acceptance
The Chase Sapphire Preferred was accepted everywhere I tried it across all four countries. From buying chocolate in Bruges to picking up wine in France, I tapped and paid—no issues at all.
And yes, contactless payments are universal now. Whether it was a small café, a train station, or a hotel, using a tap to pay was the norm almost everywhere we went.
Bonus Categories
I primarily used the card for travel purchases—hotels, the London Underground, our train in Belgium, and a private car transfer to the airport. I also added a few restaurant and bar charges along the way, although one restaurant was oddly coded as a hotel (it was located under a hotel, so fair enough).
For most of my non-bonused spending, I switched to the World of Hyatt Credit Card since I’m still working toward the 15K free night certificate. Just like the CSP, it worked flawlessly everywhere.
Why the Sapphire Preferred Worked So Well
I value Chase Ultimate Rewards points more than most other currencies, so earning them whenever possible is a priority. For an all-around travel card that’s easy to use, earns valuable points, and doesn’t pile on unnecessary perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most solid choices out there.
Even for those of us with a drawer full of cards to choose from, it’s the one I reached for first.
My Wife’s Card of Choice
My wife, Sharons had her American Express Green Card at the top of her wallet. Since we were traveling together, she mainly used it for the London Underground—thanks to Express Transit on her Apple Watch—and for small purchases like groceries and coffee. Between the two cards, we covered just about every type of transaction without a hitch.
Final Thoughts
For our multi-country trip, the Chase Sapphire Preferred proved to be the perfect all-purpose travel card. It offered wide acceptance, solid rewards, and no foreign transaction fees—all without the premium-card price tag. Sometimes, the simpler option really is the smarter one.
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