Best credit card for international travel ?

[himanshubansal93]

Hi,

What is the best way to save on currency exchange charges while travelling abroad? Do any credit cards/debit cards offer 0 forex markup for online/offline transactions outside India ?

 

[aakashkapoor]

Hi,

Good question, frex charges can quietly eat into your travel budget.

Simple ways to save money abroad:

• Try not to use normal debit cards outside India. Most banks charge around 3–3.5% extra.
• Whenever the machine asks, always choose “pay in local currency”, not INR.
• Carry at least one card that has 0% or low forex charges.

Easy card options many travellers use:

• Scapia Credit Card – no forex markup and works well overseas.
• Niyo Global (SBM / DCB) – very popular 0% forex debit card.
• Fi Debit Card – 0% forex on some plans.
• IDFC First WOW – 0% forex but needs a fixed deposit.
• BookMyForex Card – prepaid card, good if you want to control spending.

What usually works best:

• Use a 0% forex card for most payments.
• Keep some cash just in case cards aren’t accepted.
• Inform your bank before travel so your card doesn’t get blocked.

Hope this helps. Have a smooth and happy trip