According to our test, the best free travel credit card is the AWA7 Credit card*. Here you can find out why it won our test and what criteria you should generally look for in credit cards. When traveling, a card is always an important companion. But the jungle of providers has long since grown into an impenetrable thicket. We have shed some light on this and selected the best credit card for you.
Why you should take a credit card with you when you travel
In many countries, especially outside Europe, EC cards do not work. Exchanging large amounts of cash in advance involves high fees and can lead to theft. A credit card is safer: you can use it to pay and withdraw money worldwide. There are different systems, but you've probably heard of the two most popular ones: Visa and MasterCard. These have a similar number of acceptance points, in most stores, at ATMs and on the Internet, both systems are accepted, although Visa cards are accepted in a little more places overall.
What should I look for when choosing my credit card?
If you plan to use your card primarily to pay with it while traveling abroad or to store online, there are a few points we consider particularly important. These quality criteria for a travel credit card make the difference for us:
- Permanently no annual fee
- No foreign currency fee
- No fee when withdrawing money from ATMs
- No minimum purchase
- 100% Repayment by direct debit possible
- Card type: Charge/Credit
- 0€ foreign transaction fees
- Works with existing checking account
- Contactless payment and Apple Pay/Google Pay
Don't be misled by marketing tricks when making your choice. Some points are listed again and again that are rather irrelevant for travel credit cards. Security standards, for example, must be met by every German bank. "Our credit card meets the latest security standards" therefore means in many cases only as much as "We follow the laws".
In addition, many providers advertise with coupon portals and similar offers, these are also not a criterion that should guide us to a card with worse conditions. If you don't plan to use the credit card so that the money is only debited from your account at a later time, then the debit interest rate and annual interest rate don't matter either. More about this in the next chapter.
Use a credit card for loans? Better not!
Your travel credit card is there to be able to pay while traveling (and on the Internet) and to withdraw money abroad, at best free of charge. Nevertheless, as the name itself indicates, the credit card can also be used to take out loans up to a certain limit. Means that today you pay with the card, but pay off the sum slowly in monthly installments. You should avoid this at all costs: Shopping sustainably also means buying only what you can afford.
Many credit cards have high interest rates, which you then pay on top. If this function is preset on your credit card, turn it off at your bank as soon as possible. This way you avoid paying more than you have to. This is not available at all banks, make sure that 100% direct debit is possible: This will automatically deduct all your expenses with the card from your checking account every month.
More variants
Some credit cards include travel insurance. Foreign health insurance, luggage insurance and much more. However, these cards are usually not free of charge, and in many cases it makes sense to take out the insurance policies separately. In addition, there are cards with miles or points programs. Which credit card is ultimately right for you also depends on your usage behavior.
The best travel credit card 2022: Our choice
At TripLegend, we want to combine exploring our planet, travel and adventure, with sustainability. Therefore, not only are our adventures 110 % climate neutral, we also plant a tree for every trip. This is also the goal of a credit card that, in our opinion, is not inferior to other credit cards in terms of its conditions, but at the same time plants a tree for every 100 euros you pay with the card. This way, you can make your travels even more sustainable. And not only that, online shopping or shopping in Germany - every expenditure can contribute to a healthier planet.
The AWA7 Credit card* of Hanseatic Bank is our comparison winner.
The advantages of the AWA7 credit card
In addition to the unique selling proposition of planting trees free of charge, the AWA7 Credit card* All the quality criteria that are important for your travel credit card:
- Permanently without annual fee
- No withdrawal fee at the ATM (the ATM operator may charge a fee independently of the bank).
- No foreign currency fee
- 0€ minimum purchase
- 100% Repayment by direct debit possible
- Card type: Credit - thus e.g. car rental bookings are also possible
- no foreign transaction fees
- works with existing current account - you can easily link it to your current account via direct debit
- Contactless payment
- Apple Pay and Google Pay available
- And, we repeat: One tree planted for every 100€ in sales.
To do this, you can access the voucher portal of the Hanseatic Bank and plant 10 trees as a welcome bonus as soon as you sign up. In addition, you are automatically covered: If your credit card is misused, your liability is limited to 50€. So let's make the world a little better: Click here for AWA7 credit card*.
The disadvantages of this credit card: what you should pay attention to
There is no catch to this credit card once it is set up correctly. However, you have to change this at the beginning: After you have received your access data for the credit card account, be sure to, which Direct debit to 100 percent Change direct debit. This is the only way to ensure that your expenses are deducted directly from your checking account at the end of the month and you don't have to make expensive installment payments.
This is typical for free credit cards, AWA7* In the first three months, installment payments are free of charge and no additional interest is charged. So if you forget to make the switch at the beginning, you still have three months to change it at no extra cost. At the latest, if the full amount of your expenses hasn't been debited at the end of the first month, you'll realize you forgot to make the switch and can still change it without having to pay extra. We tested it: Both in the app and on the website, this can be set in a few seconds. We also received confirmation from the bank in less than 24 hours.
Want more tips for your everyday travels? Check out the TripLegend Magazine drop by or let TripLegend on Instagram inspire. Or go directly with us on an exciting adventure: TripLegend adventures are 110% CO2 compensated and show you in an authentic way the most breathtaking places on earth. Experience moments off the beaten track that you will never forget. Sleep in yurts in Kyrgyzstan, climb the Kilimanjaro or save animals at the Wildlife Sanctuary in Namibia. Discover now the exciting TripLegend Round Trips.
*Note: Links marked with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links, whereby we receive a commission when a credit card is taken out. This did not influence our choice, as the choice of credit card was made prior to the conclusion of the affiliate partnership and was based solely on the conditions.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute financial advice. All information without guarantee.
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