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  1. #1
    Cucumber
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    Default Internationally which is better?

    I know in the US it doesn't matter but when you're overseas on vacation, which credit card has the best international acceptance by merchants? Is it Visa or Mastercard. My guess is Visa but I may be wrong on that.

    And on that note is American Express accepted a lot of places other than North America and Europe?
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     May 17, 08, 7:02 pm
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    oBAMa
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    I think Visa is number one globally but it also depends on what part of the world you're in. I know some places in Asia, Discover/JCB is actually more widely accepted than Visa or Mastercard. If you travel a bunch overseas your best bet is to have one of each card - a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. That way you have someone that works no matter where you go. Hell, I even find in the US you need one of each. There's always one place that doesn't take Discover, of another that doesn't take American Express, yadda yadda so I have one of each I keep in my car so I'm always ready.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     May 25, 08, 8:08 pm
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    Glasgow
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    Visa hands down from my experience. But yeah like the other dude mentioned Discover is pretty hot in Asia right now because they signed some partnership agreement to be used there. I read Discover is now the most widely accepted card in China and Japan.

    Whatever card you use be sure to look into what conversion rates they charge. Some will charge a lot for using them in a foreign country with different currency than a dollar.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     May 28, 08, 4:24 pm
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    Mogul of Pineapples
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    Lightbulb Discover has 0% int'l transaction fee

    Discover is good internationally because their transaction is 0%. Most cards charge 1 to 3% for international transactions because or currency variances. Like Citibank, Chase, and Bank of America are 3%. American Express is 2%. Washington Mutual is 1%, and so forth. So it can vary a lot depending on the issuer.
    Disclosure: I am a moderator/paid staff of this site, which does have advertising relationships with some credit cards that are discussed and linked to. Regardless, anything I say is my honest opinion.

    Current Cards:     American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: WorldPoints Platinum Plus Chase: Amazon, British Airways, Cash Plus Rewards, Freedom, Ink Cash Citi: Thank You Premier, Dividend Platinum Select Discover: More
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 6, 08, 11:09 am
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    Cucumber
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    I forgot about the transaction fees. I heard Capital One doesn't even charge transaction fees on international credit card payments. Am I right or wrong on that?
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 14, 08, 1:42 pm
  7. #6
    magyar1045
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    On my recent trip to Germany, Austria and Hungary didn't have any trouble using both.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 14, 08, 5:38 pm
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    Mogul of Pineapples
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    Quote Originally Posted by magyar1045 View Post
    On my recent trip to Germany, Austria and Hungary didn't have any trouble using both.
    Do you notice if most places accepted Discover or American Express too? I wonder what their acceptance is like.
    Disclosure: I am a moderator/paid staff of this site, which does have advertising relationships with some credit cards that are discussed and linked to. Regardless, anything I say is my honest opinion.

    Current Cards:     American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: WorldPoints Platinum Plus Chase: Amazon, British Airways, Cash Plus Rewards, Freedom, Ink Cash Citi: Thank You Premier, Dividend Platinum Select Discover: More
    Primary Everyday Card: American Express Blue Cash
    Primary Travel Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 16, 08, 2:49 am
  9. #8
    magyar1045
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mogul of Pineapples View Post
    Do you notice if most places accepted Discover or American Express too? I wonder what their acceptance is like.
    Never really paid too much attention to that, since I don't have a Discover or Amex card.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 16, 08, 9:16 am
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    Mogul of Pineapples
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    Quote Originally Posted by magyar1045 View Post
    Never really paid too much attention to that, since I don't have a Discover or Amex card.
    I don't travel much unfortunately so I don't know but it would be interesting to know how they're doing outside of America. I think Discover has the most room to grow probably because American Express I'm pretty sure already has wide acceptance globally.
    Disclosure: I am a moderator/paid staff of this site, which does have advertising relationships with some credit cards that are discussed and linked to. Regardless, anything I say is my honest opinion.

    Current Cards:     American Express: Blue Cash, Simply Cash Bank of America: WorldPoints Platinum Plus Chase: Amazon, British Airways, Cash Plus Rewards, Freedom, Ink Cash Citi: Thank You Premier, Dividend Platinum Select Discover: More
    Primary Everyday Card: American Express Blue Cash
    Primary Travel Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 17, 08, 1:55 pm
  11. #10
    sreeja
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    In my opinion also visa card is the best. It offers reliability and convenience. It held 44% of the credit card market share and 48% of the debit card market share in the United States.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jun 18, 08, 1:04 am
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