Which USA-issued cards to take on international (Israel) trip?
Dec 11, 2017, 10:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 90
Which USA-issued cards to take on international (Israel) trip?
Best cards to take and use on an international trip?
I have:
CSR x 2
Ink Pref x3
Ink Plus
Freedom x 2
Freedom Unlimited
Southwest x 4
Amex Blue cash Pref
Capital one Venture
Bank of America Cash Rewards with 75% plat honors boost)
AMEX Lowes
I have:
CSR x 2
Ink Pref x3
Ink Plus
Freedom x 2
Freedom Unlimited
Southwest x 4
Amex Blue cash Pref
Capital one Venture
Bank of America Cash Rewards with 75% plat honors boost)
AMEX Lowes
Dec 11, 2017, 10:35 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
When I travel internationally I take:
1) At least three cards.
2) From at least two issuers, preferable three.
3) Nothing that charges FTF.
4) And not all my cards. I leave some home.
Beyond these rules I use whatever seems like it will pay an appropriate bonus. The 10-12 cards I keep open at any one time offer plenty of choices.
1) At least three cards.
2) From at least two issuers, preferable three.
3) Nothing that charges FTF.
4) And not all my cards. I leave some home.
Beyond these rules I use whatever seems like it will pay an appropriate bonus. The 10-12 cards I keep open at any one time offer plenty of choices.
Dec 11, 2017, 10:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
I travel with at least 1 Amex 1 Mastercard & 1 Visa without FTF. I usually have 1-3 other cards in my passport case as backups.
My daily use focuses on two cards currently. Amex for spending within the bonus categories & the rest go on my 2% cashback card.
My daily use focuses on two cards currently. Amex for spending within the bonus categories & the rest go on my 2% cashback card.
Dec 12, 2017, 12:29 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 90
I am going to Israel.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
Dec 12, 2017, 6:22 am
#6
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I am going to Israel.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
Dec 15, 2017, 4:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I am going to Israel.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
travel credit on the CSR's just reset so def going to take those to try and max that out, and we will have a lot of dining spend which should go on this card
cap1 venture has no FTF so will also take that
only other cards without FTF i have are the Southwest cards, which i doubt i would use but maybe i will take one just to have a spare card.
Jan 7, 2018, 3:38 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: PDX
Programs: AS DL
Posts: 9,038
When I go on an international trip, I try to not take too many cards. I do take:
1. EMV+PIN (chip and PIN) card which, for me, is a foreign MasterCard with low credit limit and which I have to pay the credit card bill in Canadian dollars. This is used very little, mainly in train stations with an unmanned machine.
2. No FTF Visa
3. No FTF MasterCard
4. optional - 4th credit card
1. EMV+PIN (chip and PIN) card which, for me, is a foreign MasterCard with low credit limit and which I have to pay the credit card bill in Canadian dollars. This is used very little, mainly in train stations with an unmanned machine.
2. No FTF Visa
3. No FTF MasterCard
4. optional - 4th credit card
Jan 12, 2018, 11:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I'd go with the CSR & the Capital One (since they are different banks, in case of any issues you don't get everything locked by mistake).
Jan 15, 2018, 10:22 am
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: CGK & PBI
Programs: Cruise addict and AirBNB Plat :)
Posts: 3,312
I would do CSR, Cap1 and Amex. Just in case one card was flagged as fraud for whatever reason, you have a back-up.
From my experience in Israel, most places preferred cash unless you're going to more fancy restaurants. I remember the country being more on the expensive side. For example, $100 lunch for 3 in Jaffa. Yikes.
From my experience in Israel, most places preferred cash unless you're going to more fancy restaurants. I remember the country being more on the expensive side. For example, $100 lunch for 3 in Jaffa. Yikes.
Jan 15, 2018, 3:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,978
I would do CSR, Cap1 and Amex. Just in case one card was flagged as fraud for whatever reason, you have a back-up.
From my experience in Israel, most places preferred cash unless you're going to more fancy restaurants. I remember the country being more on the expensive side. For example, $100 lunch for 3 in Jaffa. Yikes.
From my experience in Israel, most places preferred cash unless you're going to more fancy restaurants. I remember the country being more on the expensive side. For example, $100 lunch for 3 in Jaffa. Yikes.