Choose a credit card that will be widely accepted worldwide. Whether you’re in the U.S. or a foreign country, your ability to use a credit card at a merchant depends on whether that merchant accepts the card’s payment network.
The four major U.S. networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover — all have an international presence, but to varying degrees. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted internationally. American Express has a strong presence overseas, but it doesn’t match the extent of Visa and Mastercard. Discover is a significantly smaller player outside the U.S. So, if you’re planning to travel internationally and your primary card is American Express or Discover, bring along a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.