Capital One: The ONLY Credit Card You Should Be Using Abroad

Now that credit card companies have re-characterized the "foreign exchange" fee into a "foreign transaction" fee, you're going to get smacked with a "foreign" fee no matter how you charge a purchase when traveling abroad.  All cc companies are now charging you for simply using your cc in a foreign country whereas many cc companies used to only charge you when they were required to calculate your international purchase from foreign currency into U.S. dollars.

So cc's that I used to use when I could get a foreign merchant to charge in U.S. dollars are now gathering dust (Citibank - cough, cough).  With many foreign transaction fees equaling 3%, it really adds up fast.  The ONLY exception to this foreign transaction fee lockdown is Capital One.  They do not charge a foreign transaction fee.  If you're taking a vacation abroad, make sure you apply for a Capital One credit card beforehand.  Capital One is the ONLY cc that you should be using abroad!