Hi Everyone,
First of all, I just wanted to thank the members of this forum for sharing their wealth of knowledge. I moved to the US a little over 2 years ago, and had zero credit history or knowledge of how the system works. Thanks to all the valuable info I read here, I started out with a secured BoA card for just $500, then opened up a toy $500 Onestopplus card via the shopping cart trick, then got denied for a Chase Amazon (moderately devastating blow at the time!) - ended up getting added as an AU on that one. For a little over a year I gardened and made sure to pay in full and keep my util on the low side (10-20% balance sometimes reported, but always PIF before the APR kicked in), and last week I was instantly approved for both an AmEx Blue Cash Everyday ($2000) and a Chase Freedom ($3000)!
What an amazing feeling - I remember all too well a time when "decent" CC companies wouldn't touch me with a stick, ha. 
Sorry for the long intro, but I had to get that out of the way.
Here's my actual question: I am going to be traveling quite a bit this summer (Canada and Austria/Croatia) and don't know which of my current cards would be best for international travel. I really don't want to open any other cards for another year or so. No foreign transaction fees is incredibly tempting, but between the extra HP and affecting the already low AAoA I'm not sure it's worth it.
The Chase has a 3% FTF, and the AmEx a 2.7%, both offer 1% cash back, so theoretically I'd only be paying an extra 1.7-2%.
Is this really the case? Are there any other hidden fees I should know about? Is the best strategy in my situation trying to use the AmEx wherever it's accepted, and the Chase as a backup?
Any advice/info is greatly appreciated!
There has to be a solution out there.
@recordaras wrote:Hi Everyone,
First of all, I just wanted to thank the members of this forum for sharing their wealth of knowledge. I moved to the US a little over 2 years ago, and had zero credit history or knowledge of how the system works. Thanks to all the valuable info I read here, I started out with a secured BoA card for just $500, then opened up a toy $500 Onestopplus card via the shopping cart trick, then got denied for a Chase Amazon (moderately devastating blow at the time!) - ended up getting added as an AU on that one. For a little over a year I gardened and made sure to pay in full and keep my util on the low side (10-20% balance sometimes reported, but always PIF before the APR kicked in), and last week I was instantly approved for both an AmEx Blue Cash Everyday ($2000) and a Chase Freedom ($3000)!
What an amazing feeling - I remember all too well a time when "decent" CC companies wouldn't touch me with a stick, ha.
Sorry for the long intro, but I had to get that out of the way.
Here's my actual question: I am going to be traveling quite a bit this summer (Canada and Austria/Croatia) and don't know which of my current cards would be best for international travel. I really don't want to open any other cards for another year or so. No foreign transaction fees is incredibly tempting, but between the extra HP and affecting the already low AAoA I'm not sure it's worth it.
The Chase has a 3% FTF, and the AmEx a 2.7%, both offer 1% cash back, so theoretically I'd only be paying an extra 1.7-2%.
Is this really the case? Are there any other hidden fees I should know about? Is the best strategy in my situation trying to use the AmEx wherever it's accepted, and the Chase as a backup?
Any advice/info is greatly appreciated!
Sorry to say, but neither your Amex or Chase CC would make a good Travel CC, especially for international travel, B/C you will be charged a FTF , but if no don't mind paying the fee, I would go with your Chase Freedom MC and/or Visa, due towards there higher acceptance
Those are both terrible cards to use internationaly. I guess it would depend on how much you're planning on spending while you're away but IMO don't think FTFs are worth paying. I get that you don't want to take another HP or lower your aaoa but if it would help you save money and you're able to apply for a card w/ no FTFs, I would seriously consider doing so. But again, it depends on how much you'll be spending abroad and how long you'll be there. If you're going to be there for an extended period, it's not like you'll be applying for new CCs anyways.
@recordaras wrote:Also, what decent no AF/no FTF cards are there? The BoA TravelRewards and various Cap One options?
In Nov. 2012, I opened my Cap1 Cash Rewards CC for the sole purpose of traveling internationally. And to date this card has really surprised me in a good way. 1.5% cash back and no FTF & no AF, man u can't beat that. B4 opening this card I would have not been caught dead carrying a Cap1 CC due to all the negative things I was reading. Hopefully, I will not jinx myself by saying this, but my experience with Cap1 has been Excellent, granted i never delt with customer service yet!