topic Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea in Credit Cards

Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

pizza1 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 23:00:44 GMT

Hello everyone!

Planning a trip to South Korea, (first time out of the country, USA !!) What CC's/Companies are best to use there? Which ones are more widely accepted, and also has the LEAST possibility for decline overseas. Thanks for your input!! If it helps, here's a list of some cards I currently have with higher CL's, which is what I want going there. If I need to apply for a different card than what I have listed, I can.

Currently have (only listing just a few of the CC's I have)...Navy Flagship/Platnium, Discover, Capital One Venture, US Bank Cash+, USAA Visa, BECU, FNBO, Penfed....

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

K-in-Boston — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:02:38 GMT

That's an awesome first trip out of the States! Having a Visa or MasterCard (preferably at least 2 just in case) without FTFs would be ideal, and you seem to have that covered. Make sure you have them loaded into your mobile wallet too. Discover should theoretically work on the BC Card network there, but it may be a crapshoot as to whether the point of sale systems are set up correctly. Amex network cards will typically only be at hotels, higher end restaurants, and some major tourist destinations.

If you are able to get the US Bank Altitude Reserve, that has generally been my go to outside of the US. No issues with declines and great earnings on mobile wallet transactions which I find to be accepted nearly everywhere. Never had any issues with declines from US Bank or NFCU when I travel. (Important to note that your Cash+ does have a 3% foreign transaction fee, so that one should be avoided.)

Do you have checking with BECU, also? I've found their ATM card to be great for when you need cash, the exchange rates are on point, and they even reimburse some of the ATM fees automatically! Have a blast!

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

pizza1 — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:15:19 GMT

@K-in-Boston , thank you so much for all of the advice!! I also read your PM and will respond too

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

Jnbmom — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:54:15 GMT

Enjoy your trip 😊I have no advice I have never left country and my first flight ever was to Seattle to visit my daughter 😂

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 02:42:29 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
That's an awesome first trip out of the States! Having a Visa or MasterCard (preferably at least 2 just in case) without FTFs would be ideal, and you seem to have that covered. Make sure you have them loaded into your mobile wallet too. Discover should theoretically work on the BC Card network there, but it may be a crapshoot as to whether the point of sale systems are set up correctly. Amex network cards will typically only be at hotels, higher end restaurants, and some major tourist destinations.

If you are able to get the US Bank Altitude Reserve, that has generally been my go to outside of the US. No issues with declines and great earnings on mobile wallet transactions which I find to be accepted nearly everywhere. Never had any issues with declines from US Bank or NFCU when I travel. (Important to note that your Cash+ does have a 3% foreign transaction fee, so that one should be avoided.)

I agree with this: Foreign transaction fees are well worth avoiding, and fortunately several of your cards don't have them. I also use the Altitude Reserve more or less exclusively when abroad, and, given a travel alert, no declines at all. (A year back I had to charge around $5000 at a UK vet. As the cat hadn't made it, we just wanted to get out of there ASAP and I was relieved when the charge went through with no fuss...)

Using mobile wallet makes things much easier but make sure that you either have an international data plan from your US provider, or know how to get a local South Korean SIM when you get there (and that your phone isn't locked)

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

Gunnerboy — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:30:59 GMT

Have a safe and fun trip!

I've vacationed in Hong Kong twice, and only carried my AMEX Gold and BECU Cash Back Visa. Numerous transactions and never had a decline, but many times I just used their ubiquitous Octopus payment card.

Edit: South Korea has a similar prepaid transportion card to Octopus called "T-Money".

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

notmyrealname23 — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 04:02:04 GMT

Your C1 Venture will be fine. Any Visa/MC without a foreign transaction fee would be fine.

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

GhostCredit — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 03:16:58 GMT

I recently came back from Japan but idk about SoKorea but I know in Japan, certain restaurants are only cash, while others are restaurants. What I will say is bring a good dining card, travel card with no ftf, and also a 2% catch all card or so. Reason being is I used my travel card - csp for hotels, and they coded as something completely different... when I stayed at the hostel it counted as travel. It sucks that even restaurants didn't code as 4x with my altitude go... but whatever, it was cheap for what I paid. Have fun and stay away from this bar near the military base, I heard they don't allow Americans in for whatever reason.

Re: Best CC's to use for travel to/in South Korea

370Z — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:01:59 GMT

Every business that I've seen that takes credit cards in Korea accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover. I was in Korea last April and will be there again in May. As long as you have 2 cards from different banks, with no FTX, and at least one is a Visa or Mastercard, you should be good to go. I am personally wary of PenFed, as they have declined purchases of mine within the U.S., let alone abroad.