How Moving Abroad Changed My Credit Card Strategy

I moved to Barcelona at the end of August, and while I expected changes to my daily routine — grocery shopping, transportation, and even how often I eat out — I didn’t fully anticipate how much the move would force me to rethink my credit card strategy.

Specifically, I’ve had to take a hard look at which U.S.-issued cards actually deserve a spot in my wallet now that I’m living abroad.

Some of the cards I relied on heavily in the U.S. quickly became far less useful. A few charge foreign transaction fees, which are essentially a silent tax on every purchase. Others (particularly American Express cards) had acceptance issues almost immediately. Faced with these realities, I’ve had to reassess how I earn rewards, how I redeem them, and which cards I should keep, downgrade, or close altogether.

Avoiding Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign transaction fees are easy to overlook until you’re actually living outside the U.S. In most cases, these fees add around 3% to every purchase in a foreign currency or processed by a non-U.S. bank. That might not sound like much, but when you’re using a card for groceries, dining, transit, and everyday expenses, the cost adds up quickly.

A 3% fee effectively wipes out the value of many rewards structures. Earning 2% cash-back or 3x points doesn’t mean much if you’re paying a 3% fee to use the card. And earning 1% or 2% back while paying a foreign transaction fee is even worse.

This became immediately apparent with cards like the Chase Freedom Flex^® and Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card. Both are solid options in the U.S., but both charge foreign transaction fees, which makes them largely useless to me in Spain.

I was surprised by how many cards I owned that assess foreign transaction fees. Identifying them — and deliberately avoiding them — helped me eliminate surprise fees on my monthly statements. For anyone spending extended time abroad, especially those who’ve relocated, avoiding foreign transaction fees isn’t optional… It’s foundational.

Why American Express Is No Longer My Priority

Another immediate adjustment involved American Express.

In the U.S., Amex acceptance is widespread enough that it rarely feels limiting. In Spain (and much of Europe), that’s simply not the case.

While American Express is accepted by major airlines, large hotel chains, and some higher-end merchants, acceptance is far from universal. Many supermarkets, smaller shops, local restaurants, and service providers don’t take Amex at all. Even when they do, transactions don’t always process reliably.

As a result, I’ve effectively narrowed my Amex usage to very specific situations: flights with major carriers (but notably not most budget airlines), chain hotel stays, and train ticket purchases. Outside of those categories, relying on Amex isn’t practical.

This shift forced me to rethink which cards I use for everyday spending. In practice, that meant changing my go-to card for supermarkets from the American Express^® Gold Card to the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. Similarly, my transit spending moved from the American Express Green Card^®* to the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

These cards offer solid earning rates, no foreign transaction fees, and near-universal acceptance in Spain.

Amex still plays a role in my overall strategy — I value Membership Rewards points and their transfer partners — but it’s no longer the backbone of my wallet.

*The information regarding the American Express Green Card^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Focusing on Rewards Programs That Work in Europe

Moving to Spain didn’t just change how I earn points; it also changed which rewards programs matter most to me.

One program that’s become surprisingly useful is Club Iberia Plus. While Iberia isn’t necessarily my favorite airline to fly, its redemption rates between Spain and the U.S. can be excellent, particularly in business class. Earning rewards that funnel into that program makes a lot of sense, given where I’m now based.

I’m also flying budget airlines far more frequently than I ever did in the U.S. These flights are cheap and convenient, but they don’t come with meaningful loyalty programs. That’s where Capital One miles have become especially valuable. The ability to redeem miles for travel purchases (including budget airline tickets) within 90 days of purchase is a huge advantage, effectively letting me create my own rewards structure.

I’ve also found that Oneworld carriers and the Flying Blue program offer strong redemption rates for travel around Europe. That makes earning transferable currencies even more important. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Points both fit well here, particularly because Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to American Airlines AAdvantage.

Deciding Which Cards to Close (And Which to Add)

Once I had a clearer sense of which cards and rewards actually worked abroad, the next step was deciding what to do with the cards that no longer fit my lifestyle.

In several cases, the answer has been to move credit limits to other accounts and close cards that no longer serve a purpose. The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a good example. It worked well for me in the U.S., but it doesn’t offer enough value abroad to justify keeping it open. Rather than let it sit unused, I plan to reallocate that credit line and close the account.

Now, I’m opening cards that align better with how I actually spend. One of those is the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® card, which earns 3x points per $1 spent on all purchases outside the U.S. That earning structure makes it incredibly compelling for everyday spending in Europe, and it’s likely to become one of my most-used cards.

I’m also planning to apply for the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. Citi ThankYou Points — particularly their transferability to American Airlines AAdvantage for redemptions — fit perfectly into my current travel patterns. Having more ways to earn flexible, airline-focused rewards makes far more sense than holding onto cards designed primarily for U.S.-based spending.

Final Thoughts

Reassessing your credit card strategy shouldn’t be a one-time exercise. How you travel, where you spend your money, and which rewards are most valuable all change over time — and those changes matter even more when you move abroad.

Living in Spain has forced me to prioritize acceptance over branding, avoid foreign fees, and focus on rewards programs that actually work where I live and travel. The cards that made sense for me in the U.S. aren’t always the right fit now — and that’s fine.

Credit cards are tools, not trophies. The best setup is the one that matches your current life. Mine looks very different for 2026 than it did just a year ago.