American Express Credit Cards: Getting the Most Out of International Travel

Have you ever eaten at an expensive restaurant in apurchases in foreign countries, you have much less
foreign country and watched as the waiter sneered atpaperwork to sort through when it comes time to file
your Visa or MasterCard? Believe it or not, this is aexpense reports. Using American Express can also
common experience for international travelers,make delayed and canceled flights less of a problem.
especially those who finance the trip with theirWhen your flight is canceled, the airline can simply
business credit card. In the United States, currency isrefund your money directly to the card, rather than
currency, but in other countries, how you pay can haveforcing you to wait weeks or even months for a
a direct effect on the service you receive. Founded incheck to come in the mail.
1850, American Express has grown into the preferredAmerican Express also offers airline reward cards,
financial center overseas, and provides a variety ofsuch as the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card.
options for international travelers.International travel earns the maximum number of
Hotels, Retailers & Restaurantsbonus miles for future flights, and unlike other airline
When traveling internationally, it is always preferable toreward cards, your SkyMiles never expire. When you
have your American Express card handy forbook a flight using the SkyMiles card, you never have
purchases at hotels, retailers and restaurants. Businessto worry about blackout dates, which can be a
owners and their employees have come to trust thewonderful bonus for frequent international travelers.
American Express name, and while some accept Visa,Business Credit Cards
MasterCard and Discover, many establishments frownAmerican Express offers a variety of business credit
on the use of these credit cards. Since there arecards, ranging from those fit for small businesses to
thousands of financial centers in nearly every country,cards that benefit large corporations. Foreign countries
business owners feel comfortable accepting Americanare just as respectful of business cards as with
Express, which gives you an advantage whenpersonal cards, and in many cases, the benefits are
shopping, eating and sleeping in foreign countries.even better. If your business or the company that
If you have a card like the Hilton HHonors Platinumemploys you requires consistent travel, there may be
Credit Card from American Express, you can alsomore rewards available than when each employee
earn reward points for free hotel stays, free airlineuses his or her own credit card. For example, the
tickets and discounts on travel vacation packages. ThePlatinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from
JetBlue and Blue Sky cards have similar advantages.American Express, each card earns points toward
Cashing Checksrewards, including free travel and accommodations. So
If you have an American Express Credit Card, yourif twelve employees have copies of the FreedomPass
overseas banking will be made much easier. MostCredit Card, the business is rewarded twelve times
American Express financial centers will cash personalover.
checks of up to $1,000 for regular card holders, and upHaving a business credit card from American Express
to $5,000 for gold card members. They can alsocan also make employees much more comfortable
provide simple, fast currency exchanges and moneywith International travel. Rather than charging expenses
transfers.to their own account and filing an expense report later,
While it is always a good idea to have your bankthe company is billed directly, allowing employees to
information with you wherever you travel, having anfeel safe. American Express is not the only credit card
American Express credit card acts like an extensioncompany to offer travel and cash rewards, but it is the
of your personal bank. Running out of cash in a foreignonly one that is accepted by almost every overseas
country is terrifying, and something to avoid wherevervendor. While international travelers will find that some
possible. If you have your American Express creditbusinesses require cash, there is always a place to
card, you can receive cash advances and moneyretrieve money when funds run low, and travelers can
transfers at financial centers.feel comfortable knowing that their finances are
Flights & Rental Carssecure.
Business travel is one of the most stressful aspects ofPlease click here to find and apply for American
a professional's career, and if travel is a large part ofExpress Credit Cards . Ed Vegliante runs , a credit
your career, then an American Express credit cardcard directory enabling the consumer to compare and
can cut anxiety to a minimum. If you use the sameapply for credit cards.
card for your flights and rental cars as with other