Travelers warned of high fees when using incorrect payment cards abroad

Travelers may face significant additional costs when paying with the wrong cards during international trips. Using incorrect settings at payment terminals can lead to surcharges of up to 12 percent.

Common financial pitfalls include foreign currency fees, which often range from 1.5 to 2 percent on standard cards, and ATM withdrawal fees that can amount to 2 to 4 percent or fixed charges of 5 to 10 euros per transaction. To avoid these costs, experts recommend paying in the local currency rather than the home currency and utilizing travel-specific credit cards that waive foreign transaction fees and annual dues.