Can you use a Discover card for international travel?

Discover issues some of the most popular cash back credit cards in the U.S., but the issuer might not be at the top of your mind when you think of international travel. You may be surprised to learn that, though the Discover network doesn’t have the vast international reach of Mastercard or Visa, your Discover card can be a good travel companion.

Discover card holders can use their cards at more than 44 million merchants in more than 190 countries and territories, and Discover’s international acceptance continues to grow. Furthermore, Discover has good perks for travelers, including generous cash back rewards, introductory APR offers, no annual fees and – especially useful for traveling outside the U.S. – no foreign transaction fees.

Read on to learn more about where Discover cards are accepted internationally, plus some tips for using a Discover card for international travel.

The best Discover card for international travel

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Where is Discover card accepted?

Before you embark on your trip, you should check Discover’s online map to see if your card will be accepted where you are traveling. Discover card acceptance varies widely between countries – even those within the same continent.

Discover card in North America

Discover has the widest acceptance within its home base, the United States. However, you may have trouble using your Discover card in Canada, since acceptance is more limited there.

Discover card in Central America

In Central America, Discover card acceptance is high in Belize, but more limited in most countries.

Discover card in South America

On the other hand, you’ll have an easier time using your Discover card for travel in South America. The acceptance rate is high in many countries there, including popular destinations, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Discover card in Europe

Unfortunately, using your Discover card can be hit or miss in Europe. While acceptance is high in a few countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, it’s more limited in many popular destinations. France, in particular, has a low acceptance rate.

Discover card in Asia

While using a Discover card is likely to be difficult in most of Asia, acceptance is high in a handful of Asian countries. Discover has a partnership with UnionPay in China and JCB in Japan. These alliances have boosted acceptance rates in those two regions. Discover card is also highly accepted in Israel, India and South Korea.

Discover card in Africa

Acceptance is limited in most of Africa, with the exception of two popular tourist destinations: Kenya and Morocco.

Other countries that accept Discover

Acceptance is limited in most spots in Oceania and the Pacific. However, the Caribbean is a hot spot for using your Discover card – acceptance is high in most of the islands there.

Tips for using your Discover card internationally

Laks Vasudevan, senior vice president of consumer card product management at Discover, offers the following tips when using Discover or any credit card:

• Report a lost or missing credit card. In case your Discover card is lost or stolen while traveling, you can use Discover’s Freeze it feature to lock your account in seconds by calling Discover or logging into your account. You can unfreeze your account just as quickly.
• Make sure you’re not liable for fraud. In case someone steals your credit card information, report it right away to your credit card issuer and check your account frequently for fraudulent activity. At Discover, customers are never responsible for unauthorized credit card, debit card, online, or mobile banking transactions on their accounts.
• Register your travel plans with Discover. Notify Discover online, via the mobile app or over the phone (1-800 DISCOVER) to help ensure uninterrupted use of your card.
• Look for the Discover and Diners Club International acceptance logos at merchants. This will show you where you can use your Discover card. Note that there are a few exceptions to this guideline, including Japan (JCB), China (UnionPay) and India (RuPay). Check Discover’s website for a full list of its affiliated networks.
• Make copies of the front and back of your credit card. Keep these in a separate place in case your card is lost or stolen.
• Understand that individual vendors may not accept the card. Even in countries where Discover card acceptance is high, it won’t be universal. Tourist hotspots like hotels, restaurants or stores are more likely to take Discover. Outside of tourist zones, you may have a hard time using your Discover card. Be sure to have either a Mastercard or Visa card (and some cash) on hand.

Bottom line

Before departing for your international trip, it’s important to consider if your Discover card will be widely accepted in the country you’ll be visiting. Although Discover is growing in popularity and is well-accepted internationally, prudent planning is still important.

This advice applies to any card you choose to bring on your travels: Be sure to bring at least two credit cards – and inform both issuers that you’ll be traveling – to save yourself from being caught empty-handed.