Every summer, thousands of vacationers return from the United States, England, Japan, Turkey… with an unpleasant surprise on their bank statement. However, the basic rule is simple: if, for a vacation in the euro zone, there are no specific costs thanks to the single currency, it is not at all the same when you leave this area. “In foreign currency, there are big differences depending on the card you have »warns Marie Rialland, deputy director of MoneyVoxsite specializing in money matters.
Fees can take several forms: a fixed amount per transaction, a percentage of the amount withdrawn or paid, or a mixture of the two. And they are not the same depending on whether it is of a payment at a merchant or a withdrawal from the distributor. “This is something to look at carefully”insists Marie Rialland. Concretely, for a traditional bank, a withdrawal of 100 euros outside the euro zone can cost more than 5 euros in fees, and a payment of 50 euros in a foreign currency, on average 1.60 euros… but it depends on the currency.
Should you opt for online banks or neobanks?
To avoid these fees, the best-known solution remains online banking. “Fortuneo, for example: all their cards allow completely free international accesspayments and withdrawals, without amount limit »explains Marie Rialland. At Boursobank, the Metal card offers completely free payments and withdrawals abroad. But for the Ultim card, withdrawals are only free up to three per month outside the euro zone, and for the Welcome card, it is only one. Beyond that, fees apply. Revolut has a completely free plan, but the number of withdrawals included abroad will not necessarily be very high depending on the plan chosen. “ You have to look at the offer in detailnot just the word “free” in the title »she specifies. Sumeria offers free payments up to 2,000 euros, and 3 free withdrawals per month up to 250 euros, then charges 1.5% beyond that.
It is also not free at all online banks: according to MoneyVox data updated in April 2026, a withdrawal outside the euro zone costs for example 1.50% of the sum at Hello bank (but payments are free), 1.70% of the sum at N26 (payments are also free) and payments and withdrawals are charged 1.95% at BFor Bank.
As for traditional banks, they are not completely out of the game: some offer a temporary international optionfor example around ten euros per month which can be activated temporarily, giving the right to a defined number of free withdrawals and payments abroad. Others integrate these benefits into their bundled service packages. “You have to remember to look at what you are equipped with before going on vacation”recalls Marie Rialland. But if you don’t have this type of offer in your traditional bank, getting a second card from an online bank specifically for the holidays can be a solution.
What to do before you leave
So, the first thing to do is to precisely identify the fees linked to your card. You can dissect the brochures alone, or simply “send a message in the application to your advisor or customer service specifying your contract, your card and the country where you are going. Ask how much it will cost you. It’s simple and avoids unpleasant surprises”advises the expert.
If your traditional bank charges a lot for foreign transactions, the most effective option is to open a second account in an online bank before departure. But be careful of the delay: a physical card can take several days to arrive. “You have to think ahead at least three weeks so as not to find yourself stressed at the last moment. » Sometimes virtual cards are available immediately after opening the account, but they are not accepted everywhere. The physical card remains essential for the vast majority of situations abroad.
