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Visa or Mastercard for travel from France: how to choose
What’s the best card for travel — Visa or Mastercard? As we’ll see, there are very few differences between the two providers. What really matters is your bank, as it’s the one that sets the fees and determines the conditions of use.
To save money abroad, get a Wise card: you’ll benefit from the mid-market exchange rate on withdrawals and payments.
Visa or Mastercard for travel: the essentials
- Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in the world, but in some countries, one may be slightly more common than the other.
- Most banks offer either Visa or Mastercard, though some let you choose.
- Cards have an annual or monthly fee, which can reach up to €30/month depending on the card type.
- Each provider offers several card tiers with different perks and insurance benefits.
- If you use a traditional bank, the exchange rate will likely be marked up, increasing the cost of foreign withdrawals and payments.
The different types of Visa and Mastercard cards
Whether you choose Visa or Mastercard, banks usually offer four main tiers:
| Card Type | Visa | Mastercard | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronically authorized | Electron | Maestro | €20–€30/year |
| Classic | CB Visa (or Visa Classic) | CB Mastercard | Around €40/year |
| Premium | Premier | Gold | €120–€200/year |
| Luxury | Infinite | World Elite | Over €300/year |
Note: Card names and exact features can vary by bank.
Higher-tier cards generally offer more perks, such as loyalty programs, travel insurance, or partner discounts. Some banks also apply lower fees on foreign currency transactions for premium cardholders.
Visa or Mastercard for travel: how to choose?
Choose your card based on your bank, not the brand
When choosing a bank card for traveling abroad, focus on three key points:
- The annual subscription cost,
- The foreign currency transaction fees,
- The included services and insurance.
These factors are determined by your bank, not by Visa or Mastercard.
For example, at some online banks like Boursorama, the ULTIM and WELCOME cards are free and don’t charge fees on foreign currency payments.¹
However, withdrawals outside the Eurozone may be subject to fees once you exceed a certain number of free transactions per month.
If you travel frequently, consider a multi-currency card — you’ll be able to hold several currencies in one account and spend without conversion costs.
Choose your card type carefully
Both Visa and Mastercard offer three main types of cards:
- Electronically authorized: Your balance is checked before each payment or withdrawal. Limits are usually lower, which can be restrictive.
- Immediate debit: Funds are withdrawn from your account right away — useful for real-time budgeting, but without flexibility.
- Deferred debit: Payments are grouped and charged later. This allows more flexibility but requires careful budget management.
Fees and services by card tier
In some banks, fees for foreign currency transactions depend on your card tier — the higher the tier, the lower the transaction costs. However, this also means a higher annual fee.
Premium and luxury cards often include additional perks such as 24/7 concierge service, travel insurance, or discounts with selected partners.
Travel with two cards: one Visa and one Mastercard
Even though Visa and Mastercard have global coverage, acceptance can vary slightly by country or region.
That’s why it’s always best to travel with two cards — ideally one Visa and one Mastercard.
For example, if you already have a Mastercard, you can use the Wise Visa card as your backup. You’ll be able to make payments and withdrawals at the mid-market rate, and you’ll have an alternative if Mastercard isn’t accepted where you are.
Visa card for travel: annual fees
Here are the annual subscription fees for Visa cards offered by major French banks:
| Bank | Visa cards available (deferred debit) |
|---|---|
| BNP Paribas² | * Classic (€49.50/year) * Premier (€144/year) * Infinite (€347/year) |
| Crédit Agricole (Finistère)³ | * Classic (€48/year) * Premier (€136/year) * Infinite (€354/year) |
| Boursorama¹ | * Welcome (Free) * Ultim (Free) * Metal (€9.90/month) |
| Crédit Mutuel (Anjou)⁴ | * Visa Classic (€47/year) * Premier (€137/year) * Infinite (€340/year) |
| Société Générale⁵ | * Infinite (€345/year) * Premier (€146/year) * CB Visa (€50/year) |
Mastercard for travel
Below are the rates for Mastercard cards from Crédit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole, and Société Générale:
| Bank | Mastercard available (deferred debit) |
|---|---|
| Crédit Mutuel (Anjou)⁴ | * CB Mastercard (€47/year) * CB Mastercard in foreign currency (€51/year) * Access (€51/year) * Gold (€137/year) * World Elite (€300/year) |
| Crédit Agricole (Finistère)³ | * Standard (€48/year) * Gold (€136/year) * World Elite (€354/year) |
| Société Générale⁵ | * CB Gold (€146/year) * CB Mastercard (€50/year) |
Mastercard or Visa for travel? Our conclusion
Comparing Mastercard and Visa is mostly unnecessary — both are accepted almost everywhere in the world.
The real differences come from your bank’s fees and the card tier you choose.
If your bank offers both types, ask your advisor about the differences in travel insurance and other benefits.
For safety, always travel with two cards — one Visa and one Mastercard. If that’s not possible, check which network is more widely accepted in your destination country.
Travel with the Wise Visa card
Wise offers a Visa card with several key advantages:
- Mid-market exchange rate on all currency conversions — cheaper than banks that use marked-up rates.
- Ability to hold 40+ different currencies.
- Low conversion fees, starting from 0.47% (varies by currency).
- Zero fees on payments if you already hold the transaction currency in your account.
- 2 free foreign withdrawals per month (up to €200).
- No monthly subscription — just a €7 delivery fee for the card.
Sources:
- Boursorama Cards
- BNP Paribas Rates
- Crédit Agricole FINISTÈRE Rates
- Crédit Mutuel (Anjou) Rates
- Société Générale Rates
Last verified on October 6, 2025.
This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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