Travelers can save money and avoid fraud by choosing local‑currency payments and low‑fee cards when abroad
Executive summary: La Repubblica published a practical guide for travelers on how to use credit, debit and prepaid cards abroad, covering currency choice, fees, fraud prevention and cost simulations. The guide helps consumers avoid costly charges and fraud while traveling, influencing spending behavior and encouraging card issuers to offer more transparent, low‑fee travel products.
Who is involved: La Repubblica (media outlet), European travelers, banks and card issuers, and EU payment regulators overseeing fee transparency.
Likely next: Travelers will apply the advice during the peak summer‑autumn season; issuers may promote zero‑foreign‑transaction‑fee cards by Q4 2026; regulators may step up enforcement of PSD2‑required fee disclosures in Q3 2026.
La Repubblica’s guide explains how to avoid hidden charges such as dynamic currency conversion and ATM fees while highlighting common fraud schemes targeting overseas card use. It offers practical simulations that let consumers compare the costs of different cards and payment choices. By presenting concrete numbers and step‑by‑step advice, the article helps travelers make informed decisions that can reduce their vacation expenses and exposure to scams.
Timeline
- — Carta di credito in vacanza: pagare all’estero senza farsi spennare tra commissioni, extra e truffe (la Repubblica — Economia)
- — Un centenar de vuelos de easyJet, cancelados por la huelga del personal de cabina en Francia (Expansión)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Summer 2026 travel peaks in September 2026, increasing demand for low‑fee card solutions.
- European Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) fee‑transparency review scheduled for Q1 2027 may affect surcharge rules.
- Major card issuers plan to launch no‑foreign‑transaction‑fee cards by Q4 2026 to capture travel‑spending share.
- Consumer protection agencies may issue holiday‑card‑fraud alerts for August‑September 2026.
Sectors affected
- Cross‑border payment services
- Retail travel and tourism
- Card‑issuing banks
Regulatory implications
- PSD2 requires clear disclosure of foreign‑transaction fees; national authorities may enforce compliance Q3 2026.
- Italian Antitrust may investigate hidden DCC charges that exceed disclosed rates.
- EU may consider caps on ATM withdrawal fees for non‑resident cardholders.
Historical parallels
- 2015 EU interchange‑fee cap reduced card‑present costs for merchants.
- 2020 PSD2 SCA rollout changed online authentication flow for card payments.
- 2018 introduction of the Euro‑zone’s SEPA Instant Credit Transfer lowered cross‑border transfer costs.
Sources
- Carta di credito in vacanza: pagare all’estero senza farsi spennare tra commissioni, extra e truffe — la Repubblica — Economia
- Un centenar de vuelos de easyJet, cancelados por la huelga del personal de cabina en Francia — Expansión
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