How recommendations are formed
Card and payment recommendations are based on visible fee structure (foreign transaction fees, ATM fee behavior, conversion markup), acceptance patterns in the destination, and fit with how travelers actually pay there. They are not based on commission rates, points hype, or sign-up bonuses. A card that pays no commission will still be recommended over one that does if its fee structure is better for the traveler.
The recurring advice across the site reduces to a small set of rules: use a card with no foreign transaction fee, always pay in the local currency (decline DCC), prefer fewer and larger bank-ATM withdrawals, carry a backup card from a different issuer, and plan the first day's money before landing. Every page is an application of those rules to a specific country or situation.
Affiliate disclosure (in full)
Some card links on destination pages are affiliate links. If you apply through one, this site may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with rel="sponsored" and a visible "affiliate link" label near the link. Affiliate status never changes which card is recommended, the order recommendations appear in, or how the free content is structured. Where no affiliate program is active, card links point to the provider's official product page and are labeled as official links — they are not affiliate links and earn this site nothing.
How this site makes money
- Travel kits via Stripe. Compact $5–$7 PDF references sold directly through Stripe checkout. One-time payments, no subscription, 30-day money-back guarantee by email.
- Disclosed affiliate links. As described above.
- Nothing else. No display ads, no sponsored posts, no sold data, no paid placements in comparisons.
Measurement and privacy
This site sets no cookies and loads no external analytics scripts. Measurement is limited to Google Search Console (aggregate search impressions and clicks reported by Google) and Stripe (completed purchases only). Some anonymous interface statistics are stored only in your own browser's localStorage and are never transmitted anywhere.
Correction policy
Fee figures, country payment behavior, and card terms change. If you find an error, email travelcardindexsupport@gmail.com with the page URL. Corrections are made directly on the page and the page's reviewed date is updated. Substantive corrections are noted in the site changelog (the README of the public repository).
What this site is not
Nothing here is investment, tax, banking, or individual financial advice. The pages cover practical travel-payment mechanics: fees, acceptance, and payment habits abroad.