Best Travel Credit Cards In Sweden (2023)
What about the best travel credit cards in Sweden? After trying more than 150 credit cards so far (yes, that number is right, check this post), I wrote two articles on the best credit cards in Sweden (here and here). But then I got many questions about travel credit cards specifically, so here we go!
Bank Norwegian Visa
CashPoints or Cashback
No annual fee
6 months interest-free
Groceries, Travel Insurance
Free ATM withdrawals
Dental protection (optional)
Price: FREE
Amex Platinum
200.000 welcome points
Great reward system
Best travel insurance
Lounge access
Apple Pay
4000kr on Dinners
Metal card
Price: 2100kr / year
Revolut Ultra
Unlimited access to lounges
Cancel for any reason insurance
Cashback
WeWork, NordVPN, Tinder
Platinum card
Travel insurances
Price: 600 kr / month
Marginalen Traveller
10.000 welcome points
Points on all purchases
Convert points for vouchers
9 insurances
Free extra cards
Up to 5 points/kr
Price: FREE first year
Check these posts first!
I have a folder where I keep all the 150+ expired or closed credit cards that I’ve tried. This is not meant to brag (at all!), it’s only to share my mistakes and experience. These other posts might also be useful:
What’s Important on A Travel Credit Card?
When evaluating a travel credit card, consider the following key factors:
What are the Best Travel Credit Cards in Sweden?
1. Bank Norwegian Visa
The Bank Norwegian Visa is a no-annual-fee credit card issued by Bank Norwegian (part of NOBA Group) that can unpack a load of benefits, including a dual reward system (CashPoints or Cashback), 0.5% back on everything, groceries and travel insurance, free ATM withdrawals, a great app, mobile payments, and even optional dental protection.
The card’s biggest strength is that the reward system is flexible, easy to understand, and very straightforward for beginners. Points are actually useful, and the bank offers other great products (savings accounts and loans). As a new benefit, you can even split payments into 6 interest-free installments.
Who’s this card for?
This card is a must-have. First, I love it because it’s free. Great for beginners who want to get in the points and cashback game without complications and hefty fees. It’s perfect for building up a better credit score. You can use your points to pay for the credit card statement or towards Norwegian Airlines flights.
Pros:
- 100% free of charge.
- Flexible reward system: CashPoints or Cashback.
- Free ATM withdrawals while abroad.
- Split payments into 6 interest-free installments.
- Rewards on all purchases and a straightforward bonus system
- 0.5% points on everything
- 1% points on foreign-currency transactions
- 3%-5% points on Norwegian Airlines flights
- 2% on electric cars and public transport (Norway only)
- Great app and online dashboard.
- Up to 55 days of interest-free credit on every purchase (six weeks).
- Travel insurance and groceries insurance.
- Dental Protection (optional and cheap)
- Perfect for building credit score.
- Add extra insurance easily.
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay.
Cons:
- You need to be over 23 years old to apply.
- High-interest rate if you are not paying your bill in full.
2. American Express Platinum (or SAS Amex)
Pros:
- Get 200.000 points when signing up (welcome bonus)
- Bonus points on all purchases
- Best travel insurance in the market
- 4.000 SEK back on dinners
- Fast Track through the security check at Arlanda
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- Food and drinks at the American Express Pop Up Lounge
- Supplementary travel insurance when you pay for the trip with the card
- Exclusive dining experiences for two with Dining by Amex
- Extra benefits at popular hotels worldwide
- Digital medical advice when you are abroad
- Upgrades and better prices with rental car companies
- Priority access to tickets for sought-after concerts and events
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Metal card (sleek)
Cons:
- Expensive
- Some shops do not accept American Express.
- Interest rates are more expensive
Is Amex the right card for you?
First of all: the card is expensive. If you are not planning on using some of the benefits, like the 4000 kr on dinners, the lounges at Arlanda, or their travel benefits, it will not be worth it.
Plus, if you don’t like dealing with your finances and you would rather prefer not to worry and just use a single unique card for everything, then this is probably not the right choice for you.
Let me explain. Let’s start with the cons. Many, many shops, even in 2023, don’t accept American Express. This means that if you order this card, you will most likely end up anyway having to use your debit card or some other alternative.
In addition, you will get lots of points—hundreds, thousands, and even millions. But, to use them, you need to sit down and understand how to translate those points into something meaningful. A simple option is just to use those points to pay for your bill (like cash back, or credit statement). But it has many more opportunities than that, like for example, being able to get free flights and hotels. It can be very lucrative, and it is a fun game.
Now, if you don’t mind spending some extra couple of hours figuring that out, or you would like to consider more than just one credit card in your wallet, American Express is a no-brainer. There are just so many opportunities with Amex cards. You enjoy very high purchase limits, get almost 2 months of interest-free payments, and have a fantastic referral program.
ONGOING OFFER
You can sign-up now to get 200.000 welcome points which are worth more than 1000 SEK. You can also invite more friends and family members to get 200.000 points for each of them.
3. Revolut Ultra
Revolut Ultra is Revolut’s top-end plan in the UK and Europe. With an annual fee of 6000 SEK, Ultra members get a platinum-plated card and 57.000kr in annual benefits. The Ultra plan is one of the most complete plans on the market, especially if you travel frequently and like the sound of trip cancellation cover and lounge benefits or if you’re planning to use Revolut’s investment opportunities.
Who’s this card for?
This card is among the most expensive ones, but if you are a hardcore traveler, it can be fantastic in your arsenal. I love the unlimited access to lounges and cancel for any reason insurance! There are no points, but the high cashback and no fees on money transfers and foreign transactions make it totally worth it. Plus, it’s very solid to have a myriad of subscriptions bundled, such as WeWork, NordVPN, Freeletics, and many others. If you are looking for a single modern banking solution, all in the same app, then Revolut Ultra might be for you.
Pros:
- No credit score is needed to apply. You WILL be approved.
- High-end benefits such as premium credit cards.
- A platinum-plated metal card
- Access to partner benefits, such as free subscriptions to the Financial Times, NordVPN, WeWork, and ClassPass
- Unlimited fee-free international money transfers
- 1.2% cashback on Revolut Pro
- 24/7 member support
- Unlimited lounge access at over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide
- Total travel coverage, including cancellation for any reason insurance, medical emergency insurance, lost luggage insurance, and flight delay reimbursement.
- Stock trading advantages, such as exclusive trading fees and access to IPOs
- Supercharged savings, with up to 10% interest on your savings
Cons:
- Expensive
- No credit line (you need to have the money in your account before buying)
As an alternative, you can also try Revolut Premium (get 3 months for free), or Revolut Metal, which also have no foreign transaction fees, but don’t come with as many benefits for lounges and insurance as the Ultra.
4. Marginalen Traveller
Marginalen Bank has been stepping up the last few years in all its products and now offers a quite competitive folio. They provide a range of cards, Traveller and Gold, and their own point system.
The Marginalen Traveller Mastercard option is attractive, as you get one of the market’s most comprehensive travel insurance when looking at the price range. In addition, you get points on all purchases you make on the card, which can later be used to book trips with or buy products in the points shop.
Who’s this card for?
Avid travelers already paying for insurance when booking trips, flights, and hotels. People who want to split large purchases with no interest or high fees. Marginalen Traveler has some premium-card features for free.
Pros:
- Free for the first year (395 SEK per year after)
- Great travel insurance
- Points in everything you buy. Redeem the points for flights, hotels, and car rentals.
- 25% discount in over 200 online stores.
- Up to SEK 120.000 in credit.
- Up to 50 days of interest-free credit on every purchase.
- Split payments into 6, 12, or 24 months.
- Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.
Cons:
- It has a fee after the first year, but you can try it for a whole year and see if it is a good fit for your wallet and expenses 🙂
Overall, a fantastic option to have in your credit card arsenal. I love the concept of being able to have interest-free payments. It is an excellent tool when you want to pay for holidays, travel, or even unplanned emergencies and don’t want to take the hit immediately. Native support for Apple Pay and Google Pay is a big win!
Being a Mastercard, it will be broadly accepted, so you don’t need to worry about that part.
5. Collector Easyliving
Collector Easyliving is a credit card issued by Collector Bank. The card is specifically meant for travel, as it offers no currency surcharge or foreign transaction fees and travel insurance with cancellation protection. In addition to these insurances, they also add all-risk insurance, delivery insurance for online purchases and event protection.
Who’s this card for?
Travelers that want to avoid foreign transaction fees and currency surcharges. You can also pick your color: black or purple.
Pros:
- Free the first year (195 SEK per year after)
- Good travel insurance
- Links with SAS EuroBonus for points
- Event protection
- Delivery insurance
- Up to SEK 100.000 in credit.
- Up to 56 days of interest-free credit on every purchase.
Cons:
- Fee after the first year
- High ATM withdrawal fee (use Wise instead)
- No Apple Pay
- No interest-free instalments
I feel at this price point, this card is hard to beat. You get the first year for free, no foreign transaction fees abroad, and great insurance. It’s also a Mastercard, so it will be broadly accepted.
Some of the downsides: don’t use this card to get money on ATMs, try options like Wise or Revolut. It doesn’t support Apple Pay, and it is not a good card to split payments in instalments, like the Resurs World.
6. Resurs World
Resurs World gives you a great insurance and 4 access to airport lounges. You can also use this card to beat inflation by splitting payments in 6 instalments (interest-free). In addition, you get a 10.000 points welcome bonus (worth 100 kr), and a free savings account that gives you 1.3% interest on your money.
Pros:
- 10.000 points welcome bonus (worth 100kr)
- More points on all your purchases (1 point per kronor)
- Access Airport Lounges (4 passes per year, worth 1200 SEK)
- Split payments up to 6 months interest-free.
- Great travel insurance and purchase protection included.
- Free savings account with 1.3% interest on your money
- Concierge service
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Up to 60 days of interest-free credit on every purchase.
Cons:
- Can be costly if you don’t use the airport lounges (1068 kr / year)
- Extra cards cost 50kr (for family members)
- No referral program for friends and family
Why I’m using this card?
In Sweden, there was 10% inflation in 2022. In this context, the best you can do to make your money work best is a trick called buy now, pay later.
Why? Because your money will be worth less later. So 100kr today is more powerful than 100kr in 1 year.
If you buy a 15.000kr item in January, with 10% inflation, the same thing will cost 15.750kr in July. Therefore, if you can buy it in January and split the payment into 6 instalments with no interest, you will save money.
With the Resurs World Mastercard, you can buy an item today and split it into 6 payments that are interest-free. You only need to pay the “administration fee”, which is the fee for issuing the “faktura”.
In the example above, you buy a 15.000 SEK item and split it into 6 instalments of 2555kr. That’s a total of 15351kr! Compared to the 15.750, you end up saving 419kr at least.
On top of splitting the payment, you also get points for your purchases. A 15.000kr is 7500 points (75kr). In total, you’ve saved 494 kr on a single 15.000kr purchase.
Wrap up
I hope this post is useful and promise to keep it regularly updated with the most updated info.
If you have any further questions or wish to brainstorm or chat, feel free to reach out to me anytime on Instagram!
Enjoy!
