Brazil stands out as the top destination for tourism in South America, drawing in countless travelers annually. Numerous regions within the country, including Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Iguazu Falls, and tours of the Amazon rainforest, enjoy immense popularity among tourists.
Credit cards are widely accepted almost everywhere in Brazil's major urban centers. However, for those venturing into smaller rural towns, you should carry ample cash in case you encounter merchants who do not accept credit card payments. The prevalent credit card networks in Brazil are Mastercard and Visa, and using American Express should also pose minimal difficulties.
What is the best credit card to use in Brazil?
Credit cards are widely accepted almost everywhere in Brazil's major urban centers. However, for those venturing into smaller rural towns, you should carry ample cash in case you encounter merchants who do not accept credit card payments. The prevalent credit card networks in Brazil are Mastercard and Visa, and using American Express should also pose minimal difficulties.
US Crеdit Cards Options
You’ll find cash machines linked to the Plus or Cirrus systems in all urban areas of Brazil, allowing you to withdraw cash using your Visa or Mastercard card. Here are some of the best US credit card options:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
If you’ve even started to look into travel credit cards, you’ve likely come across the Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP). There’s a big reason that every Youtuber, blogger, and credit card aficionado pushes this card to everyone who will listen: effective simplicity. Not only is this card excellent for earning valuable travel rewards, but it is also extremely simple to use effectively.
- Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $95 after that
- Welcome/Sign-Up Bonus: 60,000 United Miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months
- Spending Rewards: 2x Miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays, 1x points on everything else.
- Additional Benefits: Free first-checked bags on all flights, $100 TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, priority boarding.
The United Explorer card is an excellent option for anyone who frequently flies United (or any other Star Alliance members) or has United status. This card gives you bonus miles on your United flights, dining, and hotels, allowing you to use it for almost all of your travel purchases!
One major benefit of the Explorer card is the minimal required commitment to accumulate a ton of United miles. Between the spending rewards, the substantial sign-on bonus, and the free first year of holding the card, you can easily accumulate 75,000+ United Miles for free. With the free checked bag, you only have to fly ~2 times a year with a checked bag to make the annual fee effectively $0 even after your first year.
Capital One Quicksilver
If you’re living abroad or traveling internationally and more interested in cash-back than point-earning, the Capital One Quicksilver is an excellent option. Not only does this card have no annual fee, but it also has some nice benefits on top of its flat cash-back.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Welcome/Sign-Up Bonus: $200 bonus after spending $500 in 3 months
- Spending Rewards: 1.5% back on all purchases
- Additional Benefits: 6 months of free Uber One, low intro APR
Cash-back cards will always be slightly less glamorous than their point-based counterparts, but they make up for any excitement shortcomings with simplicity. You’ll never need to worry about getting a certain level of value from any rewards with a cash-back card!
Even for a cash-back card, the Quicksilver thrives in its simplicity—use it for every purchase and get a flat 1.5% discount. With the addition of 6 free months of Uber One (Uber’s premium membership), this card is an excellent choice for anyone living abroad who does not enjoy putting significant effort into their credit cards and rewards.
The Bottom Line
If you are planning a trip to Brazil, it is advisable to consider a travel money card for spending in Brazilian Real (BRL) or choose a provider that offers a mid-market exchange rate for currency conversion. Travel money cards have various features and can be obtained through traditional banks or online specialists.
You might choose an economical travel debit card with a connected account to hold multiple currencies, such as the Wise debit card. Alternatively, you may prefer a prepaid travel money card like the Bluebird American Express debit card, which can be linked to a fee-free account. Another option is to acquire a travel credit card to earn cashback and rewards or circumvent foreign transaction fees.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which card is best to use in Brazil?
There’s no single best card to use in Brazil. Which is right for you will depend on your preferences and the features you want to access. Having a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise or Revolut can be a good bet as you can hold and exchange BRL alongside dozens of other major currencies for convenience.
2. What is the best way to pay when traveling in Brazil?
Spending with your card is convenient when traveling in Brazil, but you’ll be best off having several different payment methods just in case your first choice isn’t supported. For example, you could choose 2 different debit or credit cards issued on different networks, and you could also get BRL in advance so you have some cash on you for those times when cards aren’t available.
3. Can you withdraw cash with a credit card in Brazil?
You can usually withdraw cash with a credit card in Brazil at any ATM supporting your card network. You’ll often find that a fee applies, and you may start to accumulate interest on the withdrawn amount immediately. Travel money debit cards from providers like Wise and Revolut can be a lower-cost option for cash withdrawals in BRL.
References
https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/credit-card-debt-statistics/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/credit-card-debt.asp
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-debt-credit-card-debt-1-trillion-interest-rates-2023-9
https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/ways-to-pay-off-credit-card-debt/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/your-money/credit-card-debt.html
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/08/economy/us-household-credit-card-debt/index.html
