NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card: What To Know Before You Apply

Follow us on Google

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card has become a popular choice for UK travellers who want to cut foreign transaction fees and earn rewards on their trips. Before you tap to apply in the NatWest app, it is worth understanding how the card really works in day to day travel, what it costs, and whether it fits your style of spending abroad. This guide walks through the essential details, using real travel scenarios so you can decide with confidence if this is the right card to pack in your wallet.

How the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Works

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is a Visa credit card aimed at people who spend regularly on travel, both in the UK and overseas. It combines cashback style rewards on your spending with no foreign transaction fees on purchases made in other currencies. At the time of writing, NatWest advertises a representative 27.9% APR variable on purchases, based on an assumed credit limit of around £1,200, with no annual card fee. Your personal rate and limit are set after NatWest checks your credit profile and affordability.

Instead of traditional airline miles, the card earns NatWest Rewards, which sit in the same pot as any existing NatWest Reward or Premier Reward current account you might already hold. In practice this means that if you already earn a monthly reward from your current account, the credit card will add to the same balance. You can then convert those Rewards into cash paid into a NatWest account, use them against your NatWest credit card balance, exchange them for e-gift cards at major retailers, or donate them to charity.

From a traveller’s point of view, the card’s key attractions are its 0 percent foreign transaction fee on purchases and the boosted reward rate on eligible travel spend. Unlike many mainstream UK credit cards that charge around 2.75 to 3 percent on non-sterling purchases, this card does not add that percentage fee when you pay in a foreign currency. That can make a noticeable difference on a week-long city break, a summer holiday, or regular work trips paid in euros or dollars.

There is, however, no built-in travel insurance or airport lounge access with this credit card. Those perks are instead attached to certain NatWest packaged current accounts, such as Reward Black and some Premier offerings. Travellers hoping for complimentary lounges or bundled insurance need to consider a current account upgrade rather than relying on the Travel Reward Credit Card alone.

Rewards You Earn On Everyday and Travel Spending

The card’s reward structure is simple but has a few important details that will matter if you travel frequently. You earn around 1 percent back in NatWest Rewards on eligible travel purchases, including flights, train tickets, car hire, ferries, buses, hotel stays, campsites and spending with travel agents and cruise lines, subject to how the merchant is coded. For all other everyday spending that does not count as travel or a partner retailer, you earn a lower rate of about 0.1 percent in Rewards.

NatWest also works with a changing list of partner retailers where reward rates can jump significantly. These partners can include big travel names such as booking platforms, coach operators and car rental companies, as well as supermarkets and high street brands. In these cases, the app may show offers from around 1 percent up to as much as 15 percent in Rewards for limited time deals. For example, travellers have reported targeted offers such as several percent back at a major UK hotel chain for stays booked during a certain month, or boosted cashback on train tickets with specific rail operators.

To see these partner offers, you need to open the NatWest mobile app, tap the MyRewards tile, then select the Earn section. If you are about to book a hotel in Manchester for a weekend trip, it is worth checking this area first. You might find that one particular booking platform gives 5 percent in Rewards, while another offers nothing. On a £400 hotel bill, a 5 percent partner offer would earn £20 in Rewards, which can later be turned into cashback or gift cards.

One important nuance is that what counts as “travel” for the 1 percent rate depends on the merchant category code assigned by Visa, not the brand name printed on the site. For instance, a train ticket booked directly on a rail operator’s website is usually coded as travel and gets the higher reward rate, but tickets bought through a generic ticketing platform or a local council website might be treated differently. If you are planning to spend hundreds of pounds on rail season tickets or long-distance trains for frequent UK trips, it can be worth running a small test purchase first to confirm that the higher rate tracks correctly before committing all your travel to this card.

Foreign Transaction Fees, Cash Withdrawals and Real Trip Examples

One of the strongest reasons frequent travellers pick the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is the absence of foreign transaction fees on purchases. Many standard credit cards in the UK charge around 2.75 percent on top of the card scheme’s exchange rate for purchases in euros, dollars or other currencies. With this card, that extra percentage fee is set to 0 percent, putting it in the same broad category as cards such as Barclaycard Rewards or certain specialist travel cards that waive FX fees on spending.

Consider a five night break in Lisbon. You book a £350 hotel, spend about €250 on meals and drinks, and another €150 on local transport, museum entries and small shops. If you paid for the €400 local spending with a card that charges 2.75 percent FX fees, the fee alone would be roughly €11 equivalent. Using the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card instead, you avoid that extra cost and still earn around 1 percent in Rewards on any of those transactions coded as travel, plus the base 0.1 percent on the rest.

The story is different for cash withdrawals. Although purchases abroad avoid FX fees, using the card to withdraw cash from ATMs is classed as a money advance. This triggers a separate fee, typically around 3 percent of the withdrawal with a minimum charge, and interest usually starts immediately rather than benefitting from an interest free period. If you land in Bangkok and immediately take out the equivalent of £200 in local currency on this credit card, expect a money advance fee in the region of £6 and interest from day one, alongside any local ATM charges. For travellers who prefer cash, it is often better to use a debit card that does not add non-sterling fees, or to withdraw smaller amounts only when absolutely necessary.

Another real world point to watch is dynamic currency conversion, which appears when a foreign merchant offers to charge your card in pounds rather than in the local currency. Even with a 0 percent FX fee card, choosing to pay in pounds at a café in Rome or a hotel in New York can lead to a poor exchange rate that is several percent worse than the Visa rate. To make the most of the Travel Reward Credit Card abroad, travellers should consistently choose to pay in the local currency on card machines and online checkouts.

Eligibility, Application Process and Credit Checks

To apply for the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card you need to be a UK resident, at least 18 years old and have a minimum annual income of around £10,000. NatWest will also check your credit history and overall financial situation. In practice, the strongest applicants tend to be those who already have a stable current account relationship with NatWest, regular income paid into a UK bank and a history of managing credit responsibly with no recent defaults or county court judgments.

The application is usually easiest through the NatWest mobile app. Existing current account customers can see pre-filled details and may be able to run an eligibility check that shows how likely they are to be accepted before making a full application. This soft check does not leave a visible mark on your credit file that other lenders can see. If the soft check looks positive and you proceed, NatWest will carry out a full credit search, which does appear on your report.

Travellers planning a big trip should think about timing. For example, if you are booking flights to Japan in September and want to use this card, it is wise to apply at least a month or two in advance. That gives time for approval, card delivery, activation and adding the card to digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. It also leaves a cushion if NatWest asks for extra documentation such as payslips or bank statements to verify your income.

Remember that your starting credit limit may be modest, especially if you are new to credit cards or have a relatively low income. It might be around £1,000 to £1,500 to begin with, which is plenty for a short city break but could be tight if you try to book a multi-stop long haul itinerary for several travellers on one card. Over time, if you use the card responsibly and pay on time, NatWest may offer limit increases. Until then, you may want to split large bookings between cards or between travellers to avoid maxing out your available credit.

Costs, Interest and How to Avoid Bill Shock

Although the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is fee free in terms of annual charge and does not add FX fees on purchases, it is still a credit product with a relatively high interest rate on carried balances. With a representative APR in the high twenties, it is not designed as a long term borrowing tool. Travellers who revolve a balance from month to month can quickly lose more in interest than they gain from rewards or saved FX fees.

To use the card effectively, set up a direct debit to pay off the full statement balance every month. Many travellers choose the statement date shortly after payday so that their salary arrives just before the payment is taken. Imagine you book a £600 package holiday in May and add another £300 in incidental spending abroad. Charging it all to the Travel Reward Credit Card and then carrying the £900 balance at a rate near 27.9 percent APR could add roughly £20 of interest in just a couple of months, which will easily wipe out the few pounds of rewards earned.

The money advance fee on cash withdrawals is another cost to treat with caution. If you know you will need physical cash, plan ahead by ordering foreign currency before you travel or using a debit card that does not charge non-sterling fees and has low cash withdrawal charges. Use the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card primarily for card purchases, where it shines, rather than as an overseas cash machine.

Finally, remember that late payment fees and potential damage to your credit score can cost you more in the long run than any reward balance built up through travel spending. Set up app alerts for upcoming payment dates, track your spending during trips, and avoid treating your credit limit as extra income. Used as a tool for convenience and protection, the card can be a valuable travel companion. Used as a source of unsecured borrowing, it becomes expensive quickly.

How It Compares With Other Travel Cards

Within NatWest’s own line up, the Travel Reward Credit Card sits alongside the standard NatWest Credit Card, the Reward Credit Card and the Reward Black Credit Card. The basic NatWest Credit Card also avoids foreign transaction fees on purchases but does not have the same specific 1 percent travel reward structure. The Reward and Reward Black credit cards focus more on UK supermarket and general spending, and at the time of writing at least one of them carries an annual fee that may be refunded if you hold a linked Reward current account.

If you are a frequent traveller who also holds or is considering a NatWest Reward Black or Premier Reward Black current account, keep in mind that many of the travel perks people desire, such as worldwide family travel insurance and airport lounge access, sit with those current accounts rather than with the Travel Reward Credit Card. Some travellers pair a Reward Black current account, which waives non-sterling fees on its debit card and includes travel insurance, with the Travel Reward Credit Card to maximize rewards and flexibility.

Beyond NatWest, other zero FX fee credit cards in the UK market offer varying mixes of cashback, points and fees. Examples at the time of writing include Barclaycard Rewards, which offers a flat cashback rate and no foreign transaction fees on purchases and cash withdrawals, and specialist cards tied to airlines or premium banking packages that may waive FX fees while charging an annual fee. The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card positions itself as a simple, fee free option for everyday travellers who are already comfortable with the NatWest ecosystem.

For a practical comparison, consider a family planning a two week self drive holiday in Spain. They estimate around £2,000 in card spending between accommodation, car hire, fuel and meals. A conventional credit card with a 2.75 percent FX fee would add about £55 in fees on that spend, with no travel specific rewards. The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card would save that £55 in fees on purchases, and could return roughly £20 in Rewards if most of the spending is coded as travel, delivering a tangible real world advantage if the balance is paid in full.

Making the Most of MyRewards as a Traveller

The value of the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card increases significantly if you actively manage your MyRewards balance rather than letting it sit untouched. Rewards earned from the card and any linked Reward current account collect in one pot. Many cardholders choose to cash out once a year, building up a small travel fund to put towards flights or accommodation in the following holiday season.

For example, a frequent domestic traveller who spends about £300 a month on rail tickets and hotels coded as travel could earn roughly £3 a month in Rewards, plus an additional amount from any partner offers such as boosted cashback at booking platforms or coach operators. Over a year, this might turn into £60 to £80 in Rewards, depending on how often special offers are used. Converting that to cash at Christmas could fund a low cost airline flight to a European city or cover airport transfers at the start of a long haul trip.

The app also often shows partner offers at everyday brands such as supermarkets, takeaways and fuel stations. While not strictly travel, taking advantage of these deals throughout the year adds to the same Rewards pot that you later use to offset travel costs. Some travellers adopt a simple routine: pay for core recurring expenses such as groceries and commuting on the card where it earns a sensible reward rate, then treat the annual Rewards cash out as a dedicated holiday treat fund.

It is worth remembering that reward schemes can and do change over time. Partner retailers, promotional rates and redemption options may be updated by NatWest. Before planning a big redemption, check the current MyRewards options in your app. If, for instance, e-gift cards for a particular hotel chain or airline are temporarily on offer with a small boost, that might be the best time to convert your Rewards just before booking a trip.

The Takeaway

For UK based travellers who want a straightforward, fee free credit card for spending abroad, the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is a strong contender. Its combination of 0 percent foreign transaction fees on purchases and enhanced rewards on travel spending can save meaningful money on holidays and work trips, as long as you pay off your balance in full each month.

The card fits best if you already bank with NatWest, are comfortable using the mobile app and are willing to check MyRewards before big bookings to catch higher cashback offers. It is less suitable if you tend to carry a balance from month to month or rely heavily on ATM withdrawals overseas, where fees and interest can erode the benefits.

Before applying, think about your travel patterns over the next 12 to 18 months. If you have at least one or two trips planned where you expect to spend several hundred pounds in foreign currency, the saved FX fees and accumulated Rewards are likely to outweigh the small effort of adding another card to your wallet. Used thoughtfully alongside a solid travel current account and good travel insurance, the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card can become a useful pillar of your overall travel money strategy.

FAQ

Q1. Who is the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card best suited for?
The card suits UK residents who already bank with NatWest or are happy to, pay off their balance in full every month, and expect to spend regularly on travel both in the UK and abroad. It is particularly attractive to people planning city breaks, package holidays or frequent domestic train travel who want to avoid foreign transaction fees on purchases and earn modest rewards on their trips.

Q2. Does the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card charge foreign transaction fees?
On purchases made in a foreign currency, the card does not charge the usual percentage based foreign transaction fee that many UK credit cards add. You still pay the underlying Visa exchange rate, and you may face local surcharges from some merchants or ATMs, but NatWest itself does not add a non-sterling fee to card purchases abroad.

Q3. Can I use the card to withdraw cash from ATMs abroad without extra cost?
You can use the card at cash machines overseas, but doing so is usually expensive. Cash withdrawals are treated as money advances, which attract a separate fee and interest from the date of withdrawal. For most travellers, it is cheaper to use the Travel Reward Credit Card for purchases only and rely on a suitable debit card or preplanned currency for cash.

Q4. What rewards can I earn on travel spending?
The card typically pays around 1 percent back in NatWest Rewards on eligible travel purchases such as flights, hotels, train tickets, car hire and similar services. Everyday non travel spending earns a lower base rate. In addition, partner retailers displayed in the NatWest app may offer higher temporary rates, sometimes several percent on specific hotel chains, travel platforms or transport providers.

Q5. How do I redeem the NatWest Rewards I earn?
Your credit card rewards are added to your main NatWest Rewards balance. From there, you can convert them into cash paid into a NatWest current or savings account, use them to reduce your NatWest credit card balance, exchange them for e gift cards with major retailers, or donate them to selected charities. Many travellers choose to build up Rewards during the year and cash them out towards flights or accommodation.

Q6. Does the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card include travel insurance or airport lounge access?
No, the credit card itself does not include travel insurance or complimentary airport lounge access. Those benefits are typically offered through certain NatWest packaged current accounts, such as Reward Black or some Premier accounts, which charge a monthly fee. If you need insurance or lounge access, you should look at those current account products or standalone policies rather than relying on this card.

Q7. Will my application affect my credit score?
When you submit a full application, NatWest performs a hard credit search, which is recorded on your credit file and may have a small short term impact on your score. Before that, you can usually run an eligibility check through the NatWest app or website, which uses a soft search visible only to you and does not affect your score. Making multiple full applications for different cards in a short period is generally not advisable.

Q8. What income and residency requirements apply?
You need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over and have a minimum annual income, typically around £10,000 or more, to apply. NatWest also looks at your overall financial position, existing credit commitments and credit history to decide whether to approve your application and what limit and interest rate to offer you.

Q9. How do I make sure I avoid interest charges on my trips?
To avoid interest, set up a direct debit to repay the full statement balance each month and monitor your spending in the NatWest app while you travel. Avoid using the card for cash withdrawals, pay in the local currency rather than pounds when offered dynamic currency conversion, and keep within your credit limit. If you always clear the balance by the due date, you will benefit from the interest free period on purchases.

Q10. How does this card compare to other UK travel credit cards?
Compared with many mainstream UK credit cards, the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card stands out for having no foreign transaction fee on purchases and no annual card fee, while still offering modest travel focused rewards. Some rival cards from other banks may offer higher cashback or airline miles but charge annual fees or restrict fee free spending to limited regions. The NatWest card tends to appeal most to existing NatWest customers wanting a simple, integrated solution for everyday travel rather than a highly optimized frequent flyer strategy.