Six credit cards to have a holiday with

Typically, credit-card users have to pay an extra 2% when they use their cards abroad. This means an extra £20 will be added to every £1,000 spent. However, consumers can now choose from one of half a dozen cards that won't penalise you when you buy goods and services overseas.

Competition also means consumers have to be extra vigilant. For instance, Saga's fee-free deal only applies to purchases made within Europe. Additionally, you have to be 50 years old or over to qualify for one.

Goldfish is eye-popping because it charges a hefty £275 annual fee, which can be recouped through a 1% cashback deal. But the deal is capped at £210 so you won't recover all the cost.

That said, Goldfish competes through a suite of benefits that include insurances for worldwide travel, flight cancellation and lost luggage. Other cards vie for customers through promotional 0% offers, which are, by themselves already quite attractive.

Both Nationwide and the Post Office offer 0% interest on purchases for three months and 0% interest on balance transfers for 10 months. This, however, is subject to a balance-transfer fee. Abbey is unique because it does not charge this fee, though its interest-free period is much shorter - just six months.

David Kuo, Head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, says: "It started as a unique selling proposition for one credit-card provider, but cards that don't sting customers when they use them abroad have now grown to half a dozen.

"Charging customers for using their cards overseas is tantamount to being surcharged for using cutlery in a restaurant. It is preposterous. But it is pleasing to see six companies taking a stand against it."

"It is a nonsense that any credit card provider should want to penalise customers when they pay for goods overseas. Card companies already make a profit on the difference between the buy and sell spread on currencies.

"So, when you go abroad, make sure you leave your fee-charging credit card behind. After all, if a restaurant dared to charge me for a fork, I'd tell them where to stick it."