As millions prepare to visit the U.S. this year for dream trips and events like the World Cup, experts have issued a warning to travellers who plan on using a credit card while they’re there.
To counter soaring food and labour costs, an increasing number of restaurants across the U.S. are adding a credit card surcharge – often around four per cent – on to bills, meaning diners pay extra on top of the base price, tax, and service charges.
Recent data shows added fees reached a record $187.2 billion (around £139bn) in 2024 – numbers experts predict will continue to rise this year.
Lara Evans-Fisk, head of digital & engagement at Eurochange, explained: ‘If you choose to pay a restaurant bill by card in the US, you could face a surcharge as card fees are being passed on from the merchant (the restaurant), to the customer.
‘Restaurants are charged a fee when customers pay by card. For Visa/Mastercard, this is 1.43% – 2.6% of the bill. American Express is often higher, between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent.
‘That means total processing costs can range from 1.5 per cent to four per cent for the merchant, which are now frequently being passed on to the customer.’
Essentially, if a customer’s bill comes to $200 (£149), they may find themselves being charged an extra $8 (£5.97) simply for using a credit card.
After food and employee wages, card fees are typically the third-highest expense for restaurants, as reported by the National Restaurant Association.
As an increasing number of restaurants across the U.S. add a credit card surcharge – often around four per cent – onto bills, a travel expert has advised travellers to instead use cash (File image)
While U.S. laws require restaurants to disclose surcharges upon entry and at the point of sale, these notices can be easily overlooked by customers.
To avoid the four per cent surcharge often added to card payments, Laura urges travellers to pay restaurant bills in cash where possible.
However, she further warns that the overall cost of dining will still include additional charges, such as local tax – typically between five and 10 per cent – as well as a compulsory service charge of around 15 to 20 per cent, regardless of whether payment is made by cash or card.
She added: ‘To get a great deal on your dollars, be sure to get your travel money in good time, rather than leaving it until the last minute.
‘Exchanging currency at the airport could result in you paying over hundreds of pounds more, and you’ll get a much worse rate than if you buy them on the high street or online before travelling.’
Research highlighted by Laura shows that if travellers were to buy $1,000 (£746.64) of currency at Edinburgh, Birmingham, Luton, Stansted or Heathrow airports, they could pay as much as £172 more than when buying at a high street branch.
Holidaymakers heading to the United States are also being warned of a recently introduced ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ that could set certain visitors back $250 (£185).
However, Brits needn’t worry about added costs to their New York and Florida trips, as travellers from the UK will not be required to pay extra.
For customers hoping to use their credit card in U.S. restaurants, they may find themselves being charged an extra $8 (£5.97) for a $200 bill
The charge, introduced in October 2025, only applies to visitors flying from non-Waiver Program (VWP) countries who require a non-immigrant visa to enter the U.S.
This fee is in addition to the standard application as well as other visa costs.
But according to Brenda Beltrán, a travel expert at Holafly, this does not affect the majority of British travellers who continue to use the ESTA scheme.
She said: ‘As long as you qualify for ESTA, which nearly all UK holidaymakers do, you won’t be hit by the new charge.’
