10 Best International Payment Gateways for Tour Operators

Picture this: you’ve secured an international client, and everything’s going smoothly until they hit the checkout page. There, they find an unfamiliar payment method, and suddenly, the booking is at risk of being abandoned.

In fact, 13% of respondents in a recent survey admitted they had abandoned a cart in the last three months due to limited payment options.

To avoid this, your best move is to invest in a reliable international payment gateway. It securely processes cross-border payments, allowing travel agencies to handle transactions safely with clients worldwide.

With so many international payment gateways available, finding the right one can be tough. To help, I’ve compiled the 10 best gateways for tour operators. 

I’ll run you through the basics of an international payment gateway and help you choose a payment gateway through key features.

Importance of International Payment Gateways for Businesses

To sell your tours and travel packages globally, you must have an international payment gateway. Here are some of the reasons why they’re so essential:

• You can sell travel packages and merchandise to customers in many countries. They allow tour operators to accept payments in various currencies using different payment methods. This ensures a seamless shopping experience for global customers.
• You can operate in markets with different payment preferences. Some regions often use specific payment methods. International gateways can accommodate these preferences.
• You can expand your customer base to new markets. Agencies can attract customers from different regions by offering many payment options. This will help increase their sales.
• You won’t need to manage currency exchange rates. International gateways often handle currency conversions. This ensures travel businesses receive payments in their preferred currency.
• You can offer a secure payment process. International payment gateway providers offer advanced fraud prevention measures. They also follow international payment security standards.

Key Benefits of Using Payment Gateways

Here are some of the key benefits of using international payment gateway providers:

• Simplified Online Transactions: Streamline the payment process for you and your customers.
• Enhanced Security: Enjoy advanced fraud prevention measures and PCI compliance.
• Reduced Manual Work: Automate payment processing, saving time and effort.
• Improved Customer Experience: Offer a seamless and convenient payment experience.
• Increased Sales: Attract more customers by providing a variety of payment options.
• Data Analytics: Gain insights into customer behaviour for reporting payment trends.
• Scalability: Handle increasing secure transaction volumes without compromising performance.
• Integration with E-commerce Platforms: Integrate payment gateways into your online store.
• Global Reach: Accept payments from customers worldwide.
• Currency Support: Offer payments in many currencies to cater to diverse customers.
• Payment Variety: Provide payment options like credit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers.
• Reduced Chargeback Risk: Install fraud prevention measures to cut chargebacks.
• Subscription Management: Manage recurring payments for subscription-based businesses.
• Mobile Optimization: Ensure a smooth payment experience on mobile devices.
• Customer Support: Access reliable customer support to address any issues.

10 Best International Payment Gateways

Now that we know what to look for in a good payment gateway, let’s see the top 10 for international payments for your travel agency, tour operator or any kind of travel industry:

Stripe

Stripe provides advanced features like machine learning fraud detection (Radar) and recurring billing. Many people like Stripe because it’s easy to use and handles refunds and disputes. This makes it a versatile choice for different agencies operating in different business models. Additionally, it has a mobile app that adds to the ease of use.

Paypal

PayPal is a popular payment method in over 200 countries and supports 25 currencies. They’re good at protecting buyers and sellers, but their fee structure is complex.

PayPal offers PayPal Credit, which lets customers pay for purchases in monthly installments. PayPal also lets you pay in four equal parts every two weeks. These options help customers manage their money and boost sales for online businesses.

Adyen

If you’re looking for a global payment processing solution, choose Adyen. The gateway caters to high-volume merchants. It also offers a robust feature set for complex customer payments. It also offers extensive local payment options and strong security measures.

Adyen’s unified commerce approach allows businesses to manage offline and online payments. However, because of the higher costs, its services may be better for larger businesses.

Authorize.net

Authorize.net is a good payment gateway option known for its fraud prevention tools. It works well with popular online stores and is easy for customers to use. It features digital invoices, recurring online payments, and a Customer Information Manager (CIM).

They provide many features but may not function well in all countries. This means they offer fewer international options than other online payment gateways.

Square

Square is a popular payment gateway that allows businesses to accept payments online and in person. It offers various services, including credit and debit card processing, mobile payments, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Square also integrates with platforms like WooCommerce and WordPress. The gateway is great for small and medium businesses because it’s simple. But, larger businesses might find its fees and limitations a disadvantage.

Verifone (2Checkout)

Verifone, known as 2Checkout, specializes in international transactions. It provides support for many countries, currencies, and local payment methods. It works in over 200 countries and currencies and keeps your online tours and travel business safe. Additionally, Verifone offers reporting and analytics of your purchases.

They’re great at calculating taxes but might be difficult for developers to use. So, if you’re looking for extensive customization and integration, this might not cut.

WorldPay

WorldPay offers a comprehensive suite of payment processing solutions. The gateway serves international customers and supports business expansion. But, their pricing is more complex and might need negotiation for larger businesses.

Worldpay also provides tailored solutions for various industries, including travel, which affects pricing and services. This gives you the tools and help you need to make your payments work better.

Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay offers a convenient payment option for customers with existing Amazon accounts. It integrates well with Amazon marketplaces and offers a familiar checkout experience.

But, its reach extends to customers who already use Amazon. If you sell on Amazon, this tool is a great choice, but it also works with other online stores. Amazon Pay is a good gateway to use for your online business.

Braintree

Braintree is a developer-focused gateway. It offers a wide range of payment options and a flexible API for customization. It’s ideal for online businesses that want a modern way to accept mobile payments. Additionally, Braintree lets you accept pre-orders with no upfront charge.

Braintree also offers Venmo integration in the United States. This enhances the payment experience for younger consumers.

But Braintree has a high translation fee. This makes it not the most cost-effective option for smaller merchants.

Paddle

Paddle streamlines recurring billing and caters to travel businesses selling digital products globally. The gateway specializes in subscription billing and international payments. This creates a good experience among users during checkout.

Paddle also handles VAT and tax compliance for digital goods. This is a significant advantage for companies selling in various regions. But, their features are more tailored towards subscriptions than general e-commerce sales. So, you will get more out of this gateway if your business is subscription-based.

Best International Payment Gateways by Feature

As a business owner, you may prioritize one feature over the other. Here are some of the best picks for each key feature:

Common Challenges with International Payments

Before choosing a payment gateway for your travel business, there are a few key things to consider. 

Along with security, global reach, and ease of use, you should also think about integration. If the gateway doesn’t work with your website platform, you won’t be able to use it properly.

If your website builder’s API doesn’t support your payment gateway, you can’t use that gateway through the builder. For instance, if you use WordPress, your theme or plugin must support your payment gateway.

WP Travel Engine is a flexible plugin made for travel agencies. It helps you set up and manage online booking systems. You can create itineraries, manage bookings, take payments, and adjust prices all from one place.

The plugin is also customizable, allowing you to match your website to your brand. It has a simple interface and includes detailed support through documentation.

Tripcart also simplifies creating tour booking websites. It offers an integrated drag-and-drop builder and customizable templates, and it streamlines booking through CRM tools. You can also sell more using its upselling and analytics dashboard. 

In short, you must use proper plugins to use your payment gateway. WP Travel Engine and Tripcart are a great choice for any travel business. They offer ease of use, customization, and easy payment gateway integration.

Conclusion

So, there we have it! We hope you liked our list of the 10 Best International Payment Gateways. The best gateway for you should fit your budget, customer volume, and personal needs.

Before you choose a payment gateway, make sure you have a plugin like WP Travel Engine that works with it.

Frequently Asked Questions