Travel credit cards provide many rewards, from points or miles that can be redeemed for free flights and hotels to extra perks like annual statement credits and airline discounts. But before applying, be sure to carefully evaluate fees and rewards value.
General travel cards provide more flexibility in redeeming rewards than co-branded ones, enabling you to use it across various airlines and hotels, with some even offering generous sign-up bonuses.
Airline cards
Airline miles credit cards can be an ideal solution for frequent flyers, whether their job requires them to travel every week. These cards typically offer travel-related rewards such as complimentary checked bags, seat upgrades and priority boarding based on spending categories that make sense with each airline card’s spending categories. While these benefits might make up for their annual fee and interest rate requirements for many travellers, it is still essential that each applicant thoroughly research their options prior to applying.
The ideal air mile cards feature moderate annual fees with robust travel partners and premium cardholder benefits like airport lounge access. Furthermore, most miles or points do not expire so that you can slowly build a balance for that trip on your bucket list. Furthermore, certain cards allow transferring credits between frequent flyer programs with partner airlines for added versatility as well as helping achieve elite status faster; many airlines even provide generous welcome bonuses for new cardholders!
Hotel cards
If you want to maximize the rewards from your hotel stays, consider a travel credit card that offers flexible earning rates. Capital One Venture Rewards card gives you 5 miles for every dollar spent through their portal on hotels or car rentals booked directly through them and 2 points overall. Those miles can then be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, cash back rewards or redemption at other businesses. Furthermore, unlike branded hotel cards which often impose blackout dates or restrictions such as blackout dates.
Cobranded hotel credit cards link rewards points with specific hotel chains and can provide attractive perks, such as free hotel nights, room upgrades, on-property credits, or elite status in a loyalty program. Some cards even automatically give elite status such as American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection cards which may require spending a certain amount or making bookings, in which case these rewards point can accumulate to elite-level status – and may provide instantaneous status upgrades!
Cash back cards
Cash back cards offering travel miles are an excellent option for travelers who don’t wish to incur annual fees associated with more popular travel credit card offerings, like Citi Double Cash which offers up to 2% back on all purchases without an annual fee. It also features rotating categories that provide up to 6% cash back on dining and groceries purchases, making this card appealing for foodies, meal prepper commuters and everyday spenders.
Other cards provide more straightforward rewards structures, like the Discover Miles card which matches all earned miles at the end of your first year. Plus, this card doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers rewards in various forms including transfer to airline loyalty programs, statement credit for travel-related expenses and statement credits – an ideal solution for newcomers to points and miles who aren’t quite ready to commit to an extensive rewards package.
No annual fee cards
There are a few credit cards with no annual fee that provide travel rewards, often boasting generous 0% introductory APR offers for up to 15 months and no foreign transaction fees or flat rewards rates for most purchases. Some cards even provide purchase protection and trip cancellation insurance benefits.
Travel cards with no annual fee generally offer higher rewards rates and provide significant value in the form of redeemable points and miles, such as Bank of America Travel Rewards card which offers high redemption values when transferred to its partners.
Capital One Venture Rewards credit card stands out among travel credit cards with no annual fee by offering 2 miles for every dollar spent and an attractive sign-up bonus, as well as providing high rewards rates on airfare and hotel stays.
