Understanding your spending habits is the key to choosing a travel credit card without an annual fee. These cards tend to offer enhanced rewards rates in specific categories like dining and hotel stays and also come equipped with many benefits such as purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Airline credit cards with annual fees tend to offer more generous rewards, but they require you to spend a certain amount each year in order to break even and meet their minimum spend threshold.
Bank of America(r) Travel Rewards Credit Card
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card provides a straightforward rewards rate with no annual fee and an introductory 0% APR offer valid for 15 billing cycles on purchases made with this card.
Your points can be redeemed for statement credits to offset eligible travel and dining expenses without blackout dates or restrictions; the minimum redemption amount is 2,500 points. Your rewards may also be converted into cash back or gift cards.
Sign-up bonuses of 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 within 90 days, worth up to $250 towards travel purchases, are offered when using this card for travel purchases. It is ideal for Preferred Rewards members banking with Bank of America or Merrill Lynch who seek flexibility in using their travel rewards.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers an attractive travel rewards structure without charging an annual fee, providing cardholders with an impressive welcome bonus of 20,000 miles that’s worth $200 in travel when redeemed, no foreign transaction fees and includes car rental damage protection and travel accident insurance as standard features.
Capital One Travel also offers 5X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, while all other purchases earn 1.25X miles. However, this card may struggle against stiff competition when it comes to earning rates; therefore it would be wiser to pair it with another card which offers specific spending categories that meet your spending habits.
Discover it(r) Miles
Discover is among the few cards to offer an easy way to eliminate travel expenses from your statement, along with additional perks like a free FICO scorecard, recurring charges dashboard and year-end spending summary.
Cardholders may redeem their miles either for cash back or travel purchases; regardless of which they choose to use them for, one cent value remains per mile redeemed – giving this card more of a cash-back-like feel than some travel cards that provide more flexible rewards redemption options.
This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for travelers who frequently spend money abroad. Unfortunately, though, it lacks some elite travel perks such as complimentary checked bags and airline lounge access.
American Express Platinum
American Express’s Platinum Card is their premier travel rewards card, featuring an abundance of credits and benefits ranging from complimentary elite status in multiple travel loyalty programs, airport lounge access and travel credits for airfare, hotel stays and rental car purchases. However, with an annual fee of $695 and premium features such as airport lounge access included within that premium choice compared to some competing cards, this may prove more expensive than alternatives.
Welcome offer for new cardmembers of American Express’ Membership Rewards card includes 80,000 points when spending $8,000 within six months of account opening, according to Bankrate’s point valuations, this can translate to up to $800 worth of airfare redemption through Amex Travel or approximately $1,600 when transfer partners are used. Card members also enjoy access to premium travel concierge and customer support services and additional protection such as return protection and purchase protection.
United MileagePlus Explorer Card
The United MileagePlus Explorer Card is an excellent option for frequent United flyers looking to earn additional miles with their card. Not only can this card earn miles faster, it also comes equipped with travel perks such as two one-time lounge passes each year and free first checked bags for you and up to two companions; baggage fees alone could cover its annual fee!
This credit card from United offers enhanced earning on United purchases as well as dining and online grocery spending, plus it features an exciting sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 within three months, enough to cover two domestic round-trip economy tickets! In addition, the initial annual fee of this co-branded card is set at zero before increasing to $95. It falls under Chase’s 5/24 rule.
