Your best travel credit cards depend on how often and what kind of rewards you want from travel, as well as whether or not transferable points or fixed-value cards suit you better.
Are You New to Travel Rewards? Consider Beginning with a Cash-back Credit Card
Frequent Travelers
Travel credit cards can be an excellent financial strategy for frequent travelers who use them responsibly. Make sure only to use it for necessary expenses and pay off the monthly balance in full each month to avoid paying additional interest charges.
Frequent travelers should also consider whether their credit card offers extras such as priority boarding or free checked bags to offset its annual fees. Miles or points earned can often be redeemed for different rewards, so frequent travelers should keep this in mind as well.
If you’re shopping for a travel credit card, start by outlining all of the features and benefits you desire in an ideal card. After that, compare offers in our credit card marketplace or use CardMatch’s personalized recommendations to find your match. Alternatively, browse through our top picks of travel cards that offer outstanding rewards and benefits!
Travelers Who Want to Redeem Points or Miles
Are You an Avid Traveler Who Wishes to Earn and Redeem Points or Miles with Your Credit Card? A travel credit card might be right for you; just make sure that you understand all fees and fine print beforehand.
Some travel credit cards impose annual fees; if you fail to clear off your balance each month in full, interest charges could exceed rewards earned.
Some travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees; if you plan to spend heavily internationally, consider getting one without these charges.
If you’re an avid traveler, co-branded airline or hotel credit cards may offer better earning rates and redemption options than general travel rewards cards. They may even come equipped with additional perks, like lounge access, free checked bags on airlines and fee credits that could offset its annual fee.
Travelers Who Want to Save Money
Travel credit cards can help save money on airfare, hotels and other travel expenses; but before selecting one make sure that its rewards benefits and perks outweigh its annual fee. CNBC Select provides helpful comparison tools that evaluate these elements of a card’s rewards as well as fees such as dining rewards, gas mileage rewards or airline miles accrual.
Compare the benefits of travel credit cards with those offered by cards with cash back on all purchases or that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, then estimate how much money is spent annually on travel expenses and compare this number against a card’s annual fee cost.
Travel cards with bonus points or free flight tickets may make the annual fee worth your while if you take multiple domestic or international trips each year, not to mention other perks such as complimentary hotel stays and access to airport lounges – saving both time and money along the way!
Travelers Who Want to Save Time
Travel credit cards can help make vacationing cheaper – whether that means visiting grandma’s house in Indiana or traveling overseas for the first time – in multiple ways. First off, rewards like free hotel nights or airline tickets may offset any annual fee; other perks, like Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits/CLEAR credit/statement credits may add up to significant savings on future travels. For frequent travelers considering applying for one with a generous signup bonus can save significant money over time. Before applying be sure to check your credit report to see if prequalification exists before applying – no one knows better!
