WalletHub editors have selected the ideal credit cards with no annual fee for travel that offer rewards that match up to your spending habits and meet your traveling needs. Rewards may also be redeemed as statement credits and some cards even provide complimentary travel protection benefits like trip cancellation insurance.
While cards with annual fees typically provide greater rewards and benefits, there are still plenty of no-fee travel cards that provide good value.
Co-branded cards
Co-branded cards offer an effective way to earn loyalty rewards and build your credit history, but before applying, make sure you understand their partner brand’s offerings to determine if this card meets your needs and to qualify. Furthermore, co-branded cards typically require high credit scores for approval.
Retailers, hotels and airlines frequently offer co-branded credit cards as rewards to loyal customers. While these cards may only be usable at their affiliated merchant, they usually come equipped with special perks and financing offers that help offset annual fees and other charges associated with such cards. Keep in mind that rewards earned may expire, so it’s wise to carefully consider their rewards, fees and charges before applying for one.
General travel cards
These cards earn points and miles that you can redeem toward travel-related purchases without committing to one particular airline or hotel chain. Furthermore, these cards typically provide greater flexibility in redemption options than co-branded cards; in some cases allowing rewards transfer between loyalty programs for even greater return on your points or miles investment.
Travel cards often carry annual fees, yet can offer great value if used wisely. Be sure to consider how much money you will spend annually and ensure the value you get from using it more than offsets its costs each year. Also check for fees such as foreign transaction charges which could erode any savings you are accruing.
Hybrid cards
Many credit card issuers offer no-annual-fee rewards cards as an option, typically offering lower rewards rates but satisfying individuals who would rather avoid annual fees. These may be worth exploring for people looking for cards without annual fees.
Cardholders who opt for cards without annual-fee can enjoy lower interest rates and fees; however, such cards tend not to offer all of the features and perks found with more expensive cards; such as purchase protection plans, travel insurance or elite status memberships.
Most credit card rewards programs provide rewards for spending in specific categories, which could include cash back, points or miles. Some cards feature pre-set spending limits while others permit you to select your own spending limit. Furthermore, many offer an introductory bonus worth more than its annual fee – potentially making these programs worthwhile purchases!
Travel protection
Travel protection isn’t insurance, but an additional service that may cover cancellation fees. Whether or not it is worth your while depends on the nature and purpose of your trip as well as personal circumstances.
Credit cards typically offer some form of travel protection benefits at no cost, including trip cancellation/interruption coverage, lost luggage coverage and flight delay coverage. Some cards also provide medical expense or accidental death/flight accident coverage.
Travel credit cards with no annual fee are perfect for travelers who don’t wish to pay an annual fee but still wish to take advantage of rewards and benefits. While these cards tend to offer less perks than premium travel cards, qualifying requires having both good credit score and history; so be sure to read all fine print thoroughly when looking for your new card.
Rewards
Are You Seeking Points or Miles That Can Be Redeemed for Travel-Related Purchases? For those interested in accumulating points and miles to redeem for travel purchases, a rewards credit card without an annual fee may make sense. Many of these cards offer generous sign-up bonuses that can increase the rate of rewards accrual over time – Discover It Miles offers 1.5 miles for every dollar spent, while Bank of America Travel Rewards card gives a one-time bonus of 25,000 Points after spending $1,000 within 90 Days Of opening your account.
If you plan on flying first-class cabins or staying at luxury hotels, however, paying an annual fee often provides significant rewards in return. Such benefits could include high rewards rates, statement credits and lounge access. In some instances, this fee might even be offset with the value of a card’s sign-up bonus.
