There are a variety of excellent credit cards for travel that don’t charge an annual fee, offering generous rewards on purchases while providing cardholder perks such as no foreign transaction fees or travel protection services.
If you want to take more trips, fly in premium cabins, or access specialty travel perks, it might make sense to pay an annual fee – provided the rewards and perks justify the annual expense.
No annual fee
Travel credit cards with no annual fee are ideal for travelers looking to maximize rewards without incurring an annual cost. These cards usually provide travel and purchase protection benefits and 0% APR offers on purchases and balance transfers for limited times, and may come equipped with rewards that can be redeemed toward travel or dining purchases; their value varies depending on how these rewards are redeemed; some cardholders prefer transferring them into airline loyalty programs while others can redeem them for statement credits or gift cards.
Many travel cards with no annual fee are co-branded with airline loyalty programs and provide amenities like airport lounge access or annual travel credits, flexible redemption options like booking flights through an issuer portal or transferring points directly to airline and hotel partners, no foreign transaction fees and statement credits for travel and dining expenses, among other advantages.
No foreign transaction fees
Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees can save you money when traveling overseas, offering better exchange rates than merchants typically provide and often featuring replacement protection if lost or stolen – an invaluable feature, particularly in tourist areas with increased pickpocketing risk.
Many rewards cards allow you to redeem your rewards for flights or hotels; however, please check with the card issuer as to how exactly your specific rewards can be redeemed; some allow redemption via loyalty programs while others let you use rewards for cash back or merchandise.
Most no-fee travel credit cards require good to excellent credit to qualify for approval, in order to increase your odds. To increase your odds, try cleaning up your credit report and decreasing recent applications for credit.
No minimum spending requirement
An annual fee is an annual charge that some credit card issuers tack onto cards that offer additional perks or rewards beyond standard offerings, such as airport lounge access, trip cancellation insurance or rental car coverage. Although these perks may justify paying an annual fee, it’s important to carefully consider both how much money is being spent and your needs before making a decision.
Consider how you intend to redeem your credit card rewards. Some cards allow you to book flights and hotels through the card issuer’s portal or transfer rewards directly into airline loyalty programs; other allow redeeming points for statement credits that cover travel or dining purchases; yet others only provide cash back. When looking at different cards with similar perks – annual statement credits and upgrade privileges when renting cars may make paying the annual fee worthwhile depending on the value of rewards received.
No introductory APR period
Many travel cards charge an annual fee, but there are some without one. These cards typically provide high-value rewards and 0% APR for purchases or balance transfers for a short timeframe; additionally, many of these cards also waive foreign transaction fees.
Before choosing the ideal travel card, be sure to compare its offers and benefits carefully. The most suitable credit cards for travel offer flexible rewards that can be redeemed in multiple ways including cash back and airline miles.
Some cards are co-branded with specific airlines, like the United Gateway card which offers one to two miles for every dollar spent with United purchases. Such cards are ideal for airline fanatics who take advantage of their loyalty program frequently.
Other travel cards provide various perks, including dining, entertainment and grocery bonus categories. Capital One SavorOne card stands out as offering a robust rewards structure without an annual fee.
