Are you looking for a new travel companion that will pay you back with robust rewards, open the doors to exclusive perks and answer the phone if you hit a snag during a visit to a foreign country? It may be time to track down a new credit card that’s built for travel lovers. There’s no reason why the card you use for everyday spending shouldn’t also provide the perks, adaptability and customer service that can give you confidence when you travel. Here are some big things to know when choosing a travel-friendly credit card:
- Foreign transaction fees can cancel out your awards if you’re not vigilant.
- Poor customer service can cause a real nightmare if something goes wrong while you’re traveling.
- Not every card is accepted everywhere!
- You can actually use more than one card for travel to make sure you’re always covered.
- You can often make the most out of travel rewards if you’re willing to remain brand loyal by booking your trips using a card’s official travel-booking portal.
Has it been a while since you checked around for good travel credit cards? Get ready to upgrade the way you pay while traveling. Check out the five cards that are considered the best in the industry when it comes to paying you back and having your back whenever you travel.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an amazing card for frequent travelers for two primary reasons. The first reason is that cardholders earn two times the points on travel. That means that Chase is basically rewarding you for doing something fun. The second big reason why this card is a great option for travelers is that it doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. You can make your points go even farther by transferring them to any of Chase’s airline or hotel partners. All points redeemed for travel through the Chase Unlimited Rewards portal are worth 25% more! Perks like insurance for baggage delays, lost luggage, trip delays and cancellations will be there for you. There’s also the fact that Chase’s customer service for this card has a reputation for being pretty stellar. Cardholders have access to a concierge service that will help out with travel needs anywhere in the world! The one thing that does detract from this card’s status as a winning option for frequent travelers just a pinch is that you aren’t going to get any type of special lounge access as a cardholder.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is a rock star of a card for busy travelers. This card offers robust rewards with no foreign transaction fees. The double miles that you’ll earn per dollar for all purchases can be spent on travel at basically any time. What’s more, there’s no rush to plan your next trip before some big expiration date arrives because your earned miles will never expire with this card. You also don’t have to worry about reaching some type of ceiling when it comes to your reward miles. This card will even reimburse you for your application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. There’s no limit to how much you can earn in travel rewards.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa card is a solid option if you’re looking for a card without foreign transaction fees or annual fees. Travelers with busy or unpredictable schedules love the fact that points earned with this card are never subject to blackout dates or expiration dates. This card also offers tons of flexibility when it comes to booking trips. You aren’t obligated to book your trips through any branded portals in order to use your rewards. The points you earn can be used for hotel rooms, flights, cruises and full vacation packages. You can even apply your points to cover your baggage fees when you travel. Another nice thing about this card is that it’s backed by Visa’s powerful network. Visa is much more widely accepted around the globe than options offered by Discover or American Express. That means you may want to keep this card as a backup card even if you decide to use another card as your primary card while traveling. The fact that you won’t be on the hook for an annual fee with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Visa® card makes that a very realistic option.
Platinum Card From American Express
The Platinum Card is on this list for one very big reason. What traveler can resist being dazzled by the fact that the Platinum Card from American Express offers five times the rewards on all flights and hotels booked via the Amex travel portal? The travel benefits don’t end there. This card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. What’s more, you’re actually going to be getting a credit of $200 for airline fees. There’s also a generous monthly Uber credit and reimbursement for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application. Are you ready for the tidbit that lounge lovers have been waiting for? The Platinum Card from American Express gives you access to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly with Delta. You’ll also be able to saunter into select Priority Pass lounges by simply flashing your card. Of course, you’ll have more than 1,200 airport lounges that are part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection at your fingertips when you’re a cardholder. Let’s see if you can calm down enough to also hear about the way cardholders get high-level status in both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card makes the list due to the fact that it offers three times the points on dining and travel. That includes charges made for fuel, takeout, rideshares, flights, hotels and rental cars. This card also gives you higher point-redemption powers when you use the Wells Fargo travel portal to book trips. Propel even provides practical perks like reimbursement for lost luggage.
Find a Credit Card That Feeds Your Wanderlust
All of the cards above offer really nice perks for travelers. However, your decision may ultimately have to be based on the places you prefer to visit. People with Discover and American Express cards tend to have the most trouble when it comes to finding places where their cards are accepted outside of the United States. The fact that American Express has higher-than-average processing fees for vendors means that you might have a tough time using your card in some spots on the globe. Visa and Mastercard tend to offer the most options for global travelers. Play around with the numbers and perks to unlock your perfect card for getting on the road today!
Source: frugal travel guy