Traveling is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences in life. Whether you’re exploring a new destination, visiting a loved one, or taking a break from your routine, traveling can enrich your mind, body, and soul. But traveling can also be expensive and stressful, especially if you don’t have the right credit card to support your journey.
A credit card is more than just a piece of plastic that you use to pay for your expenses. It’s a powerful tool that can help you save money, earn rewards, and enjoy perks that can make your travel more comfortable and convenient. But not all credit cards are created equal. Some are better suited for certain types of travelers than others. And some can even cost you more than they’re worth if you don’t use them wisely.
So how do you choose the best credit card for travel? How do you find the one that matches your travel style, goals, and budget? How do you avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes that can ruin your travel experience? In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that. We’ll guide you through the process of choosing the best credit card for travel, step by step. We’ll also give you some tips and tricks on how to use your credit card to maximize your benefits and minimize your costs. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to confidently choose the best credit card for travel, and enjoy your trips like never before.
Step 1: Know your travel style
The first step to choosing the best credit card for travel is to know your travel style. Your travel style is the way you like to travel, the frequency, the duration, the destination, the budget, and the purpose of your trips. Your travel style determines what kind of benefits and features you need from your credit card, and what kind of fees and charges you want to avoid. Here are some common travel styles, and what they mean for your credit card choice:
- Frequent flyer: If you travel by air often, either for business or pleasure, you need a credit card that rewards you for your flights. You want a card that offers you miles, points, or cashback for every dollar you spend on airfare, and that lets you redeem them for free or discounted flights, upgrades, or other travel-related expenses. You also want a card that gives you access to airport lounges, priority boarding, baggage fee waivers, and other perks that can make your flying experience more comfortable and convenient. You don’t mind paying an annual fee, as long as the benefits outweigh the costs. Some examples of credit cards that are good for frequent flyers are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the American Express Gold Card, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Card.
- Hotel hopper: If you travel by land often, and you like to stay at different hotels, you need a credit card that rewards you for your hotel stays. You want a card that offers you points or cashback for every dollar you spend on hotel bookings, and that lets you redeem them for free or discounted nights, upgrades, or other hotel-related expenses. You also want a card that gives you access to hotel loyalty programs, elite status, free breakfast, late checkout, and other perks that can make your hotel experience more enjoyable and convenient. You don’t mind paying an annual fee, as long as the benefits outweigh the costs. Some examples of credit cards that are good for hotel hoppers are the Hilton Honors American Express Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, and the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card.
- Road trip enthusiast: If you travel by car often, and you like to explore different places, you need a credit card that rewards you for your gas and toll expenses. You want a card that offers you cashback or points for every dollar you spend on gas and tolls, and that lets you redeem them for statement credits, gift cards, or other travel-related expenses. You also want a card that gives you access to roadside assistance, car rental insurance, and other perks that can make your road trip experience more safe and convenient. You don’t want to pay an annual fee, or a foreign transaction fee if you travel abroad. Some examples of credit cards that are good for road trip enthusiasts are the Discover it Cash Back Card, the Bank of America Cash Rewards Card, and the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card.
These are just some of the travel styles that you may have, or a combination of them. You may also have other preferences or needs that affect your credit card choice, such as your credit score, your spending habits, your travel goals, etc. The key is to know yourself, and what you want from your travel and your credit card. Once you know your travel style, you can move on to the next step: finding the best credit card for travel that matches your style.