Whether you prefer a balmy beach, foggy forest or decadent metropolitan city, you’ll find that no two travel styles are alike. And because you prefer to carve your own travel path, it’s important to align your spending. Without adjusting your travel credit card habits, you risk the loss of potential savings.
A Capital One study revealed that as many as 60 percent of consumers don’t have enough rewards to redeem for a vacation, with 29 percent of cardholders forced to settle for a stay-cation due to blackout dates.
Traveling shouldn’t have to be tailored to your credit card. AAA estimates close to 35 million Americans are traveling annually, so consumers need help with all the savings they can get.
Fortunately, with the right research of the competitive credit card offers on the market, you can find that valuable piece of plastic to accommodate your travel needs while matching it to the spending that you already do.
For The Overseas Jetsetter
Your globe-trotting adventures are the envy of your friends and family. The American Express Platinum Card offers the kind of incentives that would only increase the drool-worthy perks of hopping between continents.
Designed for those with excellent credit, this platinum credit card lets you shop like a local, thanks to no foreign transaction fees. But there’s one hefty fee you’ll have to contend with—a $450 annual fee. However, if you travel frequently, the card’s unique perks make that fee seem obsolete.
Enjoy access to exclusive airport lounges around the world and take advantage of complimentary food, drinks, beds and washroom facilities. American Express gives you a $200 airline credit yearly so that you can forget about incidental costs like baggage and flight change fees. If you book through American Express, you’ll benefit from $450 worth of free hotel upgrades as well as late check-out options.
Round-the-clock concierge services can also enhance the experience of your jet-set excursions. For example, if you’re in Paris, American Express’s concierge can arrange reservations at the famous Les Deux Magots restaurant frequented by the likes of Hemingway and Picasso or snag seats with a great view at the Palais Garnier opera house.
If you spend $2,000 in your first three months with the card, you’ll earn enough points for a domestic round-trip ticket. You’ll also receive 25 percent more points for travel purchases when you enroll in the membership program. So instead of earning one point per dollar, you’ll reap $1.25 for every point. You can also double your points when booking travel through American Express.
For The Hotel Pro
For you, hotels are a big part of the destination and just as integral to your vacation as the neighboring sites and hotspots. Nothing makes you squeal with joy more than indulging in a hotel’s sample size shampoos and pillow mints.
The Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express is a perfect travel companion for hotel lovers, with 41 million members and counting a part of the Preferred Guest program.
For every dollar swiped on the card, you’ll get a Starpoint to go toward guest stays at Starwood hotels (which under its umbrella include Sheraton, Westin, W and other boutique hotel brands).
With a $65 annual fee waived in the first year of card membership, the Starwood card gives you 30,000 points on your first purchase. You’ll get 20,000 additional points if you spend $5,000 in the first six months with the card.
To give you an example of the generous hotel points system, 30,000 points will get you:
- A 7-night stay at a category 2 hotel in Puerta Vallarta
- Four free nights at a category 3 hotel like the Westin in Cancun
- A 2-night free stay at a luxury category 5 hotel like Le Meridien in Tahiti
In addition, the Starwood card won’t limit you to blackout dates nor set expiration dates on the points you earn. You can convert your hard earned points into airline miles as well.
For The Frequent Flier
If you’re a frequent flier, you probably live out of your suitcase more than your own home. That’s why wherever you can save on-the-go makes a huge difference in your travel expenses.
The Capital One VentureOne credit card lets you earn unlimited miles, which you can also redeem for other things like hotel stays or car rentals. With no foreign transaction fees and a zero percent introductory purchase APR for one year, it’ll make it easier to get a handle on any potential balances from your vacation costs.
The VentureOne card gives you 10,000 bonus miles in the first three months if you spend $1,000, with two mile points given for every dollar spent.
The more frequently you fly, the greater the odds are that your luggage can get lost in the chaotic shuffle between terminals. Fortunately this Capital One card will reimburse you for up to $3,000 worth of lost luggage.
No two rewards recipients have the same needs. But balancing your travel expenses with the help of the right reward offer can not only help you save serious cash, but it can also enhance the quality of the vacations that you do take.