You may be considering a travel credit card when booking your spring break trip. Travel credit cards can save you money and offer great perks, but choosing the right one can be difficult. Here are some things to consider: Deciding between co-branded credit cards and regular travel credit cards. Co-branded credit cards are cards issued by a bank in partnership with a specific airline or hotel, while general travel cards are issued in partnership with a bank or hotel. credit card company. Co-branded means you can earn rewards directly from the airline or hotel. For example, if you get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, you'll earn Delta SkyMiles on every purchase. Additionally, when you use the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you automatically receive status and receive benefits such as free nights. If you are loyal to a particular brand, this is a good choice. Popular travel cards offer general benefits and discounts when you book through your card issuer's travel portal. Examples of this include the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you want to earn miles and rewards on a specific airline or hotel, this type of card is perfect for you. Check out our rewards and welcome bonuses. Certain cards offer greater rewards on certain spending categories. If you spend a lot of money at restaurants or takeout, look for a card that offers bigger rewards, like the American Express Gold Card. The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers rewards for every dollar you spend on purchases like gas. Many travel cards give you bonuses when you sign up, depending on how you redeem your benefits. If you want to earn lots of hotel points upfront, look for a card that lets you do that. What's the annual fee? If you're only planning to travel once this year, a credit card with a high annual fee isn't worth it. Check the fees and benefits you'll use, calculate how many trips you'll take this year, and see if the travel credit card you're considering is right for you. Check out this credit card spender type tool from Bankrate. Get personalized credit card recommendations based on your spending habits. Bankrate has also created a categorized comparison list of travel credit cards. For example, “Best Starter Travel Credit Card,” “Best Luxury Card,” and “Best No Annual Fee.” Please click here. Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He answers consumer questions every Friday in a new segment, “Rossen Responds.” If you have any questions, please email RossenResponds@hearst.com.
You may be considering a travel credit card when booking your spring break trip.
Travel credit cards can save you money and offer great perks, but choosing the right one can be difficult.
Here are some things to consider:
Choose between a co-branded credit card or a popular travel credit card
An affiliated credit card is a card issued by a bank in partnership with a specific airline or hotel, while a typical travel card is issued by a bank or credit card company.
Co-branded means you can earn rewards directly from the airline or hotel. For example, if you get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, you'll earn Delta SkyMiles on every purchase. Additionally, when you use the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you automatically receive status and receive benefits such as free nights. If you are loyal to a particular brand, this is a good choice.
Popular travel cards offer general benefits and discounts when you book through your card issuer's travel portal. Examples of this include the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If you want to earn miles and rewards on a specific airline or hotel, this type of card is perfect for you.
Check out our rewards and welcome bonuses
Certain cards offer greater rewards on certain spending categories. If you spend a lot of money at restaurants or takeout, look for a card that offers bigger rewards, like the American Express Gold Card. The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers rewards for every dollar you spend on purchases like gas.
Many travel cards give you bonuses when you sign up, depending on how you redeem your benefits. If you want to earn lots of hotel points upfront, look for a card that lets you do that.
How much is the annual membership fee?
If you only have one trip this year, it's not worth using a credit card with a high annual fee. Check the fees and benefits you'll use, calculate how many trips you'll take this year, and see if the travel credit card you're considering is right for you.
Check out this credit card spender type tool from Bankrate. Get personalized credit card recommendations based on your spending habits.
Bankrate has also created a categorized comparison list of travel credit cards. For example, “Best Starter Travel Credit Card,” “Best Luxury Card,” and “Best No Annual Fee.” Please click here.
Have a question for Jeff Rossen? He answers consumer questions every Friday in a new segment, “Rossen Responds.” If you have any questions, please email RossenResponds@hearst.com.