Cards

How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card for Your 2024 Adventures

Irina Tsymbaliuk

Whether you have a business or a leisure trip, travel credit cards are a game-changer. They offer travelers some cool perks, rewards, privileges, bonus offers, and additional travel benefits such as free air tickets.

But what about annual fees, high credit score requirements, and other hassles? Are travel credit cards really worth it? The answer is definitely yes. Keep reading to find out why. Here, you’ll learn everything needed to find your best credit card for traveling, including what factors to take into account when comparing options.

Ideal Travel Credit Card: Key Aspects

The travel credit card world is diverse. So, there are several key factors to consider when choosing the best credit card for travel that allows you to find your win-win solution.

Match between card terms and your travel goals

First and foremost, you should look for a card with terms that align with your travel preferences and expectations. Depending on your needs, you can turn your attention, for example, to credit cards that are loyal to a specific airline or that are loyal to the hotel chain. The first ones will allow you to earn miles as part of the loyalty program, which you can exchange for a flight, and the second ones will give you scores that you can exchange for accommodation in hotels of a particular chain. 

Annual fees

Many travel cards have an annual usage fee. Most likely, in this case, the card will indeed offer more benefits, perks, and bonuses, but you need to make sure that the rewards you receive will offset the fees you paid.

For an option that’s definitely worth it, you can consider the best credit cards for travel rewards with high earning potential, low APR, or no annual fee at all. For example, with a Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, you won’t have to pay an annual fee.

Added Edge

There are a vast number of alternatives available on the market today, which means you can truly find your best travel credit card. So, first of all, you should get the travel perks and protections you need, and then check additional benefits such as free luggage, travel insurance, lounge access, and other services. Some cards provide a significant welcome bonus right away on the first travel purchase with a card — for example, with the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, you’ll get 50,000 miles after paying the annual fee and making only one purchase.

Remember that your ideal travel card should perfectly match your financial habits, travel preferences, and lifestyle.

Selecting the Perfect Travel Credit Card

What’s the best travel credit card? Finding an optimal option just by description is a challenging task. When comparing cards, you need to take into account factors such as credit score, annual fee, welcome bonus, international transaction fees, rewards programs, additional benefits, and perks.

To make this comparison automatically, with maximum accuracy and minimal effort, you can use one of the special tools for comparing travel credit cards.

U.S. News & World Report

This tool from the American news magazine allows you to select and compare up to three credit cards, ranking their best features, offers, terms and conditions, additional benefits, and more. Simply select the cards that best suit your wishes or those that are most frequently compared, and check how well they match each other and your needs.

NerdWallet

This tool from the American financial company allows you to conduct a side-by-side credit card comparison, comparing up to three cards based on key criteria — best use cases, annual fees, bonus offers, rewards rates, and other features. All you have to do is determine the parameters that are most important to you, add two or three cards to compare, and then choose your best offer.

Final Thoughts

For anyone who travels frequently, travel credit cards are not only a great resource for booking and paying, but they can also become a valuable source of additional rewards to offset expenses and receive benefits. There are no best credit cards to earn travel points for everyone, but everyone can find an option that is perfect for them. To get the most out of such a card, you need to find one that will best suit your travel preferences, financial habits, and lifestyle.

  1. Decide on your key goals, needs, and desires.
  2. Look for cards with terms that meet your expectations and find the travel rewards program that’s right for you.
  3. Calculate earning potential and make sure the annual fee is worth it due to the perks, rewards, and benefits offered.
  4. Check out the additional benefits as well as the sign-up bonuses.
  5. Use the tools and compare the two or three best credit cards for traveling to find the perfect one.

FAQ

What are the common mistakes to avoid when choosing a travel credit card?

The most common mistakes newbies make are not checking whether the annual fees are worth it, not comparing the features and conditions of different cards, not checking how much you need to spend before getting bonuses, not understanding what to do with points earned, and not evaluating what benefits will pay off.

How do I know if I’m eligible for a travel credit card?

First, you should check your credit score, which largely determines whether you are eligible for various types of credit cards. For most best travel cards, your rating should be in the good to exceptional range. Other factors that determine whether you are eligible include your income and debt-to-income ratio, current credit limits, history with the card issuer, and so on.

How do I apply for a travel credit card?

Applying for a travel credit card is easy — you can do it online or in person. You will need to fill out an application form with personal details, after which the lender may need to check your credit score. It is recommended to apply a few months before your trip to receive the card and earn your first bonuses.