Spending money is pretty much a daily thing for most folks. Most of the time when you spend that money, it just goes out and you get the thing you’re paying for. But, sometimes you can sweeten the pot a little bit and get even more than you’re paying for. 🍯 That sweetener can come in especially clutch when you’re looking to take a little vacation or maybe upgrade your lifestyle while on a trip. So let’s see if we can maximize that sweetness, shall we?
Here are Five Fast Facts on the best travel credit cards:
- 💸 Spend A Little, Get A Little - The simple fact is that if you want more perks from a credit card, you’ll need to get one with an annual fee. Most cards will be about $95 per year, but some can go up a lot from there. The more you spend the more points you earn, which can be cashed in for perks or purchases. Categories like hotels or restaurants can often earn you point multipliers, too.
- ⚖️ Typical Rate Of Return - Every card has its own scale, but generally speaking you’ll get about 1 cent of value for every perk point earned. So, if you earn 100k points, that’ll usually get you about $1k in perks.
- 👑 Most Luxurious - If you want the royal treatment, go with the American Express Platinum card. It gives you access to 1,400+ lounges, memberships to fancy travel clubs, credits for in-flight purchases, a Clear membership, and a lot more. But pony up - it’s got a whopping $695 per year price tag!
- 🚫 No Fees, Please - The best no-fee card is the Wells Fargo Autograph card. You get points just for signing up, and more if you spend a mere $1000 in the first three months (heck, you can probably do that just getting groceries!). It’s got loads of categories where you can earn various amounts of points, and the points don’t expire. This one is great for infrequent travelers and people on a budget.
- 🏆 Best In Show - Striking a great balance between affordability and maximizing perks is the Capital One Venture Rewards card. It’s got a $95 per year fee, but it has a huge variety of perks categories, many of which are everyday things (like gas and food) that still get you point multipliers. It also gives 2-for-1 points on any purchase at all. It’s a great card for normal folks just looking for a bit of sweetener.
🔥Bottom line: The best thing to do is figure out what is most important to you. There are so many travel cards out there that you will almost certainly find one that fits your needs. Just make sure you are aware of the fine print so you can take advantage of the perks without getting zinged yourself.
What’s your best travel secret?
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