While browsing the inthernet, I found myself seeing lots of questions about what’s a travel reward card and which is the best one?
There are a bunch of cards that will earn you travel rewards, but it is difficult to say which one works without knowing what you need. Would you rather have cold hard cash that you can apply however you want or would you rather deal with the complexities of award bookings on frequent flyer programs? Do you need travel insurance? How about if your flight gets delayed? Would you like to stay in a hotel rather than the airport’s not so comfy chairs? Do you travel often and where?
Looking into their websites, I found that these cards are
great deals for people who love to travel and do it a lot! They provide you
with rewards and bonuses for almost anything you do on your travels: shopping,
dining, hotels, car rentals, cruises and airfairs! So, if you’ve been
travelling all this time without a travel reward card, then you’ve been doing
it all wrong!
Save your money by having a travel card!
Stack up on multiple cards
While you’re doing your research, you might find that there are lots of cards to choose from. And, depending on your needs, there will definitely be lots of tempting offers. Capital One Venture, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred, Delta Amex Platinum – these are just a few names I frequently came across.
Being part of some Facebook travel groups, I found that those are the most used Cards when travelling. I also found out that some have constantly been in top 3 choices people make over the years.
Sure, you might see some bad reviews about them. It’s quite hard to keep everyone satisfied with just one card! And that’s because, in general, people make impulsive purchases. Yes, they do! So, before making a decision, make sure you’re choosing the right one.
If you find not one, but two cards that might be perfect for your travel scopes, don’t hesitate to own them. Why? Well, sometimes you will just want to travel to a nice hotel for a city break. Other times you’ll be planning a month long vacation on an exotic destination. Having one travel card is great, but two might be just what you need! Depending on what you do on your trips, you might need an extra card – just for its benefits.
Me? I’m currently using my Revolut for travels. It doesn’t offer me as many advantages as a dedicated travelling card would. Why do I use it? I have an international insurance, I can exchange money anytime from the app, based on where I’m going (at a normal rate!) and I can receive and send money in a second. That’s right, transfers are made within a second (or two, depending on your internet connection).
Choose the card that fits your next travel destination
We’ve already seen now what’s a travel reward card, now you need to choose one. Where are you travelling the most? What’s your objective? If you like shopping abroad, then you will need a card that offers you higher bonuses when swiping it for clothes. Have you ever head of Wikibuy? How about Paribus? Stores constantly change their prices, so if you’re an avid shopper, then you need to have those apps! There are also other apps that can help you get the discounts you need. Purchasing at normal prices? Not anymore! Trust me, you can save up a great deal of money if you just inform yourself a bit.
If you’re into extreme sports, then you’ll be pleased to know that some cards provide you with travel accident insurance. I don’t mean to jinx it, but it could offer you a tranquil state of mind knowing it’s there! I always have an insurance when I travel and I advise everyone to have one when they leave their country. If you can’t predict the future, then it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Paying via card is one of your preferred sports? Then it’s best if you choose a travel card that has low or no foreign transaction fees at all. Yes, they exist.
Flying via plane much? Taking weekend city breaks? Then you have lots of money spent on airline tickets, I guess. Elevate your travels by saving money while you spend it. Paradox, isn’t it? Some travel cards reimburse a certain percent of your travel purchases, provide you with complimentary airport lounge access and offer you discounts at hotels.
Take a moment to reflect on what you are doing while travelling. This will save you lots of cash on the long run.
If you don’t use it, you don’t need it
You will, at some point, discover that you have been using only some cards for their bonuses and some cards not at all, or barely. While you’re getting all the benefits from the cards you are accustomed to using, you might be spending maintenance fees on your other cards. To save you some money, I suggest you close them immediately. Annual managing fees can range between 100 USD to 400 USD and skyrocket from there. You might end up paying for fees what you would spend on a vacation. Why not save that money for your travels? Having extra cash in your pockets never hurt anyone, right?
Don’t stop asking around for better deals
Well, now that you’ve found out about these awesome cards, you’ve researched quite a few and settled with the best option(s) for you. But, is it really the best option? It might be at first, but once your trips unfold, you get to travel more and more and experience other “tastes”. Your destinations might change and you could find that your needs have also changed or that certain terms of the card are not as expected. Don’t be afraid to change your game when it comes to Banks in general.
If you don’t have time to go from bank to bank, then why not use the internet? Browse the websites, see the discounts and offers, google the info you need!
You will also find lots of travel groups and people that are willing to help. Not a member of a Travel Group? You should be! Join one that has active posts and users. You will not only find new travel destinations that might excite you, but you could also post your questions and get help.
Now that you won’t be asking what’s a travel reward card and you have some idea of what it’s useful for, where to? 🙂 Share your comments on our Facebook page or follow us on Pinterest and Instagram. Oh, we also have a Twitter account if you’re into that!
Until next time, travel safe, enjoy every moment and always smile. Why not? 🙂
