I’ll be the first to admit that travel is far from being cheap. While it’s possible to explore popular U.S. destinations like Hawaii, Florida, and NYC on a budget, expenses will add up.
Since I started traveling the U.S. five years ago, I’ve used travel credit cards to collect points and earn miles. It’s helped me afford round trip flights, upgrades, and even stays in some amazing hotels.
However, it can be overwhelming with the variety of different travel credit cards out there. There is a lot to consider when choosing the best option for you. Additionally, there are other things to consider like annual membership fees, rewards, and how to earn points on your purchases.
If possible, focus on the airline you fly with most often and earn points for that airline. I was very loyal to Southwest for the last five years and it paid off when it came to booking flights with points. However, since I am wanting to travel more international, it will be tough since Southwest mainly flies domestically within the United States. One thing to take into consideration is signing up for the airline's rewards program if possible before booking the flight so you can be awarded points.
Helpful tip: Always remember to keep your boarding pass. If you ever forget to claim points on a flight, you’ll need your ticket number to claim the points after your flight.
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Using a credit card with an airline not only helps you be able to build a strong credit history and score but also allows you to earn travel rewards on everyday purchases. In college, I would simply put my rent and utility bills on the card each month and when my roommates would pay me, I would use the money to pay off the card instantly. This allowed me to earn miles and points without even having to spend "additional" money. Many cards will offer a sign up bonus with a few months of expenses. Make sure you reach the limit before the deadline to receive the incentive.
MY FAVORITE TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is what I consider a great beginner card. It has simple mile transfers and low fees and is a perfect first-time credit card for travelers that want minimal confusion and maximum benefits.
Card Benefits
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Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
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Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit
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Earn 2x on other travel purchases
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Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
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Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
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Earn 3x points on select streaming services
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Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Current Offer: 60,000 points
Annual Fee: $95
Bonus Value: Approx. $750
BEST CREDIT CARD FOR AIRLINE LOYALTY
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
If you are loyal to Southwest Airlines, or travel mostly domestically, this is your ideal travel credit card!
Card Benefits
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Earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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7,500 points earned every year on your Cardmember anniversary
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Earn 3x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
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4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available
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$75 Southwest annual travel credit
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1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent
Current Offer: 50,000 points
Annual Fee: $99
BEST CREDIT CARD FOR INTERNATIONAL FREQUENT TRAVLERS
Capitol One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture travel credit card lets you earn miles on any purchase. There’s no limit on how many miles you can earn in a year or how you earn them, so it's the ultimate card for those who just want to use one credit card for everything.
Card Benefits
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2 Venture miles per $1 spent on every purchase, every day
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5 Venture miles $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
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Flexible redemption options for your miles—fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates.
Current Offer: 75,000 miles
Annual Fee: $95
One of the best tips I could give someone when it comes to earning points it to use your credit card on every single purchase. As long as you are able to pay it off in full each month, you will be able to take full advantage of the rewards without paying interest penalties.
Tip: Double-Dip if possible. Some shopping and dining businesses will reward you in points. However, you’ll also get your normal credit card rewards for every dollar spent. Many of the major airline and hotel loyalty program will offer dining programs as well that allow members to register their credit cards in advance to earn points or miles for participating restaurants.
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Figuring out to accrue points is only half the battle. The other half is reeding them. Before redeeming any points, you must learn the process of the rewards program you're using. Each traveler will have different priorities but typically everyone wants to get the most out of points and miles.
An easy trick to calculating the value of your points is to divide the price of a hotel or flight by the number of miles or points you would need to redeem for it. The higher the value, the better the deal you would be getting. Another tip is to never redeem your miles or points for cash. It is ALWAYS better to transfer points to a partner hotel or airline than book directly.