If you have been using the same old credit cards to book your hotel and travel reservations for several years, there’s a good chance you are not getting all the benefits and discounts that might be available to you. It used to be that only the very frequent travelers received the best free upgrades and extra mileage programs, but today there are many new credit cards delivering extra benefits to every traveler that will use them.
Today, every credit card company is seeking new cardholders and they are willing to deliver more benefits to their customers in order to get the business. Unlike cards that delivered benefits based on how many miles you travel, some new cards base the perks solely on how much you spend and not on how often or how far you travel. Some cards now offer a combination of extra miles and accommodation upgrades, while other cards might help you get instant seat upgrades, better hotel rooms, free meals or access to executive lounges. This allows any traveler to get more benefits without having to spend more money. Using the same old tried and true credit cards may be comfortable because you are familiar with them, but if you are not keeping up with the many new offers out there today, you're probably missing out on some great travel perks.
Some of the best deals can be found with brand new traveler’s card programs from the old established credit card companies. The newer card programs are aimed directly at travelers and provide flexibility and value that their regular credit card programs did not deliver. Some of the new cards deliver greater mileage-awards for fewer miles than the airlines themselves offer, and they also allow you to cash in your points at a wide variety of hotels and resorts. Some of the premium cards do have annual fees of a few hundred dollars, but you’ll get more than your money back with benefits like expedited check-ins, first boarding rights, extra luggage waivers, free room services, and early check-in and late checkouts at luxury hotels all over the world. Cards offering double miles are not uncommon and they can often be redeemed at dozens of different airlines and resort hotels as well.
Using the right credit card on a vacation abroad can help you save nearly 3% on vacation purchases and the amount is usually equal to what most issuers would charge for foreign transactions alone. It pays to shop around for your travel cards because Capital One and Discover are the only major card companies that don't charge foreign transaction fees, while most other major cards charge fees ranging from 1% to 3%. Airline credit cards can be a good option if you fly on the same airline most of the time or you live near an airport dominated by a particular airline, but they aren’t really a good deal for travelers who carry a balance because their interest rates are usually higher than bank-based credit cards that usually offer more reward options.
Best Credit Cards for Frequent Travelers:
• Capital One No Hassle Rewards Card
• Citi Premier Pass Card
• Discover Open Road Card
• Miles by Discover Card
• Starwood American Express Card
• Continental Presidential Plus MasterCard
• American Express Delta Reserve Card
• American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card
• American Express PenFed Premium Travel Rewards Card
• HSBC Premier Credit Card
• Capital One No Hassle Rewards Card
• Visa Black Card
• Capital One® Business Platinum with Double No Hassle Card
• British Airways Visa Signature Card
• JetBlue Card from American Express Card
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Signature Card
• Citi Platinum Select American Airlines AAdvantage Visa Signature Card
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