Credit Cards for the Strategic Traveler
by Anakaren Godinez
Credit cards have become part of our everyday lives. Most people would even say it is their preferred form of payment. So why not have your credit card work for you? There are so many credit cards to choose from that choosing one can be a bit overwhelming. So, we have narrowed it down to let you know which credit cards offer the best benefits to satisfy your travel bug this summer.
Travel-focused credit cards offer great opportunities to earn rewards on the money you spend and get extra benefits when you travel. The best cards give you more points than the standard 1 point per dollar spent. We have gathered some information on a couple of credit cards we feel are worth considering.
A new addition to our top recommended cards is Barclays Arrival Premier. This card is the ultimate traveler’s ticket to rewards. In addition to earning two points per dollar spent (on any purchase), they offer a 15,000 mile reward if you spend $15,000 in a year and an additional 10,0000 miles if you spend $10,000 more. That’s an additional reward value of $250 every year if you spend just over $2,000 per month on the card. You also receive a $100 credit every 5 years toward your Global Entry application and fee, so you can use the Pre-Check line at TSA security checkpoints and go through immigration services more quickly. What more could you ask for?
Capital One Venture Credit Card
Also atop our list of the best cards is the Capital One Venture Card. Capital One has a strong history of outstanding customer service and no hassle when redeeming your rewards. You earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend on any purchase 365 days of the year. Those points can be redeemed as a credit against prior travel spend or for gift cards. A new feature that is worth mentioning is that you can earn 10 miles for every dollar you spend on hotels when you pay with your Venture Card and book at http://hotels.com/venture. You were going to spend it anyway weren’t you? So, make it work for you.
We recommend this credit card to our clients for many reasons. This card offers you 1 point for every dollar you spend and 2 points if you spend on travel and dining. Not only that, if you redeem your points for airfare or hotel bookings using their reward website, your points are worth 25% more! Another good note is there are no foreign transaction fees so you can take your card anywhere you go and the card comes with premium travel protection benefits so you feel safe anywhere you go, too.
Now keep in mind that with these great benefits come some costs. To qualify for these credit cards, you must have good to excellent credit but this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re above a 700-credit score. There is also an annual fee that is waived for the first year and then $95 for every year after for the Sapphire and Venture cards and Barclays has a $150 annual fee. If you spend $2,000 per month or more on these cards and utilize the benefits, You’ll more than make up for the annual fee.
Overall, these credit cards are ahead of the pack in rewards, client service, and flexibility. They are sure to come in handy this summer!