How to Compare Different Travel Credit Cards

A travel credit card is a great way to save money if you and your family love to travel. That’s because travel credit cards typically provide you with miles and points when you make purchases, which you can use to pay for flights and hotels. However, when you look at a list of options, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by all the options. Here are four of the things you should be looking for when you’re comparing travel credit cards.

1. Annual Fee

The first thing most people will look at is the card’s annual fee. While you may automatically gravitate toward cards with little or no annual fee, it’s also important to balance that fee with any benefits that you receive every year. Most travel credit cards make up for the annual fee with extra statement credits and free booking options, so a higher annual fee may be more than worth the cost.

2. Introductory Bonuses

An introductory bonus can help you save even more when you make a significant number of purchases within the first few months of having a card open. It can be a great idea to open up a card with a huge introductory bonus when you’re planning to make a large purchase sometime soon. That way, you can be sure you’ll meet the requirements to get the introductory bonus in the first place.

3. Rewards Rates

Different cards will offer different rewards rates. This is often tied to the annual fee; cards with a higher annual fee may give you more points per dollar spent, which can help you rack up free traveling options more easily. Make sure that you’re paying attention to the rate at which you’ll be able to get rewards if you want the best savings.

4. Extra Benefits

This is all of the extra benefits that you’ll receive as a cardholder. For example, if you take a look at the variety of United credit card offers available, you’ll see that some cards offer discounts on in-flight purchases, free checked bags, premier upgrades, TSA Pre✓ and Global Entry fee credits, and more. These extra benefits are where many of the more premium credit cards really shine, so if you’re looking for a great deal, make sure you take a look at the extra benefits you’ll receive with different cards.

Conclusion

It’s not easy to compare different travel credit cards. Your best option will typically be to narrow down your options to a specific brand or company that you want to apply for, then take a look at all the company’s card options. From there, it’s easier to see what benefits you may receive from specific credit cards, which can help you save a significant amount of money on your traveling options every year. Remember that everyone works best with a different credit card, so try to adjust the card options to your unique needs. Every credit card can help someone different; that’s why there are so many.