Do you ever wonder how you see so many people traveling all the time to the places you would like to go? It seems like they just got back from a trip to Hawaii and they are already planning the next adventure. You ask yourself, how do they afford to travel to all these amazing places so frequently and have upcoming adventures and experiences always planned one after the other? No, you are not the only one with these thoughts nor are you even close to the only one wondering how you can do this yourself and be one of the lucky ones to travel more and travel often. Well, actually it is not really luck at all, but more of a skill. The skill is quite simple and it involves utilizing credit card reward programs to your maximum benefit. Many frequent travelers have skillfully mastered these reward programs.
So what is the secret? Understanding how to maximize the benefits that come with travel reward credit cards is the key. How most of the credit card programs work is for every dollar you spend on your card you earn points that will placed in your travel bank. When you are looking to purchase a airline ticket or book a hotel stay, you simply log into your account and see how your points can be applied.
Depending on the cad that you have, some allow you to redeem the points right away to pay for the desired travel plans, other cards require you to use the card for the purchase and then the points will be applied to the balance deducting the amounts of the booked travel. Many of the programs even allow you to apply rearwards points to get flight or room upgrades, priority dinner reservations and VIP check in at resorts.
Popular Travel Reward Program Credit Cards
Capital One Venture Card |
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is one of the most flexible travel cards available. Best for earning overall flat rate rewards and popular for those that like a easy to earn easy to redeem reward system. |
American Express Platinum Card
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This is one of the most high end credit cards that focuses its rewards system for those individuals that are not only frequent travelers but world travelers as well. Access to over 1,000 airport lounges as an added perk as well. |
Chase Sapphire Preferred
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Unlike cards tied to a specific airline or hotel brand, you can use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s rewards in many places. You earn 2 points per $1 spent on dining and travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else. |
Bank of America Premium Rewards
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If you’re a Bank of America customer this is a fantastic option. While a good option for any traveler, it’s great for those with high balances in Bank of America accounts being that you can earn 25% to 75% more rewards. |
Citi Thank You Premier
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Some of the popular features of this card include earning 3 points per dollar on travel including gas stations, 2 points per dollar on dining out and entertainment and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
Barclays Arrival Premier
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This travel reward card was designed for those that like to be rewarded for loyalty use. The earning is quite simple. Earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend, and once you reach certain annual goals, you’ll receive bonus miles. |
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
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This particular card has a little something for everyone. No annual fee makes it perfect for beginners and the ease of redeeming your Go Far Rewards for cash back or airfare options makes the process quick and easy. |
Bank of America Travel Rewards
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Travelers enjoy this card as points can be redeemed for a credit against travel purchases, giving you the luxury to book during any season, with any airline or hotel chain. Point credits for travel purchases up to 12 months. |
Maximizing All The Benefits
No matter which card you choose to use, make sure you stay on top of all the benefits that the travel credit card will offer you. Take a look at the policies, guidelines and how the reward program works as to make sure you get every single point and reward possible. The idea and concept behind getting the most benefit out of your credit card is to use the credit card to pay for everything you possibly can that doesn’t require cash and then you pay the card off every month. Staying up to date on policies, guidelines and good credit card practices is always important.
Many people also like idea of doing this as it consolidates everything into one monthly bill all while earning massive travel rewards points. Once you acquire the skill necessary in obtaining every single possible point using credit card rewards programs, you will be able to begin to travel like you see so many others doing. When you use the travel credit card responsibly, it begins to work for you and puts you in control of how you want to use the card for your benefit.
Depending on the type of travel that you are interested in doing and the type or arrangements you will be making there are some differences between the different credit card programs so make sure you review which card would be most beneficial to you. For example, one card may focus on flights and rewards with different airlines, once card may focus on hotel and resort free accommodations and upgrades and a few focus on a point or rewards system that can be redeemed for all travel rewards.
Responsible Benefits
Getting the most benefit from these travel reward credit cards requires you to use the cards on a regular basis. This means that you must stay on top of your game and be ahead of the curve every step of the way. In a way, you should still treat the cards like cash in a way. Even though you will be making regular and frequent purchases with your credit card, you should only purchase things as if you were buying it with cash.
For example, if you are looking to purchase an airline ticket purchase, instead of using your debit card connected to your checking account, use your travel reward credit card but set the money aside from your checking account to cover the purchase. Another example is to pick up the bill at dinner when with a group and have them give you cash. Set that amount aside to pay your bill.
When you do all your purchases this way, you are earning your travel reward points but have the cash set aside ahead of time to pay for each purchase. This was you never have to worry about paying any interest on the credit card or having the balances get to high. This is why being able to have credit card reward programs work towards your benefit takes great skill and responsibility.
There are actually even very popular credit card travel courses to help people understand this process in more depth. Some consumers even plan on getting a new credit card when they are looking to do a major purchase as to make sure they get all maximum points possible as well as any sign up bonus that requires you to make a certain amount in purchases by a certain date to accrue those bonus points.