Travel Credit Cards: Which ones are worth it?
The Credit Cards that can help you travel more + Recommendations!
On my journey to travel utilizing points, I have begun to open credit cards for specific expenses. Catering my cards to my lifestyle allows me to quickly accumulate points, authentically. My goal is not to spend for the sake of points or get into credit card debt. Moreover, I want to limit the impact on my credit score as much as possible.
This guide will provide information on my current cards, how I use them, and their annual fees. This can be used to help you determine what card could be right for you!
Credit Card List:
| Card Name | Annual Fee | My Why: |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | – 3x points on streaming services -5 x points on Lyft – 3x points on travel – No foreign transaction fee |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0 | – 5x points on office supplies – 5x points phone bills – Buy gift cards at Staples, and use those to pay bills, you will get 5x points on the gift card purchase – 0% interest for 12 months |
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | – 1.5x points on everything – 0% interest for 12 months |
| Chase Freedom | $0 | – Quarterly Bonus categories that earn 5x points – This card is no longer offered by Chase |
| American Express Delta Platinum | $250 increasing to $350 | – 15% Discount on Award Fares – Enhanced Companion Certificate – 3x points on Hotels – 2x Restaurants – 2x on Supermarkets – Delta Stays Credit $150 – $120 Resy and Rideshare Credit – 2500 MQM Headstart to earning Status – Free First Checked Bag – Credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry – No foreign Transaction Fee – $85 Dunkin Credit |
| American Express Business Platinum | $350 (Employee Card) | – Priority Pass – Centurion Lounge – Delta Sky Club Lounge Access |
| Capital One Venture | $59 | – Transfer Portal: Air Canada, Avianca, Flying Blue, British Airways, etc – 2x points on everything – Credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry – This is my everyday card unless another card has more points for specific categories such as supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants. |
Which Credit Card would I recommend for Beginners wanting to Travel?
If you are getting started in your journey to traveling using points and do not mind an Annual Fee I would get the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card allows you to transfer to both Air France and British Airways which is great for international travel in addition to not having a foreign transaction fee so you can use it while you are abroad. This card also makes it so when you get cards by Chase like the Unlimited you can transfer those points to the Sapphire to use to book flights. It is a gateway card as it opens you to the world of Chase points.
Which Credit card would I recommend for International Travel?
The best card for international travel for me is either my Capital One Venture or the Chase Sapphire. I like Capital One because you get 2x the points regardless of the purchase and it covers Pre-check or Global Entry.
Conclusion and Next Steps
In conclusion, using these cards has helped to fund my travel over the past few years. Credit Cards can be used to make travel less stressful by enrolling in the features that provide lounge access and expedited security access like TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
As I prepare for future travel, I need a card that provides access to Membership Rewards and American Airlines. I prefer not to opt for an airline-specific card as I seek access to travel portals, allowing my points to be utilized for various functions beyond those limited to a specific airline or hotel. If you want to know what cards I chose, read here.
Tips: I used one of my Global Entry credits for myself and the other for my mom.
