What Travel Credit Cards are good for Beginners?
Travel Credit Card for Beginners
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 – 5x points on Lyft – 2x 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 Flex | $0 | – Quarterly Bonus categories that earn 5x points – Pair this with the Chase Sapphire so that the cashback can be used as points |
| 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 |
| Capital One Venture | $59 increased to $95 | – 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. |
| Bilt | $0 | – 1x on Rent – 2x on Travel – 3x on Dinning – 2x on Walgreens – Categories double on Rent Day |
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 Travel 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.
A card that I would add to this list is: American Express Gold. The American Express Gold, with an annual fee of $325, does 4x on Groceries and Restaurants.
Tips: I used one of my Global Entry credits for myself and the other for my mom.
If you are interested in lounge access, there are a few ways to get it through credit cards or paying for it.
Save for Later!
| Travel Resources | Information about Resources |
| Airalo | If you need phone service while out of the country, check out Airalo to avoid all the fees. |
| Amazon | Find the perfect items for your next vacation! |
| Booking.com | If you want to book a mix of hotels and houses check out booking.com! |
| Expedia | Need a package that includes flight + hotel or want to add a car? Expedia is the perfect site to book an entire vacation. |
| Priority Pass | If you do not have a travel credit card you can still get lounge access through, Priority Pass. Click to learn more! |
| Ticketmaster | Heading to a concert or event, make sure to check out Ticketmaster. |
| Vrbo | Find the perfect rental house for your vacation and/or staycation. |
| Viator | The perfect place to find all your excursions and things to do in the many cities you visit. |
