Travel credit cards are becoming increasingly popular all over the World. The offers and promises made by companies that provide these cards to travelers are enticing and claim to make people’s travels more comfortable and hassle-free. Owning a travel credit card opens up an array of bonuses, rewards, special discounts and points for you to collect. However, regardless of their immense appeal, quite a lot of people believe that investing large sums of money in these cards is not the best idea.

What is it then that makes travel credit cards attractive to some travelers? Are the benefits that companies selling to them promise worth the money? What are the conditions that owners of a travel credit card find highly advantageous? And what should you keep in mind before you invest your money in a travel credit card? This post aims to explain the answers to these questions to help you understand the functions and benefits of a travel credit card.

Frequent traveller benefits

People who are likely to travel often, typically on business, invest in a travel credit card that will help them ease their expenses on the many trips they go on. Most travel credit card companies offer specific benefits; the holder of the card can collect points and miles by purchasing certain products that lessen their expenses while traveling through the reduction of expenses for food and transport. Travel credit cards like the AmEx Platinum give out 5 points for every dollar spent by the holder of the card. Other cards offer bigger long-term rewards with their continuous use.

The benefits of the right card

It is safe to say that most offers for the best travel credit card may just make you spend more rather than less considering the annual fees that are charged. This quite defeats the purpose of the card itself, especially if you do not travel frequently. Buying the right card for your lifestyle, on the other hand, is a much more beneficial decision.

If you are loyal to a particular airline and have a flexible schedule, you might want to invest in a miles credit card. Having the requirement of redeeming rewards for travel expenses and booking your stay where you wish to, makes you eligible for a general travel credit card.

Things to consider before buying a travel credit card

Other than your frequency of traveling and schedules, things to keep in mind while making the decision to purchase a travel credit card must be kept in mind if you want to save the money and exploit your travel credit card to its fullest potential. Take complete advantage of all of the offers that these companies are giving out to their customers to redeem tons of benefits.

Check the benefits

As previously mentioned, buy your choice of travel credit card based on your requirements. Make sure that you check all the benefits that the card you are taking into consideration offers. It is better if your choice of credit card offers a sign-up bonus, which is applicable after you hit a minimum-spending requirement. This is what usually kick starts your account and opens you up to more benefits.

Low spending requirement

To unlock the benefits offered by your card, you must spend a minimum amount of money. Before you buy your card of choice, be certain that you are not losing more money than necessary on the whole by trying to meet these spending requirements.

The annual fee

Best credit cards travel has an annual fee that ranges from $50 to $95. If you are a frequent flyer, paying an annual fee for all the discounts, redeemable points, and rewards that you ultimately receive is quite a solid investment. Travel credit cards with an annual fee attached, typically offer better benefits than ones without them!

Effects on your credit

Purchases of multiple travel credit cards do have effects on credit score. Making sure that your travel credit card applications are spaced apart over periods of time and keeping up good credit will ensure that your credit is not affected in the long run.

Fees overseas

A large number of travel credit cards charge 3% fees when they are used overseas. This defeats the purpose of the benefits of the card. Be certain that the card you are choosing does not charge you foreign transaction fees. Some of these cards have lesser reward options, so if you are accepting of the payment of an annual fee, some of the travel credit cards that you can invest in are Chase Sapphire Preferred, Starwood American Express, or Barclays Arrival Plus.

Stay alert and wary of the decisions you are making when you invest in travel credit cards, so you do not to give more than you take!