There are fewer things in life that are more satisfying than traveling for free. Aside from being a travel blogger, I’ve been able to travel for free on multiple occasions all thanks to travel credit cards. In fact, once you learn how travel credit cards work and which are the best to own, your travel game will change forever.
I’ve booked a cruise to Alaska, a trip to Hawaii at The Ritz Carlton, a trip to Las Vegas, multiple flights and hotel stays in other various locations, all with credit card points and by just making everyday purchases. The possibilities and rewards are endless when it comes to travel credit card points and I can’t wait for you to experience the magic and luxury of traveling for free making purchases you’d be making every day, anyway.
How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?
In case you’re unfamiliar, a travel credit card is one that allows you to make purchases and earn back points or miles toward travel and other expenses. The credit cards themselves work just like a regular credit card, except every purchase made earns you points and rewards. I can’t understand why anyone would use a regular credit card these days when there are so many benefits to owning a travel credit card or several. You are simply losing money if you don’t have one.
Since there are many types of credit cards that have different types of rewards, I wanted to provide a helpful post for deciding which to sign up for, especially if it’s your first time. It can definitely be overwhelming deciding which are best, so first you want to learn the differences and then evaluate from there. There’s awesome travel rewards cards for different lifestyles and also ones that will compliment your spending habits most.
What You Can Do With Credit Card Points
So now that you understand how travel credit cards work, let’s talk about the good stuff; actually using your travel credit card. The great thing about redeeming your travel rewards points is you can redeem them for many different things. Once you’ve earned enough points or miles you can book hotels, flights and cruises, earn a free checked bag and gift cards, buy merchandise like Amazon or Uber purchases for instance, have access to loyalty programs, make charitable donations or just straight up get cash back which you can receive in the mail or as statement credit.
The possibilities are endless and you can get really creative with your rewards and be super strategic about where you want to redeem your points.
The Different Types of Travel Credit Cards
Now, there are dozens of rewards credit cards that offer amazing redemption options including general rewards credit cards, premium rewards cards, credit cards for big purchases, credit cards for students, retail credit cards, business credit cards, travel business credit cards, etc. While these are all great options to explore, I’m specifically going to talk about travel, airline and hotel credit cards as they are the ones I personally use and maximize.
*Please note that this blog post does contain affiliate links where both you and I will be rewarded with extra credit card points for signing up*
Travel Credit Cards
General travel credit cards are great for those looking to maximize their travel rewards by their every day spending habits. Meaning, you use the card to make most of your purchases and rack up the most points back but are not tied to any hotel or airline. This is the most ideal if you don’t have specific travel goals in mind, because you can simply rack up points and use them at your leisure.
Chase Sapphire Credit Card - Best Overall
The Chase Sapphire is my favorite travel rewards credit card I own and the one I use the most! It’s also the perfect card for first-time travel credit card owners as it’s super easy to use and earns you the most points back for every day spending.
Here’s a breakdown of the Chase Sapphire credit card rewards:
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (worth $750)
- $50 annual ultimate rewards hotel credit
- 5x total points on travel purchases
- 3x points on dining
- 3x points on streaming services and online grocery purchases
- Travel & purchase benefits
- $0 foreign transaction fees
Airline Credit Cards
Airline credit cards are best for those who fly frequently and/or want to earn the most travel rewards back for flights. You can use airline cards to redeem points for free flights, checked bags, airport lounges and more.
United Explorer Card
Here’s a breakdown of the Chase United Explorer credit card rewards:
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Earn 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining, and hotel stays.
Free first checked bag – save up to $140 per roundtrip
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card
Earn 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights
Priority boarding – the primary Cardmember and companions on the same reservation will be invited to board United-operated flights prior to general boarding
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
CHASE SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS & COMPANION PASS
Here’s a breakdown of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card rewards:
$75 Southwest annual travel credit each year
- 4 upgraded boardings every year when available
Unlimited tier qualifying points – Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent-with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn.
- 7,500 anniversary points
- 3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per $1 on rapid rewards hotels and car rental partners
- 2 points per $1 on local transit, commuting and ride-sharing
- 2 points per $1 on internet, cable phone services and select streaming
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Companion pass benefit – Take a friend for free. More information on how the companion pass works here.
AMERICAN EXPRESS; THE PLATINUM CARD
Here’s a breakdown of the American Express Platinum credit card rewards:
Earn 125,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you shop small in the U.S.
- $200 hotel credit
- $250 digital Entertainment credit
- $155 Walmart credit
- $200 Uber cash
- $200 airline fee credit
- $300 with Equinox
- $179 with CLEAR
- 5x the points on flights
- 5x the points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 1x the points on all other purchases
- The Global Lounge Collection – With more than 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge options than any other credit card on the market
- $695 annual fee
Hotel Credit Cards
Hotel credit cards are best for hotel rewards programs and earning points towards a single hotel chain or multiple. These are more specific, help you earn points faster and can help you get higher-tier rewards and benefits and room upgrades at hotels.
Chase MARRIOTT BONVOY BOUNDLESS CREDIT CARD
Here’s a breakdown of the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card:
- 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening plus
- 10X total points on up to $2,500 in combined purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants within your first 6 months from your account opening
Up to 17X total points at Marriott
2X points per $1
Free Night Award every anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
Hilton Honors Card
Here’s a breakdown of the American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card:
- 7x the points on hotels & resorts
- 5x the points on dining
- 5x the points on groceries
- 5x the points on gas
- 3x the points for each $1
THE IHG® REWARDS CLUB PREMIER CREDIT CARD
Here’s a breakdown of the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card:
- Earn up to 25x the points total points at IHG Hotels and Resorts worldwide when you combine IHG card benefits with existing IHG Rewards Club member benefits from IHG
- Earn 10X points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
Earn up to 10X points from IHG for being an IHG Rewards Club member
Earn up to 5X points from IHG with Platinum Elite Status
- Earn 2X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
How To Use A Travel Credit Card
Do Your Research
There are a ton of credit cards that offer rewards and each can offer something that another one can’t. For instance, there are cards for travel insurance, everyday spending, preferred airlines, airport lounge access, miles redemption, bonus offers, etc. Think about your lifestyle and decide which would be most beneficial to your everyday life because using these cards for ALL purchases is key. I don’t even own a debit card anymore because I know I would be missing out on credit card points. Also, if you plan on spending a certain amount within the next few months based on life purchases, getting a travel credit card would be wise.
Sign up During Bonus Promotions
When an amazing promotion comes along for a credit card that says something like “spend $3,000 in 3 months and get 100,000 bonus points” ABSOLUTELY do it. Bonus promotions are not a scam or a way to increase your debt. As long as you have the means to maintain and pay off your credit cards month to month, this is the way to do it. In fact, you already have bills and expenses month to month. So why not make that money back by earning points?
Refer a Friend
THIS is my number one tip, aside from actually signing up for the best credit cards for travel rewards. REFER other people to sign up. When you refer a friend, you get a bonus, they get a bonus, everyone gets a bonus! Between your points earned when signing up for a card + the referral to a friend, you can automatically have hundreds of thousands of points that can be exchanged for free flights and hotel stays. It’s amazing and so incredibly easy to achieve. Traveling for free using credit card points is a combination of saving your reward points and referring friends/partner, preferably someone you would book a trip with. This way you are maximizing the points saved by combining your points with your friend/partner and covering the flights and/or multiple night stays at hotels.
Download Card Curator App
The Card Curator app will help you to find the best credit cards for you based on your spending habits. The app will also help you track your spending, suggest new cards and show your progress. So it’s the smartest way to stay on top of your rewards and get the most money back/free trips.
Sign Up For Multiple Cards Over Time
Instead of just choosing one credit card for rewards, sign up for several travel credit cardsover time (like over a year or more.) You’ll then have the opportunity to profit off several different types of cards for your spending habits.
