Which Credit Card Is Best for Traveling?

There are several factors that contribute to the usefulness of a credit card while traveling. These include loyalty point bonuses, perks such as travel concierge and preferential treatment at hotels and airports, access to special events and tours, free travel or car rental insurance, and waived foreign transaction fees. The right card for an individual or family may largely depend on the amount of travel they complete, as well as the areas where they usually travel.

Oct 14, 2021

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you'll need a way to easily and securely pay your expenses. In most cases, your best option is to carry at least one credit card, preferably more. You should also pay attention to the type of credit card that you bring on your travels: It turns out that some cards are more useful than others while you were on the road.

Money While Traveling

There's an old saying about preparing for a trip: "Take half as much clothing and twice as much money." The reality is that unexpected expenses are a part of traveling and these expenses can be significant:

  • Changes in travel itineraries can result in additional airfare costs
  • Extra nights in a hotel if your trip is delayed
  • Up-front payments for medical care
  • Clothing and toiletries should your baggage be lost

Having access to a decent line of credit can make travel go much more smoothly. While many travelers advise carrying a small amount of cash with you, you'll also need a credit card.

What Makes a Good Travel Credit Card?

Several factors that can make a credit card particularly well-suited to travel:

High Limits

Even if you don't plan to spend a lot of money on your travel, or if you have already pre-paid most of your expenses (such as airfare, transfers, and hotel costs) you want to have the option of paying for unexpected expenses. A good travel credit card will have a high limit that you can make use of if needed.

One thing to look into is whether a credit card company is willing to offer emergency increases to your credit line while traveling. There is no guarantee that you'll qualify for this credit line, but some card issuers do instruct their customer service staff to increase (temporarily) a credit line for travelers in distress.

Loyalty Points

Many credit cards offer loyalty incentives to cardholders. Since travel costs can run into thousands of dollars, one trip can earn you significant loyalty points that can be applied to future travel or other goods and services. Choose a card that has a favorable loyalty point program when booking travel and paying for travel-related expenses. In some cases, travel vendors even have their own cobranded cards that allow you to earn additional points when staying at their hotels or booking airfare through their airline partners.

Travel Credit for Annual Fee

Many credit cards have an annual fee, so it pays to shop around to find the card that meets your needs while keeping membership costs low. However, several cards offset the cost of an annual fee by offering a credit that can be applied toward travel costs.

Travel Insurance

Many credit card companies offer free travel insurance when you purchase travel products using their card. The terms of these insurance policies vary but may include things like covering the cost of travel delays, luggage replacement, medical expenses, and helping you get home in case of illness or accident. Some cards may also offer rental car insurance (if you use the card to rent the car), as well.

Be aware, however that these insurance policies tend to be "one-size-fits-all" and may not meet your needs. If you are concerned about travel insurance coverage, speak to your insurance agent or travel professional to find a policy that works best for you and your family.

Emergency Assistance

Good travel credit cards typically offer access to a traveler assistance hotline that you can call from any country. The representatives that staff these hotlines are specially trained in dealing with travel-related issues and can help you sort out many common emergencies, such as referring you to medical and legal professionals, assisting with travel insurance claims, helping you to find new accommodations if something falls through, and even assisting in getting you out of the country in case of a disaster.

Foreign Transaction Fee Waivers

Many credit and debit cards charge consumers a fee for transactions in foreign currency. Better travel credit cards waive this fee for cardholders.

Customer Service

Last thing you need while traveling is poor customer service from your credit card company. For example, if your card is lost or stolen during your trip, you'll want to ensure that the credit card company can cancel your original card, reverse and erroneous charges and get you a new card as quickly as possible. If you are uncomfortable with the level of customer service that you have normally received from your credit card company, you may want to opt for a different card while traveling.

A Word About Debit Cards and Travel

It's important to understand that there are distinctions between debit cards and credit cards when it comes to traveling and travel benefits. Of course, you'll want to take your debit card with you while traveling so that you will have easy access to money in your accounts. However, your debit card may not come with the types of benefits that your credit card offers.

Before traveling, contact your bank to find out what its policy is regarding support for travelers. For example, will your bank express mail you a replacement debit card if yours is lost or stolen while traveling? Does the card offer any type of travel insurance or product insurance? What about loyalty points?

Another thing to consider is that some travel vendors, such as cruise ships, resorts and hotels routinely freeze a certain amount of money on cards over and above what you owe to the travel vendor when you check in. This is to cover any incidentals charged to your account, such as drinks, meals and activities. One difficulty with this is that the amount of cash or credit frozen on your account will not be available to you during the duration of your trip, and in some cases, for days or even weeks afterward.

If you use your checking account to pay routine household expenses, or we're counting on being able to withdraw cash from the car during your trip, ensure that you have enough of a balance to cover any holds placed on the card. When in doubt, contact the travel vendor ahead of time to learn the hold amount so you can budget appropriately

Best Credit Cards for Travel

Below are some of the best credit cards for travel as selected by personal finance experts. Criteria for judging which cards are "best" include things like credit card terms (i.e. fees and rates), as well as perks and benefits that make travel easier and more affordable:

Bank of America® Travel Rewards

Bank of America Travel Rewards cards offer loyalty point bonuses that allow you to earn points or miles toward travel products when you make purchases or pay bills with your card. In addition, special promotions allow you to earn these points more rapidly when you spend specific amounts when you first get your card. This card does not provide standard travel insurance, though rental car insurance may be included.

American Express

American Express, also known as Amex, offers both charge cards (for which the balance is due at the end of every month), as well as revolving credit accounts. American Express developed its gold card in the 1960s in response to business traveler needs.

Depending on the kind of card you qualify for, you can earn loyalty points that can be applied to hotels and other travel products. You may also qualify for travel insurance (at no extra charge), no exchange rates on foreign currency, preferred rooms and seating arrangements in hotels and on airplanes, 24/7 travel assistance and access to private airport lounges.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This card by Chase offers significant loyalty point increases for the purchase of travel products. In addition, cardholders also receive a travel protection plan that covers things like rental cars, lost luggage, and travel delays. 24/7 customer service is available by phone, and many foreign transaction fees are waived by the bank.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

This is a co-branded card from both Citibank and American Airlines' AAdvantage loyalty program. Benefits include the opportunity to earn loyalty points on all purchases, VIP treatment at airports, one free checked bag per journey, and a travel concierge to assist with travel planning. Cardholders can also get access to hard-to-get event tickets and other perks that can turn a trip into a memorable occasion.

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

This card is reserved for customers of U.S. Bank, but offers some excellent perks: The annual membership fee is mostly offset by a travel credit and the loyalty points are generous. Foreign transaction fees are waived, and travelers can enjoy free WiFi passes, discounts on private car services, reimbursements on TSA Pre-Check service, and membership in a service that provides access to airport lounges.

Final Word

Fortunately, credit card companies are well aware of how important their cards are to travelers. This offers you a full range of options when it comes to choosing your favorite card, or cards, for travel.

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