Take Advantage of Points to Pay for Your Next Getaway
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Using travel credit cards can open up a whole new world of travel, but it takes a little navigation to get the best bang for your buck. Travel credit cards offer a plethora of rewards and can make that dream vacation, such as a Bonaire vacation, a reality sooner than you think, as long as you’re using the right one for your situation.
For Brand Loyalists
From soda to peanut butter to cars, some people are brand loyalists. Nearly every major hotel, airline and car rental company has a branded credit card for loyal customers. If you have a certain travel brand that you prefer, it pays to get a credit card with that brand. If you’ll only fly Delta or always like to stay at a Hilton, a co-branded card with that company will stretch your dollars. We also recommend looking for self catering apartments Mayfair London with added privacy and all the amenities you require for cooking, washing and living.
These co-branded cards give you bonus points for spending money with that brand. For example, depending on what level of card you hold, you can earn seven to 14 times the points on Hilton-related purchases. This is in addition to the points you earn on other purchases.
While your points will go farther when spending them on travel for that card’s brand, many of the rewards programs do have other travel partners. Points earned on a Southwest credit card, for example, can be turned in for Southwest flights, as well as car rentals, gift cards and travel experiences like the marrakech to fes desert tour luxury.
For Newbies
If you’re new to the travel credit card scene, it’s best to start with a card that makes earning easy and has a simple rewards program for different types of travel. These general cards aren’t tied to one brand and allow you to spend your points in many different ways.
One of the simplest rewards programs is Chase Ultimate Rewards. This rewards program works with both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards, as well as several other cards in the Chase family.
With Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer points to numerous travel partners or spend the points on gift cards and merchandise. You can also book hotels, flights and car rentals through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. View all the travel perks you can get at https://creditrewardperks.com/las-vegas/. If you belong to Chase Sapphire Preferred, points used through the travel portal are worth 1.25 cents rather than 1 cent. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, points are worth 1.5 cents.
For Everyday Spending
If you use your credit card for everyday spending, you might as well be racking up the travel points as you go. In general, most credit cards with rewards programs give users one point or mile for every dollar spent on the card. As previously mentioned, some companies offer extra points for spending in certain categories, which is great unless you never spend money in those areas.
One of the best cards for day-to-day purchases is the Capital One Venture Rewards card. No matter what you buy, you earn two Venture miles for every dollar spent. Every mile can then be used to cover 1 cent of travel purchases on your credit card statement. You can also transfer Venture miles to travel partners. If you are planning a trip to Birmingham soon then also have a look at the wonderful Strathallen hotel in Birmingham, I have stayed there lots and it’s superb.
Points to Remember
No matter what travel credit card you choose, it’s important to spend within your means. Don’t spend money you don’t have, no matter how many points you can get for it. Always pay off your full balance each month to avoid interest fees.
Some travel credit card companies offer large sign-up bonuses that require you to spend a certain amount in a specific time range. If you choose one of these cards, keep track of your spending to be sure you hit the required mark and earn your bonus points.
