Do you love to travel but hate to pay full price for your flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel expenses? If so, you might want to consider getting a credit cards that earns travel points.
Travel points are a type of reward that you can earn by using your credit card for purchases. You can then redeem your travel points for various travel-related expenses, such as booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. Depending on the credit card and the redemption option, you can save a lot of money or even travel for free with your travel points.
However, not all credit cards that earn travel points are created equal. Some offer higher rewards rates, bigger sign-up bonuses, lower annual fees, more flexible redemption options, and other benefits and perks that can make your travel experience more enjoyable and rewarding.
In this article, we will help you find the best credit card that earns travel points for your travel goals and spending habits. We will explain the factors that you should consider when comparing credit cards that earn travel points, and we will introduce the best credit cards that earn travel points of 2023 based on our research and analysis. We will also show you how to maximize your travel points by using some smart strategies and tips.
How to Compare Credit Cards that Earns Travel Points
When it comes to choosing a credit card that earns travel points, there are several factors that you should consider, such as:
- Your travel preferences: How often, where, and how do you travel? Do you prefer domestic or international travel? Do you fly with a specific airline or stay at a specific hotel chain? Do you like to travel in style or on a budget? These questions can help you determine what type of credit card that earns travel points is best for you. For example, if you are loyal to a certain airline or hotel brand, you might want to get a co-branded credit card that earns travel points with that partner. If you like to have more flexibility and variety in your travel options, you might want to get a general-purpose credit card that earns travel points that can be redeemed for any travel expense or transferred to multiple travel partners.
- Your spending patterns: How much and on what categories do you spend? Different credit cards that earn travel points have different rewards rates and categories. Some offer flat rewards rates on all purchases, while others offer bonus rewards rates on specific categories, such as travel, dining, gas, groceries, etc. You should look for a credit card that earns travel points that matches your spending patterns and maximizes your rewards potential. For example, if you spend a lot on travel and dining, you might want to get a credit card that earns travel points that offers higher rewards rates on those categories.
- Your credit score: How good is your credit history and score? Your credit score is one of the main factors that affects your eligibility and interest rates for credit cards. Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for the best credit cards that earn travel points and the lower interest rates you will pay. You should check your credit score before applying for any credit card and make sure it is in good shape. You can improve your credit score by paying your bills on time, keeping your credit utilization low, avoiding too many hard inquiries, and disputing any errors on your credit report.
- Your redemption options: How flexible and valuable are the travel points you earn? Different credit cards that earn travel points have different redemption options and values. Some offer fixed-value redemption options, where each point is worth a certain amount of money when redeemed for travel expenses. Others offer variable-value redemption options, where the value of each point depends on the market price of the travel expense or the conversion rate of the transfer partner. You should look for a credit card that earns travel points that offers flexible and valuable redemption options that suit your needs and preferences. For example, if you like to shop around for the best deals on flights and hotels, you might want to get a credit card that earns travel points that allows you to redeem your points for any travel expense at a fixed value. If you like to take advantage of award charts and sweet spots on flights and hotels, you might want to get a credit card that earns travel points that allows you to transfer your points to multiple travel partners at a favourable rate.
These are some of the main factors that you should consider when comparing credit cards that earn travel points. Of course, there are other factors as well, such as annual fees, foreign transaction fees, sign-up bonuses, benefits and perks, etc. You should weigh these factors according to your personal situation and preferences.
Best Credit Cards that Earns Travel Points of 2023
Based on our research and analysis, here are some of the best credit cards that earn travel points of 2023:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: This is one of the most popular and versatile credit cards that earn travel points. It offers 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It also offers a generous sign-up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 50,000 points after you spend $15,000 in the first year. The annual fee is $95, and there are no foreign transaction fees. The key benefit of this card is the flexibility and value of the travel points. You can redeem your points for any travel expense through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal at a 25% higher value, or you can transfer your points to over a dozen travel partners, such as United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, and more, at a 1:1 ratio. This card is ideal for anyone who likes to have multiple options and opportunities to save on travel.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This is another popular and simple credit card that earns travel points. It offers 2 points per dollar on every purchase, with no limit or category restrictions. It also offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $95, and there are no foreign transaction fees. The key benefit of this card is the ease and convenience of the travel points. You can redeem your points for any travel expense at a fixed value of 1 cent per point, or you can transfer your points to over a dozen travel partners, such as JetBlue, Air Canada, Emirates, and more, at varying rates. This card is ideal for anyone who likes to keep things simple and hassle-free when it comes to earning and redeeming travel points.
- American Express Gold Card: This is one of the best credit cards that earn travel points for frequent travellers and foodies. It offers 4 points per dollar on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It also offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first 6 months. The annual fee is $250, but it comes with several credits and benefits that can offset the cost, such as a $100 airline fee credit, a $120 dining credit, a $100 hotel credit, and more. The key benefit of this card is the high rewards rate and value of the travel points. You can redeem your points for any travel expense through the Amex Travel portal at varying values, or you can transfer your points to over 20 travel partners, such as Delta, British Airways, Hilton, Marriott, and more, at a 1:1 ratio or better. This card is ideal for anyone who spends a lot on dining and travel and wants to enjoy premium benefits and perks.
These are just some examples of the best credit cards that earn travel points of 2023. There are many other credit cards that earn travel points that might suit your needs and preferences better. You should compare different credit cards that earn travel points based on the factors we discussed earlier and find the one that works best for you.
Also Read: High-Yield Savings Account: How to Earn More Interest
How to Maximize Your Travel Points
Once you have chosen a credit card that earns travel points that suits your needs and preferences, you should also learn how to maximize your travel points by using some smart strategies and tips, such as:
- Redeeming your points for the best value: Depending on the credit card and the redemption option, the value of each point can vary significantly. You should always compare different redemption options and choose the one that gives you the highest value for your points. For example, if you have a credit card that earns travel points that can be redeemed for any travel expense at a fixed value or transferred to multiple travel partners at varying rates, you should always check the market price of the travel expense and the conversion rate of the transfer partner before redeeming your points. You might find that transferring your points to a specific partner gives you a much better value than redeeming them directly for the same travel expense.
- Transferring your points to travel partners: One of the best ways to maximize your travel points is to transfer them to travel partners that offer award charts and sweet spots on flights and hotels. Award charts are tables that show how many points or miles you need to redeem for a specific flight or hotel stay based on factors such as distance, region, class, season, etc. Sweet spots are instances where you can get a much higher value for your points or miles than usual by taking advantage of loopholes or anomalies in the award charts. For example, if you have a credit card that earns travel points that can be transferred to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio, you might be able to book a short-haul flight within North America for only 7,500 Avios each way instead of the regular price of 12,500 Avios or more. This is a sweet spot that can save you a lot of points and money.
- Combining your points with other rewards programs: Another way to maximize your travel points is to combine them with other rewards programs that offer complementary benefits and perks. For example, if you have a credit card that earns travel points that can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio, you might also want to join the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program and earn points and status by staying at Marriott hotels. By doing so, you can enjoy benefits such as free nights, room upgrades, late check-out, and more. You can also transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to over 40 airline partners at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. This can give you more options and value for your travel points.
- Taking advantage of special offers and promotions: One of the easiest ways to maximize your travel points is to take advantage of special offers and promotions that can boost your earnings and savings. For example, if you have a credit card that earns travel points that offers a sign-up bonus, you should make sure to meet the spending requirement within the time limit to earn the bonus. If you have a credit card that earns travel points that offers bonus rewards rates on certain categories or merchants, you should make sure to use your card for those purchases to earn more points. If you have a credit card that earns travel points that partner with other programs or platforms, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Offers, Capital One Shopping, etc., you should make sure to check their websites or apps regularly for deals and discounts that can help you save money and earn more points.
These are some of the strategies and tips that can help you maximize your travel points. Of course, there are many other ways to optimize your travel points depending on your specific credit card and situation. You should always do your research and plan ahead before using your credit card that earns travel points.
Conclusion
Traveling can be expensive, but it can also be rewarding and enjoyable if you have a credit card that earns travel points. By choosing the right credit card that earns travel points for your needs and preferences, comparing different factors such as rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, annual fees, redemption options, etc., and maximizing your travel points by using smart strategies and tips such as redeeming for the best value, transferring to travel partners, combining with other rewards programs, and taking advantage of special offers and promotions, you can save a lot of money and enjoy more benefits and perks when you travel.
We hope this article has helped you find the best credit card that earns travel points for you. Happy travels!
