Holly D. Johnson | (TNS) Bankrate
Travel credit cards make it easy to earn rewards — usually offered in the form of points or miles — for certain types of purchases. You can typically redeem your travel rewards for the big expenses associated with your next trip such as flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. Some issuers also let you redeem travel rewards for statement credits and other non-travel options.
Some travel credit cards are associated with a specific airline or hotel loyalty program, whereas others let you earn rewards within a credit card’s rewards program. At the end of the day, you’ll want to understand the type of travel rewards your card offers, as well as available redemption options before you sign up.
Regardless of which type of card you choose, becoming a savvy travel rewards credit card holder can help offset travel costs and enhance your overall travel experience.
Types of travel credit cards
No matter your spending habits and rewards preferences, there’s likely a travel credit card that fits. Top travel credit cards include flexible rewards cards and those that are co-branded with another program, such as hotel credit cards and airline credit cards.
Flexible travel credit cards
Flexible travel cards offer a wide range of options. These cards typically earn rewards points within a credit card issuer’s own rewards ecosystem as opposed to an airline or hotel’s loyalty program. Though options may vary by card, you can usually redeem your rewards for travel through a portal or transfer points to an array of partner airline and hotel programs. The flexibility makes them a good fit for cardholders who don’t have allegiance to any particular airline or hotel chain. General travel credit cards can also come with some pretty nice benefits, which may include airport lounge access or travel insurance protections.Some examples of flexible credit card rewards programs or points currencies include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards, all of which have their own selection of cards for consumers and businesses.The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one example of a flexible travel rewards card. It earns 10X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases. Those rewards can be redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal or transferred to one of Capital One’s travel partners.
Hotel credit cards
Co-branded hotel credit cards involve a partnership between a credit card issuer and a particular hotel chain. These cards typically earn a high rewards rate for booking hotel stays with the brand’s portfolio, and the points you earn can be redeemed for hotel stays, room upgrades and other hotel-related perks.For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines as well as 2X points on all other eligible purchases. You can redeem points for …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
