There are a gigantic variety of travel credit cards out there. With this variety comes a significant amount of individuality, but also much more of a chance that you could end up choosing a travel credit card that doesn’t fit your needs at all. Here are five things you can do to make sure you’re choosing the right travel credit card.
1. Consider All the Benefits, Not Just the Most Prominent Ones
When you first look into a travel credit card, chances are that you’ll see some very prominent benefits, like cashback and special customer service options. However, this obviously isn’t all of the benefits available with the card. Look into all the ways you can save with your travel credit card, and see which you’ll actually use the most often.
2. Apply for a Credit Card Within Your Credit Score
Applying for a credit card typically hurts your credit score just a bit, which means you want to apply for as few as possible. If you’re rejected for your card, that can be frustrating and have a negative impact on your credit score. Look at what credit scores are typically recommended for the card you’re interested in, and make sure you have that score.
3. Consider the Annual Fee in Conjunction With the Benefits
The annual fee is definitely going to be something that you’re thinking about – many people opt for a card with no annual fee because they mistakenly believe that annual fees are inherently negative for credit cards. In fact, as long as the credit card itself has great benefits, that annual fee might not be such a bad thing. It’s all about balancing the two.
4. Learn How You Can Redeem Your Miles and Points
The process of mile and point redemptions is often more confusing than it seems at first. However, it is distinctly possible to understand what options will give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to redemptions. Look into elements like how you can redeem your miles and points, how many you have to have before redeeming them, and what you can redeem them for.
5. Determine Sign-On Bonuses
Sign-on bonuses are definitely one of the best parts of getting a new travel credit card. However, you need to make sure you know what the sign-on bonus is for a specific travel credit card, as well as how you can claim it. For example, the United Explorer card that has a sign-on bonus of up to 70,000 United MileagePlus miles.
Conclusion
A travel credit card can be an amazing way for you to get more discounts and deals on your travel experiences. However, you need to make sure that you’re getting a travel credit card that you’ll really use, not a credit card that you’ll only use occasionally. These five steps will help you ensure that you get the right credit card for whatever way you like to travel and use your rewards.