I get a lot of emails from readers asking which credit card is the best one to travel with. I always reply that it’s a difficult question because there are a lot of variables involved. It really depends on how much you travel, what brands you prefer to travel with, what your spending habits are, where you want to use your miles and points, etc. As you can see, there isn’t one easy answer. However, the cards listed below are the ones I consider the best for my travels. Here’s why:
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
If you ask any credit card blogger what their favorite card is, chances are high they’ll say the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. That’s because you can transfer Starpoints to over 30 airline frequent flyer programs (mostly on a one-to-one basis) and redeem them for free flights on over 150 airlines with no blackout dates. On top of that, this card gives users a 5,000 Starpoint bonus when they transfer 20,000 Starpoints to a participating frequent flyer program. What’s also great about Starpoints is that you can use them at over 1,200 Starwood hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries with no blackout dates. There are a lot of other perks too, like free premium internet access at Starwood Hotels, complimentary, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide, no foreign transaction fees on international purchases and more. Currently, they’re offering 25,000 bonus Starpoints after you use your new card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months. There’s no introductory annual fee for the first year, then it’s $95.
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card
Credit Cards Accepted
Photo Credit: Rudolf Amman
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard was the first credit card in the U.S. to offer chip card technology, making the purchase of items overseas easier and more secure. I almost missed a train in Denmark because the machine only took credit cards with chips and if yours didn’t have one, you had to wait in a long line to purchase a ticket from a slow-moving agent. What’s great about this card is that users earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days; enough to redeem for a $400 travel statement credit. (They really should call their miles ‘fixed value points’ since they can cover pretty much any travel purchases.) There are no blackout dates and you can earn miles with all your favorite programs. The trick here is to pay for your travel expenses with the card, then use the miles earned (aka points) to pay off part of the bill. Holders earn 2X miles on all purchases and there are no foreign transaction fees.
www.findmybarclaycard.com
Platinum Card from American Express
I only recommend the Platinum Card from American Express for people who travel a lot—like me. There’s a $450 annual fee, but the card includes great perks like a $200 airline fee credit. You can use the $200 towards change fees, baggage fees and food onboard your favorite airline. It also reimburses your fee for Global Entry ($100 for five years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 for five years), so be sure to pay for those using this card. It automatically offers elite status at Starwood and Hilton hotels and at National Car Rental locations (be sure to call AMEX after you get the card so they enroll you). You’ll also get complimentary Boingo WiFi and best of all, it gets you into 900 airport lounges all over the world including Delta’s, the swanky Centurion Lounges, Airspace Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. There are no foreign transaction fees and they are currently offering 40,000 points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
www.americanexpress.com
Copacabana Beach Vendor
Photo Credit: dany13
Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard
If you fly American Airlines often like I do, then I highly suggest you get their Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard since it gets you and all immediate family members (or two guests) into their Admiral’s Club airport lounges. It costs $450 a year but it’s $50 cheaper than what American Airlines charges for a membership and this card gets you priority check-in and priority boarding. With this card, your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to eight companions traveling with you on the same reservation, you’ll get a $100 credit toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees and 25% off on inflight purchases on American Airlines flights. If you spend $40,000 on this card within a year, you receive 10,000 elite qualifying miles, which is huge in helping you reach the next level of elite status. There are no foreign transaction fees and cardholders earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Currently, they are offering 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard
It’s time to buy a souvenir
Photo Credit: José Manuel Ríos Valiente
Bottom Line
Credit cards are an excellent way to improve your travels, from getting through security quicker to saving money on baggage fees and getting into airport lounges. However, if you cannot pay your credit cards off each month in their entirety then don’t get a travel credit card as their APRs are often way too high. But if you can responsibly manage your credit card payments, there are lots of perks to be enjoyed with the right card!
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