Now that the travel restrictions are going to be taken out, people are preparing to travel around the world again. But as we all know, traveling will cost you money, and what is the best way to save up and spend the least money to enjoy your journey to the maximum, by using the best credit card that will assist your journey. The following are some of the best credit cards for traveling in 2021.
Best credit card for a total value
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
One of the most famous and widely known travel rewards credit cards on the market is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Card’s strong return on travel and dining expenditures comfortably compensates its $95 annual fee. In addition, cardholders can use their points to book travel through Chase or transfer them to one of Chase’s 14 valuable and highly reputed airline and hotel partners for 1.25 cents apiece.
Advantages
- Purchases made through Chase Travel will help you earn you five times the points, three times points on dining out, some streaming services, and grocery store purchases made online, two times the points on all other travel, and 1x points for everything else.
- You’ll get a $50 hotel statement credit per year when you book a hotel with Ultimate Rewards.
- Trip cancellation coverage, primary car rental insurance, and lost luggage insurance are premium travel safety services.
Disadvantages
- A $95 annual fee is included, which might be a bit expensive.
After you spend around $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of your account, you’ll get 60,000 bonus points. After that, when you redeem with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you’ll get $750.
Latest Platinum Exclusive Offer
The Platinum Card® from American Express
When it comes to travel benefits and advantages, the Amex Platinum is unrivaled. This Card is well worth the annual premium fee if you value lounge access, elite hotel status, and annual statement credits.
Advantages
- This Card’s current welcome bonus is quite valuable and worth the purchase.
- The Amex Platinum card offers a premium concierge service that can assist you with everything from arranging difficult-to-get reservations to locating location guides to help you plan your next vacation.
Disadvantages
- The $695 yearly charge is only worthwhile if you use the card to its maximum potential. Unfortunately, rare passengers may not get enough value for their money.
- You can only earn bonus credits on specified travel and hotel purchases outside of the current introductory offer, so it’s not a fantastic card for other spending categories.
- The yearly airline fee credit and other monthly bill credits can be challenging to apply compared to the broader trip credits offered by various premium cards.
After spending $6,000 on the Card in your first six months as a cardholder, you’ll earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Credits. The annual fee is $695. The optimal credit score that you should maintain is 670-850. During your first six months of Card Membership, get 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on qualifying purchases on the Card at restaurants around the world and when you Shop Local in the United States, on up to $25,000 in total expenditures.
GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR DELTA BUSINESS FLYERS
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
If you fly Delta frequently and appreciate features like priority boarding and a free checked bag, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card is worth considering.
Advantages:
- On qualifying purchases made directly with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels, you’ll earn 3 miles for every dollar spent; on single qualified purchases of $5,000 or more, you’ll earn 1.5 miles for every dollar spent.
- Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25,000 on your Card in a calendar year to reach elite level faster.
- Priority Boarding in Main Cabin 1
- On Delta flights, the first checked bag is free.
Disadvantages:
- The annual charge is $250.
Spend $3,000 on your new Card in the first three months to earn 90,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $100 statement credit. The offer expires on November 10th, 21st. 670-850 is the recommended credit.
GREAT FOR ALASKA AIRLINES MILES
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card has a diversity of benefits, including a valued reward program called Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This Card opens a lot of opportunities, whether you’re an avid Alaska flyer. To begin, you’ll obtain Alaska’s Famous Companion Pass for $121, free checked bags for you and up to six friends on your account, and 50% off Alaska lounge day tickets, among other benefits.
Advantages:
- You and a maximum of six friends on your account get a free checked bag.
- Several Alaska discounts are available, including 50% off Alaska lounge day passes and 20% off in-flight purchases.
- There are no costs for international transactions.
Disadvantages:
- You’ll get 3x points on Alaska purchases and 1x miles on everything else, which isn’t the best everyday rewards rate.
- The annual charge is $75.
With this offer, you’ll receive 50,000 bonus miles as well as Alaska’s Famous Companion FareTM starting at $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees starting at $22). Make purchases totaling $2,000 or more during the first 90 days of creating your account to qualify. 670-850 is the recommended credit score.
GREAT FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BUSINESS PURCHASES
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The bonus that you receive initially on the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is one of the best offered by Chase. Also, you get points in the four additional areas that are most famous and widely known with businesses. In addition, the Card comes with travel and shopping safeguards and primary coverage for you and your staff while renting a car for business purposes.
Advantages:
- One of the best sign-up bonuses we’ve seen: 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 in the initial three months after receiving the Card.
- To redeem points, go to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Affordable price at $95 per year.
- Primary car insurance is one of the bonus categories that are most relevant to business owners.
- Benefits include cell phone and purchase protection, extended warranty, travel cancellation/interruption insurance, and reimbursement for trip delays.
Disadvantages:
- To obtain the 100,000-point sign-up bonus, you’ll need to spend a lot of money.
- There are no travel advantages.
- Chase’s 5/24 rule applies to card applications.
Spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account to earn 100k bonus points. When redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, that’s $1,000 in cash or $1,250 in travel. 670-850 is the recommended credit score.
GREAT FIRST TRAVEL CARD
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a breath of fresh air in the travel rewards industry. This Card is a great first travel credit card because it has no annual fee, 1.5x points on all purchases, and the opportunity to redeem points for travel purchases on your statement credit.
Advantages:
- There is no annual charge.
- Every dollar you spend rewards you with 1.5 points, with no limitations.
- There are no costs for international transactions.
Disadvantages:
- Other cards come with travel safeguards that this one does not.
- There are no transfer partners available to optimize value.
After making at least a minimum of $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, you’ll receive 25,000 online bonus points, which can be used as a $250 statement credit against travel purchases. 670-850 credit score is recommended
Best reward rates
Citi Premier® Card
Due to its bonus spend categories, the Citi Premier Card is one of the most exemplary beginner travel reward programs. You’ll get triple points not only on flights and hotels, but also at dining places, supermarkets, and petrol stations, giving you a lot of oppurtunities to earn on ordinary expenditures. The most amazing thing about it is that your points are transferable to a variety of frequent flyer programs across every airline alliance. Finally, on single stay bookings of $500 or more, this issuer offers an annual $100 hotel discount bonus.
Advantages
- Diners, groceries, gas stations, air transport, and lodgings earn 3 points for each dollar spent.
- The benefit of $100 in hotel savings per year
- From JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic, points can be transferred to 15 different airline schemes. In addition, transfer to American Airlines for a limited period of time.
- Benefits of the World Elite Master card include an extended warranty, as well as damages and theft security.
Disadvantages
- A $95 yearly fee is included.
- This Card lacks the travel protection that other travel reward cards have.
Earn a bonus of $80,000. Spend $4,000 in purchases during the first three months after account opening to earn ThankYou® Points. The optimal Credit score you should maintain for this credit card is around 670-850
BEST FOR EARNING EXTRA MILES
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an amazing choice for most travelers because of its ease of use and generous rewards. With no bonus categories to remember, you’ll earn 2x miles on every transaction, making it a perfect card for those with busy lives.
Advantages
- This rewards card has a good sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles, which is worth $1,020 according to TPG valuations and not supplied by the issuer.
- Every purchase will give you 2x points, so you won’t have to bother about knowing bonus categories.
- Earned rewards can be transferred to 15+ travel partners or claimed for any hotel or airline transaction for cashback rewards.
Disadvantages
- Less than 1:1 ratio among travel partners
- It does not include large US airlines
Bonus Read – Best airline mile earning credit card deals
RECOMMENDED FOR DINING IN RESTAURANTS
American Express® Gold Card
It offers four times the points on meals at restaurants and supermarkets in the US. There’s also an yearly dining credit of up to $120 at a lot of restaurants across the US, as well as an yearly Uber Cash credit of up to $120 ($10 per month) that can be used on UberEats orders or Uber rides in the US. All of this makes it great for all food purchases, which have become a significant segment of spending. For some benefits, enrolment is necessary.
Advantages:
- 4x in restaurants and supermarkets in the United States (on the first $25,000 in purchases each calendar year; then 1x).
- On flights booked straight-forward with the airline or through Amex Travel, you’ll earn 3x points.
- After spending a minimum $4,000 in the first six months, you’ll receive a 60,000-point welcome bonus.
Disadvantages:
- Bonus categories for travel and ordinary expenditure are weak.
- For those who do not live in the United States, it is less effective.
- Some people may have difficulty using Uber or restaurant credits.
- There are few travel benefits and protections.
Spend at least a minimum $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card during the first six months to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points. 670-850 is the recommended credit score
GREAT FOR TRAVEL CREDITS
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the top premium and most advantageous travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases, and other benefits, you can get an excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the Card.
Advantages:
- Each account anniversary year, you’ll receive a $300 travel credit as reimbursement for travel expenditures made with your Card.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airway travel partners are available to you.
- 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, auto rentals, and Chase Dining through the Ultimate Rewards site, 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, three points per dollar spent on each and every travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
- When you use Chase Ultimate Reward to redeem your points for travel, you’ll get a 50% bonus.
Disadvantages:
- The initial $550 annual price is steep.
- For those who do not travel frequently, this may not make sense.
After you spend a minimum of $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of your account, you’ll get 50,000 bonus points. In addition, when you redeem with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you’ll get $750 towards travel. 740-850 is the recommended credit score. So in conclusion, after careful consideration and by comparing all the mentioned cards, you can decide the best credit cards for traveling in 2021.
