{"id":8672,"date":"2022-04-22T14:00:25","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/?p=8672"},"modified":"2023-10-15T12:26:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-15T12:26:43","slug":"travel-credit-cards-to-get-you-moving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/travel-credit-cards-to-get-you-moving\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Credit Cards to Get You Moving"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”18167″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Traveling can be a lot of fun, and everyone needs a break from everyday life on occasion. And if you have closely followed social distancing guidelines for the last few years, you\u2019re probably itching to get out and see other parts of the gorgeous world again. Before you pack your bags and hit the road, though, there\u2019s another step you should consider taking: applying for travel credit cards.<\/p>\n

Why Should You Use Credit Cards When Traveling? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019m a girl who believes in keeping a little cash on hand at all times, just because you never know when someone doesn\u2019t accept cards or when a card payment system is down. However, I also believe that having credit cards in your wallet is a brilliant idea for several reasons.<\/p>\n

The first is similar to the one about carrying cash: you never know what you might be faced with.<\/strong> Let\u2019s say you arrive at your destination after having saved enough cash for your trip. While there, an emergency occurs like a flat tire, a broken leg, or something similar. You probably didn\u2019t budget that into your travel plans and need a way to pay for those things.<\/p>\n

Another reason is that credit cards tend to be safer than walking around with a pocket full of cash<\/strong>.\u00a0With a credit card, you can call the card provider immediately and freeze your account. Many card providers even allow you to open up their app and lock your card, meaning that even if it\u2019s stolen, they won\u2019t be able to spend your money.<\/p>\n

Another great reason for using travel credit cards is that you earn rewards that can go towards your travel<\/strong>. Getting free or deeply discounted tickets and hotel stays can help you get where you want to be even quicker. This obviously helps before you ever go on your trip, but you might also start earning rewards while on one trip for your next one.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”15781″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Choosing and Using Travel Credit Cards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Travel credit cards can offer some great perks, but you have to be really selective about the one you choose. The following are some important tips to help you do that.[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”Do Choose a Relevant and Beneficial Card” tab_id=”1650748224265-3316a110-93e9″][vc_column_text]If you have to make unnecessary purchases to earn rewards, you\u2019re really just paying for the rewards. You might as well just save the money you need for your travel. So, be sure to do your research. Find a card that earns rewards at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants you already it at, and so on.<\/p>\n

On the same note, the interest rate is incredibly important. If you pay more in interest than the amount you earn in rewards, your card isn\u2019t doing you a bit of good. It\u2019s important that you weigh the cost of using the card against the benefits you earn.<\/p>\n

Choosing a relevant card includes the rewards you earn, too. If you don\u2019t like staying at a particular hotel, earning rewards for that exact hotel isn\u2019t really a perk. Before choosing a card, make sure it actually applies to you and that you will be gaining something valuable from it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Do Be Flexible With Travel Dates” tab_id=”1650748224265-2d9acd53-777d”][vc_column_text]Most airlines and even hotels have blackout dates \u2013 dates they don\u2019t allow you to use your rewards. And of course, these dates fall during busy times. In order to get the full value of your rewards, you\u2019ll need to be flexible enough in your travel plans that you can easily wait for dates that aren\u2019t blacked out. This might be a problem if you have to work around your job and school schedules, or you only travel to visit family during the holidays.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Do Remember It\u2019s Still a Credit Card” tab_id=”1650748571490-122ae9ed-862a”][vc_column_text]What this means is that it still has to be managed like every other credit card. You\u2019ll need to make sure the payment terms, like the interest and due dates, are something you can manage. And be sure the annual fee isn\u2019t ridiculous. You\u2019ll also need to add your payments to your budget and make those payments every month. One way to do this is to use a tool like the Goalry Mall for budgeting and helpful tips.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Don\u2019t Use One If You Never Travel” tab_id=”1650748646153-9d8e5daa-e606″][vc_column_text]Many people dream of traveling, but they never make it happen for various reasons.\u00a0In any event, if you don\u2019t normally travel, a card that earns travel rewards isn\u2019t going to do you any good. It would be better to choose a card that offers rewards you can actually use.<\/p>\n

For instance, if you\u2019re saving for a trip you hope to take \u201csomeday\u201d \u2013 you know, that elusive date in the future \u2013 you\u2019d be better off with something like a cashback rewards card. You can then put away that cashback for your \u201csomeday\u201d trip.<\/p>\n

Why not just save up on travel rewards? Well, because there\u2019s a chance the rewards won\u2019t be there when you\u2019re ready. Some rewards points never expire, but other companies only give you a specified period to use them.<\/strong> Additionally, credit card companies reserve the right to cancel their rewards programs at any time.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the fact that you could lose them if you get into financial trouble. For instance, if you lose your job and can\u2019t make your credit card payment for a month or two, you might lose all of the rewards you\u2019ve worked hard to save.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Don\u2019t Get Caught Up in the Allure of \u201cFree\u201d” tab_id=”1650748724624-4d3ea441-7013″][vc_column_text]It\u2019s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of anything that\u2019s free, right? Travel credit cards are great for racking up \u201cfree\u201d travel, such as airline miles and hotel stays, but there\u2019s a great deal more to consider.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say, for example, that you earn enough rewards that you can get a free one-way ticket to Paris \u2013 somewhere you\u2019ve always dreamed of going. Me, too. Having a free flight there sounds amazing, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

The problem is that you still need money for a place to stay while you\u2019re there. You also need money to eat, get around, and \u2013 hopefully \u2013 enjoy some things. Oh, and you still have to get back home. We\u2019re talking about easily spending a few hundred dollars or more per day on one person, plus the cost of the return airline ticket.<\/p>\n

None of this is meant to stop you from getting a travel credit card \u2013 or to stop you from going to Paris. The point is that getting a piece of your trip for free is great, but don\u2019t let it completely dictate which card you choose.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not going to have the money for the rest of the trip, that free one-way flight doesn\u2019t do any good.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Don\u2019t Rush to Apply If Your Credit Is Low” tab_id=”1650748800531-592f609f-a2d7″][vc_column_text]Again, the point of a travel rewards card is to earn something useful. That\u2019s really hard to do if you have to pay more in interest than you\u2019re earning. We touched on this above, but it bears repeating because your credit plays a big role in this. The lower your credit score, the higher your interest rate. If your score isn\u2019t relatively high, work on it before applying for a card. You can get a travel loan for bad credit<\/a>, and a credit card, but think carefully whether it\u2019s worth it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

5 Cards for You to Consider <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The following are just a few cards we think provide some great benefits. Take a look to see if any suit your needs. If not, use the information provided below to get an idea of what to look for in others.<\/p>\n

1. Capital One Venture Rewards Card<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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