Travel credit cards for beginners are the best way to travel. They offer flexible terms, great rewards, and competitive interest rates. However, there are a lot of different types of travel credit cards right now, which can make choosing one a difficult task. So, if you’re new to credit cards, it can be hard to know where to start. But we’ve got your back!
From my experience of using credit cards so far, the best travel credit cards especially for beginners are those that offer a low APR, allow you to earn miles or points when you spend money, and don’t charge a foreign transaction fee, among other benefits and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card come handy.
If you’re just starting with credit cards, it can be difficult to know where to begin. In this article, we’ll help you find the best travel credit cards for beginners, recommending our top pick based on experience.
Travel Credit Cards for Beginners
Take into account some of the most important factors when choosing a card: can it help you earn rewards? Is there a travel insurance plan? What are the fees? And what are the rewards like?
So, if you’re ready to get started on your path toward becoming a master of travel credit cards, check out our list below!
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#1. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is our best overall pick. A great card for anyone who likes to travel, and it offers many benefits that other cards don’t have. Below are some of the benefits why you ought to choose this card.
Features of Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. You can use the points to book travel through Chase’s travel portal or transfer them to other frequent flyer programs like United Airlines MileagePlus or Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Plus Miles.
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This means that you will be able to get $625 in travel rewards if you spend $4,000 within three months of opening your account. This is a very strong offer because it is worth much more than the $95 annual fee that comes with the card.
Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has an annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $95 after that. There are no foreign transaction fees on this card.
Annual Travel Credit
A $300 annual travel credit after you spend $3000 in the first three months of opening your account (this can be used toward airfare, hotels, rental cars, and more)
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APR Period
Another great feature of this card is its low intro APR period. The intro APR period on this card is only 12 months, which means that you won’t have to worry about paying high-interest rates or paying off your balance before it’s due.
This makes it much easier to pay off your balance every month than other cards on the market which have much higher APRs over time. However, the regular APR ranges from 16.74% – 23.74% Variable.
Rewards
As for rewards, you will earn 2x points on travel as well as dining at restaurants everywhere & 1 point per dollar spent on every purchase. Also, you get to earn a 25% bonus on redemption value when you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards.
You get a 1:1 transfer rate if you want to convert your points to partner airline miles or hotel points.
Importantly, the benefit gets better as you don’t get charged a foreign transaction fee.
Credit Score
The last thing we love about this card is how easy it is for anyone to qualify for its benefits without having any credit score issues or negative items on their credit report! Chase monitors credit scores and pulls reports from multiple agencies so they can give their customers
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#2. Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is considered the best for no fee and cashback card with purchases at different merchants, including gas stations, education expenses, medical expenses, and restaurants. The cashback rewards are relatively high, ranging from 1% – 5% depending on how much you spend.
Features of Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card Intro Offer includes an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back
This means you’ll earn 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% at drugstores as well as on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and 3% on all other purchases.
Reward
The card also offers a $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months of having the card. This means that you’ll earn $150 in free money after spending only $300 total for the first 3 months!
Also, the card offers a “Client Cash Back” category, which pays you 3% cash back on all purchases. It also offers a 1% cash back on rotating categories every quarter, and a flat 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You can also earn 5% Cash Back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs with your Chase Freedom Unlimited card!
APR Period
You can also get a 0% intro APR on all purchases for 15 months. You get a 16.49% – 25.24% Variable afterwards.
Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card has an annual fee of $0.
#3. Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is our top pick for as best for no Annual Fee Charge. The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers several features that make it stand out from other cards, including:
Sign-Up Bonus
You earn 25,000 online bonus points equivalent to the value of $250 if you make a minimum of $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. This point can be redeemed as a statement credit toward travel and dining purchases
Solid Reward Program
You’ll earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases, and points can be redeemed for cash back or travel rewards. The more points you earn, the more value you get out of them.
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Annual Fee
No annual fee. There are no fees to worry about with this card—no foreign transaction fees, no late fees, and no over-limit fees!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is included when registering for the card! If you’re traveling abroad and decide to use your card at an airport lounge, this will protect you from theft or loss if something happens while using the card.
Reward
Fortunately, you will earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, and there is no expiration on points.
APR Period and Foreign Transaction Fee
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card features a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles for purchases. After that, a variable APR currently of 15.49% to 25.49% will apply.
Also, there are no foreign transaction fees when you use this card abroad, which means that you won’t pay any extra fees when travelling overseas.
#4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most flexible rewards credit cards available. It offers a cash-back rewards program and an opportunity to earn miles and points with every purchase making it the Best for Busy Travelers.
New Card Member Bonus Offer
You get to earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on all purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
APR Period
A variable APR currently of 17.49% to 25.49% will apply.
Annual Fee and Foreign Transaction Fee
You will be charged a $95 annual fee which is less compared to other credit card options available in the market, making it a great option for those who need to travel frequently.
Also, you will not be charged foreign transaction fees when you use this card abroad, which means that you won’t pay any extra fees when travelling overseas. Also, a Late Payment Fee of up to $40 is applicable.
Reward
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is designed for users who want to earn rewards for their spending. The card gives you a chance to earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.
Not just that, you will earn an unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Also, you will get $100 credit toward Global Entry or PreCheck, and 2-Capital One lounge passes per year.
#5. American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is considered to be the best for foodies. Considered to be among the most prestigious credit cards in the world, and for good reason: it offers some of the best features on the market. The card’s benefits include:
Sign-Up Bonus Offer
The first thing you’ll notice about this card is that it has an excellent signup bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards Points if you meet certain criteria of spending $4,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of account application.
APR Period
A variable APR currently of 17.49%-24.49% will apply to all eligible charges.
Annual Fee and Foreign Transaction Fee
The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee, but it comes with a lot of benefits. Also, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Reward
You can also earn points when you use your card, which means that if you make purchases at restaurants, shops, or gas stations, for example, you earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com; 4X Membership Rewards Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; 4X Membership Rewards Points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
What Kind of Credit Card is Good for Beginners?
The best kind of credit card that is good for beginners is the Cash back credit card
The Cashback Credit Card is a credit card that rewards you for your purchases. It is designed to help you reach your financial goals and meet your spending needs, so it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a way to earn cash back on every purchase you make.
With the Cashback Credit Card, you’ll earn cash back that you can use toward future purchases.
They’re also a good way to earn more cashback, which can be used to pay down your debt or put toward other expenses. The amount of cashback depends on what kind of spending category or type of payment you choose at the time of signup.
Cash back offers a certain amount of money back in the form of a statement credit every month that you use your card. The amount varies depending on the type of card you have and how much you spend, but it’s usually between 1% and 5%.
With most cash-back cards, you can redeem points for gift cards or airline miles. Some cards offer generous bonus offers and rewards like cash back on travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, rental cars and more.
To qualify for these rewards programs with a cash-back credit card, you’ll need to meet certain spending requirements every month to receive your rewards. Interestingly, many cash-back credit cards are designed with no annual fee.
If you are an avid spender particularly in categories, like groceries or dining, it is best you choose a bonus category card rather than a flat-rate card, considered the best option for those with varied spending looking for an everyday card.
Can I use my Credit Card in Other Countries?
Yes! You can make use of your credit card in other countries outside of your home country with establishments that make use of credit cards. If your credit card is a Visa or Mastercard, you have nothing to fear as they are widely accepted worldwide.
Best Beginner Credit Card
Discover it Cash Back is the best beginner credit card. The card comes with lots of benefits and allows you to build your credit while offering cash back on every purchase.
Discover it Secured Credit Card allows you to earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants if you spend up to $1,000 on all purchases each quarter. You will also earn automatically 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
No credit score is required to apply, you will enjoy a $0 annual fee, and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, afterwards 14.49% – 23.49% Variable APR applies.
Which Credit Card Should I Apply for Travel?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is great if you want to travel and earn rewards. The rewards program at this card is known as Ultimate Rewards, and there are two ways to earn points: with purchases and with spending.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a credit card that offers many benefits. It has a signup bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
You earn rewards such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3x on dining and; 2x on all other travel purchases, and many more benefits.
The card has no annual fee, which means it will cost you nothing each year to carry. However, if you carry a balance on this card for more than 12 months then there will be an annual fee of $95 that is waived the first year you make at least $15000 in purchases with this card each calendar year.
Further benefits include no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for international purchases.
Travel Credit Card Benefits
Using a travel credit card can help you be more prepared for your next trip. Whether it’s a family vacation or a business trip, using a credit card that offers travel benefits can help you save money and make sure you have the things you need. The best travel credit cards offer:
- Rewards: Some cards offer rewards for frequent spending on travel expenses such as flights and hotels.
- Discounts: Some cards offer discounts on purchases like luggage fees, car rentals, and even airline food.
- Priority Boarding: Some cards offer priority boarding when flying with specific airlines. This can allow you to skip the lines at security checkpoints and get to your destination faster.
- Accessible Seating: Some credit cards have additional perks like access to first-class seats or VIP treatment at hotels.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on taking a trip soon, travel credit cards can help you save money on flights, hotels, and car rentals. The best part is that they’re not just for vacations: they work well for business trips too.
So, if you’ve been thinking about going on vacation but haven’t quite gotten around to it, now’s the time!
