Choosing the Best Card For Travel Points really depends on your individual travel habits and spending patterns. Factors like how often you travel, your preferred modes of transport (air, rail, hotel, etc.), and how your travel expenses compare to your everyday spending all play a crucial role. Are you looking for a single card solution, or are you open to strategically using multiple cards to maximize your rewards? Let’s explore the options to help you find the best card for travel points for your needs.
Understanding Your Travel Needs to Maximize Travel Points
Before diving into specific credit card recommendations, it’s important to consider your personal travel profile. This will help you determine which type of travel rewards card will offer the most value.
Travel Frequency and Style
How often do you travel each year? Are you a frequent flyer who spends a significant number of nights in hotels, or are your trips less frequent but perhaps longer? Do you prefer luxury accommodations or budget-friendly options? Understanding your travel frequency and style will help you prioritize different types of travel rewards. For instance, if you are a frequent hotel guest, a hotel loyalty card might be particularly beneficial.
Spending Habits and Categories
Analyze your spending habits to see where you allocate most of your funds. Do you spend heavily on dining, groceries, or travel itself? Identifying your primary spending categories will help you choose a card that offers bonus points or increased cashback in those areas. Consider breaking down your spending to understand how much you dedicate to travel versus everyday expenses. This comparison is key to determining the overall value of a travel points card for you.
Top Credit Card Recommendations for Travel Points
Based on different travel preferences and spending habits, here are some of the best cards for travel points to consider:
Hotel Loyalty Cards
If you frequently stay in hotels of a particular brand, a hotel loyalty card can be incredibly rewarding. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Card from AMEX, despite a $95 annual fee, offers benefits like a yearly free night award (often covering stays worth more than the fee). These cards are best if you can leverage the specific hotel ecosystem benefits.
General Travel Cards with Broad Rewards
For versatile travel rewards across hotels and airfare, consider cards like the GreenState Federal Credit Union Card. This World Mastercard stands out by offering 5X points on all travel purchases (effectively 5% cashback as a statement credit) with no annual fee. While membership might have some location-based restrictions, joining aligned associations can make you eligible. This is a strong contender for a general “best card for travel points” due to its broad applicability and reward rate.
Versatile Travel Cards for Diverse Travel
For travel beyond just air and hotels, the PenFed Pathfinder card is a notable option. It has no annual fee and earns 4X points on almost all travel categories. Although redemption might be closer to 3.4% in cash equivalent value, the card also offers valuable perks like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck reimbursement and mobile phone protection if your monthly bill is paid with the card. This makes it a versatile choice for various travel needs.
Airline Lounge Access Cards
If airport lounge access is important to you but you don’t frequently use lounges, the US Bank Altitude Connect card could be a good fit. It offers 4 complimentary lounge visits per year and also includes a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. The annual fee is waived for the first year, and will be permanently removed later this year, adding to its appeal for occasional lounge users. Combined with the PenFed Pathfinder, it can cover TSA PreCheck/Global Entry for multiple family members.
Everyday Spending Cards with Travel Benefits
While not strictly travel cards, certain everyday spending cards can indirectly contribute to your travel points strategy. For high everyday spending, consider cards like the Alliant Credit Union card, which offers 2.5% cashback on all purchases up to $10,000 monthly with no annual fee. While 2.5% cashback cards are becoming rarer, they provide a solid baseline return that can be used for travel or any other expenses.
Annual Fee vs. No Annual Fee Cards for Travel Points
A key consideration is whether to opt for a travel card with an annual fee (AF) or stick to no-annual-fee (NAF) options. Generally, it’s advisable to avoid annual fee cards unless you are confident that the benefits you receive will outweigh the cost. Cards with annual fees often come with perks like travel credits, lounge access, or higher reward multipliers, but these are only valuable if they align with your spending and travel habits. For instance, some premium cards offer credits that might require forced spending in areas you wouldn’t normally spend in, just to recoup the annual fee.
For many travelers, especially those who are mindful of expenses, no-annual-fee cards that offer strong category bonuses, like the GreenState FCU card or PenFed Pathfinder, can provide excellent value without the pressure to maximize annual fee benefits.
Conclusion: Finding Your Best Card for Travel Points
Ultimately, the “best card for travel points” is a personal decision based on your unique travel style, frequency, and spending habits. Carefully evaluate your needs and compare the rewards, benefits, and fees of different cards. Consider starting with no-annual-fee cards that offer strong rewards in your primary spending categories and expand to annual fee cards only if you are certain you can fully utilize their added perks. By understanding your travel profile and the diverse landscape of travel rewards cards, you can strategically choose the best card, or combination of cards, to maximize your travel points and make your travel more rewarding.
