CardHub Picks Best Credit Cards for Winter, Holiday Travel

CardHub.com, a leading credit card comparison website, announced its picks for Best Travel Credit Cards for Winter 2014.

“While American wallets are getting a bit of a break these days thanks to low oil and gas prices, a volatile stock market and economic growth concerns are likely to send consumers searching for deals. Initial rewards bonuses, in particular, have displayed impressive and continued growth in the post-Great Recession environment. It is now possible to get $400 cash, a couple of free flights, or weeks of free hotel nights just by opening the right new credit card.

“But in order to leverage plastic to maximum benefit this winter travel season, you’ll need to find a card that complements your spending and payment habits and then open it far enough in advance of your trip to qualify for your rewards bounty.”

CardHub compared more than 1,000 credit card offers (some are CardHub advertising partners) in order to identify the most rewarding cards for winter and holiday travel.

Here is a summary of CardHub’s Editor’s Picks. For more information about each card as well as CardHub’s money-saving travel tips and expert insights on the outlook for winter and holiday travel, visit: http://www.cardhub.com/best-travel-credit-cards/

Best All-Around Cards

• Capital One Venture Rewards Card: $400 initial rewards bonus and effectively 2% cash back on everything when you redeem for travel-related expenses
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: $400-500 initial bonus, depending on redemption method

Best Airline Credit Cards

• Frontier Airlines World MasterCard: 40,000 bonus miles = 2 free round-trip domestic flights, 2 miles per $1 spent on FlyFrontier.com
• PenFed Premium Travel Rewards Credit Card: $200 initial bonus & 5 points per $1 spent on airfare

Best Hotel Credit Cards

• Club Carlson Premier Rewards: 85,000 bonus points = up to 18 free nights, 10 points per $1 at Carlson properties, 40,000 bonus points each account anniversary
• HHonors Surpass Credit Card: 60,000 bonus points = up to 12 free nights, 12 points per $1 at Hilton properties
• IHG Credit Card: 60,000 bonus points = 12 free nights, 1 free night on account anniversary, 5 points per $1 spent at IHG hotel chains, 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants
• Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card: 25,000 bonus points, redeemable for up to 8 free nights, and 2 points per $1 spent at SPG properties

Best Roadtrip Credit Cards

• PenFed Platinum Rewards Credit Card: 5 points per $1 on gas at any station, 3 points per $1 on groceries
• Blue Cash Preferred from American Express: $150 initial bonus, 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% on gas and department stores

Best Cards for Financing Travel

Buy More Time to Pay for Winter Travel:

• Bank of Hawaii American Express with MyBankoh Rewards: 0% for 18 months and a $100 initial bonus

Reduce Your Existing Debt Burden:

• Slate Card from Chase: 0% for 15 months & no balance transfer fee

 

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Tags: best credit cards for travel, travel tips, winter holiday travel, winter holidays, winter travel