WalletHub Picks Best Credit Cards for Holiday Travel

With the busiest travel season of the year upon us, WalletHub, a personal-finance website, names the best credit cards for travelers © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

With some of the year’s busiest travel dates fast approaching, the personal-finance website WalletHub announced its selections for Winter 2017’s Best Travel Credit Cards, plus key money-saving tips for domestic and international travelers. Applying for the right card now will give people enough time to earn up to $625 in free travel, the company says.

Here’s an overview of WalletHub’s picks, which were selected from more than 1,000 offers due to their particularly attractive travel rewards.

• Best Initial Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred – $625 in travel for spending $4,000 in the first three months; $95 annual fee starting year two.
• Best All-Around Travel Rewards: Barclaycard Arrival Plus – $400 travel statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first three months; 2% back on all purchases when you redeem for travel and a 5% miles rebate; no annual fee in the first year ($89 thereafter).
• Best Airline Rewards: Frontier Airlines Credit Card – 2 round-trip domestic tickets for spending $500 in the first 90 days; 2 miles per $1 spent on flyfrontier.com and 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else; $69 annual fee.
• Best Hotel Rewards: Club Carlson Premier Rewards – 50,000 bonus points after first purchase and 35,000 points for spending $2,500 within 90 days of account opening, redeemable for up to 9 free nights; 40,000 bonus points on account anniversary, worth up to 4 free nights; $75 annual fee.

For the rest of the best offers as well as additional money-saving travel tips, visit: https://wallethub.com/best-travel-credit-cards/
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2016 Travel Credit Card Studies: Save $625 Domestically Plus 11% Traveling Abroad

Athens, Greece. Travelers can save $625 domestically plus 11% when they travel internationally by shrewd use of credit cards and currency exchange © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Up to $625 in travel rewards await the roughly 75% of Americans planning a summer getaway via one of 2016’s Best Credit Cards for Summer Travel, while the 20% of people headed abroad can save an additional 11% by taking advantage of the favorable exchange rates offered by a no-foreign-fee credit card or debit card, according to a pair of studies released by the personal-finance websites WalletHub and CardHub.

Highlights from both reports can be found below.

• Best Currency-Exchange Option: Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card or a no-foreign-fee debit card is the least expensive way to convert currency, saving international travelers 10.84% relative to Travelex, 6.41% compared to banks and credit unions.
• Best All-Around: Barclaycard Arrival Plus: 40,000 bonus miles = $400 in travel rewards; 2.1% back on all purchases when you redeem for travel; $89 annual fee ($0 the first year).
• Best Initial Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 50,00 bonus miles = up to $625 in travel; $95 annual fee ($0 the first year).
• Best Airline Rewards: Frontier Airlines World MasterCard: 40,000 bonus miles = 2 free round-trip domestic flights; 2 miles per $1 spent on FlyFrontier.com; $69 annual fee.
• Best Hotel Rewards: Club Carlson Premier Rewards: 85,000 bonus points + 40,000-point anniversary bonus = up to 13 free nights; 10 points per $1 spent at Carlson properties; $75 annual fee.
• Best Road-Trip Rewards: PenFed Platinum Rewards Credit Card: 5 points per $1 on gas at any station; 3 points per $1 on groceries; potential $15 membership fee.

For the complete list of 2016’s Best Credit Cards For Summer Travel, please visit:
http://www.cardhub.com/best-travel-credit-cards/

To learn more about international currency-conversion costs, see:
https://wallethub.com/edu/currency-exchange-study/21567/

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CardHub Report: Best Travel Credit Cards Offer Savings Up To $625

With some of the busiest travel dates of the year fast approaching, CardHub has announced its selections for the Best Travel Credit Cards for Winter 2015-16 as well as key money-saving tips for people with both domestic and international itineraries. This gives consumers plenty of time to compare, apply and add as much as $625 in savings to the windfall already provided by cheap gas prices and falling airfare rates.

Here is a sample of its picks, chosen from more than 1,000 total offers given their unique ability to produce travel-borne savings.

• Citi ThankYou Premier: 50,000 bonus points, redeemable for a $625 travel statement credit, in return for spending $3,000 in the first three months; no annual fee in the first year ($95 thereafter)
• Barclaycard Arrival Plus: $400 travel statement credit for spending $3,000 in the first three months and effectively 2.1% cash back on all purchases when earnings are redeemed for travel-related expenses; no annual fee in the first year ($89 thereafter)
• IHG Credit Card: 60,000-point initial bonus, redeemable for up to 12 free nights, for spending $1,000 in the first three months; one additional free night each year; complimentary Platinum Elite Status; no annual fee in the first year ($49 thereafter)

For the rest of the best offers as well as additional money-saving travel tips, visit: http://www.cardhub.com/best-travel-credit-cards/

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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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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 and holiday travel.

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CardHub Announces Picks for ‘Best Travel Credit Cards for Summer 2014’

A leading credit card comparison website CardHub.com announced its picks for the Best Travel Credit Cards for Spring & Summer 2014.

Here’s a quick summary of the CardHub Editor’s Best selections. For more information about each card as well as additional money-saving travel tips, visit: http://www.cardhub.com/best-travel-credit-cards/

Best All-Around Travel Credit Cards

• BarclayCard Arrival Card: $400 initial travel rewards bonus & effectively 2% cash back on everything when you redeem for travel-related expenses
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: $400-500 initial bonus

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: 75,000 bonus points = up to 15 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

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: $100 initial bonus, 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% on gas and department stores
• TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express: 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 2% at restaurants and on travel-related purchases, no annual fee for users with a Costco membership

Best Cards for Financing Travel
Buy More Time to Pay for Summer Travel:

• Citi Diamond Preferred Card: 0% for 18 months, no annual fee

Reduce Your Existing Debt Burden:

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

For more complete information, visit http://www.cardhub.com/best-travel-credit-cards.

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