Hey Reader,
It’s hard to scroll through travel content these days without feeling like you’re doing something wrong. My Instagram and TikTok feeds are obviously travel-heavy. Lately, it feels like every post is a creator flying first class to bucket-list destinations, staying in luxury hotels, and booking aspirational round-the-world trips for what looks like $1.86, despite rising costs.
If you don’t have a travel credit card, or don’t use it the way influencers say you should, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. Maybe you are. Maybe you aren't.
But if you don’t fly that often, does using a travel rewards card really make sense? We've held our fair share of travel cards over the past decade, from beginner cards to high-fee luxury cards. We've also purposely taken breaks from the travel rewards hustle, since it's not as simple as many experts make it out to be, at least if you want to really maximize your earning potential and rewards value.
Below is an oversimplified overview of travel rewards cards to help you decide whether to get one.
✈️ Types of travel credit cards
Not all travel cards work the same way. Most fall into one of a few common categories. Each type of travel card works differently, and understanding those differences is the first step toward choosing one that actually fits how you travel.
- General travel rewards cards: These earn flexible points that can be redeemed across multiple travel brands through the issuer’s portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
- Airline-branded cards: Airline cards earn miles within one airline’s program and often include perks like free checked bags or boarding upgrades
- Hotel-branded cards: Hotel cards earn points within a specific hotel chain and may come with upgrades, free nights, or automatic elite status
- Premium travel cards: Higher annual fees but more perks like lounge access, travel credits, and insurance protections
💳 What travel credit cards actually offer
Travel credit cards do come with real benefits, but not all of them matter if you only take one or two trips a year. The real value comes from using the right perks at the right time.
Here’s a closer look at the most common perks travel cards advertise, and what they really mean in practice.
- Rewards points or miles: Most travel cards let you earn points or miles on everyday purchases, often with bonus categories like dining, gas, or groceries. Depending on the card, you can redeem them through the issuer’s travel portal or transfer them to partner airlines and hotels for added value.
- Sign-up bonuses: This is how most people quickly earn enough points to book travel. Many cards offer a sizable bonus when you meet a specific spending threshold in the first few months. In some cases, that’s enough to cover flights, hotels, or even an entire trip if timed right.
- Travel credits: Some cards offer automatic statement credits for certain purchases, such as hotel stays, rideshares, food delivery, or even application fees for trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. These can help offset the annual fee if you remember to use them.
- Airport lounge access: Typically limited to higher-tier cards, lounge access makes long layovers and delays more comfortable
- No foreign transaction fees: This perk helps you avoid the 1 to 3% surcharge on international purchases when using a U.S.-based card abroad.
- Travel protections: Travel cards may include additional protections such as trip delay or cancellation insurance, lost luggage coverage, and rental car insurance.
🧳 When they make sense
Travel cards can absolutely be worth it, even if you’re not flying every month. But they only make sense when a few key things line up. You need to take at least one or two trips a year, enough to earn and actually use the rewards.
You also need to pay your balance in full each month. Carrying a balance quickly wipes out the value of your points. Paying on time also helps you avoid late fees, which can chip away at the value of your rewards.
The card's perks should match how you travel. If you don’t check bags, lounge access or priority boarding may matter more than free baggage. If you do most of your travel by car or vacation rental, those perks may go unused entirely. Don't calculate perks you likely won't use into the value of a card when comparing options.
Using your card regularly for everyday purchases can help you increase your rewards-earning potential. Some people treat these cards as part of a longer-term strategy, earning now to use later, which can stretch their value.
🚫 When they don’t
Travel credit cards can also be more trouble than they’re worth. If you carry a balance month to month, interest charges will eat through any rewards you earn. If you only travel every few years or don’t book flights or hotels often, you might not take full advantage of the perks.
Travel cards also tend to favor certain types of travel, like flights and hotel stays. If you mostly take road trips, stay with family, or book vacation rentals, the rewards may not fit your travel style.
And if managing multiple cards, tracking expiration dates, or keeping up with point transfer rules sounds like a chore, the mental overhead might outweigh the benefit. Even adding a card to your existing setup can create more complexity if it doesn’t offer something clearly different or more useful than what you already have.
🧠 Questions to ask before getting a travel rewards card
Still debating whether a travel card makes sense for you? Run through these quick questions before applying:
- How often do I travel by plane or stay in hotels?
If you only fly once every few years, most of the perks might go unused.
- Can I realistically meet the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus?
Earning a bonus shouldn't require overspending or changing your budget just to chase rewards.
- Will I actually use the perks this card offers?
Features like trip insurance, lounge access, or no foreign fees sound great, but only matter if they match your actual habits.
- Do I already have a card that covers the basics?
If your current setup works, adding another card might not offer much new value.
- Am I willing to manage another card?
That means tracking due dates, watching for annual fees, using the right card for the right purchase, and not letting rewards expire.
👍 A few smart alternatives
We love using travel credit cards. Some of our favorite family and couples trips have been made possible by points and miles. But they’re not the only option, and sometimes, it’s just not the right time to open a new card.
Whether you’re keeping it simple or building a long-term rewards plan, there are ways to travel smarter either way. Here are some alternatives to consider:
- Flat-rate cashback card: These cards keep things simple, offering a consistent return on every purchase without tracking categories or redemption rules.
- No-fee card with travel perks: A few solid no-annual-fee cards offer travel-friendly benefits, such as no foreign fees or basic protections.
- Travel-friendly debit card: Some online banks offer debit cards with global ATM refunds and competitive currency conversion rates.
- Stick to one travel brand: If you already prefer one airline or hotel chain, it might be smarter to focus your rewards in that direction.
📝 What we do
We’ve got a mix of everyday cards and a few we like to use when we’re not working toward a new signup bonus. Right now, it’s business as usual. We’re not actively opening new cards, but we’re not closing any either.
When we do think about getting a new card, here’s the general process:
- Start with a goal: We think about where we want to go or what kind of travel we’re planning, such as flights or hotels. If we don’t have a trip in mind, we look for cards with strong signup bonuses or flexible points that can be used later.
- Make sure we can meet the spending requirement: We only apply if we know we can hit the minimum spend without changing our budget or overspending.
- Shift our spending: If we’re approved, we shift most of our spending to the new card until we meet the bonus requirement. We try to time this with larger expenses or higher-spending months, such as the holidays.
- Set a reminder: A few weeks before the annual fee hits, we get a calendar notification to review whether the card is still worth keeping.
- Pay the balance in full: Every month, without fail. We don’t carry a balance. We don’t spend what we don’t have. Paying interest wipes out the value of any rewards.
This isn’t a perfect system. We adjust based on the season, the card, and what’s going on in life, but it keeps things simple.
💬 Which perks matter most?
If you're thinking about getting a travel rewards card, the goal is to choose one that actually fits your needs and priorities, not just what I or any credit card expert says you should get. So, what matters most to you?
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POLL: Which travel credit card perk matters most to you?
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Vote to see results!
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To a life well-traveled,
Kevin