Credit cards can be your best friend before and during your travels and no, not because you want to go on a shopping spree with it!
Credit Cards offer sign up bonuses that can earn you enough for a round trip ticket. Just like that, you will eliminate one of the most expensive factors of your trip. They also come in extremely handy because you can earn double or more points on most of your travel expenses, earn miles or points to book award flights or award stays in hotels and lastly have no foreign transaction fees unlike almost all debit card.
What are sign up bonuses?
Sign up bonuses are offered by most award credit cards whether they are for travel or hotel stays. Sign up bonuses can be anywhere from 20,000 to even 100,000 points and those points can be used to pay for airfare or hotel stays at some of the most luxurious hotels.
The following are credit cards that will help you get free travel and hotel stays through their sign up bonuses:
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
The current signup bonus for the Arrival is 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of opening the card.There is a $89 annual fee, but the fee is waived the first year.
The Miles & More Premier® World MasterCard®
There is a $79 annual fee with this card, but if after you make your first purchase, you will get a 20,000 mile bonus plus a complimentary companion ticket.
Chase Sapphire Credit Card
This card has an annual fee, but it’s waived the first year. The Sapphire has a bonus of 35,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. The minimum spend is not small, but if you do manage to meet the requirement, you can transfer the points to an airline program.
This card does not have an annual fee and you can earn 40,000 if you meet the $1,000 minimum spend requirement in 4 months which is enough for a free night at a Hilton.
Chase United Explorer Card
This card has an annual fee, but it’s waived the first year. You can earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 within the first three months of opening the card. The miles can be used on United Airlines or one of its partners.
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card
The Southwest Rewards Rapid Premier card has a 50,000 point bonus after spending $2,000 in 3 months. 50k is enough for AT LEAST 2 round trips. Shorter WannaGetAway deals can help you take your bonus points much farther. There is a $99 annual fee, but every anniversary year you will get 6,000 points. If you get the business version of the card as well, then with the 110,000 points you’d be closer to earning the companion pass.
Want more tips and tricks for meeting minimum spends and earning credit card points for free travel? Then read my post on How Credit Cards Can Help You Travel for Free!
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