Summer is here and this means many are thinking about their summer vacation plans. But you also have to think about choosing the best travel rewards credit card for your lifestyle. After all, you want to rack up points, discounts and other perks on your travels.
Here's a roundup the best travel credit cards and what they can offer:
Capital One Venture Rewards Visa
This new credit card really gives you impressive incentives. You get double miles on all purchases, and a 10,000-mile bonus if you spend $1,000 in the first three months after signing up. It also has a lower-than-average interest rate that's currently 13.99% and there are no foreign transaction fees. It does have an annual fee, but it's only $59 a year and is waived for the first year.
Hilton HHonors Surpass American Express
If you're a fan of Hilton hotels, this card is a great pick. You get nine points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels, six points per dollar from everyday spending categories and three points per dollar everywhere else, so the points can add up really quickly. You also get a 40,000-point bonus after your first purchase. There's also free "gold" status at Hilton hotels, which gives you access to the executive lounge and airport lounge. It does cost $75 annually. But you can easily get a night at a hotel in the Hilton family of brands for as little as 7,500 points.
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express
The $45 annual fee is waived for the first year, and you earn two points for each dollar spent using Starwood. If you are a regular traveler, you can also transfer the "Starpoints" you have to a frequent flier program. You need to use between 2,000 and 35,000 points for a free night's stay at a hotel. And if you want to redeem points for flights, you need a minimum of 10,000 Starpoints.
Discover Escape
Using this new card costs $60 a year but you have quicker rewards and more bonus miles. You're given two points per dollar spent and you can earn 1,000 bonus points every month for the first 25 months as long as you have one purchase on the card each month. Escape also gives you credit for travel. You get a $100 credit for each 10,000 miles earned. And you enjoy a six-month promotional rate of 0% on purchases and balance transfers, and the APR is a below-average 11.99%.
United Airlines Mileage Plus Select Visa
If you fly United regularly this card is worth it. You pay a $95 annual fee and that gives you the same initial purchase bonuses to the higher-end sister card United offers (that charges a $375 annual fee!). You earn three miles per dollar spent with United, two miles for every dollar spent on "everyday" purchases and other Star Alliance flights. The standard rule of thumb is that a round-trip flight within the U.S. costs roughly 25,000 points.
