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Mandiri, Traveloka team up on new credit card for millennials

The Traveloka Mandiri Card comes with various benefits, including more opportunities to get Traveloka Points for Traveloka products, double points for Traveloka transactions, free travel insurance and more.

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tate-owned lender PT Bank Mandiri has partnered with online travel and lifestyle booking company Traveloka to launch a new co-branded credit card for millennials on Friday.

Traveloka Group Operations president Henry Hendrawan said in a statement that in addition to getting more Traveloka points, the credit card holders could also enjoy exclusive promotions and a variety of products that could be exchanged with Traveloka Points.

Read also: Beyond ‘10 new Balis’: New tourism strategy involves nature conservation

He added that because of the variety of offers that the new card provided, the Traveloka Mandiri Card could be considered as a card specifically aimed at Indonesian millennials.

Meanwhile, Bank Mandiri's retail bank and consumer director Hery Gunardi said that tourism was among the main sectors that could enhance Indonesia’s economic growth.

“Our collaboration with Traveloka is in line with Bank Mandiri’s commitment to provide the best experiences for customers and support the tourism and creative economy sectors in Indonesia, particularly in encouraging customers to explore Indonesia, such as the 10 new Bali destinations,” added Hery.

Those who are interested in getting the Traveloka Mandiri Card can submit an application via the Traveloka app. (jes/wng)

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🔊 Call for Vacation

Over the mountains, crossing the sea~ you can do it with Flights ✈️ . Pretty rivers, you can cross by Trains 🚂 , or enjoy the view from various Hotels🏨. And with Xperience 🎡 , you can surely dive into all adventures with friends and family! Don’t forget to use Traveloka Mandiri Card so you can save on vacation, up to Rp550k  ✨ Find more details about this promo below. Booking period: until 31 Dec 2024

IDR 250k Discount Coupon

Valid for reservations through Traveloka App minimum version 3.20.0 (Android/iOS).  

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Number of coupons left: 30

Up to IDR 550k Discount Coupon

Number of coupons left: 20

And enjoy  0% Installment fee until December 2024  🤩

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DEVALUASI: BCA Amex Platinum Kembali Membatasi Penukaran Membership Rewards Menjadi Airline Miles

Review: Kartu Kredit MNC Bank KAI Access

HSBC Menghilangkan Opsi Penghapusan Iuran Tahunan Tanpa Syarat di Kartu Signature?

Review: kartu kredit hsbc visa signature.

Review: Kartu Kredit Mandiri Traveloka Visa Platinum

Kartu kredit dari Bank Mandiri yang melakukan co-branding dengan Traveloka ini tergolong baru karena baru saja diluncurkan pada Maret 2020 lalu .

Kelebihan utama dari kartu ini terletak pada welcome bonus hingga 1.000.000 Traveloka Poin yang bernilai Rp1.000.000 dan earning rate -nya yang cukup bagus meskipun hanya bisa digunakan untuk mengumpulkan Traveloka Poin.

Selain itu, kelebihan lain dari kartu ini adalah Anda bisa memperoleh/menggunakan promo di Traveloka yang dikhususkan untuk pengguna kartu kredit Mandiri Traveloka. Dengan kartu ini, Anda juga akan memperoleh berbagai penawaran menarik dari Traveloka seperti 10% everyday discount untuk Traveloka Experience. 25K weekly Traveloka Eats discount, dan sebagainya.

Transaksi menggunakan kartu kredit ini akan menghasilkan Traveloka Poin untuk semua jenis transaksi, baik di Traveloka maupun di luar Traveloka, yang didapatkan dengan perhitungan sebagai berikut:

• 8.000 Rupiah = 100 Traveloka poin untuk transaksi di luar Traveloka
• 4.000 Rupiah = 100 Traveloka poin untuk transaksi di Traveloka

Tingkat Perolehan (Skor Maksimal: 3.5)

Anda bisa mendapatkan 100 Traveloka Poin setiap bertransaksi sebesar Rp8.000 di luar Traveloka.

Anda bisa mendapatkan 100 Traveloka Poin setiap bertransaksi sebesar Rp4.000 di Traveloka.

PinterPoin memvaluasi Traveloka Poin senilai Rp1/poin sehingga tingkat perolehan yang didapatkan dari transaksi di luar Traveloka jika mengikuti valuasi airline miles PinterPoin setara dengan Rp16.800/mile. Nilai yang didapat adalah 1.

Sedangkan untuk transaksi di Traveloka, tingkat perolehannya setara dengan Rp8.400/mile. Nilai yang didapat adalah 2

Welcome Bonus  (Skor Maksimal: 2)

Jika Anda hanya mengajukan kartu utama tanpa kartu tambahan, welcome bonus yang diberikan adalah 500.000 Traveloka Poin senilai Rp500.000 dengan syarat mengaktifkan kartu dan bertransaksi 1x dalam waktu 3 bulan setelah kartu disetujui.

Apabila Anda juga mengajukan kartu tambahan, Anda bisa mendapatkan welcome bonus berupa 1.000.000 Traveloka Poin senilai Rp1.000.000.

Mengasumsikan Anda mengambil opsi pertama (hanya kartu utama), maka welcome bonu s tersebut setara dengan 2.381 airline miles .

Konvertibilitas ( Skor Maksimal : 1.5)

Kartu ini hanya bisa digunakan untuk memperoleh Traveloka Poin, namun poin tersebut dapat digunakan untuk berbagai layanan di Traveloka, termasuk pembelian tiket pesawat, voucher hotel, voucher makanan.

Selain itu, poin ini juga dapat ditukarkan di beberapa merchant pilihan (walaupun rate konversi yang diberikan memang lebih bagus untuk penggunaan di Traveloka). Nilai yang didapat adalah 0,5.

Bonus Unik & Kerja Sama (Skor Maksimal: 1)

Anda bisa memperoleh berbagai promo yang juga ditawarkan pada pemegang kartu Traveloka PayLater Card . Selain itu, terdapat benefit berupa diskon harian sebesar 10% untuk produk Traveloka Xperience (kecuali bioskop dan event ). Nilai yang didapat adalah 0,5.

Airport Perks  (Contoh: Lounge, Makanan) (Skor Maksimal: 1)

Kartu ini tidak menyediakan manfaat apapun di bandara.

Iuran Tahunan & Kemudahan  Waiver  (Skor Maksimal: 1)

Kartu kredit ini memiliki iuran tahunan sebesar Rp500.000 namun memberikan gratis iuran tahunan pada tahun pertama. Pada tahun-tahun selanjutnya, kemungkinan besar iuran tahunan ini bisa dihapuskan dengan syarat tertentu.

Total Nilai: 3,9  / 10

“Kartu kredit co-brand  yang cukup menarik untuk dimiliki apabila Anda sering bertransaksi di Traveloka.”

Sama seperti saudaranya yaitu Traveloka PayLater Card , kartu ini bisa dibilang cukup niche . Jika Anda sering bertransaksi di Traveloka , kartu ini mungkin cocok untuk Anda namun jika Anda tidak pernah ataupun jarang sekali bertransaksi di OTA tersebut, maka kartu ini bukan untuk Anda.

Hanya saja, seperti yang sudah pernah disampaikan sebelumnya , salah satu pertimbangan utama untuk memiliki kartu kredit ini adalah welcome bonus -nya yang cukup besar untuk kartu kredit entry level / mid-tier . Mengingat annual fee tahun pertama juga digratiskan, maka tidak ada salahnya Anda mempertimbangkan memiliki kartu ini 🙂

Apakah Anda tertarik memiliki kartu kredit Mandiri Traveloka Visa Platinum?

saya ditelpon telemarketing Bank Mandiri akan mengirimkan kartu kredit mandiri traveloka. Perbedaannya kartu kredit yg saya terima nantinya mendapatkan 500.000 Traveloka Poin sebagai bonus.

Apakah memang program 1 juta traveloka poin sudah diturunkan ya ?

Halo Handoko,

Tidak. Bonus Traveloka Poin memang hanya 500.000 poin apabila hanya mengajukan atau diberikan kartu utama.

Bisa review BNI WORLD MASTER CARD. Point nya 2x. Thxs

hallo mau tanya dong yg dimaksud kartu tambahan itu bisa kartu apapun punyanya mandiri gitu ya ? bisa jenis cc apapun yg dikeluarkan bank mandiri

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Review Kartu Kredit Mandiri Traveloka

Bank Mandiri baru saja meluncurkan kerja samanya dengan salah satu perusahaan start up Online Travel Agent (OTA), Traveloka. Kerja sama tersebut menghasilkan Kartu Kredit Mandiri Traveloka.

Lain dengan kartu kredit Mandiri lainnya yang mendapatkan fiestapoin, kartu kredit ini bisa mendapatkan Traveloka Poin untuk transaksi yang kamu lakukan di semua merchant, baik online maupun offline.

Mau tahu apa saja kelebihan dari Kartu Kredit Mandiri Traveloka, lihat lebih dekat keuntungannya di bawah ini:

Kumpulkan Traveloka Poin Lebih Cepat

2x traveloka poin, pertanggungan asuransi bebas premi dengan maksimal pertanggungan sampai dengan rp 1 miliar., diskon 10% untuk produk xperience, bonus traveloka poin.

Dapatkan welcome bonus hingga 10.000 traveloka points senilai Rp1juta.

Free Annual Fee 1 tahun

Gratis 1 tahun tanpa syarat apapun. Setelah itu, Rp 500.000 per tahun (Kartu Utama), Rp. 250.000 per tahun (Kartu Tambahan).

Contactless Credit Card

Berlaku untuk nilai transaksi di bawah Rp 1 juta, sedangkan pembelanjaan dengan nilai transaksi lebih dari Rp 1 juta tetap diperlukan otorisasi melalui PIN atau tanda tangan.

Syarat dan ketentuan untuk mendapatkan kartu

Untuk mendapatkan kartu ini kamu harus memiliki penghasilan 10 juta per bulan untuk mendapatkan limit kartu kredit Rp 5 Juta hingga Rp 1 Miliar.

Bunga dari kartu kredit ini juga sama dengan bank-bank lain yaitu sebesar 2.245% untuk retail dan cash advance. Namun ada biaya 6% dari jumlah pengambilan tunai atau Rp 100.000, mana yang lebih besar.

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Traveloka Mandiri Credit Card Shutter Millennial Traveling Fans

FOR strengthening business in the tourism segment, Bank Mandiri is collaborating with Traveloka. The two companies launched the Traveloka Mandiri Card credit card co-branding. Through this collaboration, travelers can take advantage of more advantages to explore various tourist destinations both at home and abroad.

According to Hery Gunardi, Consumer Director & Retail Transaction Bank Mandiri, Tourism is one of the main sectors that can encourage sustainable economic growth in Indonesia. “This sector also continues to grow and through this collaboration with Traveloka, we believe we can strengthen and increase our market share in this growing sector,said Hery, at the launch of the Traveloka Mandiri Card in Bali (14/2).

Revealed, to the End 2019, the number of Bank Mandiri credit card holders reached 2 million with a financial transaction value of Rp 43 trillion, grow 16% from the previous year. From that value, transactions used for traveler needs are estimated to reach 17%.

Harry added, through this co-brand credit card, he hopes to increase the composition of traveler financing in this business to 20% so that it can encourage the growth of Mandiri's credit card business in the range of 10% at the end of the year 2020.

Meanwhile, Henry Hendrawan, President, Traveloka Group Operations said Traveloka's partnership with Bank Mandiri allows Traveloka to provide added value for Traveloka Mandiri Card users, with the main aim of making it easier for users to meet their travel and lifestyle needs.

“Through Traveloka Mandiri Card, users can not only earn more Traveloka Points, but also can enjoy exclusive promotions and various products that can be exchanged with Traveloka Points. With offers that users can take advantage of, Traveloka Mandiri Card can be categorized as a card specifically designed for the Indonesian millennial generation,said Henry Hendrawan.

Henry also revealed that Traveloka is proud to be able to establish a partnership with Bank Mandiri as one of the largest financial institutions in Indonesia, which allows users to explore remote parts of Indonesia by utilizing Traveloka Points. "We hope that this collaboration can also attract millennial consumers in Indonesia to take full advantage of banking products and services.",Added Henry.

Traveloka Mandiri Card

This co-branded credit card comes with various benefits for users. Including more opportunities to get Traveloka Points for various shopping transactions anywhere, both for Traveloka products and other products outside Traveloka (at all online and offline merchants). Then double the Traveloka Points earned for purchasing airline tickets and hotel products on Traveloka. Also a flexible point redemption mechanism. And free travel insurance and purchase protection.

The Traveloka Mandiri Card will be able to be enjoyed by the people of Indonesia in the next few months by submitting a card application that can be done through the Traveloka application.

Riko Abdurrahman, President Director of PT Visa Worldwide Indonesia said he was proud to be the payment network of choice for Traveloka Mandiri Card. This allows cardholders to shop wherever Visa is accepted, from 61 million merchant locations worldwide.

Traveloka Mandiri Card is also equipped with contactless technology from Visa, which allows users to enjoy fast payment processing, just one tap, without having to enter a PIN or signature for transactions under Rp 1 million. “Not only fast and convenient, payment with contactless technology is also very safe, uses the same security technology as other Visa chip-based cards,” said Riko.

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14 Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

A travel rewards credit card brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Each purchase earns points or miles that you can redeem for travel expenses. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider getting one of that company's branded credit cards. Otherwise, check out the general-purpose travel cards on this page, which give you flexible rewards that you can use without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

Some of our selections for the best travel credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate travel rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer

Citi Premier® Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Hotel credit card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Airline card

Best Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Flat-rate travel rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, luxury travel perks, business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers, bonus travel rewards + high-end perks, hotel credit card, travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee, airline card, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Premier® Card

Our pick for: Triple points in multiple categories

The Citi Premier® Card earns bonus points on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, dining and gas stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well.  Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and an intro APR offer, too. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: United Airlines + best domestic airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Hotel credit card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Small business — bonus categories + big sign-up offer

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Are you in Canada?

See NerdWallet's best travel cards for Canada.

OTHER RESOURCES

How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on April 26 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

About the author

Sara Rathner

How to Maximize Travel Benefits With Multiple Credit Cards

Juggling multiple credit cards can majorly boost your points and miles balance. but before you sign up, consider these tips for minimizing your financial housekeeping..

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Savvy travelers have multiple credit cards—here’s how to do it wisely.

Illustration by Shutterstock

Afar partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the Afar editorial team.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Eye-catching introductory offers are designed to entice new credit card customers. However, for those already loyal to a solid credit card, the excitement of a points windfall is often countered by daunting questions like: Can I have more than one card? Will another card hurt my credit score? Can I get another welcome bonus through the same credit card company? How should I split charges among cards if I get a new one—and make sure I don’t miss payments?

Simply put: You can have multiple credit cards, maintain a high credit score, amass countless points through credit card bonuses, and never miss a payment. As someone who currently holds 16 credit cards and maintains a credit score over 800, I’m living proof it can be done. Why would I want so many cards? Well, besides stockpiling miles and points through welcome offers (and using them at max value for business-class flights and hotel suites), I have found each of these cards to possess enough travel perks or statement credits to keep me in the black on an annual basis. Yep, each one!

Based on my personal experience as a credit card collector—plus my professional experience as a credit card expert—here are some strategic tips for successfully getting and keeping multiple credit cards.

Be honest with yourself before signing up for multiple credit cards

It’s up to you to decide if you can handle a credit limit and not carry a large balance. A big step to mastering a multiple card strategy is the ability to pay on time and in full. That requires willpower. It’s also important to decide if you have the time or will to understand your credit cards and know when (or when not) to use each card. Furthermore, your credit history, credit score, and income are typically strong indicators of application approval, so make sure all of those are in good standing before going on the multi-card route.

What to know before you apply

Before hitting send on the application, you’ll want to be somewhat confident that 1) you’ll get approved and 2) you are eligible for the welcome bonus. For the former, there are rules—both official and unofficial—to be aware of before applying (all of which are floating around the internet). Timing is key. For any Chase-backed card, for example, you’re unlikely to get approved, no matter how high your credit score, if you’ve opened or closed five credit cards in the last 24 months with any card issuer. Though nowhere in writing, Chase’s unofficial 5/24 rule has been verified by countless data points and sometimes includes the opening and closing of accounts as an additional cardholder. If you’re planning on getting more than one card through Capital One, also time your applications correctly: You can only get approved for one card every six months, either personal or business.

You should also be aware of credit card limits among card issuers. Namely, you cannot have more than two personal cards with Capital One at any given time while AmEx generally has a limit of five credit cards. (Note: Chase has no official limit despite the strict 5/24 rule.)

In terms of welcome offers, there can be limitations, too. With American Express, for example, most welcome offers disclose a lifetime language that limits cardholders to one welcome bonus per lifetime per card product. However, getting the introductory offer from The Platinum Card® from American Express , for example, doesn’t preclude you from getting the bonus on the American Express® Gold Card or the Green Card, just the Platinum again (if you had it previously). On the other hand, you can get the bonus for a Chase Sapphire card more than once—but there must be 48 months between the two. That said, you can’t get the bonus for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you have an open Chase Sapphire Reserve® or vice versa.

All this fine print may sound discouraging, but if you haven’t sent out a half-dozen applications in the past year, already landed welcome bonuses for most major cards, and haven’t maxed out your card limits among card issuers, you should be in the clear to apply.

Your credit score will take a small hit for an application’s hard pull. However, if approved, a new line of credit increases your overall credit on your credit report and if paid in full each month, this will lead to a higher credit score as a smaller percentage of your overall credit will be in use.

Add important dates to your calendar

While getting approved is one hurdle, integrating your card into the fold is the next. Once approved, note the terms of the welcome offer, which typically require hitting a certain spend threshold within a specified period (e.g., earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership). You wouldn’t want to miss the bonus by letting your card sit in the mailbox and not using it until it’s too late.

Once you are in possession of your new card, add it to any financial software you may use that keeps track of your bills (I use the free version of Empower while many friends used Quicken Simplifi ). I personally go a step further and mark the welcome bonus end date on my calendar as well as the date for the annual fee. If you are getting a card with a zero percent introductory rate for, say, 15 months, mark that down, too, so you can pay everything off in full once that rate ends.

Another smart move is to request your payment due date be around the same time for every card you hold. You can usually do this online through the credit card website or by calling the number on the back of your card.

Manage your cards wisely

Once you’ve gotten used to your new card—and achieved your welcome bonus—ask yourself what’s next? It’s difficult to manage charges across myriad cards so this is truly where strategy comes into play. This is when it’s time to give your card a purpose, which often depends on the earnings structure by spend category and other benefits of the card. For example, you may want to use an AmEx Gold Card at restaurants since it earns four points per dollar spent worldwide but use the Platinum Card from American Express for airfare to get five points per dollar spent. Yet, it’s a good idea to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for trips depending on your level of risk aversion. Despite three points per dollar spent on flights (versus Platinum’s five), it does provide the best implicit travel insurance when charging travel to the card.

After hitting a certain number of cards, don’t feel obligated to use each one. In fact, keep it as simple as possible (within a complex credit card strategy, that is). Among my 16 cards, I actively use just 4 (aka my core 4). The others I keep (tucked away in a box in my drawer) and gladly pay the annual fee for the benefits and may use only when necessary to attain such benefits. Though I rarely use it, I love and keep my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card . It costs $99 per year, but gives me a free annual night certificate (which I typically redeem for a value over $200) plus upper-rung Platinum status at IHG hotels (which I get to use multiple times per year). This makes it a cost-beneficial winner in my playbook. I scored 150,000 bonus points with the intro offer some years back and have enjoyed my free night certificate every year since.

It’s important to note that some card issuers may consider credit cards dormant or inactive after 12 months of no activity. In the case of my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, paying the annual fee keeps the card active. For my cards with no annual fee, however, I must add a calendar reminder to make at least one purchase a year to avoid dormancy. Once considered dormant, a credit card issuer may cancel the card, which could negatively impact your credit score.

For high-fee cards, you’ll also want to be sure to maximize the perks of your cards. After all, you’ll emerge in the black with these cards if you maximize the statement credits and other benefits. I love to brag about how I get back thousands in credits on my Platinum Card from American Express , which is in my core four.

But my new obsession is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , thanks to a refresh in early 2024. Now, despite a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees ), I am on my way to getting more than twice that in return thanks to credits and benefits galore. I am already earning $120 in rideshare credits annually (allotted in up to $10 back monthly increments after purchases) and $240 in Resy credits annually (allotted as up to $20 back in monthly statement credits after purchases), and I have used my $200 Delta Stays annual statement credit on a stay at a hotel in Doha booked via delta.com. I am now deciding how best to use my Companion Certificate on a first-class flight to Hawai‘i this fall, which could amount to over $1,500 in savings. In total, I estimate to get nearly $2,000 in benefits from this card, and I haven’t even accounted for the card’s free checked bags or Delta Sky Club access. It’s definitely a keeper long term and a wise addition to my credit card portfolio.

While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time and might have changed or may no longer be available.

Bucket list travel on a budget: Expert tips for airfare, loyalty programs, credit card perks and more

Nicky Kelvin from The Points Guy dives into ways to save this summer.

Many travelers have their sights set on summer getaways , but with everything from baggage fees to fuel costs impacting the price of a ticket, "Good Morning America" is asking travel experts to share tips for booking bucket list destinations on a budget and finding savings along the way.

Travel expert Nicky Kelvin, senior director of content for The Points Guy, offered his tips for affordable travel techniques.

Where to find the best flight deals

Kelvin encourages travelers to utilize Google Flights and other free price-tracking tools to compare fare prices and snag the best deal.

He also suggests using both the calendar and map features within Google Flights to see which airports, dates and destinations how the lowest fare.

From the Google Flights homepage on a computer, click "explore destinations" and select a departure city without adding a destination. Then zoom out on the map to see the best prices for destinations all over the world.

Get the most out of free travel loyalty programs

Travelers should be earning points for anything and everything that they are buying or booking from airline and hotels to car rentals, Kelvin said.

In addition to the points that can can help travelers earn free flights and hotel stays, Kelvin said to look for extra perks just for joining.

Hyatt rewards, for example, offers all guests free breakfast.

For Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental, he said you can add your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free.

Loyalty programs are great for airlines too. JetBlue, for example, allows enrolled customers -- even if they don't have enough points for a flight -- to use points for discounts. Plus, with any airline, as you accumulate points to earn status, you can get free seating upgrades.

Travel credit cards with cash back perks

Along with earning points, travel credit cards give you protection for your trip like insurance to help with lost or damaged baggage and trip cancellation protection

Chase debuts new airport lounge: Gourmet menus, sleek interiors, free facials redefine hospitality for airport travel

As for credit cards, The Points Guy team suggests the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as an all-around pick -- you get 75,000 miles after meeting your minimum spend in the first three months. Which Kelvin said is a value of over $1,300.

If you're looking to earn the most miles, he said look to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

"You'll earn the most points on all your purchases with this one," he said.

Finally, if you want a credit card with no fee, Kelvin suggested the Bilt Mastercard, which he said is particularly great for renters because you can earn points on what's likely someone's biggest expense.

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Save money on international phone plans for summer trips

If someone's trip is taking them out of the country, using a cell phone internationally can cost $10 to 15 per day. For a family of four, that's more than $400 for a week.

If your phones support eSIM, Kelvin suggested purchasing a data plan for your destination through an app such as Airalo, Truphone or GigSky.

For example, one of Airalo's global SIM plans costs $9 for one week, which could save a family close to $350 dollars, depending on their existing international coverage.

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