Best Travel Card for Beginners

[Anonymous]

I want to take a minute to thank everyone for your helpful replies.

To answer a few questions...no I will NOT be travelling over seas. I never have, and I doubt that I will in the near future. So that is really a non-issue for me.

I am a member of Enterprise rewards/point system.

I am thinking if I do go for a travel card, I should not choose a card that only works for one specific brand (ie: Marriott, Hilton, Southwest only). I like to use different companies, and normally go with whatever is cheapest. Although, the Marriott credit card does look pretty appealling...perhaps, will app for that one in a few years. I may just stick with the cards I have now, and apply at a later time when an AF and the spend for a good bonus is more likely for myself.

I am looking more into the Arrival+ then PC it to the regular Arrival after a year, unless I can justify the fee. Also looking at the BOA Travel Rewards card, as it may be a good fit. One other I am looking into is the Priceline Visa credit card. I have used that website to book some of my most recent travel, and think it might be a good match. Does anyone have this card or no any additional details regarding it?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I recently PC my BoA cash rewards to travel rewards card. No annual fee.$100 sign up bonus for spending 500 in 3 months. 1.5 points per dollar which is 1.5% on travel expenses. 3 points per dollar on travel booked through their travel site (I believe they match competitor prices but I've only seen that claim via nerdwallet). Plus 10% if you have a checking account to with them. Makes sense for me because I have a preferred account t, essentially I get 1.875% on all my purchases.

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Agreed. Takes all the guess work out of it. Also, no foreign transaction fee. Most cards have an FTF of 3%.

[Anonymous]

I love that the card has no FTF, but I hear that BoA rips you off with exchange rate. I think I'll use my quicksilver where I can when I'm overseas.

[Anonymous]

I reccomend AAA member rewards card by BoA

• 3X points = 3% cash back on all travel purchases
• 2X points = 2% cash back on gas, grocery and drug store purchases
• 1 point per $1 = 1% cash back on purchases everywhere else
  
  donwnside to this card is 2% Foreign Transaction Fee
  
  
  

[takeshi74]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Best Travel Card for Beginners

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There's really no such thing.  Best doesn't depend on whether one is a beginner or a seasoned credit vet.  It's a matter of one's spend, needs, wants,. goals, priorities and preferences.  Both beginners and those with experience can and do vary in all of those matters.

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would prefer a card with no annual fee

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As always, consider total cost/benefit -- not just AF/no AF.

With travel cards you have to crunch the numbers and figure out some way to determine value per point/mile.  If you're not willing to go through all that or if your spend doesn't justify a travel card (some do require a large volume to benefit) then a cash back card may be the way to go.  Don't just assume that traveling means that  travel card is the best fit.

[ddemari]

Possibly check cap1 for prequal. I like the venuture1 visa signature. Nice limit and easy sign up bonus.

[CreditMagic7]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I reccomend AAA member rewards card by BoA

• 3X points = 3% cash back on all travel purchases
• 2X points = 2% cash back on gas, grocery and drug store purchases
• 1 point per $1 = 1% cash back on purchases everywhere else
  
  donwnside to this card is 2% Foreign Transaction Fee
  
  
  

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Your siggy shows the BofA Travel Rewards, is this AAA member rewards somewhat better or less?

[Anonymous]

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@CreditMagic7 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I reccomend AAA member rewards card by BoA

• 3X points = 3% cash back on all travel purchases
• 2X points = 2% cash back on gas, grocery and drug store purchases
• 1 point per $1 = 1% cash back on purchases everywhere else
  
  donwnside to this card is 2% Foreign Transaction Fee
  
  
  

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Your siggy shows the BofA Travel Rewards, is this AAA member rewards somewhat better or less?

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Once you get past the bonus factor (it would take $6,667 travel spend on AAA's 3% to break even with Travel Rewards 1.5% + $100 bonus), I would imagine that the AAA card is better if your travel is mostly domestic. For overseas travel spend you'd be effectively earning 1% once you factor in foreign transaction fee compared to the 1.5% for the BofA Travel Rewards. I think VeganMakePeace was suggesting AAA because OP said he/she had no plans to travel overseas.

[Anonymous]

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@CreditMagic7 wrote:

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Your siggy shows the BofA Travel Rewards, is this AAA member rewards somewhat better or less?

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I tried to PC my BoA card to AAA but its not possible since its an affiliate card not straight BoA card
I think AAA card is much better card than both Travel Rewards and 3-2-1 Cash rewards
there are no earning cap on AAA
where as BoA 3-2-1 card comes with 1500 per quarter earning cap

[Brax]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@CreditMagic7 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I reccomend AAA member rewards card by BoA

• 3X points = 3% cash back on all travel purchases
• 2X points = 2% cash back on gas, grocery and drug store purchases
• 1 point per $1 = 1% cash back on purchases everywhere else
  
  donwnside to this card is 2% Foreign Transaction Fee
  
  
  

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Your siggy shows the BofA Travel Rewards, is this AAA member rewards somewhat better or less?

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Once you get past the bonus factor (it would take $6,667 travel spend on AAA's 3% to break even with Travel Rewards 1.5% + $100 bonus), I would imagine that the AAA card is better if your travel is mostly domestic. For overseas travel spend you'd be effectively earning 1% once you factor in foreign transaction fee compared to the 1.5% for the BofA Travel Rewards. I think VeganMakePeace was suggesting AAA because OP said he/she had no plans to travel overseas.

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The AAA card gave me a $75 signup bonus last year, although it's not advertised nor mentioned anywhere. I only made $395 in purchases when it credited on first statement, so it is probably a bonus on first purchase rather than some kind of spending requirement.