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Travel will be more enjoyable with a travel credit card because of the benefits and extra rewards you'll receive. If you're budget-minded or simply don't travel often, you might prefer a no annual fee credit card so that you don't have to worry about a yearly membership cost. The best travel cards with no annual fee combine the best of both worlds. When used properly, these credit cards can save you money on travel without costing you a dime. Consider taking one of the best travel cards with no annual fee for a spin the next time you plan a trip.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any purchases, or any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Purchases: 0%, 18 billing cycles Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 billing cycles Regular APR 16.99% - 26.99% Variable APR Rewards 1.5 points per dollar Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening 25,000 points
Great for: Unlimited Miles and versatility
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular APR 14.99% - 25.99% Variable APR Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Redeem for Travel or Cash. Easily redeem Miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or get cash 1.5 Miles per dollar on purchases Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Miles match
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Info IconCircle with letter I in it. N/A Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: N/A Regular APR 18.74%, 23.74%, or 28.74% variable APR Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases 1X - 3X points Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Limited time offer. Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $300 cash redemption value. Offer expires 1/10/2023 30,000 bonus points
Great for: Redeeming cash back for travel
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Info IconCircle with letter I in it. N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular APR 16.99% - 26.99% (Variable) Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay Up to 2% cash back Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. $200 cash back
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Purchases: 0%, for 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, for 15 months Regular APR 17.99% - 27.99% Variable Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel 20,000 miles
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. Credit Score: Intro APR Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 0% introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account. After the intro APR ends, 16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR will apply. Purchases: 0%, 18 billing cycles Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 billing cycles Regular APR 16.99% - 26.99% variable Rewards 1.5 points per dollar Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening,which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases . 25,000 points
The best travel cards with no annual fee allow you to earn points or miles without risk of a fee canceling out rewards. If you decide to travel less one year, no annual fee credit cards ensure that you're not paying fees for a card that isn't currently benefiting you. Most importantly, cards with no annual fee also allow you to build up rewards you can redeem on your own schedule, because there are no blackout dates, and the rewards you earn do not expire. What to look for in a travel card with no annual feeIf you want the best travel cards with no annual fee, you'll want to pay attention to the following key features: Sign-up bonusMany rewards credit cards offer a lump sum of points or miles for new cardmembers who spend a certain amount of money within the first few months. This is less common for no annual fee credit cards, but you'll still find a few with welcome offers that can give your points a generous boost right off the bat. A bonus offer of at least 10,000 points or miles is a fair offer for a no annual fee card. If you get a no annual fee card offering 25,000 points or miles or more, that's a generous bonus offer, especially considering you're not paying a yearly fee to use the card. Rewards rateSome cards will offer bonus points on travel spending, while others might offer bonus points on dining or groceries and gas. Go for the card that rewards the type of spending you're most likely to do. Like bonus offers, rewards rates can vary from one card to another. Some cards offer more rewards in special spending categories. For example, a no annual fee card may offer 1.5 points per $1 on select spending categories while paying 1 point per $1 on other spending. This kind of reward rate is fair for a card with no annual fee. If a card is only offering 1 point per $1 on all spending, that's not the best rate compared to other no-fee travel rewards cards we've seen. Redemption optionsEarning big rewards is only half of the equation -- you also have to be able to spend them. Look into the card's redemption options to make sure they will work for you. Some cards offer cash back, others offer airline miles or hotel points. The best travel credit cards with no annual fee offer flexible rewards that can be redeemed for a variety of different things. Interest rateIf you plan to carry a balance, you'll want to opt for a credit card with the lowest interest rate possible. It's wise to pay off your balance in full each month in order to avoid interest charges. Introductory APRSome of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee also come with introductory APR offers on new purchases or balance transfers. An intro APR offer for purchases is great if you want to finance a big purchases -- and an intro APR offer for balance transfers is helpful for paying off debt quickly. Just make sure you pay off the balance before the introductory period ends. Foreign transaction feeSome credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee on all transactions completed in a foreign country. It's charged as a percentage of each purchase and is usually around 3%. If you plan to travel abroad, opt for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. Credit rating requirementIt's important to make sure you have a shot at qualifying for any given credit card before applying. Each credit application shows up on your credit history as a new inquiry -- and that can ding your credit score. The best travel cards with no annual fee require good or excellent credit, which is a FICO® Score of at least 670. Free credit scoreSome of the best travel cards with no annual fee also offer free credit scores or free credit monitoring. This can be a very handy tool for both improving and maintaining your credit score. What do I need to know about travel cards with no annual fee?Types of travel awardsThe biggest difference between travel credit cards and other rewards cards is how points can be redeemed. The best travel cards with no annual fee typically offer two types of redemptions:
Pros and consDepending on how you like to book travel, you may have a preference for one method over another. Statement credit redemptionsMany people prefer statement credit redemptions over portal-based travel cards for several reasons. They're the most flexible method since you can use your rewards to cover any kind of purchase that codes as travel, from bookings through Expedia to local bed and breakfasts and renting a car. This also means travel statement credits are better for saving money on everyday expenses, like a subway ride or an Uber or Lyft. You don't necessarily have to plan a big vacation to take advantage of them. Finally, if you tend to be an excellent bargain hunter, you can take advantage of big travel discounts to book travel with your credit card, then double-dip by using your statement credits to erase the purchase. Travel portal redemptionsOn the other hand, travel portal cards often earn more lucrative rewards, if you know how to use them wisely. Travel portal cards have a few unique advantages:
Tips for useIf getting a big new cardholder bonus and high ongoing rewards for purchases sounds too good to be true, it isn't. However, there are some things to avoid to make sure you're making the most of your card:
If you avoid these two major pitfalls, you can earn high rewards with a travel credit card and redeem your rewards for the highest possible valuation, without paying a dime in fees or interest along the way. What types of no annual fee travel cards are available?There are a variety of no annual fee travel credit cards, including:
The type of card that you get will depend on your travel preferences and spending habits. If you're loyal to one airline, a no annual fee airline card may make sense. A no-fee hotel card may be a good fit if you tend to book stays with certain hotel chains. However, if you book a variety of travel and want more flexibility with your rewards, a general rewards card that offers flat rate rewards may be the best option. Here are some of the best no annual fee travel cards that might work for you, depending on your specific need. Flat rate rewards cards with no annual feeThese cards earn rewards at a flat rate. That means you won't have to spend only on travel purchases or keep track of spending categories to earn rewards. Many of these cards allow you to redeem your points or miles for travel. Here are some card examples. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: This card earns at a flat rate of 1.5 points for purchases, making it simple to earn rewards. You can earn unlimited rewards, and this card also offers a hefty sign-up bonus of 25,000 points after you meet the minimum spend of $1,000 in the first 90 days. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: You'll earn 1.25 miles for every $1 spent on most purchases, and rewards are unlimited. For this reason, most consider this to be a flat-rate rewards card. It's worth noting that If you book hotels or rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal, you'll earn 5 miles per $1 spent. New cardmembers can earn 20,000 miles after spending $500 within three months. Discover it® Miles: You'll earn 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on purchases, regardless of the category. Plus, earning is unlimited. This card doesn't have a traditional sign-up bonus. Instead, Discover will match all miles earned in the first year. If you spend a lot with this card in the first year, this is an extremely valuable bonus. Airline credit cards with no annual feeThese cards reward you for making purchases with a specific airline. If you're loyal to one airline brand, this kind of no annual fee card may make sense. Here are some card examples. Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Cardholders can earn 10,000 miles after spending $1,000 within six months. You'll earn 2 miles per $1 on eligible Delta and restaurant purchases, including takeout and 1 mile per $1 on other purchases. You'll also earn 20% back as a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases. JetBlue Card: This card offers a bonus of 10,000 points after you spend at least $1,000 in the first three months. You'll earn 3 points per $1 on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2 points on restaurant and grocery spending, and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. This card also offers 50% savings in the form of a statement credit when you make eligible in-flight JetBlue purchases. United Gateway℠ Card: This credit card is an option if you fly with United Airlines. You'll earn 1 to 2 miles per $1 spent depending on what you buy with your card. New cardmembers can earn up to 30,000 bonus miles after meeting the spend requirements. When you use this card to make eligible United in-flight purchases, you'll earn 25% back in the form of a statement credit. Hotel credit cards with no annual feeThese cards reward you for making purchases with a specific hotel chain. If you're loyal to one hotel chain or hotel loyalty program, this kind of no annual fee card may make sense. Here are some card examples. Hilton Honors American Express Card: With this card, you can earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible Hilton properties. Additionally, you can earn 5 points per $1 on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations. New cardmembers can earn up to 100,000 bonus points if they meet the spending requirements. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: You'll earn anywhere from 1 to 14 points per $1, depending on what purchases you make, and you'll automatically achieve Silver Elite status by carrying this card. Plus, it offers 30,000 bonus points after you meet the minimum spend. Is a travel card with no annual fee right for me?A travel card with no annual fee is right for you if:
Whether you should pay an annual fee on a travel card is a matter of how much you spend. High spenders may be better off paying an annual fee for the best travel credit cards (which may give more rewards per $1 spent), whereas lower spenders could be better off with a no annual fee travel card. Travel cards without annual fees typically reward cardholders with a yield of 1.5% when miles or points are redeemed for travel. In contrast, cards that carry an annual fee typically offer a yield of 2% or more. FAQs
How do you earn airline miles with a credit card?Ways to Earn Airline Miles With a Credit Card. Choose the Right Credit Card.. Earn a Welcome Bonus.. Use Airline Shopping Portals.. Participate in an Airline Dining Program.. Take Advantage of Airline Partners.. Transfer Miles From Another Loyalty Program.. Earn Miles Through Hotel Accommodations and Car Rentals.. Pool Your Miles.. Is cashback better than air miles?Cash back rewards typically have fewer redemption options compared to points and miles-based rewards, but tend to be more straightforward in their value. The big advantage of cash back credit cards is their flexibility.
What card is best for getting free plane tickets?The Best Airline Credit Cards. Chase Sapphire Reserve®:. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best Overall.. United Club℠ Infinite Card: Best For United Flyers.. Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best No Annual Fee Card for Flights.. Aeroplan® Credit Card: Best Mid-Tier Airline Card.. Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best For Travel Partners.. How can I get my annual card fee waived?Call your issuer
Call the customer service number on your statement or the back of your card, and provide identifying information like your name and account number. Then, ask if you can have a waiver for your annual fee. If this is successful, you're done.
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