Compare travel credit cards

Choosing The Five Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

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  Value –What is the most return you can expect from a credit card, in cents per dollar spent.
  

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  Flexibility – Since everyone hates earning miles that they can’t redeem, how can cardholders redeem awards for travel services from multiple providers.
  

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  Costs And Fees – A top travel rewards card should have reasonable fees that are more than justified by its rewards and benefits.
  

Here are the updated offer details:

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  Starpoints® bonus: earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
  
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  That's enough for a weekend getaway to a Category 4 Hotel.
  
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  Free Hotel Nights: redeem Starpoints at over 1,100 hotels in nearly 100 countries worldwide - with no blackout dates. Some hotels may have mandatory service and resort charges.
  
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  Free Flights: redeem Starpoints on over 350 airlines with SPG Flights - with no blackout dates
  
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  No limits on the number of Starpoints you can earn
  
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  $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
  
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  Terms and Restrictions apply.
  

Here are the latest offer details:

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  Get 25,000 Membership Reward® points after you make $2,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first three months.
  

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  Plus, get one year of Amazon Prime after you sign up for a new membership with your Card and meet the spending requirement in the same time period.
  

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  As an Amazon Prime member, you get unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items on Amazon.com.
  

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  No foreign transaction fees. No matter what country you're in, when you use your Platinum Card there are no Foreign Transaction Fees.
  

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  Premium Access- Gain exclusive access to unique experiences from special entry to food festivals to VIP packages at concerts.
  

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  Terms and restrictions apply.
  

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  2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
  

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  Earn 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $200 in travel
  

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  Redeem your miles for any travel expense
  

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  No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don’t expire
  

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  Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  

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  No foreign transaction fees
  

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  $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
  

Cardholders earn on point for most purchases, with double points for all dining and airfare transactions, and triple points for travel booked through Chase’s site. Points are then worth one cent each, or 1.25 cents for travel booked at their site.

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  40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months- that's $500 toward travel rewards!
  

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  2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
  

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  Get 20% off airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises when you redeem through Ultimate RewardsSM
  

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  No foreign transaction fees
  

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  Receive a 7% Annual Points Dividend on all new points earned on purchases - even on points already redeemed
  

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  1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs - that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points
  

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  Direct access to expert service advisors anytime
  

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  Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95
  

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  Earn one point per dollar spent on most purchases, with five points per dollar spent on airfare.
  

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  Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for gift cards, but 1.6 cents towards airfare purchases.
  

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  Use this card to purchase airfare and you can earn eight cents per dollar spent (5 points x 1.6 cents per point) towards future airfare purchases.
  

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  20,000 points available as a sign up bonus; worth $320 towards an airfare purchase.
  

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  No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
  

No discussion of rewards credit cards is complete without the warning that these products are only best for those who always pay their balances in full and never incur interest. Everyone else should use the card with the lowest APR. That said, if you do pay your balance off every month, and you love to travel, then you have much to gain by applying for and using one of these top travel rewards cards. Join me in the exciting world of those who regularly travel for free.

Chase British Airways Visa Chase British Airways Visa is a solid product even if you don't travel to Europe. British Airways Avios are great for short-haul redemptions on their oneworld partners like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Flights 600 miles and under are only 4,500 Avios. No foreign transaction fees on this card either. The current sign up bonus is 50,000 Avios when you spend $2,000 within three months.

5US Bank Club Carlson Visa My dark horse choice for one of the best cards is the US Bank Club Carlson Visa, which not only has a lucrative sign up bonus (85,000 points after $2,500 spend within 3 months, $75 annual fee), but one of the most valuable hotel credit card perks: you get a free night whenever you redeem points for stays of two days or longer. This is especially lucrative on two night stays since you only need the points to redeem for the price of one night and you get the second for free, essentially getting half off your award

Part 1 of 4 – The Simple Dollar 2014 Rewards Credit Card Series

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  Part 1: General Rewards Credit Cards
  
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  Part 2: Airline Credit Cards
  
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  Part 3: Cash Back Credit Cards
  
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  Part 4: Hotel Credit Cards
  

After comparing all the cards, I found a clear choice. The best rewards credit card is the Barclaycard Arrival(TM) World MasterCard® – Earn 2x on All Purchases.

To come to this conclusion, I used a data-driven process to select the top rewards credit cards from a list of nearly 200. After comparing the data from all of the rewards cards, I eliminated the weaker cards until I was left with the top three.

The three best rewards credit cards for 2014 are:

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  Barclaycard Arrival(TM) World MasterCard® – Earn 2x on All Purchases
  
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  Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
  
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  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  

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  Versatile rewards earning potential (2x on all purchases or 2x on important purchases)
  
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  Unlimited rewards (no caps on earning)
  
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  Consistency (no rotating categories, signing up to get rewards, or confusing offers)
  
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  Redeem for anything (cash back, travel, exclusive events, and more)
  
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  Long-term stability (quality financial institutions, no reason to close your account)
  
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  Hefty, easy-to-achieve sign-up bonuses
  
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  Earn points or miles back for redeeming rewards, not just making purchases
  

The competition was tough in this group. The cards below didn’t make the top three, but don’t beat yourself up if you own one of them. These are still some of the better credit cards available, but they’re not quite as good as the ones mentioned above.

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  Earn 1.5 points per $1 on every purchase every time, with no annual fee
  
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  Earn 10,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases that can be $100 towards travel purchases
  
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  No limit to the total number of points you can earn and points don’t expire
  

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  You only earn 1.5 points per $1 on every purchase, which is less than the top cards.
  

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  1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and no annual fee
  
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  One-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
  
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  No limit on the miles you earn and miles don’t expire
  

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  You only earn 1.25 points per dollar on every purchase, which is is 0.75 less than the best cards.
  
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  The sign-up bonus is only average at 20,000 bonus points.
  

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  Get 20,000 Bonus FlexPoints after the first $3,500 in net purchases in the first 150 days
  
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  Award travel starts at just 20,000 FlexPoints (up to a $400 ticket value) on over 150 airlines with no blackout dates or redemption fees
  
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  Earn two FlexPoints for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, or airline purchases — whichever you spend most on each monthly billing cycle — and on most cell phone expenses
  
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  Earn Triple FlexPoints for your charitable donations
  
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  $0 Annual Fee* the first year, after that $49
  
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  Earn 3,500 bonus FlexPoints each year when you spend $24,000 in Net Purchases. You can redeem these FlexPoints for your annual fee or combine them with other FlexPoints for travel.
  

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  The sign-up bonus is half as much as some of the top rewards cards and you have to spend much more to achieve it.
  
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  Earning two FlexPoints for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, or airlines is on par with the other top cards.
  
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  You don’t earn 2:1 rewards points on everything, but these are big enough categories to capitalize on unless you eat out a lot.
  

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/best-airline-credit-cards/

http://goeurope.about.com/cs/currency/a/atm_use_europe.htm

Things you need to know about traveling with an ATM card

ATM tips and strategies

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  Shorten your PIN. If your PIN is longer than four digits, you may need to get a new number. Many foreign machines don't like longer codes or letters in a PIN. You can get letters translated to numbers by asking your bank.
  
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  Max it out. Making many small withdrawals increases the number of per transaction fees. Get as much as you can and stash it in a safe place.
  
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  Don't get dependent. If you're nearly out of cash get replenished at the first opportunity-don't wait until you end up in a cute little burg with only 1 malfunctioning ATM. They do run out of money at times.
  
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  Test it! Make sure your card works. Don't just rip it off its paper backing and stuff it in your money belt on your way to Munich--try it out in an ATM at home first.
  
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  Know your numbers. Make sure someone at home who's accessible while you're on vacation has your credit card info. I mean someone you trust, of course. Make a copy of your card and take it with you--and keep it in a different place from where you carry your card.
  
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  Take two, ya never know. Have a different card so that you have a backup. Make it a different bank so you'll have access to more machines.
  
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  Watch out for weekends. There have been reports that some European banks don't update their databases over the weekend. That means that if you've withdrawn the max on Friday, you may not be able to get more money on that card until Monday morning.
  

Alternatives to the credit or debit card: Prepaid or Stored Value Travel Cards

One option that some people find attractive is the prepaid card. The principle is this: you plan your travel expenses, add a little for unseen expenses, and put that amount into an account accessible by the travel cards you order. You aren't borrowing the bank's money--you're just making your money available through ATMs. A popular card is the Visa TravelMoney Card. A variation of this card is also available through your local AAA.

Advantages of a Stored Value Card:

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  No credit check needed, since you're using your own money.
  
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  You can get cards for the whole family, and have control over the spending limits of each.
  
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  Uninterrupted access to your funds if your card is lost or stolen when you take a second back up card with you.
  

The last word: What currency items I take to Europe

Ok, so you're all set for your attack on European ATMs. You've got a couple cards and a plan. Doncha feel just a little shaky about the whole thing?

I know I do. Sure, folks tell me there's always a functioning ATM in the airport. Why bring any cash at all? And traveler's checks--they're so, well, 90s!

I tend to bring a couple hundred dollars of the first local currency I'll encounter. Sure, in my bleary-eyed, jet-lagged state I could amble over to the ATM while my bags tumble off the conveyor belt and get money. It's just nice to know I can function in a country right off the plane, without any surprises.

I also take about 500 dollars worth of traveler's checks I get free of fees from my local AAA. I don't even try to cash them. They're just there for security reasons; it's a light backup. I usually end up spending them later in the US before they've gotten so soiled and wrinkled from being carried around you can't read them.

Bring a list of emergency numbers. Because 800 numbers can only be used in the United States and Canada, be sure to get a local number for your bank that you can call if your card is lost or stolen

http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips

Tips on Using ATMs in Europe

How to use a European cash machine: Insert card, pull out cash. By Rick Steves

Throughout Europe, cash machines (ATMs) are the standard way for travelers to get local currency. European ATMs work like your hometown machine and always have English-language instructions. Using your debit card at an ATM takes dollars directly from your bank account at home and gives you foreign cash. You'll pay fees, but you'll still get a better rate than you would exchanging cash dollars at a bank.

Ideally, use your debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo to take money out of ATMs. Before you go, confirm with your bank that your debit card will work in Europe and alert them that you'll be making withdrawals while traveling — otherwise, they might freeze your card if they detect unusual spending patterns.

ATM transactions made with bank-issued debit cards come with various fees. Your bank may levy a flat $2–5 transaction fee each time you use an ATM, and/or may charge a percentage for the currency conversion (1–3 percent), on top of Visa and MasterCard's 1 percent fee for international transactions. Most bank ATMs in Europe don't charge a usage fee, but watch out for "independent" ATMs, which have high fees. Run by companies such as Travelex, Euronet, or Forex, these machines are often found next to bank ATMs in the hope that travelers will be too confused to notice the difference.

If your US bank charges a flat fee per transaction, make fewer visits to the ATM and withdraw larger amounts. (Some major US banks partner with European bank chains, meaning that you can use those ATMs with no fees at all — ask your bank.) Quiz your bank to figure out exactly what you'll pay for each withdrawal.

Since European keypads have only numbers, you'll need to know your personal identification number (PIN) by number rather than by letter; to determine this, just take a close look at your hometown bank's keypad. Plan on being able to withdraw money only from your checking account. You are unlikely to be able to dip into your savings account or transfer funds between accounts from a European ATM.

Bringing an extra ATM card provides a backup if one is demagnetized or eaten by a machine. Make sure your card won't expire before your trip ends. You do not need a chip-and-PIN card to use a European ATM — your standard magnetic strip card will work fine.

Ask your bank how much you can withdraw per 24 hours, and consider adjusting the amount. Some travelers prefer a high limit that allows them to take out more cash at each ATM stop, while others prefer to set a lower limit as a security measure, in case their card is stolen. To avoid excess per-transaction fees, I usually go with a higher maximum. Either way, it's a good idea to monitor your account while traveling to detect any unauthorized transactions.

Be aware that many foreign ATMs have their own limits. If the ATM won't let you withdraw your daily maximum, you'll have to make several smaller withdrawals to get the amount you want. Note that few ATM receipts list the exchange rate, and some machines don't dispense receipts at all.

In some countries (especially in Eastern Europe), an ATM may give you high-denomination bills, which can be difficult to break. My strategy: Request an odd amount of money from the ATM (such as 2,800 Czech koruna instead of 3,000). If the machine insists on giving you big bills, go to a bank or a major store to break them.

If you're looking for an ATM, ask for a distributeur in France, a cashpoint in the UK, and a Bankomat just about everywhere else. Many European banks have their ATMs in a small entry lobby, which protects users from snoopers and bad weather. When the bank is closed, the door to this lobby may be locked. In this case, look for a credit-card-size slot next to the door. Simply insert or swipe your debit or credit card in this slot, and the door should automatically open.

Before you go:

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  Call your bank to let them know your travel dates in Europe and to find out more about using your debit card abroad.
  
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  Since European ATMs will only take funds from checking accounts — not savings — make sure you have enough in your checking account before you go.
  
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  Bring at least one credit card and one debit card, ideally with a Visa or MasterCard logo.
  
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  Make sure you have a four-digit PIN number (no letters) for all of your cards. Allow time for your bank to mail you a PIN if you don't know it.
  

When making a withdrawal:

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  Try to use ATMs at banks during banking hours. If there's a problem, someone in the bank can probably help.
  
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  Avoid ATMs that are not provided by a bank. Independent ATMs charge outrageous fees.
  
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  Grab your cash and card quickly; some ATMs suck back the cash after 30 seconds.
  
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  Try to take out large amounts at one time to avoid frequent ATM trips and repeated withdrawal fees.
  
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  Don't use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it's an emergency; you'll be charged a high cash-advance interest rate.
  

If your card doesn't work:

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  Try a different ATM. (Don't re-enter your PIN if the ATM eats your card.)
  
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  Try a lower amount; the ATM may have a withdrawal limit.
  
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  Try later. Your card's 24-hour withdrawal maximum is based on US time, or your bank's network may be temporarily down.
  

http://voices.yahoo.com/money-tips-american-traveling-europe-currency-4896250.html?cat=3

Also, if a waiter or shopkeeper offers to charge your purchase in dollars rather than the local currency, always decline! This is almost always an opportunity for you to be ripped off with a very poor exchange rate. Buy things in the local GBP, euros, or kroons only and let the credit card company handle the exchange rate.
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3870.html

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