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3 Ways Travellers Can Save Extra Money with their Credit Cards

Responsible credit card holders know that it is possible to make these credit cards work to their advantage.

By: Geraldine Mills + Save to a List

Most people think that having a credit card can be a liability as this can be an exposure to more debt. However, responsible credit card holders know that it is possible to make these credit cards work to their advantage.

In fact, credit cards can even save you money, especially when you’re travelling.

Let’s take a look at 3 of the most common ways to save extra money with credit cards when travelling.

Get Credit Cards with Cash Back Offers

It goes without saying that cash back offers in credit cards is one of the most effective ways to save money on your purchases. It’s actually a convenient means to get more value from what you pay for, and can sometimes feel like you’re throwing money when using credit cards that don’t have cash back offers.

Supposing you can accumulate 1 point for every dollar you spend on your credit card, which you can either redeem for travel perks, special items, service discounts, and others. While banks that offer cash backs doesn’t literally send you checks as cashback, you can get credits applied to your account, helping you cover monthly payments – which is as good as cash!

Imagine how much money you spend on your travels – from your airline ticket, your hotel payments, the food you order, even down to trinkets you buy overseas. Simply using cash back credit cards to pay for these items allows you to earn points and cashback you can use for future travels. Just make sure you already have the money to pay for your expenses when you swipe your card and enter your credit card details.

Get Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Imagine if you already have a travel credit card since the very first trip you went on: you’ll already have loads of rewards that you would have used on your succeeding travels. Simply having a dedicated travel rewards credit card can save you money by using these rewards for your other travels as well.  

Look at it as a cycle of rewards: since you will already have the funds ready when you travel, you can earn something by just using a travel rewards credit card instead of by simply paying with a regular credit card. You can use this credit card to book for the lowest airfare rates and book hotels, then redeem the points you accumulate from these purchases for future travels.

There are also rewards offered by some credit card companies that you’ll never even realize you needed until you already have to use it. There are select travel rewards credit card that even offers insurance coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions, which will usually cost you a lot more if not for this reward. Other travel rewards offer that can make your trip more enjoyable are waived baggage fees, as well as a reduction in or removal of foreign transaction fees.

Just make sure to take note of your bank’s rewards system. Banks and credit card products usually have different point accumulation tables, and offer varying rewards for their customers. Go for credit card products that provide you with higher points for the best reward offerings.

Get Credit Cards with Loyalty Rewards

Most hospitality brands, especially international hotel chains and airline conglomerates, will have credit card partners that let its customers earn additional rewards or points when they pay using their affiliated credit card companies. In many cases, these loyalty points are rewarded to their customers through additional miles or extra points, which will help you save money for your travel.

Additionally, most of these credit card companies will also have affiliated car rental companies and even partner restaurants and resorts that provide more points whenever you visit them and acquire their services. And since more people are shopping on the internet, banks and credit card providers are getting more online shopping partners. Simply shopping on their partner sites will provide you with added rewards points.

Exploring the world sure is a fun thing to do, especially if you have the capacity to do so. However, it won’t hurt to save a few bucks just by simply using a specific credit card for your overseas trips. Make your life easier and more rewarding by keeping these tips in mind.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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