The Credit-Card Comparison Site's Top 3 Travel Cards Keep Fees Low While Making It Easier to Collect and Redeem Rewards Points
LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — If you've ever wondered how to get more bang for your vacation buck, CreditDonkey has the answer: Choose one of its just-announced "Best Travel Credit Cards 2013."
"Travel-friendly cards can make the difference between post-vacation sticker shock and hundreds of dollars in savings," said CreditDonkey founder Charles Tran. "But the savings may not seem significant unless you translate the miles and points into actual dollars. To choose our winners, we looked beneath the surface, focusing on how fast rewards are earned and the flexibility of redemption programs. There's no point in accumulating miles if you can't use them to fly when and where you want, and there's no point in accumulating points if you can't exchange them for travel when you need it."
Two of CreditDonkey's three winning cards offer "only" one point for virtually every dollar spent. However, appearances can be deceptive; these cards have so much more to offer compared to other travel cards on the market:
- With the third-place card, award travel starts at just 20,000 points, which cardholders can redeem for up to $400 in ticket value on more than 150 airlines with no blackout dates. New cardholders can earn 17,500 bonus points after the first $2,500 in net purchases are made within the first 150 days of account opening. The card also features a smart chip for easy international travel.
- With the second-place card, users receive a $100 statement credit on any travel purchases when redeeming 7,500 points. Right now, new cardholders can earn 7,500 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of opening the account. There is no annual fee for the card.
- The first-place winner was a no-brainer. It offers 2x miles on all purchases, and new cardholders earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening their account. There are no foreign transaction fees.
As for downsides, the first-place card comes with an annual fee of $89 (though the fee is waived for the first year); the second-place card charges a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee; and the third-place card charges a 3.0 percent foreign transaction fee.
"In general, the more generous the reward structure and sign-up bonus, the higher the annual fee, so it's no surprise that first-place card on our list comes with an annual fee," said Tran. "The surprise is that the fee is waived for the first year. For international travelers, the main benefit is the no foreign transaction fee. Most cards charge these fees, which add about 3 percent to your purchases. If you plan to travel internationally this summer, keep this in mind when choosing which credit cards to bring."
To see CreditDonkey's Best Travel Credit Cards for 2013, as well as tips for choosing a card that's right for you, visit CreditDonkey.com