When you apply for a credit card, you are also giving yourselves an opportunity to obtain some great perks. If you decide upon the right credit card and also use it properly you can earn credit card rewards which can be used for free travel. Even if you are ineligible to travel for free, you can use the credit card rewards to get substantial discounts.
Getting Great Rewards Credit Card For Travel
You are generally required to have excellent credit ratings in order to qualify for some of the best credit cards and when the matter of credit card rewards is discussed, your credit ratings need to more than excellent. Therefore, if you are falling short in this respect, you are advised to begin improving your credit by paying attention to past due balances to begin building up a positive history of payments.
When you look for travel rewards credit cards, you are likely to come across a couple of varieties which will be on offer. The first one will be the general purpose credit card which will pay higher rewards on all purchases related to travel. You will also have the option of choosing brand specific credit cards that are offering higher rewards when they are used in a specific hotel or an airline. You can choose the credit card according to your requirements, but, must remember to consider your choices carefully.
You are not restricted to holding just a single credit card. Having multiple credit cards which offer travel rewards will open up possibilities for you to earn extra rewards. Here again, you need to evaluate your choices carefully because some cards may offer you rewards for gas purchases while the others may be restricted only for the reasons of travel.
The possibilities of you being charged an annual fee On the cards you obtain is a likelihood you cannot ignore. The card issuer may waive the charges for the initial year or two but eventually, the fees will become applicable. However, if you manage to earn sufficient rewards for free flights and hotels you will barely notice the fees that are charged.
Charge All Travel Related Expenses On The Credit Card
If you intend to get free travel with your credit card rewards, you have to make an attempt to earn sufficient rewards that can be reimbursed. Your rewards will continue to increase every time you decide to use the card. If you want to maximize your credit card rewards, you are advised to understand the program well in advance. If the card in your possession is offering more rewards on gas purchases you should be using it for filling your vehicles with gas without exceptions.
Do Not Leave Outstanding Balances On Your Credit Card
This is one of the most important rules to follow when you are using any credit card and particularly when you have a credit card which offers you credit card rewards. Making a complete payment at the end of every month will help you to maintain excellent credit ratings and also give you an opportunity to qualify for better rewards. You will also avoid being hefty finance charges if you do not pay proper attention to the outstanding balances on the card because they can very well negate any rewards which you may earn on the cards. Do not ever consider the finance charges as being minimal because they can accumulate faster then you believe.
Stay Away From Transactions like Balance Transfers And Cash Advances
The credit card obtained by you could be offering 0% promotional rate on balance transfers but depending upon the amount of balance you transfer would be liable to pay hundreds of dollars in fees. Over a period of time, you could be losing heavily on the transfers which will also leave your card with less credit available for purchases which will eventually prevent you from earning the rewards you need.
Lookout For Hotel And Airline Loyalty Programs
The credit card in your possession will pay rewards on purchases, but hotels and airlines also have loyalty programs with which you can benefit during your trips. You can sign up for these programs without any charges but you just need to remember that you must use the loyalty rewards number provided to you when booking your tickets or hotel and use your credit card for earning even more rewards.
Do not Forfeit Your Rewards By Failing to Make Payments
Before you begin using your card to earn some credit card rewards, ensure that you read the fine print where you will receive information about how you can forfeit your credit card and the rewards accumulated by making late payments. You wouldn’t want to be left high and dry after working hard to build up the rewards and therefore you are advised always to make your payments on time. Perhaps it will be even better if you can set up an automatic payment with your bank just to ensure you meet the requirements of the reward card program.
Are You Currently Part of A Credit Card Rewards Program? Share Your Experience below 😉
Facebook Caption: Are Credit Card Rewards Really Beneficial?