If you’re looking for a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee, we know it can be hard to pinpoint the choice that both fits your lifestyle and offers the right kinds of redemption options. Read on for our picks in these categories.
How to make the most of a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee
Before settling on a travel credit card with no annual fee, it’s important to consider if you’re willing to sacrifice some rewards-earning power just to avoid paying an annual fee.
While the cards mentioned in this article can help you get value for your purchases, most of our favorite travel credit cards charge an annual fee. If you want the most lucrative sign-up bonuses or best perks, you’re likely going to have to pay an annual fee. Otherwise, you might want to consider a cash back card over a travel card.
If you’re set on a travel card, though, then there are several issues to consider to find the right one of you. First, you should figure out how you’ll usually use it and how often. It’s important to break down the benefits each card offers and decide which travel features are most important to you.
For instance, a hotel credit card that offers benefits for a single brand won’t make a lot of sense for you if you’re not particularly loyal to that company. At the same time, an airline-branded card might be the right option if you only fly with that airline.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your travel card’s benefits should suit your regular habits. If you find yourself changing your spending habits or travel plans to fit the card’s offers, then it’s probably best to reassess your options.
How we picked these travel rewards credit cards
Naturally, we started our selection process by pinpointing the travel rewards credit cards with no annual fee. Once we established that list, we focused on the qualities of each card that matter to consumers interested in earning rewards without paying an annual fee.
We settled on the categories in this article because they represent some of the most practical and efficient ways of earning and redeeming travel rewards.
Different people find value in different places. Our goal was to offer a range of options to fit those different needs.