Best travel cards for each type of traveler

Written by: Les Masterson
• Updated •2 min read
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Young woman on vacation in ParisImage: Young woman on vacation in Paris

In a Nutshell

Before booking your next trip, check out these travel rewards cards and see which one is the right fit for you.
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We’ve dug into the fine print to find the best travel rewards credit cards for four types of travelers. See which one may be the best fit for your travel needs.

Before choosing a travel rewards card, make sure it makes sense for your lifestyle and matches your spending pattern.

Let’s say you always fly the same airline. In that case, getting a rewards credit card specific to that airline makes sense. But if you like more flexibility, then a better choice might be a travel rewards card that doesn’t limit you to one airline or hotel.

Beverly Harzog, a credit card expert, says there are so many travel rewards categories and subcategories that anyone can find the right card to maximize rewards.

“You need to spend time on this,” says Harzog. “You need to get a card that matches your lifestyle and how you spend your money.”

Bottom line

There are many different travel rewards cards, so with a little research you can choose what’s right for you.

When shopping for a travel rewards card, check if there’s a foreign transactions fee or rewards cap.

Harzog says a card may give you 5% rewards on each $1, but it may cap rewards after you reach a certain limit. So you could get quick points, but your rewards potential could max out within a few months.

There is a card out there for you whether you’re flying for fun or business. Some have hefty annual fees with incredible perks, some offer you more flexibility to gain more points from multiple sources, and others have no annual fees but limited perks.

About the author: Les Masterson has covered presidential politics, local government, personal finance, credit cards, insurance, healthcare and everything in between in his 20-plus years in journalism and content creation. He has won aw… Read more.