When travel is a priority, affordability is key to a teacher’s budget. I utilize credit cards heavily in my monthly budget given they are typically paid off once a month. Having travel credit cards boosts your credit score and gives you rewards that are better than simple cash back. The credit card “game” can be confusing, but I hope to show you how to get the most return on your travel through proper utilization of perks and rewards. I typically spend between $1,000 – $2,000 a month on my credit card. I use each credit card equally, except when I first open them. These are the travel credit cards that I currently use along with my thoughts and recommendations on each.
Gold Delta Sky Miles American Express:
Credit Card Details:
This is the original travel credit card I signed up for due to living in Atlanta with Delta as an airline hub. When I signed up for this card back in Fall 2016, I received 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95 every other year. You receive 1 mile per every dollar spent and 2 miles per dollar with every Delta purchase. You also get 1 free checked bag and priority boarding, even if you buy a basic economy ticket.
Credit Card Perks:
This credit card was perfect for my roundtrip flight purchase to Europe for my study abroad. I booked my flight from Atlanta to London to Paris for 30,000 miles. I then booked my flight home from Edinburgh to New York to Atlanta for 40,000 miles. This totals to 70,000 miles for roundtrip flights to Europe with the exact dates and places I wanted. Delta Sky Miles value around $.012 per mile, making it an $840 flight cost. Since I saved $840 for my first trip, the card pays for itself the next 8 years with that one trip. Since that purchase, I have 42,755 miles on the card.
The secret to getting more Delta miles is through a program called Delta Dining. If you visit 3 restaurants within 30 days, you can get up to 3,000 miles. All you have to do is spend $30 at 3 restaurants ($90 total) and write a review. You also earn 5 miles per dollar. In one year with this FREE membership and account, I earned 2,830 by eating at the places I already love. In Atlanta, restaurants like Hudson Grille, Hobknob Tavern, Grindhouse, Einstein’s, and even Johnny’s Hideaway participate in this program. Offer to front the bill at a dinner with family and friends and start earning more miles!
Additionally, to get the most out of your Delta Sky Miles for flights, always check the SkyMiles Deals page before booking a flight. This page is frequently updated and offers great deals domestically and internationally. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, but American Express is typically not accepted as much overseas.
Recommendation:
Overall, I recommend this credit card if you are Delta loyal and live in a Delta hub city (Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle). If you utilize Delta Dining and track Delta Sky Mile Deals consistently, you will gain more value for your card.
(If you sign up for this card through my link, I will be rewarded 15,000 miles as well!)
Capital One Venture:
Credit Card Details:
I signed up for the Capital One Venture in June 2017 for the sole purpose of having a card with no foreign transaction fees. When I added this card, I earned 40,000 points when I spent $3,000 in the first 3 months (50,000 currently). You get 2 miles per dollar spent on every single transaction. There is $0 fee for the first year, then it is $95 a year after that. Every mile or point you earn is worth $.01 every day.
Credit Card Perks:
My first round of points covered $400 worth of travel purchases I made in Europe. When you make a travel purchase on the credit card for trains, hotels, airplanes, hotels, etc. it will show up on your account and you can redeem them for miles. Since I utilized $400 worth, the card has now paid for itself for the next 4 years.
There are multiple ways you can utilize your miles/points. Booking a flight or hotel through the Capital One Venture Card is very easy. Yesterday, I booked two flights on Virgin Australia (which is a Delta partner, so I will get those miles as well). With 40,818 miles built up since June 2017, I utilized 19,510 miles to purchase a $195.10 flight from Cairnes to Melbourne and 8,990 miles for a $90 flight from Melbourne to Sydney. The newest feature to this card is the transfer of the miles to flight partners. I haven’t used this feature yet, but if you fly on these airlines a lot it might be worth looking into.
The best feature of this card is the connection to Hotels.com. If you regularly travel for work, you can earn 10 miles per dollar when you book through Hotels.com and use your card. I earned 3,755 miles for my three-night hotel stay at the Embassy Suites in Chicago.
The last great feature of this card is the $100 fee coverage for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Get Global Entry because pre-check is included. Utilize this credit card when you check out and the cost is subtracted on your statement. They both last for 5 years and you get another year worth of your card fee covered!
Recommendation:
This credit card is great for those once or twice a year travelers who want a very basic travel credit card. It is perfect for an introduction into the travel credit card world, but still has decent benefits anyone can take advantage of. If you are an avid traveler like me, you’ll like find better options – still, this is a great starter card to dip your toes in with.
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
Credit Card Details:
I hesitated to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve for a few years but applied for it in July 2018. I earned 60,000 miles if I spent $4000 in the first 3 months. You get 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The credit card fee is $450, but you receive $300 worth of travel credit. When I went to Banff last summer, 1/3 of my trip was free thanks to this credit card. In reality, the annual fee is $150. However, this credit card also covers the $100 fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check. The annual fee is now only $50 for the first year. Chase Sapphire Reserve also has no foreign transaction fees and gets you into many different lounges with a free Priority Pass access.
Credit Card Perks:
Each mile is worth $.01, but you receive 50% more in value in travel rewards when you book with the card. For example, I saved up my points and booked my roundtrip flight to the Philipines on Air Korea a Delta partner for 71,585 points when the flight cost $1500, saving $700. I also gain the Delta miles well!
In case your travel plans change due to weather or a medical emergency, you do have trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance through this card. If the flight gets changed due to weather or you become sick, the card can cover up to $10,000 per trip and up to $40,000 per year. I recommend using this card when booking on budget airlines.
There is also 1:1 transfer for airlines and hotels on the Chase Sapphire Reserve compared to the Capital One card which is only 2: 1.5. This feature is great for those who might want to stay airline loyal or stay with a specific hotel company.
Recommendation:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is 100% worth it if you are an avid traveler or travel consistently for business. All the perks out-weight the high annual fee and the list of perks continues to grow. The 1:1 transfer and gaining more value for your points through their online travel booking also doesn’t compare to the other credit cards.
Hopefully, you gained some insight about a few travel credit cards that have previously piqued your interest! Whatever card you choose make sure you do the research and it fits your needs. Comment below with which travel credit card you utilize and why.
