Destination Reward Cards

Believe it or not, even in today`s rocky economic climate, applying for a credit card may just get you the vacation of a lifetime. Seem a little too good to be true? Destination rewards cards have been around for a while, but so many people miss out on the rewards because they either haven`t heard enough about them or end up falling back on major air mile rewards cards. No matter your situation, destination rewards cards can help make your next vacation more affordable.

It`s important to keep in mind that you should only charge what you can afford to pay off at the end of the month. This is especially important with travel cards. Any interest paid on the bill or late fees charged will actually end up costing more than the points you are accumulating, making the points worthless. Be sure to check the terms and compare cards before applying and learn how to use it wisely in order to maximize your chances of getting a discounted or free vacation.

Disney is known as the place where dreams come true, but so many families simply can`t afford to make the trip to this magical theme park. The Disney Rewards Visa credit card allows you to earn one percent in Disney Dream Reward Dollars for every purchase made on your rewards card. This means that for every $100 spent on making Visa card purchases, you earn one dollar that can be put toward Disney offerings and products. It may not seem like much, but that`s something that can add up after a while. Saving only 10 Disney Dream Reward Dollars means a free meal at any Disney theme park. 74 Disney Dream Reward Dollars equals a 1-day child theme park ticket. Just imagine how much you can save with purchases you already make.

Universal Studios offers an American Express rewards card that earns you double points on grocery and gas purchases. Earning points means that you can get discounts on select theme park purchases, theme park tickets and annual passes, vacation packages and other travel rewards. Universal Studios Annual Passholders even earn triple points on their rewards card on in-park purchases, which helps those points add up even faster.

Even banks have jumped on the destination rewards bandwagon. Bank of America offers a Norwegian Cruise Line MasterCard credit card that earns you one point on every dollar spent in retail purchases. You even earn 10,000 bonus points after making your first qualifying purchase and there is no annual fee. Points can be redeemed for cruise discounts, cruise tickets, stateroom upgrades, on-board credits and much more.

The Virgin credit card at Moneysupermarket.com allows consumers to earn college points that can be used toward Virgin Atlantic flights. This card is especially popular due to its competitive balance transfer offer. Depending on the card, you may earn as much as 6,000 air miles after making your first purchase and customers are entitled to discounts on Virgin vacations and other offerings. Most rewards cards require that you have good credit, so be sure that your credit history is strong before applying

Applying for the best hotel credit cards

Credit cards or plastic money are of great help as you are able to use it to purchase any items without even thinking about the money for the time being. Similar is the case with the hotel credit cards. You can use the hotel credit cards while travelling to a new place. But before you get such cards, it is important for you to check with your affordability and also the terms and conditions of the hotel credit card so that you do not incur huge debts. For, if you fall knee deep in debt because of the usage of hotel credit cards, you may have to seek help for debt relief from professionals.

Applying for hotel credit cards

If you are a frequent flier hotel credit cards may be the best for you to make the payments during your stay in a different place. You may get excited with the offers that you may receive in your mail about the reward programs and free stays in the hotels that these hotel credit card companies offer you. But, before you apply for any such card, it is better to check with all the details of the cards and compare with the different offers.

It is always important to read the terms and conditions of the card carefully without missing any points. It is also important to understand the fees and the way in which the hotel credit card is going to work. You can also read the various hotel credit cards reviews in order to choose the best hotel credit card. There are in fact numerous offers and also different types of offers.

Beforehand, there were mainly two types of hotel credit cards. The first was a simple hotel credit card in the true sense and through the card you could earn extra points for staying with a hotel. There was also another type of hotel credit card that allowed you to transfer the card reward points to another frequent guest program. Before, the credit card issues simply used to offer you a chance to redeem the points for any of your hotel stays as long as you are able to book with their online travel agent. But there have been some changes recently. The hotel credit card issuers have started to partner up with hotels and the online agents with the help of their shopping portal and thus are offering various exciting offers and rebates.

There are also various strategies that you will have to consider before applying for such cards. Some hotel credit cards allow you to pay part of the stay in the hotel with points and the other part in cash. This can help you to up the redemption value of the credit card. The redemption value also changes depending on the online hotel rates. So, you will have to consider all of these factors before you apply for the hotel reward credit card.

 

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How can I accumulate credit card rewards on travel?

Tips on getting the best credit card rewards from your travel

Saving money on vacation and travel isn’t just about finding the best deals and discounts. You also want to get the best value possible on a vacation you’re going to enjoy, advises the American Automobile Association (AAA).

As Americans cut back on discretionary spending, there are great travel bargains to be found. There are also plenty of ways you can use your cash rewards credit card to get an even better value for your money.

Not only can you earn cash rewards, airline miles or points with a rewards credit card—you can also score some great affiliate partner deals. If you use your credit card for booking travel you may be able to take advantage of special partner offers or incentives. Many rewards credit cards have generous partner deals or discounts from hotels, car rental agencies, theme parks, and travel and vacation sites.

5 ways to get a great airline deal

Many online resources are available to anybody with a credit card, notes Family.com1. Where, when and how you shop will have a major impact on your financial savings. This family vacation site suggests you comparison shop online travel comparison sites, travel agencies, last minute travel sites, online auction and airline Web sites.

Before you pay for your plane ticket check to see if your credit card offers free flight insurance when you use the card to book travel. Using your credit card to book travel also gives you some added consumer protection if the airline goes out of business without reimbursing you or if you have merchant disputes.

Consider using a rewards credit card that allows you flexibility in travel. If redeeming airline miles using a frequent-flier credit card, National Geographic Traveler2 advises you take into account blackout dates, seat restrictions, alternative airports or partner airlines. Be aware that paying extra for flying during popular times, and added processing fees can add to your costs.

Be flexible about your travel. You may get the best airline deals by booking midweek or during non-peak hours—or by flying into alternate airports.
Sign up for travel newsletters, fare watches and deal alerts from airlines and travel comparison sites. Also check your Sunday newspaper travel section.
Some airlines make special offers and best fares available through the Internet only. Find out if you will be charged an extra fee if you buy the ticket in person or by phone.
When flights are overbooked, consider volunteering to be bumped. The airline is obligated to put you on the next available flight—and will give you a voucher for a free or discounted airline ticket, and/or a meal voucher.
Find out if your credit card includes free travel assistance for things like help with lost luggage or rebooking a flight. Taking advantage of travel assistance benefits from your credit card can save you time, money and hassles.

5 ways to get the best hotel deals and discounts

The recession has been tough for the travel industry, but for vacationers it’s created some of the best travel deals seen in ages, reports ABC News3. The real bargains these days are coming from hotels eager to fill otherwise empty rooms, restaurants and spas, says ABCnews.com. Hotels are slashing rates and throwing in free nights and lavish packages to lure travelers to their resorts.

If you’re using a rewards credit card to reserve your hotel room, check to see if your credit card has special partner offers from hotels or travel Web sites like Travelocity, Hotwire or Hotels.com. You may also be able to redeem your credit card rewards, points or miles for hotel stays.
If you’re looking for great deals during holidays or weekends—check out hotels that cater to business travelers rather than tourists.
Ask about corporate or association discounts on hotel rooms. Many hotels offer discounts to seniors, students, firefighters, police, teachers and military personnel. Be sure to take your corporate ID and membership cards such as AARP and AAA with you.
Contact the hotel directly to ask about specials, ask for a free or courtesy upgrade, or see if the hotel can beat their room rates advertised on third-party Web sites.
Add-ons like free meals, spa credit, 2-for-1 deals, upgrades or extras like show tickets and golf outings make a good hotel deal an even better value.

Comparison of Small Business Credit Cards

Small business owners who have the option to open a business line of credit are in for a treat: numerous business card choices are available, and each provides a number of benefits and rewards opportunities that can help the business owner in whatever his needs happen to be. Whether the business owner spends a great deal of time flying from place to place or just spends a lot of money in trying to expand and grow business, the right card is out there. Sorting through the options can seem difficult, so business owners looking for a credit card should review the different card types carefully.

Hotel Cards

Some business credit cards are focused on business owners who travel frequently and stay in hotels often. The best hotel-based credit cards offer point-for-dollar returns on hotel costs, so that the business owner can earn enough points to pay for hotel rooms in the future. What is more, most hotel credit cards are not limited to a single hotel. For instance, the Starwood Preferred card from American Express gives business owners points in all Starwood hotels: Sheraton, Westin, and W Hotels. In addtion, business owners can earn points with Hyatt by using this card.

Airline Cards

Business credit cards that offer airline points are among the most popular for business owners who travel frequently by air. Some airline-based credit cards are specific to an airline–such as Alaska Airlines or Delta Airlines–while others provide broader rewards to air travel. In the former case, the business owner should check to see if the airline points are limited to that airline or if they can be transferred to partner airlines. For instance, Delta Airlines is partnered with other companies, such as Air France, KLM and Hawaiian Airlines. For any airline-specific card, business owners should look closely at transfer points.

Business Reward Cards

Business rewards cards tend to be a great option for small business owners who remain local and just prefer the rewards for spending money as they expand their business. The best business rewards cards offer low-to-no interest and extensive points for dollars earned. For example, Bank of America’s WorldPoints Rewards for Business Visa Card offers one point for each dollar spent, and the Platinum Plus for Business MasterCard provides the option of free employee cards with spending limits. On the other hand, the Chase Business Rebate Card provides 3 percent cash back on any business-related purchase.

Ink Card

Special mention goes to the popular “Ink” cards from Chase. The Ink Cash card has no annual fee and free credit cards for employees, in addition to 3 percent cash back at most retain locations and rewards checks for money spent. The Ink Bold card comes with no interest charges, rewards for each dollar that is spent (everywhere), travel benefits that include access to airport lounges and free business advisers through the Chase network.

Plum Card

The also-popular Plum Card from American Express provides a range of business rewards, including a 1.5 percent discount on any early payment made within 10 days of the purchase and a two-month deferment period for late charges. In addition, Plum Card owners’ annual fee is waived for the first year.

About the Author: Kristie Lorette started writing professionally in 1996. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and multinational business from Florida State University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Publications include Bill Savings, Money Smart Life and Mortgage Loan.

Five kinds of credit card rewards

Credit cards are now being offered by scores of banks and other financial institutions in order to attract more customers. These cards offer a variety of promotional schemes and discounts to present and prospective customers. Of these the most attractive and talked about are the rewards offered by credit card companies in the form of cash or kind or redeemable points. Let us look into five of the most common rewards offered by credit cards.

Air Travel

Many cards offer frequent flier points or free tickets based on the usage frequency and volume on the card. To start earning such rewards, the card must be used for a certain minimum number and volume of transactions. Some companies offer an introductory bonus of a certain number of airline reward points to the applicant once he gets a new card. But one must be careful to redeem those points within the stipulated time and on the specified sectors, after which they lose their validity.

Hotel Stay

Some credit cards offer a free night at certain designated hotels after the user reaches a certain minimum number of points on his card. Generally these rooms will not be available on weekends and holidays, so the card holder must plan his stay accordingly. Like airline reward points, these types of cards are useful for people who travel frequently.

Fuel Surcharge

Some credit cards allow you to get the fuel costs reduced by partially or fully waiving the fuel surcharges every time you use the card at a gas station for refuelling your car or bike. Given the ever increasing price of fuel, this card is a smart move for people with high mileages on their bike or car.

Shopping incentives

This is a facility that most cards provide because the maximum usage of credit cards is at shops and restaurants. These cards offer progressively increasing slabs of discounts on purchases as the card holder keeps on increasing his purchases. These cards if judiciously used can make the pocket pinch much smaller when one goes on a shopping spree.

Cash Back

Instead of reward points, many credit card companies offer 2 to 5% cash back on purchases and timely payments. Suppose a card is offering cash back of 5% on a card whose bill for a particular month is $100. If the customer pays $100 within the last date of payment, then he will have a credit balance of $5 in the next billing cycle, which would be adjusted against future purchases.
At the time of applying for a credit card, a customer would do well to clearly understand the rewards program of that credit card and compare it with those of other cards, to derive the maximum benefit out of the credit card.

Calculating cash back credit card rewards

One of the many benefits of using credit cards is the different rewards that can be availed through them. The rewards are associated with the purchase of items and they benefit both the customers as well as the credit card companies. On one hand the customers get to enjoy the different types of rewards and on the other the credit card company can remain assured that the use of their card will remain a steady source of interest earning for the company.
Need to calculate cash back credit card reward points
The reward points offered by different companies stand to be a major factor when customers choose a card for their use since various companies have different types of rewards for credit card users. It can either be in the form of cash back, airline free miles or discounts at gas stations or other eateries etc. Of all the reward types, cash back is the most popular among customers.

Many credit card companies do not declare openly the percentage of cash back that a customer is eligible for when he scores a certain amount of reward points. Before making a deal with a credit card company it is therefore pertinent that you understand the calculation parameters followed by the company when calculating the reward points. This would help the customer remain aware of his dues and also calculate his cash back amount.
Method of calculation
Follow a simple method to calculate to know your cash back reward points.
The first step is to understand from the company representative the rate at which a customer earns points on every usage of credit card. More simply, understand the amount of reward points earned for every dollar used on the card.
The credit statement will show you how many points have been earned by you. Calculate the money spent in earning the reward points by dividing the reward points with the rate prescribed. This will give you the amount of money spent in earning this reward point.
This amount can be tallied when compared to the transaction statement issued by the credit card company.
To get the percentage of cash back that is being rewarded for spending of a single dollar, divide the reward points with the results of step two. Move the decimal two places to the right to get the actual cash back percentage.
These calculations will help the customer to choose a card on the basis of the reward points offered. This knowledge will also help them stay aware of their dues and file for any discrepancy if found on the part of the credit card company.

Tips for choosing credit card rewards

Searching for that all-in-one credit card is no more a time consuming uphill task. While there are many lucrative offers from a multitude of companies, you need to identify the one that is customized to your lifestyle. Needs and expenditures vary according to age group and life style. Credit card companies understand these nuances in expectations. They have credit cards rewards schemes that convert bystanders’ into customers.
A student for example, would need a credit card that makes every edible purchase rewarding. Reward points that make purchase of pizza (and drinks!), apparel, groceries and at last books cheaper, are more attractive and suitable to students.

A young working professional would opt for a credit card that gives airline miles to make air travel cheaper. They would even appreciate cash back on fuel purchase to zoom down on that sleek BMW or the Apache! The satisfaction gained from having a credit card that allows you to skip paying, for filling up the gas tank for an entire month, will definitely save you from the next round of unplanned petrol prices hike. If that is not enough, drive down on that (almost) free petrol, to savour the taste of those delectable dishes in your favourite restaurant and get rewards for even that!
Many companies provide equally appealing offers on Cash back bonus. Select a credit card that provides higher cash back bonus offers on goods that you are most likely to purchase. The extra money earned from this hard endeavor can be spent on miscellaneous ventures with your close friends.
If saving your hard earned money is your passion, then go for a reward credit card that gives cash back on every purchase made; groceries, gas, food, travel, shopping (online and offline) to gift vouchers, home appliances, cosmetic and donations to charities are only a few which you may offer a variety of points. You can even select redemption options that are most suited to you, to redeem reward points from the entire range.
So the bottom line is to read the reward policies of various banks before signing up for that credit card! Find one that matches your needs. Opt for a credit card that has low interest rates and a low or no annual fee.
After getting a credit card, make sure that you don’t do anything that allows the Company to forfeit your accumulated reward points. Pay the card bill before the due date. Doing this will not only keep the interest rates low but also keep your reward points alive (literally). In a low cash month, make sure that you pay the minimum amount due for the bill and carry forward the expense to the next month. Many banks provide this facility at nominal charges. Check the rate of interest for minimum payment.
Regularly check the points accumulated after your monthly purchases to redeem any reward points that are about to expire. With an online account you can calculate the reward points and cash back bonus on the company website.

 

Author : Susan Lou is a business consultant with a largest multinational corporation. With a Masters degree in Financial Management and Accounting from Princeton University, she has been an active member of the financial community. She nurtures an interest in writing and regularly writes articles related to finance and business.

Challenges Using Credit Card Abroad