How to Find the Best Airline or Hotel Credit Card

Especially if you’ve just recently started traveling regularly, chances are you’ve asked the question: what is the best airline or hotel credit card? Obviously, there are pros and cons to all hotel and airline credit cards, but deciding which one is right for you is an entirely different story altogether. Here are four things to consider when you’re trying to find the best airline or hotel credit card for your needs.

1. Determine What Airline or Hotel You Use Most Often

Obviously, you don’t want to get a credit card that’s for an airline or hotel that you rarely use. If you already tend to default to a specific airline or hotel, it’s a good idea to get a credit card for that specific airline or hotel. Otherwise, consider your existing experience with different airlines and hotels, and think about which one you might be happiest to use on a regular basis.

2. See What Benefits Come for Free From a Credit Card

Many credit cards come with free benefits that might be beneficial to your general traveling regimen. For example, you might be able to gain access to hotel Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment for free. These benefits will be part of the savings that you get through your credit card, so make sure you factor them into your understanding of your credit card.

3. Look at Costly Elements Like Annual Fees

When it comes to a travel credit card, chances are that you’re going to have to spend a bit on an annual fee. While fee-free travel credit cards do exist, they’re often going to give you significantly fewer benefits. This can be fine if you only travel a few times per year, but if you’re always going somewhere new, you might want to choose a credit card that you pay an annual fee for. The extra benefits may even defray the cost.

4. See the Value of the Points or Miles You’re Earning

Actually looking at the value of the points or miles that you’ll earn with your airline or hotel credit card is one of the best ways to understand whether or not a specific card is worth it. While most airline and hotel credit cards don’t post the monthly value of rewards points and miles for customers to see, there are third-party resources that can absolutely help you get this information.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to get the best airline or hotel credit card on the market, it’s important to remember that what’s best for you might not always be best for everyone else. It’s best to check your airline or hotel credit card information with multiple sources and to look for one that caters to your unique needs; if you prefer to use Wi-Fi on your flights, for example, a card that gives you access to that for free could be uniquely fitting. Just make sure that you know what you’re getting from your card before you apply.