According to Allianz, the average American household spent $2,830 on travel last year, and there's no reason to believe they'll spend much less this summer. If you're planning a family vacation, road trip to see friends and relatives, or any other summer getaway, you might be surprised at how much of a difference the right credit card can make.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at three credit cards with great perks and perks that are perfect for summer travel.
1. Perfect for road trips
If you're a Costco member, Citi's Costco Anywhere Visa® Card is a must-have for more than just shopping at Costco. In addition to solid perks at Costco and 3% back on restaurants and travel, this card offers an industry-leading 4% back on gas and EV charging purchases (up to $7,000 annually) . This applies not only to gas purchased at Costco gas stations, but also gas purchased elsewhere.
In addition to a great cashback rate, this card offers great purchase protection, including damage and theft coverage for the first 120 days (90 days in New York).
The biggest caveat is that rewards are paid in Costco certificates, not cashback. But for those who often shop at Costco, this can be a great way to get the most value from your travel spending.
2. Perfect for air travel
If you're planning on flying this summer, it might be wise to use a credit card affiliated with an airline. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best values out there.
This card has a $99 annual fee and is free for the first 12 months, but you get a lot of value for your money. Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines, restaurants and gas station purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
You'll also receive priority boarding on domestic flights and one free checked bag for you and up to four companions on the same booking. With a standard rate of $30 per checked bag, this benefit alone saves him $240 for a family of four. every trip.
One of the reasons American Airlines co-branded travel credit cards can be a particularly good option is that not only do you earn miles and get rewards, but you also get elite status, which is better than other airline credit cards. is. You'll earn 1 loyalty point for every base mile you earn on your card, and these actually add up throughout your spending on your card. In fact, without the card, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the benefits available on American Airlines.
3. Ideal for these people all trip
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ card is a relatively new product, but if you're looking for an all-around great travel rewards card with no annual fee, it might be worth a closer look. With no annual fee, it doesn't have as many perks as other travel cards, but its rewards program is great.
First, this card earns 3x points per dollar spent on travel, gas, restaurants, transportation, streaming services, and phone plans. So when you use your card to buy airline tickets, pay for rental cars, fill up on gas, and buy food and drinks while you're traveling, you'll earn bonus points on all of your spending.
Not only is the bonus rewards program great, but you can redeem your points in a variety of ways, including transferring them to some of Wells Fargo's partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Please use it in the correct way
Just to be clear, playing the credit card rewards game only works to your advantage if you don't carry a balance (or have a 0% intro APR deal). Keep this in mind when planning your summer travel spending strategy.
That said, these three great cards can help you get the most value from your summer travel expenses, and in some cases offer valuable perks and protection.
Warning: Our top-rated cashback cards offer 0% introductory APR through 2025.
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