Finding Out what the Best Credit Card Deal Is

If the credit card companies, when they put out their best credit card deals, really do wish for people to take advantage of them, wouldn't they make them easier to understand and not as unnecessarily complicated as they usually are? That's just a hurdle they place in your way, apparently, to make the hunt a bit more interesting. The rewards and points that you get, in general, you're allowed to redeem for stuff you can buy shopping, booking hotel rooms or buying travel tickets. Still, the credit card companies have practically no agreement over what kinds of terms and restrictions they should impose on how you redeem those points. As far as the credit card companies are concerned, apparently, the nonstandard rules and restrictions make things more fun for you. For instance, if you have a credit card that's co-branded with an airline or hotel, they give you more bonus points. But for the privilege, you have to pay a large annual fee. Before you can rejoice over the kinds of rewards you stand to get with any card, you do have to calculate if you end up getting enough rewards that the annual fee should be worth it. Travel rewards cards like the Capital One Venture have fewer rewards and no annual fee. It's enough to make tear your hair out finding out which the best credit card deals are.

Unless you have special behaviors to do with how you buy your travel needs, there's really no difference between one travel card and the next for most users. These programs only make financial sense if you happen to be a real frequent flyer or if you shop a lot. If you fly often and on a specific airline all the time, for instance, getting an airline co-branded product would make a lot of sense. If you happen to shop a lot, you'll find that shopping rewards cards don't lock you into any one airline or hotel chain. You can redeem them for any kind of travel need, usually, with any kind of vendor. In general, whatever kind of rewards program you choose, you'll need to travel least on six flights every year for it to actually pay.

Let's say that you are a prolific traveler. Picking up a United Mileage Plus Visa card may make a lot of sense. They have rewards programs with hundreds of stores, pharmacies, and hotels in addition to traveling on United Airlines. American has a program like this too. Still, the best credit card deal, if you are interested in rewards, may come not from the airline co-branded products but from the hotel products. These cards usually don't carry a fee. And redeeming your rewards can be much easier. A hotel rewards card happens often to be far more rewarding.

Perhaps the best credit card deals are in the travel credit cards market. Products like to Chase Sapphire card allow you to migrate your points between categories or even get cash back. And when you try to get a free airline seat, the card company actually buys a seat for you. Getting a free seat this way is nothing like it is with redeeming airline miles. There are no special seats set aside for you. This can make life a whole lot easier. So what if you earn fewer points? You have a far better time redeeming them.