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As cities release guidelines for reopening, the idea of summer vacation feels tangible again. Families are stuck at home—and in many cases, have already cancelled or postponed trips—and they’re ready for a change of scenery.
Still, travelers are cautious and looking toward options that allow them to maintain some sort of social distancing. Road trips are returning to style as families stay closer to home and bring everything they need with them. Vacation rentals, like those booked on Airbnb or HomeAway, give travelers space to enjoy their vacation and may include extra amenities like kitchens or backyard pools. RVs, camper vans, and even house boats are other options to consider.
For travelers avoiding planes, hotels and rental cars, loyalty points will rack up more slowly, but using the right credit card can help you earn a little extra.
Best Credit Cards for Road Trips
With pent-up demand for travel and gas prices at rock bottom prices, trip activity is steadily picking up, according to the Arrivalist Daily Travel Index. The index tracks driving activity through GPS signals and compiles the number of trips 50 miles or longer. The number of trips is still below pre-pandemic baselines, but is trending upward. Americans are already taking day trips or even longer journeys.
If you’re filling up your gas tank, these cards offer some extra bang for your buck.
Citi Premier℠ Card
The Citi Premier card has one of the best rewards rates for fuel purchases: you’ll earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar spent at gas stations with no cap on annual earnings. Your ThankYou points can be redeemed as a statement credit or you can transfer your points to airline partners at a 1:1 ratio for free flights in the future. This flexibility is great when your plans are uncertain since you don’t have to decide right away.
The card has changes in bonus categories beginning August 23, 2020 although gas will continue to earn triple points both before and after the restructuring. In the future, you will also earn 3 points per dollar on airfare, hotels, dining and supermarkets, making it a great deal for its $95 annual fee.
The information for the Citi Premier℠ Card has been collected independently by Forbes. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Road trippers that prefer cashback over rewards points should consider the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi. The card offers 4% cashback on fuel (and not just at Costco) on the first $7,000 in annual gas purchases. You’ll also earn 3% on travel and restaurants, 2% on Costco purchases and 1% on everything else. Unfortunately, rewards are only paid out once a year.
Since this card is a Visa, cardholders are eligible for its flat-fee roadside assistance. Standard service calls start at $69.95 for services such as towing up to five miles, lockout services or fuel delivery. Not only will you get a set rate, but you’ll be connected to a trusted professional—a big help when you’re away from home and don’t know who to call. For help, dial Visa Roadside Dispatch and charge the service to your Visa.
The card doesn’t have an annual fee, although you must be a Costco member with a paid membership to apply.
The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has been collected independently by Forbes. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Read More: Best Credit Cards for Road Trips
Best Credit Cards for Recreational Vehicles
The appeal of hitting the open road with an RV is undeniable right now. This travel style bridges a roadtrip with personal space and a clean room that you bring with you.
Like all travel right now, even RVing comes with a set of restrictions and isn’t a magic solution. Many campgrounds and RV parks remain closed and those that are open will fill up more quickly than usual. Check local restrictions on your route, make advance reservations for overnight stays and have a back-up plan for power, water, and septic disposal in case hookups aren’t available.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
The Wells Fargo Propel Amex card offers a winning combination of bonus reward categories for RV travelers. You’ll earn 3 GoFar Rewards points per dollar spent on gas, road and bridge tolls, parking, campgrounds and most other travel-related purchases. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar for dining purchases, like restaurants, fast food and take-out or delivery. Lastly, you’ll get 3 points per dollar on streaming services, so you can listen to Spotify Premium on your drive or watch Netflix at night.
GoFar Rewards Points are worth one penny each when redeemed for travel, gift cards or cash back. The simplicity makes this card a winner, especially since there’s no annual fee. If you’re also a Wells Fargo Visa Signature cardholder, you can pool points to redeem for airfare at a rate of 1.5 cents per point.
The information for the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card has been collected independently by Forbes. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
RV travelers who prefer to cook instead of eating out might do better by choosing the Amex Blue Cash Preferred. This card offers cash back: 6% on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and streaming services, 3% on gas, tolls and parking, and 1% on all other purchases.
Like the Wells Fargo Propel, this card offers simple but valuable rewards. Since it charges a $95 annual fee, this card is best for consumers who will max out the grocery benefit either at home or on the road.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
Best Credit Cards for Vacation Rentals
Short-term rentals, like condos and Airbnbs, have surged in popularity over the past three years. They’re poised for higher demand than traditional hotels until the pandemic blows over. Travelers seeking personal space can avoid contact with staff or other travelers and handle daily sanitation themselves. They’ll also have extra space for lounging and kitchens for cooking (or eating take-out).
Rentals reserved through popular booking platforms such as VRBO or Airbnb code credit card transactions as travel, which means there are dozens of options for which card to use for strong rewards. The Wells Fargo Propel, above, is a strong pick with no annual-fee. The Citi Premier, also mentioned, is another great card with triple points on stays. For other great cards, here are some of our favorites.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A long-time favorite, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on hotels, including vacation rentals. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar on other common travel expenses, such as airfare, rental cars, tolls, parking, restaurants and other dining establishments.
The Sapphire Reserve also allows you to redeem points for your rental. If you book your stay through their Expedia-powered booking platform, you can redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents each. If you prefer to book on other platforms, you can still use the $300 annual travel credit to help pay for your stay. The card also includes auto rental collision damage waiver insurance as well as basic trip cancellation and delay insurance.
Other redemption options include transferring your Ultimate Rewards to partner frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs or even redeeming for a statement credit.
While this card has a high $550 annual fee, the card benefits pack a punch.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
For strong rewards that are transferable to partner airlines with a lower annual fee than the Sapphire Reserve, consider the Capital One Venture card. This credit card is free the first year and $95 thereafter, and offers 2 points per dollar spent on every single purchase.
The card is effortless since you don’t need to remember bonus categories. Redeeming is also simple since you can book future travel with no blackout dates for one cent per point through Capital One. If you prefer, you can transfer your points to other rewards programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France Flying Blue.
The information for the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Forbes. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Read More: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Bottom Line
This year’s travel plans might look a little different from what you’re used to, but the opportunity to earn bonus rewards on your trip is still there. If you’re planning on heading out of town, make sure you pull out the best credit card for your trip and earn a little extra toward the next one.
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