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- Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card
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After an extended?winter, you may be?craving?a summer vacation. But high costs can also add stress for your otherwise enjoyable getaway. Enable your charge card save you money by helping you?accrue?rewards you are able to redeem for travel expenses.
1.?A large signup bonus
Many credit cards offer?a signup bonus if?spent a certain amount of money within a specified time. A travel card having a competitive signup bonus may earn?you a free flight or a few nights at your favorite hotel. A?cash-back bonus could add an additional $50 to $150 toward?your summer fun. Here are two of the Nerds’?favorite credit cards for big signup bonuses -?one will redeem for travel and something for cash back.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Learn More For an aggressive signup bonus, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. You’ll Earn 60,000 bonuses once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards?.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also has?high ongoing rewards: double the points on every dollar allocated to eating out and travel, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Points could be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site for a price of 1.25 cents each -?which is high for that industry.
Or, if you wish to attempt to?redeem at a higher rate, you can transfer your points to partner programs for any potentially higher value. Either way, you will be on your way to free flights very quickly.
Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express
Learn More If you want cash rewards, nowhere Cash Preferred? Card from American Express is a great option. It comes with a bonus offer for new cardholders: $200 statement credit once you spend $1,000 in purchases in your new Card inside the first 3 months. Terms Apply. It also offers great ongoing rewards, with 6% back on U.S. supermarket purchases (as much as $6,000 spent each year – then 1%), 3% back at U.S. gasoline stations and choose U.S. department stores, and 1% back on anything else. The annual fee is high for a cash-back card – $95 – but if you spend at least $31 a week in the supermarket, your grocery rewards alone will more than offset the ongoing fee.
The card includes a no-annual-fee version, nowhere Cash Everyday? Card from American Express, but the Blue Cash Preferred? Card from American Express is the foremost option if you spend at least $61 on groceries each week. Earn extra rewards on all your daily purchases, then make use of your cash back to cover travel expenses.
2.?Extra points on your summer trip essentials
Signup bonuses are ideal for quick cash, but ongoing rewards are more important, particularly if you plan on keeping your card for the long haul. For extra cash or travel rewards for?your summer trip, you need to get a card that rewards you for the?purchases you make the most.
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card
Earn extra rewards in your dining and entertainment spending using the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card. It offers double the amount?points on entertainment and dining at restaurants, and 1 point on every dollar spent on everything else.
Points are redeemable for a number of?rewards, but you’ll get more value out of your points if you redeem for travel, mortgage or student loan payments, charitable contributions or $100 gift cards.
3. Dipping into rewards you’ve?saved
If you’ve rewards in the bank for any special day, think about using?them in your upcoming trip. Based on your card’s program, you can redeem for cash back to pay for some expenses, just like a new swimsuit or souvenirs; or use travel rewards for things like?plane tickets, hotel stays, cab rides and campground fees. You can also redeem for gift certificates that you can use to purchase?gas or?dine out.
