How Your Credit Cards Can Make Summer Travel Cheaper

Summer is upon us — but there’s still time to plan an incredible getaway. Whether heading to the beach to soak up some sun or planning a city adventure full of exploration, you can make strategic planning moves to stay on budget.

It’s always best to consider your personal finances before making purchase decisions, including travel plans. I’ll share a few ways to use your credit cards to make your summer travel plans less costly.

Earn a statement credit on eligible travel purchases made with your card

Here’s one way to save on summer travel: credit card offers. Some credit card issuers offer additional ways to save money through credit card offers. For example, Chase has its Chase Offers program. People with eligible Chase credit cards can view current offers after logging into their accounts through the bank’s mobile app or website.

Once you see an offer that interests you, activate it and make a purchase with your card. After you meet the offer conditions and make an eligible purchase, you’ll earn a statement credit to your credit card account.

Some offers provide percentage-based cash back earnings based on your purchase total, while others provide a set dollar amount as a credit. It’s like getting a discount after paying for travel.

If you’re planning a summer trip, you can browse offers for travel purchases. I’m a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder. Currently, I see the following Chase Offers in my account:

• Earn 10% cash back when you book Marriott Bonvoy stays of $100 or more ($80 maximum statement credit)
• Earn 10% cash back when you book Thomson Hotels stays of $100 or more ($40 maximum statement credit)
• Earn 10% cash back when you book Dream Hotels stays of $100 or more ($40 maximum statement credit)

Credit card offers like this are targeted to account holders, so you may see different offers in your account. These offers could provide an easy way to reduce summer vacation spending. Review your current credit card offers to see if you can get a better deal on travel this summer.

Redeem your rewards to pay for travel

Another way to use your credit cards to make your summer vacation more affordable is to redeem your rewards for travel. How you do this depends on the type of rewards card in your wallet. You’ll want to review your cards and redemption options before deciding what to do.

Some allow cardholders to redeem their rewards for a statement credit to their credit card account, making their next credit card bill more affordable. Others allow reward redemption by booking travel reservations through a travel portal.

Some credit card issuers partner with select airline and hotel loyalty programs. Travelers can transfer rewards to these programs to book hotel stays and award flights, which could reduce the total cost of their travels. Plus, points are sometimes worth more this way.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could save you money on travel

One credit card with all these redemption options is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It’s a popular travel rewards card for those who value flexibility with how they use their rewards.

This card has an incredibly generous welcome bonus; earns rewards in several bonus categories, including travel and dining; provides travel protections; and has an affordable $95 annual fee. When redeeming your points for travel for bookings made through the Chase Travel portal, you’ll get 25% more value from your credit card rewards. Talk about a win!

Using rewards earned from a credit card like this could help you spend less on a summer getaway. If you want to start earning travel rewards, check out our best travel rewards credit cards list to explore card options. Traveling the world doesn’t have to be expensive.

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