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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

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Start building a successful financial future today

while earning unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases

Card Details

Unlimited points.

Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points as long as your account remains open

Low Introductory APR Offer

0% † Intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply. 3% † Intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days your account is open. After the intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for all future balance transfers is 4%.

25,000 online bonus points offer

25,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening – which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases

No annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Enjoy no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on purchases while earning points to use for statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees, and also at restaurants – including takeout

Establish good credit habits

Easily manage your bank accounts and finances online with Online Banking and our award winning Mobile Banking app that help students stay in control of their finances and make payments

FICO ® Score

Now, you can access your FICO ® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. Opt-in to receive your score, the key factors affecting your score, and other information that can help you keep your credit healthy.

Interest Rates & Fees Summary †

Introductory apr.

0% for 15 billing cycles

Applies to purchases and to any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account

Standard APR

18.24% - 28.24%

Balance Transfer Fee

After the intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for all future balance transfers is 4%.

† Please see Terms and Conditions for rate, fee and other cost information, as well as an explanation of payment allocation. All terms may be subject to change.

Note: minimum payments are applied to lower-interest balances first. Additional payments are applied to higher-interest balances first.

Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time.

No blackout dates or restrictions and points do not expire as long as your account remains open.

Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.

Flexibility to redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees, and also at restaurants—including takeout.

Additional Benefits

Better money habits ®.

Learning to handle your credit is a big responsibility. A little knowledge can go a long way with Better Money Habits ®   Opens in a new window .

Manage your Finances

Manage your money from almost anywhere. From home, the library and everywhere else, help stay in control of your finances with our award winning Mobile Banking app .

Schedule an appointment

Want to talk to someone one-on-one? No problem. We're here with you every step of the way. Set up an appointment at a time and place that works for you.

Security & Features

Stay protected, contactless chip technology, balance connect ® for overdraft protection, paperless statement option, digital wallet technology, online & mobile banking, account alerts.

Now, when you opt-in you can access your FICO ® Score updated monthly for free, within your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking. FICO ® Score Program . The FICO ® Score Program is for educational purposes and for your non-commercial, personal use. This benefit is available only for primary cardholders with an open and active consumer credit card account who have a FICO ® Score available. The feature is accessible through Online Banking, the Mobile website, and the Mobile Banking app for iPhone and Android devices. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries. Data connection required. Wireless carrier fees may apply." data-footnote="ADDITIONAL_BENEFITS_FOOTNOTE_07" aria-label="Footnote 5"> Footnote [5] Learn More   about Free FICO Credit Score opens in a new window

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Credit Cards > Reviews

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students review 2024: Flexible rewards and no annual fee for students with good credit

Holly Johnson

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 1:03 p.m. UTC Feb. 7, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

It’s a tempting option for students who love to travel: a card that offers flat-rate rewards and no annual fee. But applicants need good credit  – so good that they may qualify for better travel cards with more perks.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students

Welcome Bonus

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Accessible for student applicants.
• Solid rewards of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
• High APR outside of intro offer.
• Points have lower value if redeemed for cash back.
• Lack of bonus earning categories.

Card Details

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
• Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 35+ cards analyzed.
• 6 data points considered.
• 5-step fact-checking process.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students basics

• Annual fee: $0.
• Welcome bonus: 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
• APR: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.
• Other perks and benefits: Free FICO Score each month.
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

About the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students 

Students who like to travel may be tempted by the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students . It has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and it earns 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, with no limits and no expiration dates on its rewards as long as your account remains open. There’s just one caveat: Applicants need good or excellent credit to get approved, which excludes students just starting to build a credit history.

For a travel rewards card it doesn’t offer much flexibility when it comes to point redemption. You can take your earnings as a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees, and also for restaurants — including takeout. Although there are no travel loyalty transfer partners like you’ll find on some of the best travel cards , you won’t have to worry about blackout dates or being limited to booking your travel through Bank of America.

Benefits include a welcome bonus of 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. There’s also a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.

Still, the card lacks some of the perks of other travel cards, like the ability to convert the points to cash back or travel protections, and students with good enough credit to qualify for this card may prefer another with more robust offerings. 

• Earn unlimited rewards on all purchases: Cardholders earn a flat 1.5 points per $1 on purchases with no bonus categories or caps to track.
• Avoid interest for more than one year: This card’s introductory APR can yield considerable savings if you decide to carry a balance or use this card to consolidate other debts.
• No annual fee: There’s no cost to own the card.
• No foreign transaction fees: You can use this card for purchases overseas without paying extra surcharges.
• Requires a good to excellent credit score: Many students, still building credit, won’t be able to qualify.
• No bonus categories to help you maximize rewards: This card doesn’t give you the chance to earn more rewards in specific categories like some other cards do.
• Flexible yet limited redemption options for rewards: You can redeem points for travel or dining statement credits, but that’s it.
• High APR after intro offer: This card’s high variable APR will make carrying debt costly over the long run.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students Rewards

The card offers an easy-to-track 1.5 points per $1 on purchases. In addition, new cardholders can earn 25,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. The points can be redeemed for statement credits on travel-related expenses.

Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a student in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has $12,544 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card over the course of a year. Here’s what we estimate you could earn in rewards on that spending using the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students:

Our average cardholder would earn 18,813 rewards points that are worth $188 in statement credits toward travel or dining purchases, plus the first-year welcome bonus if the spending requirement is met.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students APR

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students automatically comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, and then a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers.

How the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students compares to other student credit cards 

Bank of america travel rewards credit card for students vs. bank of america® unlimited cash rewards credit card for students.

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students comes with many of the same features since it’s offered through the same card issuer, yet it offers cash back instead of flexible travel points. There’s no annual fee and cardholders earn a flat 1.5% cash back on purchases as well as $200 cash rewards bonus after spending at least $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. 

This card comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then a standard APR of 18.24% to 28.24% variable applies. A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days; then a 4% fee applies to future balance transfers. Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits or a deposit or credit into an eligible Bank of America checking or savings account or an eligible Merrill account (including 529 accounts). Cash is the most flexible reward of them all since you can use it for travel or anything else you’d like, making the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students a better option for most.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Similar to the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. doesn’t charge an annual fee, and cardholders earn 10% cash back on Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on every other purchase. However, unlike the BofA card, the Quicksilver for Students is aimed at those building credit and even offers a preapproval tool before you formally apply. The card also offers some perks including the elevated rewards rate on travel booked through Capital One and 10% cash back on qualifying purchases made through the Uber and Uber Eats apps plus reimbursement for the cost of a monthly Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

A $50 cash bonus after spending $100 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

This card’s rewards also come with several flexible redemption options including cash back, statement credits on your account or gift cards.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Maybe you don’t have any credit history at all or have some credit missteps in your history. In that case a secured credit card like the Discover it® Secured Credit Card may be the best bet. There’s no credit history or credit score requirement fand you can check to see if you’re preapproved before applying. The no-annual fee card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first cardmember year.

The card requires a minimum cash deposit of $200 as collateral, but Discover will review your account starting at seven months to see if you qualify to have your deposit returned to you and your account converted to an unsecured card. Discover will also report your balances and payments to the three main credit bureaus , helping you build credit over time.

Should you get the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students?

The card earns easy-to-understand rewards, there’s no annual fee and the intro APR offer can be enticing. However, the rewards can only be redeemed for statement credits related to travel or dining. And applicants need a good-to-excellent credit score to qualify for this card – at which point they may qualify for other cards as well, with more robust perks or features.

If you have good enough credit to qualify for this card, seek a more rewarding option. Our list of the best credit cards for students is a good place to start.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students summary

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered when we developed our rankings included:

• Annual fees.
• Any other fees, like account opening fees, monthly maintenance fees or credit limit request fees.
• If the card earned any rewards and/or a welcome bonus
• If the card requires a security deposit.
• If the card requires a credit score to apply.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

While Bank of America does not list a specific minimum credit score requirement for this card, it’s aimed at those with good or better credit.

Points earned with this card are worth one cent each, so 20,000 points are worth $200 in travel or dining statement credits.

To apply for a Bank of America credit card online, applicants need to be at least 18-years-old, have a valid U.S. Social Security number (SSN) and have a physical address in the U.S. International students who don’t meet these requirements can still apply in person within a Bank of America branch but may require additional credentials like an ITIN.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card for Students does not charge an annual fee.

*The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Holly D. Johnson is a personal finance expert and award-winning writer who covers a variety of insurance topics as well as general personal finance. In addition to her articles in Forbes, Holly is a featured author for CNN Underscored, Bankrate, Consumer Affairs and other notable publications. Johnson is also the founder of finance website Club Thrifty and the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love."

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.

While I didn’t take my first international trip until after I graduated college (I went to Costa Rica when I was 23), being a college student doesn’t mean you have to skip out on travel. From studying abroad to gap years to spring break trips, there are a lot of ways to travel while in school.

However, students usually don’t have a lot of money which makes affording trips abroad challenging.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save for a trip on a budget. One of the best ways to do this is by getting a rewards credit card.

Since students don’t have a credit history and may not have an income yet, it will be hard to get approved for the travel credit cards with the most rewards .

The good news is that banks know this, and many have created cards specifically designed for students. These are easier to get approved for (banks don’t expect you to have a credit history as a student), so that you can start building credit and using those rewards to help you travel for cheap!

Here’s my list of the best credit cards for students:

Table of Contents

MY TOP PICK: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bank of america travel rewards student credit card, chime credit builder visa® credit card, tips for getting a credit card as a student, frequently asked questions about credit cards for students.

Here’s a look at the main benefits of the card:

• bonus_miles_full
• 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 10% cash back on purchases on Uber and Uber Eats
• Uber One monthly membership fee covered through November 14, 2024
• Travel accident insurance
• No foreign transaction fees
• No annual fee

  If you want a more straightforward card, Capital One also offers the card_name . It offers nearly all the same benefits, except instead of the different bonus categories, you’ll get an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Quicksilver also comes in a secured version if you can’t get approved for an unsecured card.

With this card, you’ll get:

• 25,000 Online Bonus Points after making $1,000 USD in purchases in the first 90 days
• Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 USD spent on all purchases

The downsides are that there’s no welcome bonus and you must open a Chime checking account to use the card (though as a student, you may be opening your first account anyway). Unlike most secured cards, there’s also no set credit limit, which you create yourself with the money you deposit into your Chime checking account (which you then use to pay off your balance).

• No interest charges
• No minimum security deposit required
• No credit check (so there’s no impact on your current score)
• The ability to set your own credit limit
• An easy-to-use app to manage your account and card

Getting your first card can be a bit intimidating as you may not know how credit cards work . But it doesn’t have to be.

Using credit cards responsibly starts with building healthy habits. As long as you pay off your entire balance each month, your regular purchases can work for you, earning rewards that can be used for future travel.

It’s a good idea to start building credit as soon as you can, not only to reap the benefits of rewards cards but also to establish a lengthy credit history that can help you in other aspects of life. At some point in the future, you may want to buy a house, lease a car, apply for a business loan, or do other activities that require a credit check. (Some apartments and even some jobs require it.) So the earlier you start building a credit history, the better.

Certain credit cards are specifically designed for students, with an easier approval process that requires no credit history and lower spending limits that are in line with the limited (or nonexistent) income of a student.

Requirements for student cards may include:

• Proof of enrollment
• If under 21, an income source (e.g., part-time job, scholarship, or grant)
• A minimum age of 18
• A Social Security number
• US citizenship or permanent residency

Note: Student cards are designed for people with no credit. If you’re rebuilding your credit, check out the best credit cards for those with bad credit .

How do I get a credit card as a student? Getting a credit card can be as simple as applying for cards geared towards students, like those listed above. Many even offer a pre-approval process, meaning you can see if you’ll be approved without having an impact on your score. You can also contact your local bank or credit union for information, as they may have a card for you as well.

Can I get a credit card if I’m a full-time student? Yes! The cards above (along with many others) are geared toward students, even if you’re studying full-time.

At what age can students get a credit card? Students can start applying for credit cards at the age of 18, though requirements can make it difficult to be approved (you’ll have to prove independent income). Your best option for building credit if you’re between the ages of 18 and 21 is to get either a secured credit card or a student credit card. You can also become an authorized user on someone else’s card.

After age 21, restrictions fall away, and it becomes easier to get a regular, unsecured credit card.

Can I get a credit card as a student with no income? If you’re under 21, you’ll have to prove independent income. However, depending on the card issuer, they may accept student loans, grants, or scholarships as proof of income. If you have someone who can co-sign for you, some credit card issuers may allow a co-signer’s income to count toward approval.

What happens to my student card when I graduate? Most student credit cards have a non-student version. In many cases, when you graduate, your account, along with its limits and history, will simply be converted to that option. In other cases, you’ll want to upgrade or open a new account. But even if you open other cards and don’t use that account as much, you’ll want to keep it open to maintain the length of your credit history.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to wait until you graduate college to start building a credit history and earning rewards. Not only will a card help you earn cheap (or free) travel, but you’ll learn how credit cards work and establish healthy financial habits that will help you throughout your life!

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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The Best Travel Credit Cards for Students

Every student I know loves to travel. Some travel because they go to school out of state, while others just look for fun destinations to visit during their school breaks.

At the same time, most students are on a tight budget, and many would love to earn travel rewards from a credit card.

And even if a student isn’t interested in earning rewards, he or she might still need the benefits of a good credit card when they travel .

When choosing a credit card while in college, these are the best travel credit cards available .

Best Cash Back Card With No Annual Fee

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One cash back credit card is great for traveling with additional rewards for using the card responsibly .

You can earn 1% cash back on all purchases, and another 0.25% when you make your monthly payment on-time.

Your account will also get reviewed automatically for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months. 

Other benefits include a 24-hour travel and emergency assistance , and automobile rental.

The card as  no annual fee  and no foreign transaction fees .

Best Student Travel Credit Card With Cash Back Match

The Discover it Chrome for Students card is both a competitive rewards card as well as an excellent card to use when traveling.

Students earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each year.

You earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover also offers cash back for earning good grades .

You can get $20 cash back each school year that your GPA is 3.0 or higher , for up to five years.

Finally, Discover will match all of the cash back you’ve earned during your first year. After having your account open for a year, you will receive cash back rewards equal to what as much as you’ve already earned .

Points can be redeemed at any time and in any amount as statement credits or a direct deposit to your bank account.

You can also use your rewards to pay for purchases on Amazon.com or to buy gift cards. In addition, this card offers a free monthly FICO score and benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and return protection.

This card features a short, but useful interest-free financing offer on new purchases.

The Discover card offers 100% U.S.-based customer service and will automatically waive your first late payment fee.

This card has no annual fee , no foreign transaction fee, and no penalty interest rate.

What Makes a Good Student Travel Credit card?

Your typical student is a young adult without much experience using credit cards.

Therefore, students should be looking for a card with simple terms and few fees . To begin with, it can be good to start off with a card that’s labeled as a student credit card.

Students typically have limited credit histories and are unable to qualify for many popular travel rewards cards.

However, student credit cards are designed for young adults , albeit with less competitive terms than most other cards.

Next, students should choose a card with a low or no annual fee .

Thankfully, many of the student cards currently on the market are available with no annual fee. And when students plan on using their card when traveling outside of the United States, it’s critical that they have a card with no foreign transaction fees.

Sadly, most credit cards still impose a 3% fee on all charges processed outside of the United States. This might not be so bad on a quick, spring break trip to Mexico, but this fee can be very expensive when spending a semester abroad.

The best travel credit cards for students mentioned here have no foreign transaction fees.

Tips for students to save money on travel with credit cards

Avoid overspending.

Using a credit card to earn travel rewards sounds easy, but let’s just say that it can be a bit too easy.

When you earn rewards for your spending, it can be easy to rationalize making purchases.

Therefore, the biggest problem with students using a travel rewards card is overspending and debt. Clearly, any rewards you earn will never be worth the cost of an unnecessary purchase.

Don’t carry a balance

Students need to be careful to pay off their balances in full each month, in order to avoid both debt and interest charges.

Unfortunately, about half of all American credit card users regularly carry a balance.

When a student or any other credit card user needs to carry a balance, they will always get the best interest rates from cards that don’t offer any rewards.

Stay on top of your payments

Another important consideration is paying your credit card bills on-time.

When you miss a payment, you can incur costly late fees and interest charges at the penalty interest rate. Of the three cards reviewed here, the Discover card does offer students a break. It has no penalty interest rate, and Discover will automatically waive your first late payment fee.

However, these generous policies should never be seen as an excuse to pay late.

In particular, students often have problems making payments because they move so much.

When they rely on statements being mailed to their home address, it can be difficult or impossible to change your address often enough.

Instead, students should opt to receive their statements electronically. Also, you can set up email and text reminders, or just configure automatic payments each month.

Never use your credit card to access cash

You can make a great argument that a credit card is the best method of payment when you are traveling. It’s also true that your credit card is the worst way to get cash. When you use a credit card at an ATM, it’s called a cash advance.

You will likely incur a cash advance fee , and a higher cash advance interest rate .

And unlike the rate for purchases, the interest that accumulates on a cash advance isn’t waived when you pay your statement balance in full. And if your credit card has foreign transaction fees, you can also incur that fee as well.

Instead, travelers should stick with using a plain old debit card at ATM’s.

When you have a debit card linked to your checking account , you could incur a fee at the ATM and a small foreign transaction fee, but you will still come out far ahead.

Rely on your credit card’s rental car insurance

Another way that travelers can leverage the benefits of their credit card is by using the rental car insurance . Most credit cards have rental car insurance, but only when you use your card to pay for the rental and decline any optional insurance .

These optional insurance policies are very expensive, with prices approaching $30 per day. What’s worse is that employees of rental car companies can receive a commission for these charges, so they will try every trick to get you to opt-in.

Just be careful to read all of the exclusions and limitations of the policy before relying on it .

For example, many policies exclude rental in certain countries such as Italy, Ireland, and Australia . And nearly all of these policies will not cover you if you rent a luxury car or a pickup truck .

Conclusions

A credit card is a vital tool for students at school, at home, and while traveling.

The right student travel rewards credit card will offer you rewards for spending that you can use while traveling. In addition, a great student card will have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees .

But when it comes to students using credit cards, having the right credit card may not be as important as using it the right way.

Students should always be focussed on making their payment on time and avoiding costly debt.

Those who are already able to use their credit cards responsibly should be the only ones worried about earning rewards from their spending.

When you are able to charge your expenses to your credit card, you can earn valuable travel rewards throughout the year.

More: MyBankTracker's Best Travel Credit Cards

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How college students can maximize travel rewards credit cards

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

This page includes information about the Discover it Cash Back that is not currently available on The Points Guy and may be out of date.

Travel rewards credit cards run the gamut from premium products charging top dollar for benefits like lounge access and Global Entry , to mid-range entries that waive their first year's annual fee, all the way down to cards with no annual fee .

For regular consumers with good credit, the choice can be hard enough. But for college students just starting to manage their personal finances and credit scores , the choices can be that much tougher.

Luckily, the travel credit card marketplace is more diverse than ever, meaning college students have some amazing opportunities to build their credit while reaping rewards at the same time. With some strategy and savvy, college students can make the most of their credit while sticking to a budget and keeping their credit score healthy.

Know your score

You wouldn't dive into a pool without knowing its depth. So why would you start applying for credit cards without knowing your credit score ? Finding out your score will provide you with a benchmark for measuring both your financial health and your progress as you build your credit over the years. It will also make sure your expectations as to which credit cards you are eligible for are realistic.

We often use the terms "credit score" and "FICO score" interchangeably. They are not exactly the same, but they're similar. The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — all compile their own detailed credit reports, which can vary. A FICO score is your credit score as determined by the Fair Isaac Corporation, and is the score most commonly used by lenders, so it is the most useful to know.

Your FICO score is determined by five key factors:

• Payment history: Whether you pay your bills on time counts for 35% of your score, so it's the most weighted factor. The accounts considered include credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans (like car loans), finance company accounts and mortgage loans.
• Amount of debt: Also known as credit utilization, or the debt-to-credit ratio, this factor is calculated based on how much credit has been extended to you versus how much you are actually using. It is weighted at 30% of your score, so it, too, is very important, and a good reason to keep your balances as low as possible.
• Length of credit history: FICO considers this factor as 15% of your overall credit score. College students just starting out with credit are naturally at a disadvantage, but the longer you hold on to your accounts and keep them in good standing, the more this will be reflected in your score.
• Credit mix: FICO also considers the types of accounts you have open, such as credit cards versus an installment loan. This is weighted at 10% of your score.
• New credit: Also accounting for 10% of your FICO score, lenders want to know how many new accounts you've applied for lately and what the lines of credit extended to you have been. Contrary to popular wisdom , inquiries about new lines of credit will only drop your score minimally and stay on your record for 3-6 months.

Knowing how your financial behavior affects your credit score is of paramount importance, both as you start out with credit and as you mature. A few irresponsible decisions early on can impact your score — and thus your opportunities not only to maximize travel rewards but get a good interest rate on a car loan or mortgage — for years.

How to get your score — for free

Now that you know what goes into your credit score, how do you find out what it is? These days, there are plenty of free ways to do so. More and more credit cards themselves are offering it to cardholders for free as a benefit. However, if you do not have a credit card yet, you still have some good options.

You have to create an account with some basic personal information, but Credit Karma offers free credit reports from both TransUnion and Equifax that you can check anytime.

American Express , Bank of America , Chase Journey , Capital One CreditWise , Citi and Discover Scorecard all offer accountholders and non-customers alike programs through which they can access and monitor their credit scores.

What your score means

Once you find out your score, the numbers break down the following way:

• Over 800: Exceptional credit
• 740-799: Very good, demonstrates you are a dependable borrower
• 670-739: Good, you're an above-average borrower
• 580-669: Fair: A below-average score, though many lenders might still approve your for some loans and credit
• Under 580: Poor, lenders consider you a risky borrower

If you're just starting out with credit, you'll likely be in the middle to lower range somewhere, which means you are eligible for some of the travel rewards cards out there.

Which credit cards are right for you?

Now that you have a handle on your credit, it's time to decide which credit card you're going to get. At TPG, we tend to break down the types of rewards cards down into four categories:

Airline credit cards : Everyone is familiar with these cards, which are associated with a specific carrier, like the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, the United Explorer Card from Chase, or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, among many others. Whether this type of credit card is right for you will depend on whether you actually fly a lot, where you fly to and from, and if you take a particular airline more than any other, as well as whether you can maximize perks such as free checked bags and in-flight discounts. Read our picks for best airline credit cards here . The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Hotel credit cards : If you're a college student, you're more likely to be staying at a hostel or splitting an Airbnb with friends than staying in luxury hotels. But if you are interested in accruing points toward free hotel stays, you could consider a no-annual-fee card that participates in a hotel loyalty program like the Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. Read our picks for best hotel credit cards here .

Transferable points cards : Transferable points include American Express Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards , each of which can be redeemed directly for travel through their respective online portals, or transferred to a unique set of travel program partners including both airline frequent-flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs. Though many of the best cards that participate in these points programs — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Premier® Card — charge annual fees, there are some that do not, including the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express. The information for the Amex EveryDay Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Fixed-rate or cash-back cards : Finally, fixed-rate credit cards allow you to accrue points or miles on everyday purchases and then redeem them at a set value (usually 1 cent apiece) toward travel or other purchases. Among the no-annual-fee credit cards that earn these types of points/miles are the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, the Discover it Cash Back, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

The Wells Fargo Propel card is no longer available for new applicants. The information for this card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best cash back credit cards

One reason to consider the last one in particular is that if you're not going to use your points toward cash-back statement credits anytime soon, you could wait until you get a more premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred later on and then your points will be transferable as well as redeemable at fixed rates.

The other main consideration is which credit card will offer you the most return on your spending. Apart from whether you actually want airline miles, hotel points or cash back, every card's earning structure is different. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express, for instance, earns 2x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000; then 1x), 1x point per dollar on other purchases and a 20% bonus each statement cycle you make more than 20 purchases with it.

By contrast, with the Discover it Cash Back you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases made in accordance with Discover's 2019 Cashback Calendar after enrollment, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. Thinking about your prospective card's earning structure will ensure that you are able to maximize its bonus categories, and thus, your rewards.

Applying for a card

Applying for your first credit card can be daunting — all the more so if you have not already established some credit by being made the authorized user on others individuals' accounts.

If this is your first credit card and you have no established history, don't worry. Several issuers field cards specifically for students looking to build credit. Most notable among them is Discover, which has this handy guide for applying for your first credit card.

Second, be certain you are applying for the best possible sign-up offer. Bonuses rise and fall all the time, as do the minimum spending requirements. Do your homework and make sure any cards you're thinking of applying for are offering historically good bonuses.

When you are ready to apply, make sure you have all the information necessary, including an accurate estimate of any income, mortgage or lease payments, your current address and your social security number.

One more note if this is your first credit card and you have not had a credit score at all before. It takes three months to generate a VantageScore credit score (this is used by some lenders) and six to generate a FICO score. Wait until you're past that time frame to apply for additional cards, because these applications will count as hard inquiries on your credit score, and any rejections could bring it down.

If you're not approved

It happens to all of us. You apply for the card you think is the perfect fit, only to have your application declined or put into pending status. Don't give up just yet. Credit card issuers have reconsideration phone lines that you can call to argue (politely) the specifics of your application and have it reviewed by a credit specialist.

Treat the agent with respect, have all the information you might need on hand, and be prepared to explain your circumstances and why you need this specific card.

Ideas for meeting minimum spend

If and when you are approved for a credit card, you will likely have to meet a spending requirement in order to qualify for the sign-up bonus. For college students on tight budgets, that might seem intimidating. However, there are ways to accomplish this without racking up debt right off the bat.

Before we jump into them, though, let me just stress again how important it is that you not bite off more than you can chew. Before making purchases on your new card, make certain you can pay them off on time. Otherwise, you'll just be going into debt, hurting your credit score and negating the value of any rewards you might earn.

Related reading: Ten commandments for travel rewards cards

With that out of the way, here are some creative ways to meet your spending requirement (and continue earning rewards beyond it).

Pay for tuition with a credit card: This is often easier said than done . Some institutions completely prohibit you from paying for tuition with a credit card. Others either charge you a convenience fee or partner with payment services that charge a fee (usually around 3%). However, a few colleges will let you pay with a credit card without fees, and in those cases it can be worth it. If you're thinking of doing this, ask your college's accounts department what their policy is to determine whether this might be a good option for you.

Use Plastiq to pay bills: Plastiq is an online bill payment service that basically lets you use your credit card for charges you might not otherwise be able to use a credit card to pay, such as utilities and rent, but also tuition. Plastiq is widely hailed as one of the best of these services since you can pretty much send a payment to any person or business within the U.S. or Canada. To do so, though, you have to pay a 2.5% fee, so do the math and consider whether it's worth it before you commit.

Put your books and supplies on your new card: As the school year starts, chances are you'll have to buy a lot of books, school supplies , and maybe even make a big purchase like a new laptop. As long as you'll be making these purchases anyway, you might as well be earning rewards on them.

Pay for group meals: As long as your friends can pay you back before your statement is due, either with cash or through a free service like PayPal or Venmo, it might be worth putting big group meals on your credit card in order to hit your minimum spending requirement.

Club expenses: Are you part of an on-campus club or group with a budget? Ask if you can put some of the expenses for events or other needs on your card and get reimbursed. This can be a quick and lucrative way to rack up some spending, as long as you can be sure of getting reimbursed in time to make your statement due date.

Gift cards: If you're not going to be able to make the purchases you need to within the spending time frame but coming up with the cash is not an issue, you could always purchase gift cards at a pharmacy or grocery store. Just be sure it's for something you'll actually use.

Related reading: Best credit cards for students and recent graduates

Bottom line

Now that you have the information you need at your fingertips, and strategies for meeting the spending requirements on a new credit card, it's time to figure out which one is best for you. Check out this post on 5 Starter Cards for College Students and Recent Graduates for ideas.

Your credit can help you earn fabulous rewards when it comes to credit cards and travel. Just be sure that you are using your credit responsibly, paying off your bills on time and maximizing the benefits of any card you do decide to carry.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex card, click here.

Additional reporting by Sam Lipscomb and Liz Hund.

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Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students review: A no-annual-fee travel credit card that rewards everyday buys

Select reviews the bank of america travel rewards for students credit card..

The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is no longer available for new applicants.

The offer mentioned below for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is no longer available.

The best travel credit cards typically offer rewards programs, credits and luxury perks that can help offset the cost of your next adventure. Most of these, however, require cardholders to pay an annual fee, and for students that can be a big unnecessary expense.

For students who plan on studying abroad, traveling during breaks or vacationing somewhere over the summer holiday, consider a travel credit cards with no annual fee . While they may not come with all the bells and whistles of the more luxe travel cards, they still offer cash back, points or miles that can make your future trips more affordable.

There's even a no-annual-fee travel credit card designed specifically for students: the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students. Anyone who's 18 or older and enrolled in school (college, vocational or trade school) can qualify.

Cardholders can earn bonus rewards on their everyday spending (not just on their travel expenses), plus a welcome bonus worth up to a $250 statement credit when redeemed toward travel purchases. That plane ticket home to mom and dad just got way less expensive.

Below,  Select  breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees of the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students, so you can decide if the card is worthwhile.

Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students review

Additional benefits, bottom line, bank of america travel rewards for students rewards.

Cardholders of the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students earn an unlimited 1.5X points per $1 spent on all their purchases. There is no limit on the points you can earn and points do not expire.

This credit card also offers students a strong welcome bonus of 25,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. Use it to offset the cost of a flight home, rental car or hotel stay on summer break.

While a $1,000 spending requirement can seem like a big ask, if you use the card during back-to-school shopping season, or when you need to buy a big-ticket item, like a new laptop or textbooks, it can be easier to hit that limit.

Cardholders can redeem their rewards at any time and at any amount, including when shopping on Amazon.

Bank of America offers a handy  rewards calculator  so you can make sure you're maximizing how you redeem your rewards.

With the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card, users can take advantage of email or text alerts to stay on top of their balances and due dates. They can also opt in to access their FICO ®  Score , which is updated monthly for free within the Bank of America Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking .

FICO credit scores are used in over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, so it's important to know yours as you prepare for life post-college . The higher your credit score, the better approval odds you'll have for renting your first apartment and scoring the best credit cards as you grow older.

When credit cardholders check their credit score through Bank of America, they will also see the key factors that are impacting their score, plus will be able to track their recent scores month to month and compare them to national averages.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students has no annual fee.

There is a 0% introductory APR for purchases for the first 15 billing cycles (after, it's 15.49% to 25.49% variable APR). A full year of no interest gives you more time to pay off new purchases before incurring interest charges. However, we recommend you pay off your credit card balance on time and in full each month to build good credit and avoid using too much of your credit limit.

The card's promotional 0% APR does not apply to balance transfers. The balance transfer fee is either $10 or 3%, whichever is greater.

Travelers going overseas can take advantage of  no foreign transaction fees , which is a huge plus for students studying abroad.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card has a good welcome bonus and an easy way to earn rewards on your everyday spending that you can then redeem to help cover the cost of a well-deserved break or a flight home. Students look to study abroad will also benefit from no foreign transactions fees.

If you are looking for other perks from a student credit card beyond just travel, consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back , which has a good cash-back program, the Discover it® Student Chrome for rewards on gas station and restaurant purchases or the Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card for making small purchases and shopping at supermarkets. International students with no credit history should look at the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students (no longer available to new applicants), which doesn't require you to be a U.S. citizen to apply. ( The Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card is no longer available for new applications).

Not a student? Opt for the standard Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card , which offers the same rewards as its student card: Earn an unlimited 1.5X points for every $1 spent on all purchases.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Chrome, click here .

Information about the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students , Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students, Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

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• A student card can be a viable option to use for travel, especially if the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
• A student card could be a much more affordable alternative to a traditional travel credit card, which could be ideal for fitting into a student's budget abroad.
• If you're not quite ready to use a credit card, you can explore a few alternatives to finance your study abroad experience.

Studying abroad can be an exciting experience, and you’ll have many things to prepare for as you plan your trip. If you’re a student, you may wonder where you’ll find the best restaurants or the best shops for souvenirs. And if you’re a parent, your child’s safety and overall experience may be your top priority. One place where these concerns may overlap is finances. Having a secure financial situation while studying abroad can be crucial to ensuring the most enjoyable experience. Credit cards are a payment option that often comes with many insurances and other protections, making them some of the most useful and secure ways to finance a trip. And if you’re a student, you’ll likely be eligible for student cards that come with a host of other helpful features while you’re overseas.

What is a student credit card?

A student credit card is a type of credit card designed for people attending colleges or universities and who may have little or no credit history. The credit requirements on student cards are often more relaxed than a traditional unsecured credit card , and many are fairly low on fees, too. Student cards also usually have rewards structures that fit into a student budget. Common bonus spending categories on student cards include dining, entertainment, streaming services, rideshares and groceries.

Student cards vs. general travel cards

While it may seem obvious to use a travel card to cover travel purchases, it’s important to consider a few key differences, especially if you’re a student planning to study abroad.

The best travel cards will likely skip foreign transaction fees, but the primary standouts on these types of credit cards are the top-tier travel perks, like lounge access and travel insurance. The catch is that premium travel cards often come at a premium price, with many of the best travel cards charging annual fees from $95 to more than $600. Travel cards also often require at least a good credit score for approval, which could push these options out of reach for students with limited or no credit history.

Student credit cards can act as a decent stopgap to a full-blown travel credit card, because of the differences in credit requirements and costs compared to travel rewards cards. While you may not get travel-specific rewards with a student card, you could still take advantage of rewards on other top categories in your budget.

When exploring the best student cards , here are some considerations to keep in mind with  affordability, credit requirements and rewards.

Does the card charge a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee is an added charge, usually 3 percent, for processing purchases with a currency different than your own. Using a card with foreign transaction fees in a country you could be studying in for four months or longer can get expensive fast. Here’s an example of what a semester’s worth of spending on books and food would cost a student from the University of Iowa studying in Florence, Italy, if they purchased every book and meal with their credit card. The figures represented are based on estimates from an average cost of studying abroad survey Bankrate conducted.

Some student credit cards don’t charge a foreign transaction fee, but not all. When choosing a student card for study abroad, save yourself some time (and money) by picking a card that doesn’t tack on extra fees for foreign transactions.

In what categories will you spend the most?

While some student cards may not offer travel-specific rewards, these cards still often have rewards programs built to fit a student’s spending habits. Will you be using your card primarily for souvenirs, dining, or school supplies? Depending on where you spend most, you’ll want to pick a card that aligns with your top spending categories so you can get the most out of your rewards program.

Is the card network accepted in your destination?

Credit card networks are different from card issuers, though some card issuers have their own networks. Credit card networks are companies that help facilitate the transaction between your bank and the merchant you’re making a purchase with. Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely known and used credit card networks — merchants accept them virtually everywhere. Issuers with their own card networks, like Discover and American Express, tend to have lower international acceptance rates. Take note of your card issuer’s network, so you know merchants in your host country will accept your card when you swipe it.

Can you apply without a Social Security Number?

If you’re an international student studying in the U.S . you can still apply for a credit card, if you want one. Some student credit cards don’t require a Social Security number as part of the application; instead, they may require an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which could make them more accessible to international students who want to use credit. Look into the application requirements and short list cards that accept international identification forms.

The best student cards for study abroad

The following student cards are some of the best available for students planning to study abroad. These cards share many of the notable characteristics that make a card good for international use like skipping foreign transaction fees, offering valuable rewards and even providing opportunities to upgrade once the trip — or college career — comes to an end.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best overall student card

This card doesn’t charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee, which puts it squarely in the running as a good card for study abroad. The card also doesn’t charge a penalty APR if you miss a payment, although missing a payment means up to $40 in a late payment fee. Eliminating the penalty APR is a great plus for a student cardholder who may be getting used to handling their credit and keeping up with bills. But it’s important to note that even without a penalty APR, missed and late payments will have negative effects on your credit score.

The Capital One SavorOne Student also has a very valuable rewards structure. You’ll get competitive rewards rates on a host of categories, including dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming. These categories cover a lot of what makes up a student budget, and you’d likely be able to reap a lot of reward with little effort. The main drawback to consider with this card is the high ongoing APR with no intro offers, which can get expensive quickly if you end up carrying balances.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate rewards

If you’re a student who would prefer to earn the same rewards rate on everything you buy, the Capital One Quicksilver Student is a solid choice. You’ll earn a competitive 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases, so you won’t have to worry about tracking rotating bonus categories or being strategic with your budget to get the most out of your card. Earning a flat rewards rate is also ideal for students who spend broadly across many categories, which could be the case during a study abroad program. The card also aces affordability with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. And you can earn a $50 welcome bonus by spending just $100 in your first three months with the card — a fairly low spend requirement — especially when compared to the $500 and more required spends on many non-student credit cards.

You’ll still want to avoid carrying a balance, since there are no intro APR offers and the ongoing interest rate is high. Also, while some student cards may waive a first late payment fee, the Capital One Quicksilver Student card doesn’t, and you could face a charge of up to $40 for a missed or late payment. To avoid extra fees and other major damage to your credit score, you’ll want to stay on top of when your bill is due and pay off your balance as often as possible.

Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for bonus categories

Students who are more comfortable with crafting a strategy to get more rewards value could find a lot to love in the Discover it® Student Cash Back . The card’s most notable perks are the lucrative rewards program and Discover’s Cashback Match™ welcome offer. While you’ll have to work around a quarterly spending cap and activate the bonus category each quarter to benefit from the rate boost, it’s still one of the most valuable student cards. Quarterly categories often include common categories students spend in, and if you tailor your spending each quarter to match the bonus category, you can maximize this card’s value fairly easily.

With Discover’s Cashback Match™ program, Discover will match your reward earnings at the end of your first year with the card, making it one of — if not the most — valuable welcome offers available on a student credit card. In line with the other cards that are ideal for studying abroad, this Discover card doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees. Your first late payment is also waived (up to $41 after). One thing to note about Discover cards is that the international acceptance is much lower than a Visa or Mastercard credit card, so you’ll want to do extra research to ensure merchants will accept this card at your destination.

Alternatives to using a student card abroad

If you don’t want to open your own line of credit for a study abroad trip, here are some alternatives you can consider.

• Become an authorized user: If a parent, guardian or another person you trust has their own travel card, consider asking to become an authorized user . When you’re an authorized user on someone’s credit card account, you benefit from their available credit and can borrow against it like it were your own account. You will, however, want to communicate clearly with the primary cardholder on what your spending allowance is and how much, if any, of the card payment you should take on.
• Stick to cash: Another payment method that’s almost always accepted is cash. If having your own credit card is too much to manage, you can exchange cash for the currency accepted in the hosting country and use it for purchases abroad. It’s important to note that there are safety concerns associated with carrying around large amounts of cash, so students should be diligent. In a post-pandemic world, some merchants may opt for a cashless payment policy, so you’ll want to have an alternative ready for this situation as well (and vice versa).
• Scholarship money: Apply for financial aid through your university or the university in your host country. In addition to covering housing and the supplies needed for your studies, students could use any extra funds to finance other living expenses.

The bottom line

Students have many options to choose from when deciding on how to finance time abroad. Whether you elect to use a student card, a travel card, stick to cash or become an authorized user, make sure you consider all of the possibilities that come with spending money internationally. Prepare for situations where a merchant is cashless or cash only, and have a clear understanding of what you’ll need most out of whatever financing option you choose. Organizing your finances early can allow for one less thing to worry about during your time abroad, so you can fully immerse yourself in learning and culture.

Related Articles

How to choose a student credit card

How to choose a card for European travel

Best credit cards for international students in the U.S.

Capital One Travel portal guide

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Update a school travel pass

If a student's details change, please re-apply or update their details with Transport for NSW for the school travel pass or School Opal card.

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• If the student has never had a pass before , go to apply for a pass for the first time.
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• is requesting a new transport operator.

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Should You Use a Credit Card Travel Portal?

Unlock the details of credit card travel portals and learn how to maximize your benefits.

Using a Credit Card Travel Portal

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Using a credit card portal to book travel could help you save money and help you earn more points or redeem travel credits.

Key Takeaways

• Credit card travel portals search across multiple travel options, giving you the power to compare prices.
• You can use your credit card or rewards to book travel with your credit card issuer's travel portal.
• Some cards may offer travel credits and benefits when you book using the associated travel portal. 

You have many options for booking travel, whether you want to book directly with airlines and hotels, use an online travel agency or book with your credit card's travel portal. Using a credit card travel portal may allow you to take advantage of cardholder benefits and credits and give you additional choices for your booking.

Understand how to use credit card travel portals to save money on your next trip and maybe get some elevated perks along the way – but also recognize when it doesn't make sense.

What Are Credit Card Travel Portals?

Similar to online travel agencies, such as Expedia or Booking.com, credit card travel portals are online travel booking platforms. Cardholders can use credit card travel portals to browse and book travel options, including flights, hotels, rental cars and experiences using your credit card or rewards.

Credit card travel portals include:

• American Express Travel.
• Capital One Travel.
• Chase Travel.
• Citi Travel.

Some credit cards offer cardholder savings or perks when you book travel using the issuer's credit card portal, such as travel credits or cardholder privileges, including free breakfast or late checkout.

How Credit Card Travel Portals Stack Up

When you use a credit card travel portal, the amount and method of payment may be the deciding factors in how you book. Using a credit card travel portal to book travel can save you money, but not always.

We compared a midweek economy flight from Los Angeles to New York and a weeklong stay at a three-star hotel in Manhattan. In some cases, credit card travel portals were competitive, but Expedia had the lowest overall price for flight and hotel costs on this test trip.

Still, this is just one example, and travel prices can fluctuate depending on how you book. It's always a good idea to compare all of your options.

Benefits of Credit Card Travel Portals

Booking your travel with a credit card travel portal can help you earn more points or redeem travel credits. Some examples:

• Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel site. When booking on the Capital One Travel site, cardholders earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights. ( See Rates and Fees )
• With The Platinum Card ® from American Express , cardholders get a $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel and earn five points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. ( See Rates and Fees )
• Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card holders get a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and earn five points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases.

"Using the travel credits is huge," says JT Genter, editor in chief of rewards and travel tracking tool AwardWallet. "Card issuers are leaning more towards those only being accessible through the portal."

Credit card travel portal bookings may help your points go further, too. "Because I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, when I use the (Chase) portal to book travel, my points get an extra 25% bump," says Chip Chinery, personal finance blogger at Chip's Money Tips. For example, you'd only pay 100,000 points for a flight or hotel that would require 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book without the points boost.

Helpful features can add up to savings on credit card travel portals. For example, Capital One Travel offers a price match guarantee. Genter used the Capital One Travel price match feature on a flight from Cairo to Marrakech, Morocco. Although he booked with Capital One Travel, an online travel agency had a better price. He was able to price match with Capital One Travel to get a travel credit.

Genter points out that cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express can take advantage of the International Airline Program for potential savings on international flights in first, business or premium economy.

You may also get benefits for booking with credit card travel portals, particularly when booking hotels. For example:

• Cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express get elite benefits at participating hotels, including early check-in, room upgrades, breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, complimentary Wi-Fi and guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out.
• If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , you can book The Edit properties through Chase Travel and receive benefits, including daily breakfast for two, a $100 on-property credit, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Drawbacks of Credit Card Travel Portals

Travel credits and on-property perks are compelling reasons to use a credit card travel portal. However, it pays to compare pricing among your card's portal, direct booking or an online travel agency, because the lowest-priced option depends on the trip you're taking. Also, you may forfeit some benefits, as credit card travel portals are third-party bookings.

With a third-party booking, you'll have less flexibility in customer service and cancellation than you would if you booked directly. For example, if you're dealing with a delayed flight and need service from the airline, you may be directed to the travel portal customer service. You may have limited options for cancellation and how you get your money or rewards back.

Another major point to consider with third-party bookings: You generally won't be able to earn points or miles with the airline or hotel, though you can earn points with your card. Additionally, you may not be able to use elite benefits for any status you hold. For example, if you have Hilton Honors status that entitles you to a daily food and beverage credit, you're not likely to get it when you book a stay with your credit card travel portal.

When to Use a Credit Card Travel Portal

Booking travel with a credit card travel portal can make sense in some scenarios. For instance:

• You want to compare your travel options across multiple airlines or hotels in the portal.
• You have a travel credit available that can only be redeemed through the issuer's travel portal.
• You have rewards you want to redeem on the portal, and booking this way offers a good redemption value.
• You want to take advantage of benefits, such as elite hotel perks that you can get when using a credit card travel portal.
• Your booking options on the portal are priced lower compared with other options.
• Booking on the portal earns elevated rewards, and the prices and benefits are comparable to those of other booking options.

"It makes sense if you want to take advantage of the credits but also to earn bonus points," says Genter. "And sometimes, they have promotions such as hyper-targeted offers."

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4 Ways College Students Can Earn Travel Rewards

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Table of Contents

1. Get rewarded when you buy textbooks

2. let your gas rewards add up, 3. pay the utilities, 4. earn and redeem points on study abroad trips.

College students at four-year public universities spend an average of $35,551 each year for tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses, according to recent data from university ranking resource BestColleges.

That’s a lot and could leave little wiggle room in budgets for travel.

So how can college students make travel accessible while living on a tight budget? The key is to build travel rewards through normal credit card purchases.

Here are four simple tips college students — from the first-year undergraduate to those considering a doctorate — can do to utilize their everyday spending to earn travel rewards.

The average estimated cost of books and supplies for in-state students living on campus at public four-year institutions in 2022-2023 was $1,240, according to the College Board. Students and families often budget for this expense, and one way to earn rewards off this spending is to work toward the minimum spend bonus on your travel credit card.

For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers this: Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Textbooks can be a natural way to achieve this dollar amount, but make sure to have the money available to pay off the balance in full. Bonuses would not beat paying interest on a large purchase, and this tactic assumes that you do not need financial aid to purchase books.

If you do have the money set aside to pay for books, it’s nice to get rewarded in the process. And once the semester ends, you may be able to sell several books back.

If you commute to school or travel home often, make sure your credit card offers gas rewards. Any time you fill up, you’re earning travel points.

Or if you decided to take an impromptu road trip for spring break or a long weekend with friends, even if you don’t own the car, offering to pay for the gas is an easy way to contribute to the trip’s cost and earn rewards at the same time.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , for instance, offers bonus points for gas station purchases.

» Learn more: When should I book my spring break trip?

Students often live with roommates, and whether in a house or apartment, many rental situations require renters to pay at least some utilities separate from the rent cost.

If you are willing to put the bill in your name and card and make sure your roommates pay you’re their share each month, you can earn a lot of points for this everyday expense.

» Learn more: Bilt Rewards: Get points for paying rent

If you plan to study abroad, make sure to either book your ticket with a travel rewards card, or even redeem miles to get your ticket.

Also consider getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , the United℠ Explorer Card , and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . And if you aren’t sure what airlines will be needed to get to your study abroad location, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be the best option.

» Learn more: How to pick a study abroad credit card

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: How to find cheap activities to do in any city Why you should travel solo at least once The best travel credit cards of the year

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Best no annual fee travel credit cards of April 2024

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.  

Travel rewards cards are a lot like gyms. The best ones may come with tons of added benefits (saunas, yoga class, etc.) but they also cost a lot, usually with a big financial commitment upfront. 

As a result, whether you’re considering a Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card (with its $95 annual fee) or a CrossFit membership, you probably have the same question on your mind: will I really use it enough to justify paying for it? 

While there aren’t any free gyms we know of, there thankfully are plenty of no-annual-fee travel rewards cards that require essentially zero commitment. And just like an ab roller or a Richard Simmons DVD, you can simply use them a few times, forget about them, and put them in a drawer until beach season. Or, you can stick with it and make them part of your daily routine—whatever works for you.

You’re also far more likely to see “instant results” with these cards, too. From 100,000-point welcome bonuses to rewards for paying rent, free travel insurance to 3X on gas, these cards offer way more than you’d expect for a fee of $0 per year. 

The best no-annual-fee travel cards for April 2024

Best overall: bilt mastercard, best for hotel rewards: ihg one rewards traveler credit card, best for airline rewards: united gateway℠ card, best for travel earnings: wells fargo autograph℠ card, best for flat-rate earnings: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

The Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points from paying rent and transfer them 1:1 to well over a dozen different travel partners including United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. Toss in some surprisingly robust travel insurance and you have our unconventional—yet logical—choice for the best overall no-annual-fee travel card of 2024.

Bilt Mastercard®

See Rates and Fees

Special feature

Rewards rates.

• 1x Earn 1X points on rent up to 100K/year
• 1x Earn 3X points on dining
• 2x Earn 2X points on travel
• 1x Earn 1X points on other purchases
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Uniquely earns points on rent
• Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
• Robust travel transfer partners
• Cash redemption rate is poor
• No traditional welcome bonus
• Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• See this page for details
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Why we like this card: As mentioned, the Bilt Mastercard’s most compelling feature is that it allows you to pay rent with a credit card—even if your landlord doesn’t take plastic—and avoid the transaction fee paying rent by credit card would typically incur. Then, as long as you complete five transactions each month, you’ll trigger 1X rewards on your rent payments. 

Note that rewards on rent are capped at 100,000 points per year.

In terms of earning potential, if you pay the median ~$2,000 rent in the U.S., you could earn approximately 24,000 points per year which can be used to book travel in Bilt’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point or transferred to any of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, you could likely earn a domestic flight with United or a weekend stay at Hyatt, all for simply paying rent on time.

The Bilt card also provides trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car insurance (terms apply)—perks you wouldn’t typically find on a no-annual-fee credit card.

If you’re looking for a hotel rewards card that offers the most free nights for no annual fee, wait until you read about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. With a six-figure welcome bonus, up to 17X on stays and other compelling rewards, it’s currently the gold standard for no-fee hotel rewards.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Intro bonus.

• 17x Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts 
• 3x Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations
• 2x Earn 2X points on all other purchases
• Generous welcome bonus not typically seen in a $0 annual fee card
• Travel protections that are unusual for a no-annual-fee card
• Fourth night free on award bookings
• Limited redemption options outside of IHG
• IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
• Silver status granted with the card has limited benefit
• Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Gold status
• Foreign transaction fee:None

Why we like this card: We like calling the IHG One Rewards Traveler card the “Liam Hemsworth” of travel rewards cards because it lives in the shadow of its big brother—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —but still delivers plenty of quality and substance in its own right (with no annual fee, to boot). 

For starters, you can get a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, potentially worth around $500 to $700 in IHG redemption. 

Plus, enjoy up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, instant Silver Elite status and a handy bonus where you redeem points for three consecutive nights and get the fourth night in your stay free. So, if you book a three-night stay using your welcome bonus, you’ll essentially be getting a complimentary four-night stay at a nice IHG property for no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards program could be very rewarding for the right traveler.

Check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Traveler .

As a no-annual-fee airline card, the United Gateway℠ Card currently edges out its rival the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card by offering a more generous welcome bonus and travel insurance that the Delta card does not provide. If you fly occasionally and would like to earn miles, but aren’t willing to make the commitment of $95 or more for a mid-tier airline card with more perks, the Gateway is a strong choice. 

United Gateway℠ Card

• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases.
• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
• 1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• Reward bonus categories outside of United Airlines
• Robust travel protections for a no-annual-fee card
• No baggage or expanded award availability benefits like with other United cards
• Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
• United perks: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Other perks: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Why we like this card: The United Gateway card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting plus 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Considering a United Mile is worth roughly around 1.2 cents these days, effectively earning 2.4 cents back on everyday purchases is a solid value proposition. 

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And, you can save with a discount of 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases. 

New cardholders will enjoy a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after 21.99%–28.99% variable applies.

If the United Gateway card has a small lead on the Delta Skymiles Blue Amex at this point, it soars ahead (pun intended) when you look at the included travel and shopping protections. Both cards offer secondary rental car insurance, but only the Gateway includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. 

So, if you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card you can use to rack up miles—and you either tend to fly United most of the time or you’re at minimum not devoted to a competing airline—the United Gateway is the card to beat.

Check out our full review of the United Gateway Card for more info.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page  

With a generous welcome bonus in exchange for an attainable spend amount, 3X on travel, and a fancy name, you’d think the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card would command an annual fee of at least $95. But it doesn’t, making it a superb candidate for general travel use.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus.

• 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
• 1X 1X points on other purchases
• No annual fee
• 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that's a $200 cash redemption value)
• Points transfer to partners
• Car rental insurance is secondary
• No travel insurance
• Transfer partners are limited
• Additional perks: Cell Phone Protection: Provides up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph card. Coverage is subject to a $25 deductible and limited to two claims every 12-month period.
• Foreign transaction fee: N/A

Why we like this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans and even your landline bill too if you have one, plus 1X points on other purchases—all without charging an annual fee. And, to make traveling a little cheaper/less stressful, you’ll also get $600 worth of cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) as long as you pay your phone bill with this card and secondary rental car insurance. 

Cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Wells Fargo’s first wave of transfer partners including Air France‑KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus and 1:2 to Choice Privileges. 

But even if you aren’t a member of those loyalty programs, earning 3X on dining, travel, gas, and more is hard to pass up. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent each to offset past purchases on your account, meaning you can wield the Autograph either as a no-annual-fee travel card or as a cash-back card effectively earning unlimited 3% back in a wide swath of useful categories. 

Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph .

Sometimes, you just want a card that offers a little more than 1X on every purchase—without having to worry about what this quarter’s rotating rewards are, or whether a specific merchant qualifies as “groceries” for the purposes of your card’s rewards. If you value simplicity and the lack of an annual fee in your travel card, you’ll probably be a fan of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and its straightforward rewards program.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Reward Rates

• 5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.25x Earn 1.25x miles on every other purchase
• Flexible travel rewards
• No foreign transaction fee
• Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
• Cash redemption value is limited
• The VentureOne offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Why we like this card: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards offers 1.25X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s pretty much all that you have to remember. You can also get a nice welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is a solid payout for a very attainable spending target. 

Capital One Miles can be transferred to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 rate. Partners include Air Canada’s Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards, among others. Other ways to book travel include redeeming miles through Capital One’s portal or making the purchase directly, paying with your card like normal, then using miles for a statement credit to cover the transaction. 

The Venture One also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, the variable APR will be 19.99%–29.99%). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open , then 4% per transfer for any promotional APR offered after. 

Come to think of it, provided you have the excellent credit needed to apply, the VentureOne could make a great travel companion for a grad student given its simplicity, lengthy intro APR period and low spending threshold required to trigger the welcome bonus.

Check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards .

Frequently asked questions

Which card is best for international transactions without extra charges.

Zero foreign transaction fees is actually a common benefit among travel rewards cards, including many with no annual fee. For example, neither the Bilt Mastercard nor the United Gateway card charges a foreign currency conversion fee. 

What is the best travel credit card for a young person? 

If you’re still paying rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice since it can generate points from rent payments which can then be transferred 1:1 to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners. If you’d prefer a card with a welcome bonus, which the Bilt card lacks, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card currently offers a massive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card—potentially worth hundreds of dollars toward a future IHG hotel stay. 

Is a travel card with an annual fee worth it?

Using a travel rewards card with an annual fee can be worth it as long as you’re extracting enough points and benefits to justify paying the fee each year. If you travel infrequently or just want one less fee to worry about, consider one of the no-annual-fee cards on our list above. But, the best perks and protections are typically available on cards with annual fees.

For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. If you use that every year, you’ve gone a long way toward offsetting the $395 annual fee. You also get 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 toward travel, every year starting on your account anniversary.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best travel rewards cards with no annual fee, the Fortune Recommends surveyed more than a dozen cards currently available from today’s top issuers. From there, we ranked each one based on the following core categories and weights:

• Welcome bonus (10%): Some cards—even those with no annual fee—offer welcome bonuses that you can earn once you make enough purchases within a certain time frame, such as spending $1,000 within three months of account opening.
• Travel earnings (25%): These are the point rewards you’d earn by making travel-related purchases (e.g. 3X on hotels, 2X on airfare).
• Car rental insurance (15%): Many, but not all travel-centric rewards cards include an auto rental collision damage waiver, which allows you to decline a portion of the rental company’s insurance and save potentially up to $30 per day. We gave extra consideration to if a card offers primary rental car insurance versus secondary, because primary kicks in immediately in a covered scenario—whereas secondary only applies after your own, personal insurance. 
• Travel insurance benefits (15%): Some travel rewards cards automatically apply trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/delayed luggage reimbursement and even travel accident insurance on travel bookings made using the card.
• Gas earning (5%): Since road trips remain a common form of travel, whether or not a card offers points rewards at the pump factored into our rankings.
• Dining earning (10%): If a no-annual-fee travel rewards card offered 2X or more on restaurant purchases it favored well in this category.

The remaining 20% was based on the card’s main focus: hotel, airline or general travel rewards. 

• For general travel—points transferrable to partners (20%): Points are literally worth more if you can transfer them to certain partners, so a card’s ability to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners factored into our rankings.
• For hotel rewards—free award night with booking (20%): Some hotel rewards cards offer a BOGO-like perk where if you redeem a certain number of nights with points you get an extra tacked on for free.
• For airline rewards—ability to spend towards status (20%): Most airline rewards cards allow you to earn miles, but not all of them count those miles towards your next loyalty status. If a card treated them as “qualifying miles,” it fared better in this category.

Lastly, just keep in mind that virtually every aspect of a travel rewards card—from the rewards to the welcome bonus and fee structure—is subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.  

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

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