It's always amusing to see your favorite travel blogger taking trips of a lifetime. But you may wonder how they afford it. Most use credit card rewards to cut costs. But how? What perks are really saving them money and how much are they having to spend to make the rewards worthwhile?
Even though there are hundreds of different credit cards available from major card issuers, most of the buzz is generated by a few of the most popular products, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express.
But I've been traveling using credit card rewards and perks for years, and found a few unsung heroes that are just as rewarding as the big-name cards. If you look beyond those popular choices and consider some lesser-known options, you could get a card that holds more value and better perks.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
Solid hotel and dining perks for no annual fee
Next to hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, Wyndham isn't as well known. And even then, most people associate Wyndham with budget brands such as Days Inn, Super 8 and LaQuinta. These hotels are fine for their purpose, but most don't imagine them as part of their ultimate dream vacation.
However, Wyndham is partnered with Caesars Entertainment, a hotel and casino company with properties that dominate the Las Vegas strip. Wyndham also owns Vacasa, a vacation rental management company that has properties in Hawaii, Colorado and Florida.
To earn stays in these areas, you can get the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*. It's a no-annual-fee credit card that offers a few perks including a cardmember booking discount and automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold status, which offers preferred room selection, late checkout and 10% more points on qualifying hotel stays.
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card* is even better. It offers even higher reward rates, a better welcome offer and top-tier Diamond status with Wyndham and Caesars Entertainment.
PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card
All the premium travel perks with a $95 annual fee
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card has many of the benefits offered by premium rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*. The card includes credits for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, trip delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver. The card also comes with a few other perks, including a complimentary priority pass airport lounge annual membership.
Here's the best part: It only charges $95 annually, and even that’s waived for PenFed Honors Advantage Members. PenFed Honors Advantage Members are people with a (free) PenFed checking account, or current or former members of the military.
At this price level, it’s an exceptional rewards card, especially with its 50,000-point welcome bonus after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days. And it's a good pick if you need to transfer a balance since the card offers a 0% intro APR offer for 12 months (then 17.99% variable) on balance transfers made in the first 90 days, which is good considering the current average credit card APR of 20.66%. With all these features, you’ll be begging your friends to let you pay for dinner.
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Affordable flights, but few redemption options
Frontier has two reputations. The first is for low fares on flights -- it’s often possible to book tickets for $19 each way. The other is for high fees for carry-on bags, checked bags and seat assignments. But when you have the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®* -- which charges a $89 annual fee -- you can earn elite status that lets you waive the costs for these services.
This card offers one Elite Status Point for each dollar spent on purchases, and you can reach their Elite Silver status with 10,000 points. Elite status unlocks free seat assignments and priority boarding.
You'll reach Elite Gold status after 20,000 points. Elite Gold status offers premium seating and a free carry-on bag. The Frontier card also offers boosted rewards rates for dining and Frontier purchases to help you fast-track earning points.
But this card really stands out for its other perks, including a $100 flight voucher each account anniversary and a generous welcome bonus that can add up to two roundtrip flights. The latest perk also lets the primary cardholder check two bags on any Frontier flight for free, adding even more value.
If Frontier is an option for most of your upcoming destinations and you try to travel on a budget, consider applying for Frontier's co-branded card.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card*
An up-and-coming travel card to watch
Wells Fargo doesn’t have a vast portfolio of rewards cards like its competitors, but the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is on par with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Autograph Journey earns 5x on hotels, 4x on airlines and 3x on other travel, while the Sapphire Preferred earns 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel and 2x on other travel. Both cards have a $95 annual fee, but instead of the Sapphire Preferred's $50 annual hotel credit when booking with Chase, the Autograph Journey has a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
Even though the travel partner list that you can transfer your rewards to for potentially more value isn't extensive, the points can still offer more savings on trips.
Despite its lack of transfer partners, credit card industry insiders are taking note of its compelling offerings. So while this card may be flying under the radar now, it won’t for long.
*All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card and the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
