1. Home
  2. Great Credit Cards for Travel

Great Credit Cards for Travel

Pauline Hatch     

There are two good ways to use credit cards for travel: earning and redeeming points, and 0% purchase offers that give you time to pay it off interest-free. No international transaction fees is a bonus! So, we've compiled some of the top credit cards for travel right here.

Rewards cards: Look for introductory bonus points in the frequent flyer program you want (typically Qantas or Velocity). Check how many points you'll earn per dollar, and if there are any caps on points each month or year. 0% offers: Consider how much your holiday will cost and how long you'll need to pay it off. Some cards offer up to 36 months interest-free - just make sure you have a plan in place to pay it off in time. Foreign transaction fees: Fee-free overseas spending is usually limited to premium cards, so you'll be paying a higher annual fee. Make sure the extra cost is worth it for your trip. You can find more tips below the comparison table. Use the toggles to compare credit cards and click for our review or more information.
read moreclose ›

Average card rating for this category
110 reviews for 10 cards listed
CreditCard.com.au as seen on
  • 7News
  • 9News
  • Studio 10
  • The Sydney Morning Herald
  • News.com.au

34 reviews
points earned over 12 months

15 reviews
points earned over 12 months

14 reviews
points earned over 12 months

11 reviews
points earned over 12 months

6 reviews
points earned over 12 months

4 reviews
points earned over 12 months

9 reviews
points earned over 12 months

2 reviews
points earned over 12 months

4 reviews
points earned over 12 months

11 reviews
points earned over 12 months

Let Your Credit Card Take You On Holiday

Using credit cards to make travel cheaper and more fun

Travelling comes with non-negotiable costs: flights, accommodation, foreign exchange fees, and insurance. Credit cards can give you these travel essentials for free or at a much lower cost. Nice!

Using rewards points for free flights, upgrades and hotels

You can earn points on credit cards for each dollar you spend or as a lump-sum bonus for signing up. Many rewards programs will let you use your points for flights, upgrades, hotels, holiday packages and more.

Frequent flyer programs like Qantas and Velocity will let you redeem points directly for flights and upgrades, while bank programs like ANZ Rewards may need to be converted to frequent flyer points first.

Quick things to know about rewards credit cards:

  • The more points you'll earn, the higher the annual fee is likely to be.
  • You may have to spend a certain amount to earn the bonus points.
  • Some cards may reduce the points per dollar after you've spent a certain amount in a month.
  • Weigh up the annual fee, value of the points and any other costs to decide if you'll get value out of the card.

 

How to boost your points

Tip #1. Buy everything on your card, but make sure you pay it back before you're charged interest.

Tip #2. Add additional cardholders, whose points will be pooled with yours (some cards may charge a high yearly fee, though).

Tip #3. Double dip by using your credit card alongside other free rewards programs like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards. Both programs earn points that can be converted to frequent flyer points.

 

How to earn and use Status Credits

Status Credits are a feature of frequent flyer programs like Velocity and Qantas. The more Status Credits you earn through flying or on your credit card, the more privileges you unlock.

For example, you might get priority check-in, lounge passes, bonus points or seat upgrades.

Some credit cards also include Status Credits as a bonus perk for signing up, or each year you have the card.

 

How to redeem your rewards points

Typically, you'll get the most value from your points when you use them for travel rather than toasters.

You can redeem your points on your rewards program's app or online portal. Once you log in, you'll often be able to choose to redeem points for:

  • Frequent flyer miles with another program.
  • Partner hotels or car rental agencies.
  • Merchandise like electronics, retail, dining and services.
  • Concierge services.
  • Purchases you've previously made, almost like a cashback program.

Other nice features to look for

Many rewards cards are aimed at travellers, so you might also get perks that make your trips cheaper. For example, you might get:

  • Discounts on hotels, car hire or holiday packages
  • Travel insurance and/or rental vehicle excess insurance
  • Airport lounge access
  • Waived currency conversion fees
  • Bonus points for spending with certain travel partners

I'll explain each feature briefly to show you how it works.

Complimentary travel insurance

You should always have travel insurance when you're away. Credit card travel insurance is underwritten by big-time insurance companies like Allianz, CoverMore or Zurich. That means you're getting similar cover to the kind you would if you bought standalone insurance, except it's free.

What's covered?
Travel insurance generally covers Australian trips, overseas trips or both. Every policy is different, but standard cover includes emergency medical assistance, cancellation cover and unforeseen changes to your trip. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before you travel.

How do I know I'm eligible?
Usually your travel insurance automatically activates when you meet certain criteria. That might look like:

  • Buying your return flight on the card
  • Spending at least $500 on flights, accommodation or trip costs
  • Being under the restricted age limit (most insurances cut off at 79 or 80 years old)
  • Being an Australian citizen

That's just a snapshot, and you'll need to read the eligibility section in the card's T&Cs to make sure you're covered.

✈ Airport lounge access

Airport lounges can be super swanky or just a private space away from the chaos of the airport. You might find complimentary food and drink, free Wi-Fi, lounges, working spaces and conference rooms.

Usually, you'd pay an annual fee or per-visit fee to use a lounge, but some credit cards (like these ones) give you 2 free passes per year, or even unlimited access.

American Express cards and Qantas have their own brand of airport lounges, while other credit card providers have partnered with independent global lounges like Priority Pass or LoungeKey.

💸 Waived currency conversion fees

When you use your credit card to purchase something in another currency – whether buying online or in person when overseas – you'll will be charged a currency conversion fee. The fee could be charged as a percentage of the transaction amount or a standard fee.

Currency conversion fees usually range from 2-4%, which can really add up if you spend a lot while travelling. Say you spend $3,000 on a hotel, $1000 on car hire, $2,000 on dining out and entertainment, and $1,000 on everyday expenses, that’s a spend of $7,000 on your card. With a 4% currency conversion fee, that would be an extra $280 to pay off.

Instead, you may want to look for a card with no currency conversion fee.

💼 Concierge services

What on earth is a concierge service on a credit card? It's a bit like a personal assistant you can call 24/7. You can ask the concierge to arrange travel, book a table at a restaurant, recommend where to take the kids for a treat or reserve tickets at the theatre.

Emergency card replacement

Imagine being on the other side of the world when your wallet is stolen. You have no money and no access to funds. What do you do? Well, if you have the right credit card, a call to your card provider could offer emergency card replacement and even emergency cash while you wait. Just be aware that some cards charge a fee for this, so read up on the small print before you travel.

 

Using a 0% purchase offer instead of rewards points

While rewards cards can be awesome, they’re not for everyone. So, what’s the alternative if you want to take a trip but don’t have the cash to pay for it right now? Choosing a card with a 0% purchase offer could provide a solution, allowing you to pay for your holiday now, and then pay it off over time while paying no interest.

These offers can be huge money-savers – but you need to deal with them correctly if you want to avoid getting into trouble with debt. Here are some of our top tips for finding the right 0% purchase offer, and how to make the most of it once you’ve applied.

  • Find an offer that’s long and low: Think about how much you plan on spending, and then how long it will take you to pay it off. Choose an offer that has the lowest rate – 0% p.a. is best – over a period that will allow you to pay off your spending.
  • Take into account the card’s annual fee: When comparing offers, be sure to look at each card’s annual fee. Paying a lower annual fee will provide more savings, allowing you to pay off your spending quicker.
  • Make a plan: Once you have applied for the card, make a plan for your spending – and try not to go over budget. Then pay off a certain amount each week or each month, being sure to pay off all your spending before the introductory period ends. Setting up automatic payments after payday could help with this.
  • Use your card on your trip: If you have the cost of your trip all paid off, you may consider using a 0% purchase offer for your holiday spending. Just be aware of the card’s foreign conversion fee and avoid overspending ‘just because it’s there’.

 

Before you go (literally)

Before you rush off to apply for a card and book your holiday, you need to weigh up if that card is worth its annual fee. These are the most important things to know about travel credit cards to make sure you're getting the best deal:

  • Weigh up the cost of annual fees.
    Cards with loads of features and points generally have higher annual fees. Will you earn enough points and use enough features to make the card worth it?
  • Avoid interest.
    Interest kills value on any card, but especially on high interest rewards cards and premium cards. Always pay off your card balance before it attracts interest.
  • Stick to one rewards program.
    You'll usually get more value if you concentrate on one rewards program instead of many. Look at programs that offer points transfer options if you need more variety.
  • Choose different cards for different tasks.
    Rewards cards work best as rewards earners, and may not be flexible enough to cover all your bases. It may have high currency conversion rates or not include travel insurance. So, it's ok to consider more than one card to make your travel cheaper overall (just watch out for annual fees).
  • Don’t overspend. This is especially true if you have a number of cards on the go. Don’t be tempted to spend simply because you have available credit. Keep track of spending using your card’s app, and set a manageable budget.

 

Pauline Hatch

Pauline Hatch is a personal finance expert at Creditcard.com.au with 9 years of finance writing under her belt. She loves turning complex money concepts into simple, practical actions so you can win financially. You can ask Pauline any questions by submitting a comment below and get a personal reply.

Recently Asked Questions

Something you need to know? Ask our credit card expert a question.

Ask a Question

You will be emailed a response in typically 1 business day. By submitting this question you agreee to our privacy policy.

Ask Pauline a Question

Hi, I’m a personal finance expert who loves to help you out! I’ll answer your question within a business day. Pinky swear.

We ask for your email so we can respond to you directly. We won’t share your personal data. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Showing one question (showing the latest 10 Q&As)

Marie

Marie

18 June 2022
What is the best credit card for me? This will be my first time holding a credit card. I'm am just getting it as an 'emergency' for my overseas holiday in a months time. I would like it to have cheap rates for use overseas.
    Pauline - CreditCard.com.au

    Pauline

    20 June 2022
    Hi Marie, glad to hear you’re embarking on the journey of your first card! We can’t tell you what credit card is best, as this comes down to many, many factors. To start though, you might want to start with our page: credit cards for first timers. We drill down in the hows and what ifs of the process. If you’re travelling you should compare a range of credit cards with no foreign fee to see what suits you best. If you have any other questions during your journey feel free to reach out again! Good luck!
Featured in
  • Studio 10
  • The Age
  • News.com.au
  • The Sydney Morning Herald
  • Herald Sun
  • telegraph
Help us improve

By submitting this feedback you agree to our privacy policy.

My credit card is not listed

By submitting this form you agree to our privacy policy.