Which Travel Credit Card is Best for Beginners?

Image: PHOTO: Paying with a credit card. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)

by Holly Johnson
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Fri February 17, 2017

Once you're ready to start racking up travel rewards via credit cards, you'll probably be shocked by the sheer number of cards available. Not only are there co-branded hotel and airline credit cards to choose from, but there are cash-back cards as well. On top of those options, you'll find flexible travel credit cards and another type of card that doles out "flexible travel credit." So, what gives?

Really, any of these card types can be valuable in terms of helping you score free travel. However, you'll be a lot better off if you ease into this hobby incrementally-and, yes, some rewards cards are much better for newbies than others.

Finding the Perfect Starter Card

To find the ideal card for beginners, it's smart to ask a few initial questions right away. First, what type of travel do you hope to get for free (hotel stays, airfare, etc.)? Second, how much money do you commonly spend on credit cards each month?

The first question is essential, mostly because you should strive to earn travel rewards you can use. The second question, on the other hand, can help you figure out which initial offer to pursue. Since most travel deals come with a minimum spending requirement during the first three months to earn a signup bonus, it's crucial to have a handle on how much you spend normally.

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These questions considered, your starter rewards card should also be:

-Flexible enough to let you redeem your points more than one way as you find your travel style

-Rewarding enough it lets you earn plenty of free travel

-In sync with your travel style or limitations

Best Travel Credit Cards for Newbies

With all of this in mind, a few credit cards stand out as excellent choices for those new to the travel rewards game. These cards are flexible enough to help anyone earn free travel, yet also rewarding enough to make it worth it.

Discover it Miles

One card that comes to mind right away is the Discover it Miles card. With this card, any newbie can earn a flat rate of 1.5% back on every purchase they make with no transaction fees or annual fees. Best of all, Discover promises to double the rewards you earn after the first 12 months, effectively boosting your rate of return to 3%. Since this card isn't affiliated with a specific airline or hotel chain, you can use your points to cover any type of travel.

Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom is another rewards card that works perfectly for newcomers to the rewards hobby. Once you sign up, you'll earn 5% cash back on your first $1,500 spent in categories that rotate every quarter, plus 1% back on all other purchases. As an added bonus, you'll even get a signup bonus after you spend $500 on your card within the first three months of account opening. This card doesn't have an annual fee, either, which is perfect when you're first starting out.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is another top rewards card that might be ideal for beginners. With this card, you earn 2x points for every dollar you spend, plus 50,000 points after you use your card for $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. Since this card doles out "travel credit," you can use these points to cover any travel purchase at a redemption rate of one cent per point (e.g. 50,000 points = $500). The annual fee on this card is waived the first year.

Final Thoughts

Before you dive right in with an airline card or specific travel card, it's smart to test the waters first. With a card created specifically for beginners, you can get a handle on the various rewards programs before you get in too deep.

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