5 Best Travel Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Travel credit cards are part of the rewards category of credit cards, and as such, many people assume that you can’t get them without excellent credit. However, that assumption is wrong. Today, even the least likely cards are offering perks for their users, including travel benefits like miles, travel discounts, and more. Finding them just takes a little research.

There are a lot of travel cards out there today, including those from American Express, Capital One, Discover, Bank of America, Chase, and others. Of course, many travel cards are designed for those with good to excellent credit, leaving those with less-than-perfect credit wondering if there’s anything left.

The first choice is to go with a secured credit card. This usually requires the user to pay a “downpayment” that becomes their credit line. For example, the Credit One family of cards usually requires a $300 to $500 secured payment to be made, which is then used as the available credit for the card. The benefit is that in return, you get a boost to your credit by paying the card back on time, and you get travel rewards even though you don’t have perfect credit.

You can also find unsecured cards for bad credit, as well as those with low or no annual fees.

The list above is not exhaustive; there are easily more than a dozen credit cards designed for people with bad credit that include rewards like travel perks, cash back, and more. If you are rebuilding your credit, you have to start somewhere. Those who like to travel will find that any of the cards listed above is a great starting point.

Closing Tips

In closing, let’s go over a few tips for finding and choosing the best travel credit cards for bad credit.

·  Check the annual fees and interest rates. Sometimes, it’s better to wait to get a card with better terms if it’s going to be too costly.

·  Make sure that you review the rewards program terms and conditions carefully. A travel card is only good if you can redeem the rewards easily.

·  Have a budget and stick to it. You don’t want to run the risk of overextending your credit more than you can afford to repay. This will only further exacerbate your poor credit rating.

·  Take advantage of the perks. Learn how to use the rewards program to your advantage and maximize your use of travel perks by checking with your card before you book any plans.

If you keep these things in mind, you’ll be on your way to getting great travel rewards in no time, even if your credit isn’t perfect.