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What are travel credit cards, and how do they work?
Travel credit cards are financial products that offer various rewards and benefits geared towards frequent travelers. They typically earn you points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Travel credit cards may also include perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
How do I choose the best travel credit card for my needs?
Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and preferences. Consider factors like the type of rewards offered (points, miles, or cash back), the card’s annual fee, sign-up bonuses, earning rates, redemption options, and additional travel perks. Analyzing these features will help you find a card that aligns with your lifestyle and offers the most value.
What are the benefits of using a travel credit card over other types of credit cards?
Travel credit cards provide unique advantages for travelers, such as earning rewards specifically tailored to travel expenses. Additionally, many travel credit cards offer travel-related perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and travel insurance. Some cards also waive foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travelers.
What is a sign-up bonus, and how can I qualify for it?
A sign-up bonus is a promotional offer provided by the credit card issuer to entice new cardholders. To qualify for a sign-up bonus, you usually need to meet specific spending requirements within a certain timeframe after opening the account. The bonus can be in the form of points, miles, or cash back, and it’s a great way to jump-start your rewards earning.
Do travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Not all travel credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. Many of the top-tier travel cards waive these fees, making them ideal for international travel. However, it’s essential to read the card’s terms and conditions to confirm this before using it abroad.
How can I maximize the rewards earned with my travel credit card?
To maximize rewards, use your travel credit card for everyday expenses and large purchases. Take advantage of bonus categories and special promotions to earn more points or miles. Consider combining your travel credit card with loyalty programs to stack rewards and get even more value out of your purchases.
Kenya is the stuff of travel dreams. Its sprawling savannahs, teeming with the world’s most sought-after wildlife, and kaleidoscopic tribal culture make it a destination unlike any other. But finding flights to Kenya that don’t break the bank can be an adventure in itself.
While Nairobi airport is by no means a quiet hub, it’s considerably smaller and less connected than comparably popular destinations in Europe and Asia. This means flights to Kenya are less frequent and usually require at least one layover. If you’re hoping for direct flights to Kenya, your only hope is in New York City, where you’ll hop on a 14-hour flight with Kenya Airways.
But just because a place is more challenging to get to doesn’t mean we can’t work some points magic. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to use points for cheap flights to Kenya.
Finding the best programs for points flights to Kenya
Currently, there’s only one direct flight from the US to Nairobi. Unless you’re from NYC or happy to do a positioning flight, the rest of the flights to Kenya will require a layover. It’s a good idea to do a traditional search in Google Flights or Skyscanner and see where most of the flights route through.
A quick search for flights to Kenya shows places like Doha, Amsterdam, Addis Ababa, and Istanbul as major layover spots, so it’s a good idea to look for points and miles that can get you flying with those hubs’ big airlines. Here are a few of the options.
Using Virgin Atlantic for flights to Kenya
Virgin Atlantic offers one of the best redemption offers for flights to Kenya. Utilizing its partners Kenya Airways and KLM, it’s possible to fly from New York to Nairobi for as little as 24,000 points. You will have to pay around $200 in taxes and fees, as is normal with Virgin, but it still works out to be a tremendous deal.
To redeem the same flight in cash one-way could be around $676, so you get almost 2 cents per point with this redemption. With just one layover in Amsterdam before heading south, it’s not a terrible route.
How to earn enough Virgin points
The good news is that Virgin points are incredibly easy to earn. Most of the major credit card issuers allow transfers to the airline’s loyalty program, so you don’t need to worry about flying with the British carrier regularly. Best of all, Virgin regularly runs transfer bonuses, giving you even better value for your redemptions.
Here are some cards you could open to cover your flights to Kenya.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an outstanding product to have in your wallet. Not only is its 75,000-mile intro bonus capable of flying you to Kenya and back but its earning potential and travel perks will make it a valuable tool long after your trip. To earn the bonus, you must spend $4,000 within three months of opening the card.
- Best for: Overall Travel
- Annual Fee: $395
- Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Reward Rate: 2X - 10X
- Recommended Credit: 720-850
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
Reward details
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase
Pros & Cons
Pros
Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
Four authorized users can be added for free.
The cardholder is entitled to a Priority Pass membership and entry to Capital One Lounges, even the authorized users.
A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
Cons
The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
Capital One transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
The American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is among the best cards on the market. It boasts a generous 60,000-point intro bonus, earned by spending $6,000 within six months of opening the card. Plus, receive 20 percent back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
- Best for: Foodies
- Annual Fee: $325
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 1X-4X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The American Express® Gold Card takes your dining and grocery spending to the next level, offering an impressive 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year, and 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
To put this into perspective, if you spend $8,400 annually on dining and groceries, which aligns with the average American’s spending, you could earn enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. Meanwhile, the bonus alone is worth over $1,000, adding significant value to your everyday spending.
Reward details
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
0% Intro APR for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.74% to 27.74% variable APR.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year for dining at U.S. Resy restaurants or making other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Cons
$325 annual fee
No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
Using United for flights to Kenya
If your goal is avoiding a cash payment altogether, United has you covered. While its points requirement is slightly higher at 49,000 points, it only requires a maximum of $12.60 in taxes and fees, depending on the airline you fly. This makes it, objectively speaking, the cheapest option for flights to Kenya. You’re still getting around 1.4 cents per point, too.
The best news about this? That rate applies to almost the entire country, whether you’re in Los Angeles or New York. Expect a longer travel day if you’re coming from the West Coast.
How to earn enough United MileagePlus Miles
Unless you fly regularly with United and its partners or have a co-branded card, there’s only one company capable of transferring points to United, and that’s Chase. Luckily, they have multiple excellent cards to choose from. Here’s the pick of the bunch.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best mid-tier products out there. It’s running a 60,000-point intro bonus, earned after spending $4,000 within three months of opening the card. That’s enough for your flight there with points to spare.
- Best for: Beginner Travelers
- Annual Fee: $95
- Variable APR: 20.99% - 27.99%
- Reward Rate: 1X - 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
Reward details
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.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠.
The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on the Chase Travel Portal already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2027).
Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you’re a small business owner, you have another option–the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. It’s currently boasting a mammoth 90,000-point intro bonus after spending $8,000 within three months of opening the card. If your business expenses could hit that threshold, you’ve got a free trip to Kenya!
- Best for: Business Travel
- Annual Fee: $95
- Regular APR: 20.74% - 26.74%
- Reward Rate: 1X - 3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
90,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
90,000 Bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Ink Business Preferred Business Card pulls attention with its big intro bonus, currently sitting at 90,000 points. That’s worth in $900 cash back, $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or even more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways and more. But the card shows its real value with its high-earning bonus-spending categories. Freelancers and business owners alike will earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
Reward details
3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
1X point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Pros & Cons
Pros
Simply put, for small business owners and freelancers it’s one of the best cards for turning business spending into valuable travel. The bonus alone is worth $900 cash back, $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or potentially more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Marriott or Air Canada.
It also offers some stellar protections including a comprehensive reimbursement on damaged or stolen cell phones, and primary rental car coverage.
It has a reasonable $95 annual fee.
If you have another Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, or even a cash back earning Chase card, you can pool your points and make them more valuable.
Cons
It does lack some of the juicier benefits attached to other business credit cards likes the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. But with the low fee, it’s hard to argue with its value proposition.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Using KLM/Air France Flying Blue for flights to Kenya
Our third option is Flying Blue, the loyalty program shared by Air Frace and KLM. With redemptions from the West Coast as low as 38,000 points and the East Coast for a brilliant 30,000, you’re in good shape for getting cheap flights to Kenya.
As with Virgin, there are fees in the realm of $160 to $180, but again, the value of your points is high. And let’s face it, $160 is better than $700.
Keep an eye out for the airline’s monthly miles deals, too!
How to earn Flying Blue Miles
Earning Flying Blue points is easy. American Express, Citi, Bilt, and Capital One are all transfer partners, giving you plenty of scope with multiple products.
Flying Blue also runs regular transfer bonuses to help maximize your redemptions, so make sure you double-check before moving your points across.
The Bilt Mastercard is a unique product in the points and miles world. It’s the only card designed to earn rewards on rent. You can earn up to 100,000 points every year at a rate of 1x point per dollar, so while it may not cover your whole trip, it can certainly supplement your store of points.
- Best for: Renters
- Annual Fee: $0
- Regular APR: 20.99% - 28.99%
- Reward Rate: 1X - 3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Why we like it
The no annual fee Bilt Mastercard® is a very unique product that can turn points earned from one of your largest monthly expenses into a heap of travel rewards and other redemption options. It’s the only card that allows you to pay your rent with no transaction fees—you’ll earn 1X points on rent, up to 100,000 points a year. Many landlords don’t accept credit cards or they charge a convenience fee to use a credit card to pay rent—making it an intriguing option for renters across the US. Plus, its points can be transferred to valuable airline and hotel partners. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Reward details
3x points on dining
2x points on travel
1x points on other purchases
1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The greatest benefit is obvious: redeeming points earned from rent into travel rewards with no transaction fees attached.
Bilt has some excellent and unique transfer partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
Decent points-earning potential in other categories like 2X points on travel, 3X points on dining, and 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and other purchases.
You can earn interest on Bilt Points when you reach Silver status.
A few other nice benefits are included, such as Cellular Telephone Protection.
Cons
No sign-up bonus
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. So you can’t use it solely for rent. I’d advise putting some restaurant bills on it, as you’ll grab 3X points on those transactions.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Amex’s most premium product, The Platinum Card, is a stellar option for the serious traveler. Its current 80,000-point intro bonus is enough to cover your entire trip with points to spare. Just ensure you can hit the $8,000 spending threshold within six months of opening the card.
- Best for: Luxury Perks
- Annual Fee: $695
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
Reward details
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
Cons
The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
The point
Despite being a more complicated airport to visit, there are still plenty of redemption options available for everyone. It’s more than possible to cover your flights to Kenya with each of these cards.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
