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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.
The Turkish Riviera is the worst-kept secret in Europe. Its ancient landscape, dotted with wondrous ruins and lined by turquoise Mediterranean waters, has been drawing money-saving sun-seekers for years, but American audiences have yet to succumb to its allure.
In fairness, it’s a long way to go to sit on a beach for a week. But combined with a visit to the country’s most iconic city, Istanbul, there’s a trip of a lifetime waiting for anyone willing to take the plunge.
If you still need convincing, it’s easy to get to the Turkish Riviera for almost nothing using points and miles. And that’s exactly what we’ll be showing you today.
How to begin your search for points and miles flights to the Turkish Riviera
The region’s main hub is the city of Antalya. While it has a well-connected airport, the bulk of those connections are found in Europe and the Middle East. For American travelers, it’s easiest to search for flights to Istanbul, and then grab a cheap flight to the coast from there.
Istanbul’s airports are incredibly well-connected, so finding direct flights from cities like New York should be simple. In a worst-case scenario, a quick stop somewhere like Amsterdam or Paris shouldn’t delay you by too much.
Start your search by checking out which airlines fly into Istanbul on the day you want to arrive, and then cross-reference your available points with the airlines they transfer with. When you have a match, you’re in business.
Using Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles for flights to the Turkish Riviera
The most obvious airline to check is Turkey’s flagship carrier, Turkish Airlines. The airline is fast becoming one of the best airlines on the planet in terms of its physical product, and once had arguably the most valuable loyalty program out there.
Sadly, recent devaluations mean the incredible sweet spots once found in its Miles&Smiles program are no longer as generous. Still, it’s more than worth a look, as its award chart means direct flights from the US run at around 40,000 points each way.
How to earn enough Miles&Smiles Miles for flights to the Turkish Riviera
As you won’t find too many Turkish Airlines flights in the US, you probably won’t earn any miles by flying with the airline. United is a partner though, so make sure to list it if you fly with that airline.
But don’t write off Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles just yet. They’re super easy to earn thanks to Capital One, Citi, and Bilt all being transfer partners. Opening a card from one of these issuers could be your key to the Turkish Riviera.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card’s 75,000-mile intro bonus gifts you more than enough Aeroplan points to redeem roundtrip flights to the Turkish Riviera. As you’ll need to spend $4,000 within three months of opening the card, you’ll have at least 83,000 points by the time they drop into your account.
Read also: The Best Airline Credit Cards of 2024
- Best for: Overall Travel
- Annual Fee: $395
- Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.49% 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.
Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
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.
Using Air Canada Aeroplan for flights to the Turkish Riviera
Air Canada’s Aeroplan is a reliable airline loyalty program to include in your search for flights to the Turkish Riviera. That’s because it’s one of the few airlines that still uses an award chart. Instead of opting for a dynamic system where point redemptions fluctuate based on a number of factors, Air Canada uses a zonal chart.
The basic rate for a flight between the North American zone and Turkey’s placement in the Atlantic Zone is 40,000 points, matching Turkish Airlines. The big plus here is that redeeming points can be far simpler than Turkish Airlines’s often complex booking platform.
How to earn enough Aeroplan Points for flights to the Turkish Riviera
Again, despite not being a US carrier, Air Canada Aeroplan points are incredibly easy to earn. American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Bilt all allow customers to transfer points into their Aeroplan accounts gifting you a number of potential card choices to get you to the Turkish Riviera.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card is American Express’ most premium product. While it does have a hefty annual fee, it’s nullified by a mega 80,000-point intro bonus. You’ll need to spend $8,000 within six months of opening the card to earn those points, but that’s an automatic roundtrip to Turkey if you can hit that target safely. You’ll be up to your eyeballs in kofte in no time.
- 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.
Using the United MileagePlus for flights to the Turkish Riviera
This has the potential to be the best value option on this list today, so why didn’t we put it at the top? The simple answer is consistency.
United’s MileagePlus loyalty program is one of the best American programs for redeeming points. Despite being a dynamic program, where points fluctuate based on different metrics, it’s far more consistent than its main competitors like Delta. The lowest rate we found for flights to Istanbul was just 30,000 miles each way, making it the cheapest option.
However, that rate wasn’t readily available and took a little bit of digging. Most of the other price points were similar to those listed. In a best-case scenario, you could search for the 30,000-mile rate and base your trip around those flights
How to earn United MileagePlus Miles
United doesn’t have quite as many credit card transfer partners as the previous options, but as it’s possible to do so from Chase, you’re still left with multiple excellent products to choose from. Two of Chase’s main personal credit cards have bonuses large enough to cover a roundtrip, while its business card options could prove even more fruitful.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best premium cards on the market. It boasts a solid 60,000-point intro bonus, earned by spending $4,000 within six months of opening it. If you’re able to wrangle those 30,000-mile dates, you could be flying to the Turkish Riviera for almost nothing.
- Best for: Luxury Travel
- Annual Fee: $550
- Regular APR: 21.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
- Reward Rate: 1X - 10X
- Recommended Credit: 740-850
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
60,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
Get up to $900 in Chase Travel value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $900 when redeemed through Chase Travel.
Reward details
- 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
- 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
- 3x points on other travel and dining.
- 1x points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Get up to $900 in Chase TravelSM value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $900 when redeemed through Chase Travel.
The points are worth 1.5 cents a piece when used directly on Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Portal, offering a simple but high value use for your points.
Automatic $300 annual travel credit each account anniversary year
Plenty of excellent transfer partners allow points to be maximized
Some excellent partnerships with Doordash and Lyft add to its value.
Priority Pass membership allows access to over 1,300+ airport lounges and restaurants.
CONS
No complimentary elite hotel status, like that offered by the Amex Platinum.
You won’t earn points on travel purchases until the $300 credit is used.
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.
The point
While getting directly to the Turkish Riviera isn’t as simple as some destinations, Turkey’s major hub in Istanbul is incredibly easy to get to using points and miles. Opt for one of the cards mentioned, book a flight to Istanbul, and hop on a cheap domestic route from there to the coast. You’ll be in heaven in no time.
Read also: How to Fly to Hawaii Using Points and Miles
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
