Whether you have a normal credit card or a travel credit card (although this one has MORE perks), MSN reports that pretty much every major credit card has some kind of travel-related perk. Make sure to check online for the benefits pertaining to your specific card, but here are the common ones:
Free rental car insurance
Major credit cards offer rental car insurance for damage and theft (with a few limitations). What you need to do is use your card to book the car, decline the rental company's insurance plan and you're all set. You're saved from the high fees of the rental company's insurance.
Cheap or sometimes free roadside assistance
Many cards provide roadside assistance for free or discounted rates whether you're travelling or not. Know with especially great service is Visa Signature with a flat fee or $59.95 for whatever your car needs, from towing tire changes to jump starts.
Delayed luggage, flight change and stolen goods at hotel reimbursements
Some MasterCards will reimburse you for lost or damaged baggage, as well as property stolen from a hotel room, while Chase Sapphire Preferred reimburses for all sorts of changes in flight plans, like swaps due to personal sickness and even severe weather. Just be sure you book your trip with a particular card in order to reap its benefits.
Discounts and perks on hotels and cruises
Many companies offer discounted hotel rooms, automatic room upgrades, free Wi-Fi, resort dining credit and cruise credits, depending on which card you have. Check with your company to see what they offer in terms of travel deals.
Discounts through points
Some credit cards even rewards you travel points for simply using them. Everyday purchases when shopping and buying groceries can rack up points that you can use in booking flights, hotel rooms, cruises and even vacation packages. Do you research and sign up with the one that maximizes what you want.
Sign-up bonuses
Just by signing up for travel cards, you get big points as sign-up bonus. If you play it right, those big points can be enough for a free domestic flight.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
