10 Strategies to Maximize Retirement Travel with Credit Card Rewards

Retirement often brings to mind adventures to faraway destinations, yet these aspirations can remain elusive for numerous retirees. However, the right credit card can help make such grand travel scenarios more realistic. If you work hard to earn and redeem credit card rewards strategically, you can make these voyages possible without sacrificing the savings you spent years building. Here are some proven strategies that’ll help you get the most out of your points and miles in order to make travel a part of your retirement future.

1. Choose the Best Travel Credit Card for Your Needs

Start by picking the card that matches the way you like to live. Examine your spending behavior and the rewards that attract you most to pick a card that aligns with your goals. If you spend a lot of money on dining or travel, you want to select the program that provides a generous points per dollar ratio on those categories. You should put cards with these key travel perks at the front of the line:

• Complimentary access to airport lounges (57% of frequent travelers have been in one)
• Checked bags for free
• Travel insurance
• Credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Choose a card that delivers a more comfortable travel experience and helps you build up points and miles quickly. Narrow down your list to three or four top choices, and research them well before making your choice.

2. Earn Bonus Points with Sign-Up Offers

One desirable feature of an attractive card is its sign-up bonus, which rewards new cardholders who meet a minimum spending threshold in the initial months. For instance, by spending around $3,000 to $5,000 within the first three months, you could potentially earn thousands of points or even hundreds of thousands, depending on the offer and card.

To make the most of this signup incentive, consider timing your account creation with a purchase such as a home upgrade, new appliances, or holiday shopping. That way, you can reach the spending requirement quickly, rack up the points, and then book your first reward trip.