When do you need a travel agent?

It’s become second nature for many of us to book airline tickets, car rentals and hotel stays ourselves. But there are certain times when you really need to hire a travel agent.

Beyond the basics, planning other travel needs like ground transportation for groups, tours, theater visits, theme parks and concerts to coordinate with your itinerary can take up tons of time.

A retired travel agent explains when you need to hire one

I’m a retired travel agent. Recently, I spent countless (too many) hours planning hotel nights, rail travel and tours to see as much of Ireland as I could in one fell swoop over just over two weeks.

Even I’ll admit that the time spent was a bit excessive. Studies indicate that travelers spend 30 hours researching and preparing for a trip and visit up to 38 websites before actually making a reservation. I may have exceeded those averages.

It wasn’t that I tried to over-plan and fill each and every day — I just wanted to know that all of the experiences would appeal to my style of travel (no big bus tours, ample free time, no evenings planned).

If I had not been an agent myself, I probably would have hired one for my Ireland visit. Here’s when having someone working on your trip can be super helpful…

• Travel agents can guide an inexperienced traveler through taking their first trip overseas, when traveling to a destination where tourism is less developed, or when the trip is to multiple cities.
• An agent can help you out of jams should you miss a flight connection, face a canceled flight, or for assistance when natural disasters strike like major storms, earthquakes, or civil strife that have an effect on your plans.
• A travel agent can often help find the best prices on tours and cruises with exclusive promotional offers and deals. Estimated savings can be anywhere from $500 to $1,000 on international airfare and tours.
• An agent will inform you about any necessary documents you may need: visas, vaccinations, and restrictions if you’re traveling to a religious or conservative country.
• A travel agent can offer travel insurance options to cover anything that could arise on your trip.
• An agent is key when you want to embark on a trip of a lifetime, like the Tokyo Summer Olympic, the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, the inaugural sailing of spectacular ships, Disney vacations or The Passion Play at Oberammergau, to name a few.
• When your trip involves coordinating with a group of friends or family members across the county, an agent can keep things organized.
• Cruise experts can help maneuver through the many ship options based on your group or multi-generational needs. Some ships offer refundable vs. non-refundable rates and guaranteed cabins vs. cabins with free perks. Which option is best for your needs? That’s where an agent’s expertise is key.

How much does a travel agent cost?

Can a travel agent help save time with trip planning? Yes, most definitely!

Can a travel agent save you money? Probably, but there will usually be some expenses on the front end.

You should expect for an agent or agency to collect fees for certain services. Ask your agent for specifics. Here are some averages:

• Airline tickets: $25-$50 domestic round-trips or multi-city; higher for an international ticket (per itinerary)
• Cruises: $30-$50 per person
• Tours: $100 per person up to 8 nights; $175 9-13 nights; $250 14 or more nights
• Last-minute: $100 per person (for trip arrangements for travel within two weeks of departure)

Some travel agents don’t charge any fees. That’s because they earn commissions through partner vendors.

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Certain agencies may accept a planning deposit for custom trips above and beyond one destination or ones that may require various modes of transport and coordination.

A portion of that deposit or the full deposit amount may be refunded after the trip has been completed. That deposit (which is around $100 in most cases) may be asked for as a means to prevent a customer from booking elsewhere after the agent has done all the research.

How to find a good travel agent

So, how do you find a good travel agent?

Ask family, friends and co-workers who love to travel for a recommendation. Chances are they use the services of an agent.

You can also look for an agent at TravelSense.org, operated by the International Air Transport Association. Seek out agents/agencies with the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) accreditation. There, you can filter agents by their specialty.

Each year, Travel + Leisure’s editors compile the A-List, a curated selection of the world’s best travel agents and destination specialists that are organized by worldwide regions as well as by specialty trips like fly-fishing, scuba diving, safaris and honeymoons.

Need help with cruise planning? Enter your zip code at Cruising.org to find a CLIA Certified Agent (Cruise Lines International Association) near you.

Final thought

Most trips probably don’t require the services of a travel agent, but if you’re planning something that involves any of the complications outlined above you might benefit from the help. These are people who do this for a living, so sometimes it’s best to leave the planning to a professional.

More stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:

7.10.19 New CVS health hubs; Wells Fargo cheated their auto loan customers; Fall travel deals on the way

7.10.19 New CVS health hubs; Wells Fargo cheated their auto loan customers; Fall travel deals on the way

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CVS is launching new "health hubs" in multiple cities which could change the way we folks receive healthcare; Wells Fargo is under fire again for having cheated their auto loan customers by signing them up for insurance that they didn't request; Fall travel deals are looking GOOD!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

Dollar Flight Club review: Site promises to alert you to flight deals — does it?

If you like to get alerts and notifications on great travel deals, you may want to join the Dollar Flight Club. The site bills itself as a way for you to save 60-90% off your next international or domestic flight.

I joined the Dollar Flight Club to test whether it would send me some great travel deals via email. In this article, I’m going to show you how the club works as well as what to expect from the site and app.

Dollar Flight Club review: Everything you need to know

I started my research by going to the founder, Jesse Neugarten, and asking him about the Dollar Flight Club. He says that he got the idea for the site in 2015 while he was traveling in Nepal and got stuck in a 7.8 earthquake.

Instead of shying away from travel, the harrowing experience bolstered his love for getting away. “Life is too precious and short not to,” he said over email.

“Experiencing and connecting with other cultures is the best way to grow as a human being.”

The ordeal also taught him that he had some growing to do.

A few weeks later, he’d travel hacked his way to a round trip flight from New York City to Stockholm for $210. Then he went to Paris, London and other places.

Soon, friends and family were asking him to find them travel deals and “Dollar Flight Club was born,” he said.

What is Dollar Flight Club?

Dollar Flight Club is a streamlined travel search site that sends you deals based on the region or airport you designate as your “home.”

The site’s strengths lie in its ability to send instant alerts to your email so that you can jump on deals right away.

The site has a free and paid version, which we’ll get into later. No matter which version you choose, you can find some great travel deals stateside and abroad, including some affordable weekend getaways.

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Here’s how to join Dollar Flight Club

• Sign up for the site: You’ll need to enter your email and other personal info to join the site as a member.
• Pick your Departure Airport/Region: If you sign up for the free Basic service, it’s important that you select your correct “Departure Region.” Premium members have the option to select “Departure Airports.”
• Enable notifications: Set your phone or desktop to receive notifications so that you can see the latest travel deals.

What deals can you expect?

Once you’re ready to view the fares, you’ll see a mix of “fresh deals,” which are ones recently added to the site. You’ll also be able to see “past deals” that have already expired.

There are two types of deals you can expect in the Dollar Flight Club: International Deals and Domestic Getaways.

Here’s what you need to know about each category:

International Deals

Once you click on a fresh international deal, a card will pop up that shows you the flight details, including the price for round trip, standard fare and your projected savings.

What it won’t show you are the exact dates. Below the flight info, there’s an option to click on Google Flights to find the best fares.

Domestic Getaways

Domestic Getaways is another option you can toggle to so that you can find flight deals in the United States. It lets you see cheap flights over a three- or four-day period.

The getaways show not only destinations on sale, but the percentage you save if you book the flight.

When I tried the site, it showed me a $109 flight from Atlanta to Tampa that was three weeks away. As I clicked through, I found out that it was on Spirit Airlines.

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Do you have to pay for membership?

As we mentioned, Dollar Flight Club has two versions — a free product called Basic and a $40-a-year Premium service.

The differences between the free version and the paid version are pretty stark. Premium membership comes with way more deals than Basic.

With the free version, I didn’t find the Departure Region to be too useful. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, I was thinking the site would pull from regions around the South at least. But the first flight it showed me originated out of Boston, Massachusetts.

On the other hand, the Premium version correctly pulled deals that only departed from Atlanta.

The Premium version also offers partner perks, mistake fares, secret sales and support, among other things.

How do you book? 

I selected the flight to Tampa and clicked the “Book Now” button. It took me to travel search site SkyScanner.com to complete the transaction.

This means instead of buying the deal on Dollar Flight Club, you’ll have to purchase it on a flight aggregator or airline site.

In some cases, you’ll have to click through at least twice more to confirm if the airfare is still available.

The site tells you that flight availability varies by origin. It encourages you to “play” with the dates to find cheap fares.

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Conclusion

Dollar Flight Club does what it says it does: finds flight deals. But it doesn’t do it all. There are a lot of keystrokes you have to hit to complete the process.

The site allows you to find fares but you can’t book through it. It basically works in conjunction with sites like Google Flights, Momondo, Skiplagged and SkyScanner.com and on carrier websites. Those places are where you book the flights.

Dollar Flight Club: Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

• Site offers pro tips to help you find better deals
• Easy-to-use interface
• The app features guides and resource articles
• Premium members get a “Book Now” button

• Basic members aren’t able to book flights
• The Departure Region isn’t always the one you select
• You will see great deals, but you have to search to find the dates and other relevant information

Remember, if you’re the type of traveler who’s picky about which airline you fly, Dollar Flight Club may not reveal the airline until the tail end of the process.

That might irk some users. But if great deals on flights are your main thing, you’ll enjoy discovering weekend flights for cheap.

The cool thing is that once you sign up, you immediately get alerts for domestic and international deals like this:

While sites like this make it easier to find great flight deals, money expert Clark Howard says before you start the process you should know his #1 travel rule.

More Clark.com articles you may enjoy:

Is your Caribbean vacation destination safe?

Americans looking to travel to the Caribbean are typically interested in the three S’s: sand, sun and safety. But it’s the latter that has people’s attention of late.

One reason for that is the mysterious deaths that have plagued the Dominican Republic of late. While the investigations into those deaths continue, Delta Air Lines is allowing customers to change or cancel their flights there.

Does your favorite vacation spot have a travel advisory?

When it comes to favorite tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Americans have a wide palette. But with the state of the world, it’s always best to cross reference potential vacation spots with safety advice from the U.S. government.

The State Department maintains a list of travel advisories and warnings for countries around the world. There are four levels to be aware of. They are:

• Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
• Level 2: Exercise increased caution
• Level 3: Reconsider travel
• Level 4: Do not travel

Most Caribbean islands only have Level 1 travel advisories at present, but some (including Dominican Republic) are under Level 2 travel advisories. Here’s how they stack up and what, specifically, the government says you should be looking out for if you travel to any of these places.

Caribbean destinations 2019: Level 1 travel advisories

Here are the Level 2 travel advisories and warnings, according to the State Department:

Caribbean destinations 2019: Level 2 travel advisories

Country Reason For Level 2 Advisory Date Issued The Bahamas Travel Advisory “Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, occurs even during the day and in tourist areas. Although the family islands are not crime-free, the vast majority of crime occurs on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands.” April 15, 2019 Jamaica Travel Advisory “Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. Local police lack the resources.” May 7, 2019 Trinidad and Tobago Travel Advisory “Exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.

Do not travel to:

Laventille,

Beetham,

Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.” April 9, 2019 Cuba Travel Advisory “Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to attacks targeting U.S. Embassy Havana employees resulting in the drawdown of embassy staff.” April 23, 2019 Turks and Caicos Islands Travel Advisory Especially in Providenciales, “local medical care and criminal investigative capabilities are limited.” February 25, 2019 Dominican Republic Travel Advisory “Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault is a concern throughout” the country.

April 15, 2019

A Level 3 travel advisory constitutes a “Reconsider Travel” warning. As for Level 3 travel advisories in the Caribbean, there is only one:

Caribbean destinations 2019: Level 3 travel advisories

Country Reason For Level 3 Advisory Haiti Travel Advisory “Political violence and violent crimes are common in Haiti, including murders, robberies, assaults, vehicle break-ins, and home invasions. Travelers are often targeted, followed, and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport.”

Note: As of spring and summer 2019, there are no Level 4 travel advisories in the Caribbean. 

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When it comes to travel advisories, conditions can change at any time, so it’s always a good idea to check with the State Department before you travel out of the country.

Here are 3 safety steps when traveling abroad

Here are three safety tips from the State Department:

• Never leave valuables unattended: That goes for any public areas, including the beach, the hotel lobby, hotel rooms, or in rental homes.
• Don’t isolate yourself: Going out on the town? Always stick to well-lit and well-traveled routes.
• Always be aware of your surroundings: If you see something suspicious or unusual contact local police to report immediately.

More Clark.com articles you might enjoy

Costco vs. Sam’s Club credit cards comparison: Which is better?

You probably know that Team Clark is a huge fan of warehouse stores — and it only makes sense that we’d want to earn the most rewards from our credit cards when we shop at them.

Costco and Sam’s Club are the dominant players in the warehouse store world and they each have a co-branded credit card that offers cash back. Let’s take a look at these two products and see how they compare.

Comparing credit cards from Costco Wholesale and Sam’s Club

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers you a fantastic 4% cash back on gas purchases, including those at Costco (on up to $7,000 spent each year, 1% after that).

This is great because many cards that offer bonuses for gas purchases specifically exclude stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, which often have the lowest prices. You also get 3% cash back at restaurants and on eligible travel purchases worldwide.

Somewhat surprisingly, you only get 2% back at Costco stores and at Costco.com, and just 1% cash back elsewhere.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of this card is that you only receive your cash back rewards once a year in February.

There’s no annual fee for this card with your paid Costco membership and no foreign transaction fees.

Synchrony Bank issues the Sam’s Club Mastercard, and it one-ups the Costco card by offering 5% back on all gas purchases (on up to $6,000 spent each year, 1% after that), including those at Sam’s Club. It won’t work at Costco because it’s a Mastercard and only Visa is accepted there.

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It also gives you 3% back on dining and travel purchases, but only 1% back everywhere else, including purchases at Sam’s Club.

As with the Costco card, you only receive your cash back rewards once a year in February, when they are automatically loaded to your membership account.

New accounts can earn a $45 statement credit when making a purchase of at least $45 the day you open the account (offer ends June 15, 2019). There’s no annual fee for this card and no foreign transaction fees.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card By Citi

Sam’s Club® Mastercard®

Rewards

• 4% cash back on gas
• 3% at restaurants and travel
• 2% at Costco
• 1% elsewhere

• 5% cash back on gas
• 3% on travel and dining
• 1% elsewhere

Annual fee None, with paid Costco membership None Advantages 4% cash back at gas stations and excellent returns elsewhere High rates of cash back on gas, travel and dining Drawbacks

• No sign-up bonus
• Cash back is only offered as an annual credit each February and must be redeemed in-store

• Minimal sign-up bonus
• Mediocre cash back for shopping at Sam’s Club and other non-bonus spending
• Cash back is only offered each February, when it is loaded to your membership account

Which one is better?

These cards have a lot of similarities. They both offer excellent rewards for gas purchases and 3% back on travel and dining. These cards both have no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Still, both of these cards have their strengths and weaknesses. The Costco Anywhere Visa offers 2% cash back for Costco purchases, while the Sam’s Club Mastercard surprisingly only offers 1% cash back at Sam’s Club.

Yet the Sam’s Club card offers slightly better cash back on gas — 5% compared to 4% — as well as the initial $45 statement credit when you sign up and make a $45 purchase the same day.

With both cards, if you cancel your card for any reason before February, you’ll never receive the cash back you’ve earned the previous year.

Final thought

Ultimately, these cards are so similar that your decision will likely depend on which store you prefer. Since neither credit card has a clear advantage, it’s hard to see fans of one switching allegiances just to gain a modest advantage on gas or in-store purchases.

In the extremely competitive fields of both credit cards and warehouse stores, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this race is too close to call.

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ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard®: $150 cash back and 12 months of 0% APR

Its ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard offers you $150 in cash back in the form of a statement credit, the chance to earn 5x points, and 12 months of interest-free financing. And it now has no foreign transaction fees.

Pros

Cons

• $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 in the first 90 days
• 12 months of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers, 15.15% to 25.15% thereafter based on creditworthiness.
• 5x rewards for some purchases
• No annual fee (see Pricing & Disclosures)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Points never expire

• Longer-period promotional financing offers may be available with other cards
• Other cards have a base earn rate of higher than 1%

How the ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard credit card works

This card offers new applicants a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.

You also get 12 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers.

Finally, you’ll receive 5x rewards on up to $1,500 spent in certain featured categories and with featured merchants.

There’s no annual fee for this card, as of July 1, 2019, there are no longer any foreign transaction fees.

ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard review: Table of contents

How to earn rewards 

With this card, you can earn five points per dollar on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in featured merchant categories like dining, groceries, travel, and automotive. For example, in the third quarter of 2019 (July – September), you earn 5x points on your first $1,500 spent on gasoline and travel purchases including airfare, car rental, cruises, hotels, travel agencies.  You can also earn additional points by shopping through ABOCRewards.com.

You earn one point per dollar spent on all other purchases in non-featured categories.

Sam’s Club Mastercard review: Great rewards on gas, travel and dining

Review Summary: The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® offers a very high rate of cash back on gas, but much less so at Sam’s Club and for most other purchases.

Pros

Cons

• 5% cash back on most gas purchases
• 3% back on travel and dining
• No annual fee

• Only 1% cash back at Sam’s Club
• Bonus cash back on gas is limited to $6,000 a year and excludes supermarkets and other warehouse stores that sell gas
• Minimal sign-up bonus

How the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®credit card works

The Sam’s Club Mastercard has no annual fee with your paid Sam’s Club membership and can double as your membership card. This card can be used at Sam’s Club and anywhere else that accepts Mastercard. You earn cash back on your purchases, which automatically gets loaded to your membership account.

Sam’s Club Mastercard review: Table of contents

How to earn rewards 

With this card, you earn 5% cash back on your first $6,000 of gas purchased at U.S. gas stations. You also earn 3% cash back on all travel and dining purchases, and 1% cash back at Sam’s Club and on all other purchases. Just note that you can only earn a maximum of $5,000 in cash back rewards each year.

Best credit card sign-up bonuses right now

Rewards credit cards don’t just offer you valuable points, miles and cash back when you make new purchases — these cards can also give you hundreds of dollars in welcome bonuses.

Generally, you must open a new account and meet a minimum spending requirement to earn a one-time bonus.

Card issuers offer these attractive welcome bonuses as an incentive to get you to try their products, with the hope that you’ll decide to be a long-term customer.

RELATED: Clark Howard’s credit card philosophy 

Top credit card sign-up bonuses: Team Clark’s picks

I’ve looked at all of the cards offered by the major card issuers and narrowed them down to the best sign-up bonus offers available now:

Quick links

Remember, rewards credit cards are for people who avoid interest charges by always paying their statement balance in full.

If you ever need to carry a balance, then you shouldn’t worry about earning rewards and should instead focus on finding a low-interest credit card. This aligns with Clark’s credit card philosophy.

You should also avoid using a credit card to make unnecessary purchases or incur debt, especially in pursuit of a bonus.

Some of the credit cards with the best welcome offers also have annual fees, which may be waived for the first year. I recommend giving these cards a fair chance to earn your business.

When the annual fee comes due, decide whether the card should be a long-term part of your wallet.

If you decide not to keep it, card issuers will always waive the annual fee if you close your account within 30 days of it being billed, and they may even offer to waive it if you agree to keep your account open.

Read on to compare our picks for best credit card welcome bonuses and let us know your favorite in the comments below…

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

A great card for those who spend enough on dining and entertainment to justify the annual fee. Welcome bonus  $300 after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening Rewards

• 4% cash back or dining and entertainment
• 2% at grocery stores
• 1% elsewhere

Annual fee $95, waived the first year Advantages

• Huge welcome bonus
• High rates of cash back on dining and at grocery stores

Drawbacks

• High annual fee
• 1% cash back outside of bonus categories

Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred

A popular travel rewards card that offers you valuable rewards that can be transferred to airline miles and hotel points. 

Welcome bonus

60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening; points are worth $750 in travel reservations

Rewards

• 2x points for all travel and dining purchases, 1x elsewhere

• Points can be redeemed for 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase, or transferred to airline and hotel partners

Annual fee

$95

Advantages

Chase’s Ultimate Rewards points offers excellent value when used for travel and dining; great flexibility to realize plenty of value from airline and hotel partners

Drawbacks

$95 annual fee

Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This card makes sense for those who want travel statement credits, but also the option to transfer rewards to airline miles. 
Welcome bonus

50,000 bonus miles, worth $500 in travel statement credits, after spending $3,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening

Rewards

• Double miles on all purchases

• Miles can be redeemed for travel statement credits or transferred to airline partners

Annual fee

$95, waived the first year

Advantages

Card now offers the chance to redeem rewards for travel statement credits or transfer them to miles with airline partners; $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Drawbacks

$95 annual fee and airline transfer partners are mostly smaller foreign carriers

Learn more: Capital One Venture

Citi Premier Card

A versatile travel rewards card with points that can be redeemed for airfare or transferred to airline miles.  Welcome bonus 50,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening; points are worth $625 in airfare on any airline Rewards

• Earn 3x on travel including gas
• Earn 2x on dining out and entertainment purchases
• 1x elsewhere
• Points can be redeemed for travel reservations or transferred to miles with airline partners

Annual fee

$95, waived the first year

Advantages

• Valuable welcome bonus
• Strong rewards for spending on travel, gas, dining and entertainment

Drawbacks Annual fee

Learn more: Citi Premier Card

More Clark.com stories you may like:

PenFed Pathfinder review: Premium travel rewards, no annual fee

Review Summary: The PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express Card strikes a unique balance between offering premium rewards and benefits while having no annual fee. It also has a sign-up bonus and promotional financing offer — and PenFed Credit Union has been a favorite of money expert Clark Howard for years. Just note that you have to join the PenFed Credit Union when you apply, although no military service is required.

How the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express works 

To apply for this card, you need to first join the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, which you can do during the application process. Many Americans can qualify based on their current or prior military service, civilian employment in a defense-related company or the eligibility of a family or household member. And even if you don’t qualify based on this, you can qualify by joining a military support organization for a small, one-time fee.

Once you have the card, you have the opportunity to earn 4x bonus points on your travel and commuter expenses if you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage Member. To qualify, you need to have a free checking account with PenFed or the primary applicant must be active duty, reserve, honorably discharged or retired U.S. military.

You’ll also receive a $100 annual air travel credit and a $100 credit toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years. There’s no annual fee for this card and no foreign transaction fees.

Pros

Cons

• 3x points on all travel and commuter expenses, 4x for PenFed Honors Advantage Members (holders of a free checking account)
• 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
• 25,000 bonus points after new cardholders spend $2,500 within three months of account opening
• $100 annual air travel credit
• $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
• 12 months of 0% APR financing on balance transfers
• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees

• Value of points varies unpredictably
• You must first join the PenFed Credit Union (no military service required)

Quick links 

How to earn rewards 

With this card, you earn at least 3x points on all travel and commuter expenses. This includes not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but also commuter transportation like buses, subways, railroads, shared ride services and even tolls. And while nearly all credit cards that offer bonuses only give you one point per dollar elsewhere, this card features 1.5x points per dollar spent on non-travel purchases.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card Review

Many travel rewards credit cards carry an annual fee, but if you desire travel rewards with no annual fee, you are not without options. The VentureOne® credit card from Capital One® is a travel rewards card with no annual fee. It offers 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase and even comes with a 20,000 point signup bonus if you spend $1,000 within three months after opening a new account.

This is one of the best credit card options out there for regular travelers with no annual fee. Let’s dive into the details.

A closer look at the Capital One VentureOne Rewards credit card

VentureOne Rewards is a great no-fee travel rewards credit card. It offers a simple, straightforward miles-earning system and makes redeeming your miles incredibly easy. Here’s how the VentureOne Rewards credit card rewards system works.

You earn a flat rate, unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase with this card. New cardholders can earn a 20,000 point bonus after spending $1,000 on the card within the first three months. Just make sure to pay off that balance in full every month to avoid expensive interest charges. Regular hotel visitors can rack up miles faster with 10 points per dollar on Hotels.com purchases.

Each Venture point is worth one cent, so the 20,000 point bonus is like getting $200 right out the gate. Venture points are also incredibly flexible. Just make any travel purchase like normal with your VentureOne Rewards card. Then log into your account online and reimburse yourself for the transaction with your miles.

Redemptions are paid as a statement credit. This lowers your next credit card bill rather than giving you a check in the mail, but it all comes out in the wash. Plus, you can redeem miles for flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel-related purchases. You are not limited to just a small number of partners and there are no blackout dates or restrictions.

The card does not have an annual fee and charges no foreign transaction fees. Plus it charges 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months after opening a new account.

VentureOne Rewards perks and benefits

We’ve already discussed this card’s awesome rewards program, so let’s look at the additional perks and benefits that come with the card.

• No foreign transaction fee

  – Many cards charge as much as 3% in fees when you use your card outside of the United States. When you use your VentureOne Rewards card, you don’t have to worry about these types of fees. You can purchase in dollars, pounds, euros, pesos, or anything else without paying any service fees.

• Complimentary concierge service

  – As a Visa Signature card, this card gives you access to the Visa Signature Concierge service. Call in to get help booking reservations, ordering items, or with other tasks.

• Auto rental insurance

  – Use this card for a car rental and you are not liable for any costs from collision or theft. Just waive the rental insurance at the counter when renting a vehicle and this coverage kicks in.

• Extended warranties –

  It’s the worst when you buy something awesome and it breaks just after the warranty expires. With this card, you get an automatic extension of the product’s warranty if you make the full purchase on the card.

There are some other perks you hopefully won’t need as often, like emergency card replacement if your card is lost or stolen. You can even get a quick emergency cash advance so you are not stuck in a bad situation.

VentureOne Rewards credit card costs and fees

You can use this card for free if you pay it off in full every month, as it does not have an annual fee. But there are sometimes you might run into a fee or charge from this credit card.

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Balance transfers cost 3% if you transfer with a promotional rate APR. If you transfer at the regular card APR, there is no balance transfer fee. Cash advances cost 3% with a $10 minimum per occurrence. 

Does it belong in your wallet?

VentureOne Rewards is a great travel rewards credit card that balances good rewards with low costs, notably no annual fee. There are some other cards out there if you want more rewards per dollar, but at no annual fee, this card is a solid one.

Just make sure that if you do choose this or any other credit card that you pay it off in full every month. If you do that, you’ll see your credit score rise, avoid fees, and earn valuable miles you can use for free travel. Your biggest worry will be where you are going to visit next.

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4 high limit credit cards you should consider

High limit credit cards offer the ability to make big purchases with added purchase protections and credit card rewards. Choosing the best of the ultra high-end credit cards isn’t always an easy decision, so we’ve narrowed down the list to five top options from some of the biggest credit card issuers around.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Sapphire Reserve credit card from Chase is one of our favorite credit cards on the market today. It offers a big signup bonus, currently 50,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. The card also includes a travel credit, 3x points on travel and dining, and a boost in point value when redeeming miles through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

The card isn’t cheap. It comes with a $450 annual fee. But you get huge value in return for that fee. The first year alone, your bonus is worth more than the annual fee. You also get $300 in statement credits per year for travel-related purchases, a $100 fee credit every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary lounge access for you and up to three traveling companions with Priority Pass Select, and other useful perks.

Plus, no foreign transaction fees means you can take the card anywhere in the world and pay with ease.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is another premium credit card in the top tier for rewards cards. The card carries a hefty $550 annual fee on the personal version, but like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a lot of value from this credit card.

The card currently offers a 60,000 point bonus after $5,000 in purchases in the first three months when signing up for a new card. It includes up to $200 in free Uber rides per year (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December), a $200 annual credit for incidental fees on your favorite airline, and up to 5x points per dollar on bonus category purchases.

This card gives you access to American Express Centurion® Lounges, Priority Pass Select, and Delta Sky Club, plus some additional partner lounges. The card includes a $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every four years. 

Capital One Venture Rewards

The Venture Rewards card offers 2x miles per dollar on every purchase. It comes with a 50,000 bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening a new account. It has no annual fee the first year, then charges $95 per year for subsequent years.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and lets you book travel through any airline, hotel, rental car site, or major travel site and you can redeem miles for statement credits. This works similarly to the Barclays Arrival® Premier mile redemption explained above.

While this card is not packed with quite as many features as some other cards on this list, it also comes with a much lower annual fee. If you are looking to find great benefits with an annual fee below $100, this card is a great option.

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Citi Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

The Double Cash credit card is a great cash back credit card with no annual fee. Instead of travel rewards, this card offers an effective 2% cash back. You earn 1% cash back on each purchase and an additional 1% when you pay your bill.

When using any credit card, you should always pay your bill in full every month to avoid interest charges. Interest fees easily gobble up any cash back or travel reward values if you don’t pay off your card every month by the due date.

This is one of the best cash back cards out there. Some cards offer a slightly higher rate, but that is often limited to bonus categories that may rotate every three months. Here, you can just use the card anywhere you shop and can expect your cash back to dutifully arrive with each monthly statement.

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How to spot hidden resort fees when you’re booking travel

When you’re shopping online for a travel deal to a vacation getaway, it’s common to be lured in by a price. After all, many of us choose our destination based on how much it will cost us.

But a number of travel resorts have taken to listing a bare-bones price online only to inflate it with various fees when it’s time to click the “buy” button.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to spot, track and avoid hidden resort fees.

How to spot hidden resort fees

Money expert Clark Howard says that hidden fees are as numerous as hotel rooms at a tourist destination. These extra charges can be found on your bill by looking for words like “administrative fee,” “amenities fee” or “resort fee.”

Clark says this is how a typical resort pricing trick works:

“You’ll be told the rate would be $175 a night, but then you get there and there’d be another $20 a night to pay for the amenities of the place, like the fancy pool or whatever,” Clark says in his podcast.

In many cases, when you’re booking online, you’ll have to look closely to compare the quoted price with the final tally at checkout.

You see a resort package that you like:

Wow, $1,332! Great price, right? For two people, that’s $2,662. And that’s how it shows up on screen.

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But when you go to make the purchase…

The total jumps up to $2,702! Now, for some people those extra charges may not be a lot, but others may be wondering what’s going on.

We did a deep dive into the hidden resort fees and associated charges and here’s what we found:

Common tax and service fees

• Sales tax: The usual tax imposed on the sale of a product or service
• Excise tax: Levied by the government on certain services and products
• Value added tax: A value added tax (VAT) is usually a percentage of the total cost added to the sum
• Hotel to resort transportation: That ride from and to the airport may end up on your final bill
• Processing service fee: Fee for processing your reservation
• Security deposit: An amount of money paid upfront to cover damages or reservation
• Fuel surcharge: If applicable, this fee is a reimbursement for gas expenses

Of course, you could also incur other charges (safe fees, Wi-Fi fees) from the service or activity provider that are not even included in the quoted price.

2 steps to track hidden resort fees when you book online

Clark says before you click “purchase,” on a resort trip, double check the prices every step of the online process.

1. Double check the prices: “Take one extra step with any hotel you’re thinking of booking. What you want to know is if there are any junk fees,” he says.
2. Call the hotel directly: Before you book a hotel reservation, contact your hotel directly and ask them about the fees they add on in addition to the room rate. Let them know what price you’ve been quoted online by a third party — you may be able to negotiate some of those fees and get a better price by booking direct!

The travel industry isn’t the only one with sneaky fees. See other areas where hidden fees could be costing you thousands.

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