As the busy summer vacation season begins, many of us are preparing to take trips. Travel experts are seeing a boom in domestic travel this year but trips to Europe remain as popular as ever. So whether you’re exploring your home country or traveling further afield this year, we’ve got some top tips to keep in mind.
International travel
If you’re planning to travel internationally this summer, it could be a good idea to check up on what benefits your current accounts and credit cards offer and whether it’s worth changing provider.
Some credit card providers include travel insurance as part of their benefits and rewards schemes. It’s important to check that this is something your provider actually offers without making assumptions – and even if this is a benefit they provide, you will probably still have to get in touch with them before you depart to let them know the details of your trip.
When it comes to international travel, one of the most obvious benefits is air miles. Several credit card companies offer air miles as a perk, although the values may vary, so it’s important to compare when considering a new card.
Aside from air miles, there are other perks to consider when choosing a credit card. Perks to look out for include flight vouchers, airport lounge access, hotel points and low conversion rates.
Domestic travel
If you’re packing up the car for a road trip, or flying from coast to coast, you can still max your travel spend, right here in Canada.
Many credit card companies offer points on gas and groceries – so make sure you’ve plotted participating gas stations on your route.
If you’re heading out camping or staying somewhere with a self-catering kitchen, go ahead and plan a shopping stop at a grocery store that allows you to earn points on your spend. Rewards points are usually store-specific so check that your planned store is one that’s included within your rewards program.
Many credit card companies offer points on gas and groceries – so make sure you’ve plotted participating gas stations on your route.
If you’re heading out camping or staying somewhere with a self-catering kitchen, go ahead and plan a shopping stop at a grocery store that allows you to earn points on your spend. Rewards points are usually store-specific so check that your planned store is one that’s included within your rewards program.om Trans Union showed that borrowing levels in Canada were increasing in line with an ongoing decrease in interest rates and inflation.
So, what’s next?
Make sure you start off by checking the benefits and perks offered with your current credit cards and bank accounts. If you’ve had the card or account for a while, you may even have some perks that you’ve forgotten about!
If you’re in the market for a new credit card, go ahead and compare the perks offered by different providers before making a decision. Keep your summer travel plans in mind when choosing the benefits that are best for you.