Summer and vacations go hand in hand, but record-high inflation is causing travel costs and gas prices to skyrocket, making it more difficult for families to afford a trip.
Practicing a few basic budgeting hacks, such as reducing monthly bills, limiting discretionary purchases, and cutting back on take-out, can help you boost savings in time for your summer vacation. But don’t overlook the many benefits your credit card offers to help you get away for less.
In fact, credit cards offer several surprising financial perks that can ease your travel experience and take the sting out of rising prices. Check out these 12 ways credit cards can help you save on a summer vacation.
1. Earn Rewards Toward Free or Discounted Travel
You can earn a variety of rewards, from airline miles to travel points to cash back, when using a credit card. These rewards can alleviate the growing financial burden of traveling, especially as prices of airfare and gas skyrocket ahead of summer.
As long as you only use your credit card to pay for purchases you were going to make anyway, you can earn valuable rewards toward free flights and free hotel stays. You can also earn cash back rewards that you can redeem for a statement credit to pay for some of your travel expenses.
To maximize rewards, look for a card that rewards you the most for the types of purchases you frequently make. For example, most of us buy groceries from a supermarket at least every other week, and a rewards card such as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card offers 6% back on grocery purchases.