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  • What benefits a good travel credit card should have

    What benefits a good travel credit card should have

    Travelling may not be a priority right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s no doubt that many people will take to the skies in the future. When you’re ready to start trip planning again, you should prepare yourself with the right travel credit card.

    Having a travel credit card will not only earn you points, which will give you discounts on flights and hotel stays, but it’ll also give you some perks that will make you feel like a VIP. Since every travel credit card comes with different benefits, you need to know what to look out for before you apply. Here are the benefits that a good travel credit card should have.

    Points that are actually useful

    What’s arguably the most crucial benefit of a travel credit card is the points you earn. Think of your points as currency. The more you have, the more valuable they are. You’ll want to choose a points program that will benefit you the most. For example, if you’re loyal to an airline or hotel chain, getting a co-branded credit card is definitely worth your while. Many of the bank travel programs can be valuable too. With American Express Membership Rewards, you can use your points on any travel you book. You can also use their fixed points program, or you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners, so you have many options. Choose wisely, but note that you don’t need to stick to just one program.

    Travel insurance

    The cost of medical insurance outside of Canada can be expensive, which is why you should never travel without having medical insurance. Fortunately, most travel credit cards come with a good travel insurance policy, but it’s the details that matter. First off, travel medical insurance is a must, but you need to find out how many days of travel you’re covered for. If your card only gives you 15 days of insurance and you’re away for longer than that, you’ll need to top up your policy. You’ll also want to ensure that your travel credit card includes trip cancellation, trip delay, lost/delayed luggage, hotel/motel burglary, and car rental insurance. 

    Welcome bonus

    If you’re going to sign up for a new travel credit card, you want to do it when there’s a generous welcome bonus. Many cards offer a sign up bonus of 25,000+ points, which can be a good value depending on how you use them. The Amex Business Platinum Card typically has an insane welcome bonus worth up to 75,000 points. Those points have a minimum value of $750, but they could be worth more if you transfer them to one of the airline or hotel partners. While welcome bonuses are appealing, note that you’ll usually need to meet a minimum spend requirement within the first three months of card membership to get it.

    Lounge access

    Once you’ve been into an airport lounge, it’s tough to go back to the common areas. It’s not like lounges are super luxurious, but it’s nice having access to food, drinks, and better seating. Here’s the thing, many credit cards come with free lounge access. Priority Pass is the largest lounge network in the world, so if you’re getting a new credit card, see how many passes a year you get. For reference, a Priority Pass Membership typically costs US $99 a year and $32 a visit. If a credit card gives you 4 free passes, that’s nearly CAD $300 in value you’re getting every year. Some premium travel credit cards will provide you with unlimited free access to lounges, so they’re ideal for frequent flyers.

    Status benefits

    A few travel credit cards out there will give you increased status with various hotel loyalty programs. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can mean a lot if you happen to stay at hotels a lot. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you Gold Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy. With that status, you get 25% more points on your stays, room upgrades when available, late checkout, a welcome gift, enhanced WiFi, and more. Normally, getting Gold Elite Status would require you to stay 25 nights, but you get it instantly with the right credit card.

    Extra travel perks

    Finally, there are the extra travel perks that can save you money if you take advantage of them. Some benefits are obvious such as free checked bags that come with many Aeroplan credit cards. Not only does the cardholder get their first bag checked free, but so do their travelling companions on the same itinerary (maximum of 8 people). Considering that a checked bag typically costs $30-50 one-way, that’s a lot of money saved.

    Many Aeroplan and WestJet credit cards also give you a companion voucher. This voucher allows the second passenger to travel at a significantly discounted price when the primary cardholder is paying a full fare. Depending on where you’re flying to, you could easily save hundreds of dollars.

    With the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, you get a free annual night worth up to 35,000 points. This is an excellent perk since a hotel in that price range will easily cost more than the annual fee you’re paying for your credit card. In other words, you’ll always be getting more value than what you’re paying in annual fees. 

    No foreign transaction fees

    Although no foreign transaction fees is not a common benefit, it’s great to have it since you can save quite a bit of money. In case you didn’t know, most credit cards charge a fee of 2.5% whenever you make a purchase in any currency besides Canadian dollars. Many people don’t realize this happens since the cost is added right into the currency exchange rate. 2.5% may not sound like a lot, but it certainly adds up. Why pay that extra fee whenever you’re abroad when you don’t have to?

    Final thoughts

    It’s unlikely you’ll get all of the benefits listed above with a single card, so you’ll need to decide on the most important features to you and apply accordingly. Alternatively, you could get more than one card and use the one that gives you the most value in each situation. 

    Resource URLs
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_card

    https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Credit-Card

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Credit_cards

  • How to Make the Most of Work for Travel Experiences?

    How to Make the Most of Work for Travel Experiences?

     

    Work for travel opportunities has become a lot more accessible in recent years with work exchange platforms making the travel for a free dream a reality. More hosts are offering travelers the chance to volunteer for accommodation making it so much easier to travel the world for next to nothing. Travelers save money and get a more authentic experience, while hosts get the help they need with their project. However, the work for travel experience gives much more than that. These unique experiences present a whole variety of other opportunities that will enhance your stay and give you skills for life. Read on to see how you can make the most of your work exchange travel experience.

     

    Learn New Skills

     

    Work trade opportunities are a haven for learning new skills. They can give you the chance to work on something you have never done before. Experience or skills aren’t necessarily required, so you can have a go at something which would have been almost impossible to do in your home country. Want to give gardening a go? Does someone need a painter? Whatever it is, if you have the enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in, then anything is possible. Even if you work for travel in an industry you know well, cultural differences will push you out of your comfort zone and make you look at things from a different viewpoint. Adjusting and improving to these challenges will develop your skills even further, which could give you the edge in the next role you apply for. Add this new-found knowledge and experience to your resume and it just might take your career to the next level!

    Immerse Yourself in the Culture

    One of the greatest benefits of work for travel is the opportunity to live and work with locals. An average vacation almost never gives you this experience, it is totally unique to exchange travel. Don’t miss out on discovering the heritage, people, culture and so much more! REAL travel is sticking around to really interact with the locals and finding hidden gems that most tourists miss. Have breakfast and dinner with your host or visit somewhere that only locals visit. You will be surprised at how welcoming people can be. Things like tasting unique foods, being taught traditional dances, and discussing cultural differences with your host family really give you an authentic travel experience that not many other forms of travel can achieve. 

     

    Learn a Language

    If you have always thought about learning a language then what better time to do it! There is no better way to learn than living and working in a native speaking community being surrounded by the local lingo. It will be beneficial in every part of your exchange travel experience allowing you to not only communicate with more locals but could spring more opportunities to work for travel. You will not only learn the language, but you will also help enrich yourself in the culture by learning phrases, ways of doing things, and the culture behind them. Additionally, you would be gaining a skill for life which who knows what you could do with it in the future. The opportunities to practice are endless which means learning is so much easier. So if you aren’t going to learn now, then when will you!?

    Being a volunteer for accommodation is one of the best ways to extend your trip. So if you want to really explore a destination or country to its fullest, a work exchange can help you stay for longer

    In your chosen country or countries! Yes, you don’t have to stick to one country. Some backpackers work for housing exchange in several different countries meaning you can work for travel for as long as you want to. Most regular tourists tend to see the main sights, visit the most popular cities and only stay for a week or so. Exchange travel is much more flexible, stay as long as you want, where you want, and delve deeper into whichever part of the country’s culture you love the most. If you want more than just a whistle-stop tour of the sights then work for travel experiences is for you.

    Put your Heart into the Work

     

    Work exchange is essentially helping out someone who needs it and receiving accommodation in return. It is a fantastic way to travel for almost nothing, though that doesn’t mean you should focus all your energy on travel and see the work as a chore or a secondary activity. The host has been kind enough to offer this amazing work for housing exchange opportunities, so the least you can do is to really help support the project. A bad review isn’t going to help you in the future either. Show your enthusiasm, help out as much as you can and this will really be appreciated by the host. Additionally, the sense of pride when you have helped make a difference to the local community is unbeatable. You may think you are just completing the work for travel, but the results can really make a difference to your host. Do a good job and it could even lead to extra benefits or enable you to stay for longer. As the old saying goes, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

    Connect with other Travellers

    Connect with other exchange travel workers! A huge work for the travel community lies at your fingertips providing reviews advice, and general chat about work-trade opportunities. You will never feel alone when there are so many others sharing their experiences. Ask around for recommendations, seek out picturesque locations to work and there may also be the chance to work on a volunteer work travel project with a fellow exchange traveller. Keep in contact with your host and all your new friends (who will feel like family once the time comes to leave!) as you never know what exciting opportunities they could bring in the future.

     

    Share this article with your family and friends to help others make the most of their work for the travel experience. If you have any of your own tips, tell us below!