A Plastic Adventure: The Risks and Rewards of Credit Card Travel

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1:33 PM on Friday, September 12

By Ben Rice | Travelbinger

Travel and credit cards have become inseparable. Think about it: few of us book a flight or reserve a hotel without weighing miles, points, and perks. Today, the right card can dictate everything from your seat on the plane to the hotel suite you stay in and sometimes, even the experiences you have along the way.

This intertwined relationship has reshaped the industry. Airlines, resorts, and hotel chains are no longer just competing for your business; they’re competing to partner with the cards in your wallet. A recentForbesreport explores the rising influence of credit cards and the effect they will have on travel in the coming years. There has never been a better time to know your credit card rewards and benefits, especially if you love to get around.

The Hotel and Credit Card SymbiosisWriter Jeff Fromm reveals that travel brands are innovating with loyalty benefits, making credit cards ideal bedfellows. "With co-branded partnerships … credit card issuers are positioning themselves as the ultimate gatekeepers of rewards."At the heart of this scenario, modern travelers prefer to bank all their reward points on their credit card. It means hotels, resorts, and airlines must get creative in how they keep customers coming back. A 2024 McKinsey & Company Travelreviewlooked ahead at how the world's top hotel groups were vying for customers. "Affluent customers increasingly value unique experiences, not just the tangible product, and vibrant atmospheres over opulent formality," reads the article. This versatile mentality comes as no surprise, considering research from several years prior. It revealed that modern-day vacationers crave experiences, and they are willing to go into debt to fulfill them.The FOMO Traveler Generation Is Here

MarketWatchpublished a survey in 2022, showing how younger travelers are increasingly making experiences part of their life's ambitions. The fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) mindset is partly responsible, according to the survey.

One notable example is aCNBC"Millennial Money" article from early 2025. The post follows a 33-year-old traveler named David Do, who shares his credit card adventures. At the time of writing, Do had already visited 33 countries, just two short of his ambition of seeing 35 nations in 35 years. He is adept at making money using his credit cards, then using the funds to support his hobby. How to Save One-Million Reward PointsHe claims to have racked up over one million reward points and miles. Once he receives awards, he works extra hard to find the best deals. "It's always been economy (class) for me," he says. "I could redeem it for business, but it's just that I can't really sacrifice the points. I'm more of a budget traveler."Furthermore, by searching for the cheapest non-stop flights, Do gets more bang for his hard-earned buck. He even admits to being a fan of the notorious Spirit Airlines. "People can say what they want to say," says Do, who then waxes lyrical about direct-flight round-trips costing less than 100 dollars.Using Credit Card LeverageHis method might not appeal to all: He possesses 30 active credit cards, quite the feat for a social worker on $78,000 per year. He uses a Discover Card at restaurants to trigger the cashback function. Another example of his genius: a "co-branded Amazon Chase card" for all his Amazon purchases, leading to more reward points for travel. Moreover, as long as he thinks he can reach the minimum spend on a card, he will sign up for it, using it when necessary, depending on its reward schemes. One route is to obtain cards that offer a healthy sign-up bonus when a large outgoing payment is due. Of course, he makes all his monthly credit card payments on time. Travel Credit Cards for High RollersFor anyone considering the opposite strategy, Travel and Tour World (TTW) posted a list of the best luxury travel credit cards for 2025. The following credit cards vary in annual fees, from zero all the way to $3,400 for the highest-ranked entry. Among these picks are:

Sapphire Reserve for Business;
Capital One Venture X Business;
Amex Business Platinum Card;
Chase Sapphire Reserve;
Capital One Spark Cash Plus;
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

The Perks of the Plastic TTW explains how such cards can open access to luxury travel without having to pay over the odds. The first entry earns the prudent owner 200,000 Ultimate Reward points, provided they spend $30,000 within six months. Of course, the benefits add up: "a $300 travel credit, lounge access, and the exclusive Chase Sapphire Lounge entry."Most of the chosen credit cards offer lounge access and a travel credit, even cash in the Capital One Spark Cash Plus' case. A $2,000 bonus goes to holders hitting $30,000 in three months, with another $2,000 added for a $500,000 spend. The benefits on display can turn a typical vacation into something more memorable. Credit Card Danger ZonesMeanwhile,Shelli Stein of travel website Point Me To The Plane made a recent list of the worst countries for credit card fraud. With a touch of irony, it places three Western nations in the medal-winning spots. Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States are named the three worst places on Earth for credit card fraud. The following countries are Malaysia, Brazil, and France. Nonetheless, wherever your credit card takes you, being aware of the risks is highly recommended.