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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good option for travelers who like a lot of flexibility in both earning and redeeming rewards. It pays 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, and you can earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Here are five reasons why this card may be for you.
1. You’re not committed to an airline or hotel group
Anyone who’s worked hard to earn Hilton Honors points knows how frustrating it can be to discover that, for your next destination, there's a Marriott property you like even better. Or, after saving up American AAdvantage miles, you discover that only United has nonstops to your next vacation spot.
That’s not an issue with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. The points you earn can be applied toward awards travel with most airlines, hotels, online travel booking sites and other providers.
2. You can make reservations through your preferred website
Co-branded hotel and airline credit cards, as well as a number of others like Chase credit cards, require you (or at least create incentives for you) to redeem points through their websites. As a result, you can miss out on deals.
With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, redemptions are a lot more flexible. You can book travel on your card through just about any provider you like, then you use your points to apply a credit to your statement, erasing some or all of the costs.
3. You’re not restricted on redemptions
Airlines and hotels are notorious for hiking up award redemption rates during peak times, or forbidding peak-time redemptions altogether. With this card, you don't have to worry about such restrictions. Simply find the best price you can with any airline, hotel or vacation package provider, book as you would if you were paying cash, then use your points to erase some or all of the charges from your credit card bill.
4. You don’t have to worry about spending categories
More and more travel credit cards offer bonus rewards in certain spending categories, especially dining and travel, but rewards can be lackluster in other spending categories. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card keeps things simple: It pays 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on the card no matter what you purchase.
5. The $0 annual fee
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card’s $0 annual fee is, without a doubt, one of the best reasons to get this card. There’s no risk you’ll end up paying more in annual fees than you earn back in rewards.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
