Booking.com Launches Credit Card: Up to 6% Back in Travel Credit
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Managing Editor Booking.com, the online travel company, has launched a credit card for its users. The Genius Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card, issued by First Electronic Bank, offers rewards on travel booked with the platform and on some everyday spending, too.
Like other cards serviced by Imprint, users can see whether they’re approved with no impact to their credit scores. Once you officially accept the offer, there’ll be a hard inquiry on your credit scores. To apply for the card, you must have a Booking.com account, which is free to create.
Key features of Booking.com's Genius Rewards credit card
Annual fee: $0.
Welcome offers:
- $150 in travel credits after spending $1,500 on the card in the first 90 days.
- $100 bonus in travel credits each year when you spend $15,000 or more with your card.
- Instant upgrade to Booking.com’s highest loyalty tier, Genius Level 3, which gets you perks like 10% to 20% off on eligible stays, free breakfast, room upgrades and priority support.
Rewards:
- 6% back in travel credits on stays booked in the Booking.com app.
- 5% back in travel credits on flights, stays, car rentals, attractions, cruises and airport taxis on Booking.com.
- 3% back in travel credits on purchases made during a stay booked on Booking.com.
- 3% back in travel credits on dining, gas and groceries.
- 2% back in travel credits on all other purchases.
The Genius Rewards card earns rewards in the form of travel credits that can be used toward the cost of future eligible stays, flights, car rentals, attractions and airport taxis on Booking.com. Note that $1 in travel credits is worth $1 to spend on the platform, and there's no minimum redemption threshold.
Other benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protections including auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and travel accident insurance.
Should you get this card?
The Genius Rewards card from Booking.com is ideal for those who regularly use the site to reserve their travel. Holders can earn rewards easily through the site with the card’s 3-6x rates and subsequently redeem those rewards for future travel booked through the company. The card’s offers for new applicants can also provide some useful travel perks for users.
The major pitfall here is that while you can get decent rewards for non-Booking.com spending, you can’t use those rewards outside of the platform. A general travel rewards card, not tied to any particular brand, can offer more rewards earning and redemption flexibility.
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