 Guest Post: Jessie Clarke from Soulful Travel Most of us are choosing to skip flying the friendly skies this holiday season. Between the risk of transmission during layovers to quarantine guidelines of a week or more, flying just isn’t feasible for those with just a few days off. This means we will take to the roads this year, and that requires some preparations. Here are a few great suggestions for safe road travel during the current global crisis. Know your en-route accommodation options. If your drive requires an overnight stay, map out potential accommodations before you leave. Take the time to get to know what they are doing to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As Hotel News Now explains, most hotel chains have adjusted their cleaning procedures to improve sanitation and reduce contamination. You can check travel websites for reviews from recent customers. Plan ahead for working from the road. Even if you've scheduled days off, you don't know what the road ahead will bring. Make sure that you have all the tools and equipment you need to work remotely, if necessary. If you do not currently have a laptop, now is a great time to invest in one as many technology manufacturers are offering deep deals and discounts throughout the holiday season. You will also want to ensure that you have enough mobile data to act as your own hotspot if necessary. Keep your gatherings small. The vast majority of the United States has enacted strict gathering restrictions in light of the pandemic. Keep your get-togethers at or below the recommended numbers, and plan to wear a mask at your destination. This is especially important if you will be visiting with elderly or immunocompromised relatives. Talk to your friends and family about ways that your holiday parties will look different this year. This might mean playing no-contact games, such as Christmas charades, or utilizing video conferencing software to allow at-risk relatives to join the festivities remotely. If someone begins to feel ill, turn around. A runny nose or cough usually means something as simple as a cold or allergies. However, given that we're in the middle of a global crisis, even mild symptoms should be taken seriously. Hopkins Medicine explains that the symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, and headache. If you are experiencing any of these, do not proceed to your target destination, and contact your healthcare provider for further guidance. Avoid indoor pit stops when possible. The general consensus is that the coronavirus spreads more efficiently in poorly-ventilated indoor areas. Minimize the number of stops you have to make by packing snacks and ensuring you have all of your essentials in your bag before you go. For the inevitable bathroom breaks, don't touch doors, use paper towels instead of the air-based hand dryers, and maintain a six-foot distance between yourself and other travelers. Our holiday travel plans may look different this year and maybe even the next. Until the vaccine is widely accessible, it is up to us as individuals to take as many precautions as possible to keep ourselves and our families safe. While traveling far from home is typically not advisable, there is nothing wrong with visiting with friends and family throughout the holidays, as long as you do so safely and sensibly. Contact Allen Batista Travel today to plan a fun yet safe trip for the holidays and beyond!
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 Guest Post: Stephanie Zito from Creditcards.com If you are planning to travel this year, make sure you are prepared for all possible scenarios. As more and more of us start to return to travel, health and safety are top of mind. How do we travel responsibly in this new normal? Is it smart to consider traveling for the upcoming holidays? How do you know where you are even allowed to go to these days? Whether you’re travel planning for the holidays, packing for a trip or already on the road, here are a few tips to level-up your travel and pandemic preparedness. See related: The cost of safety: Budgeting for solo female travel How to travel during a pandemic Tips for travel planning Holiday travel Health and government officials are asking people to avoid nonessential travel during the holidays, but for many that’s not an option. If you find yourself traveling during the holidays, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe:
Know the entry and exit requirements of your destinationIf you’re traveling outside the U.S., check the current COVID-19 requirements for the country you’re visiting. Ask the following questions: Will the country allow passport holders from your country to enter? Will you need to show a COVID negative test before boarding or on arrival? Is there a mandatory quarantine? Don’t assume that you can get into a country just because an airline will sell you a ticket there. Sadly, there’s not a magical website that’s updated daily with this information, so you’ll have to do some digging around. For international travel as an American, try the U.S. embassy website. Do your destination researchLearn everything you can about how COVID-19 is being managed in your desired destination, so you know what to expect. When I was planning my trip to Cabo, I’d frequently visit the Cabo tourism board website to look for updates on safety measures. I had also emailed the hotel concierge in advance to check on which amenities at the resort were open and closed, and if the restaurant, spa services or pool needed advance reservations. Click here to read the full article  Guest Post – Perry Miller from Outdoor Guides When heading out for any outdoor activity, your main headache will be what camping essentials to pack and what to leave behind. The 10 Essentials is a list of the basic items needed to spend at least a night outside. This is a list first developed by The Mountaineers, an outdoor-based organization in Seattle, in the book “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills.” Since 1974, the 10 Essentials have formed the cornerstone of camping and hiking backpacking. Below is a comprehensive guide of what to bring camping. 1. ShelterIf you will be camping for more than a day, you need a good quality tent to shelter you from elements. You could sleep in your car, but that doesn’t give you the classic experience of camping. At Outdoor Stuff Guides, we want the best experience for you. There are two main types of sleeping tents based on the shape – dome shaped and cabin tents. If you camp in an area with winds and rain, a dome shaped tent is aerodynamic enough to keep the winds and rain water off. Cabin tents are great when you camp in a large group in a place sheltered from strong winds. If you have never used a tent, you might want to set it up in your backyard before heading out to ensure you are able to set it without much struggle. Depending on where you choose to camp, you can choose between 2-season, 3-season, and 4-season tents. These three tents offer different levels of protection from elements. If you are going for a day hike, you might feel as if shelter is not important, but you need it. You might end up staying in the jungle for longer than you planned. In such as a case, bringing a tarp, lightweight trash bag, or a single use bivy comes in handy. 2. NavigationOther camping must-haves are navigation supplies. You can get lost even when you stick to trails. Your cell phone is a great navigation gadget, but it might run out of battery or lose the signal. For starters, you need a map. Maps are lightweight, easy to use, readily available, and affordable. Most parks provide a map at the entrance, which shows you trail details. You can buy maps or view online maps from National Geographic Trails Illustrate for all United States. Next, you need a compass to tell direction. Compasses show you where the north is, helping you distinguish between true north and magnetic north. This is an easy way to find your way when you are lost. You might also need an altimeter that shows you the altitude of your location. You can compare the altimeter readings with the altitude readings on the map to find out exactly where you are. An altimeter might be in the form of an app, a digital watch, or analog equipment. 3. Sun ProtectionProlonged exposure to the sun damages your skin, thanks to the harsh UV light. When camping or hiking, you will spend most of your time walking under the hot sun. As such, you need to stay protected. Sun protection is more important in case you suffer and injury, and you have to stay in the sun for long. For starters, you need a wide-brimmed hat. A baseball cap’s visor will cover your face, but it leaves the ears and the neck exposed. Next, you need to choose sunglasses. While the hat covers the face, it does not protect you from the reflected UV rays. With sunglasses, not only do you protect your eyes, but you also see better when you head out. If your budget allows, pick polarized sunglasses as they cancel reflected rays better, allowing you to see further. Even with protective gear, you still need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. When shopping for sunscreen, ensure a rating of “Broad Spectrum” to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Again, ensure the sunscreen is rated at least 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor). If you are prone to sunburn, wear sunscreen rated at least 50 SPF. Instead of wearing sunscreen, you can wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover your arms and legs. Today, there are clothes with sun ratings to allow you to venture outdoors without worrying about sunburn. 4. InsulationWhen you walk deeper into the wilderness, the weather becomes more unpredictable. If you climb hills and mountains during the hike or the camp, the temperature drops significantly as altitude increases. If you start your hike during the day when the sun is up, you might not see the need for a heavy jacket. As evening nears, the weather changes, and cold kicks in. It is important that you bring extra clothes for insulation. You also need a good quality sleeping bag and sleeping pad for the night. Better yet, check the weather forecast in your destination to better understand what to put in your backpack. Bring thick socks to wick away sweat to keep you warm and dry. Pack between a light and a heavy coat based on the weather forecasts. It is crucial to bring a raincoat even if the weatherman says it will not rain any day soon. Raincoats are lightweight and can pack compact, which means you can carry them anywhere. If it rains, you will be glad you packed one. 5. FireFire is not only a way to stay warm at night, but also a means to cook food and signal your location. It is not easy to create a fire from scratch unless you have done it several times. Luckily, there are several tools to help you start a fire. A basic matchbox can help you start a fire, but it might get wet during outdoor use, and it is flimsy when used in a windy area. You can replace these with replaceable butane lighters, which can start a fire in almost any condition. The challenging bit with butane lighters is that the butane might run out. Stormproof matches sport a waterproof design to allow you to use them any time you want without them getting wet or failing you. If you want to have that classic camping experience, bring a Ferro rod, which is a rod from ferrocerium. These rods are weather-proof and long-lasting. It is important to bring at least two of these fire-making solutions in case one fails. 6. FoodThis is one of the most important items among the 10 Essentials. Bring some snacks to feast on even if you are on a hunting or fishing camp. Even if you are on a day hike and you plan to be back home after a few hours, you still need to bring snacks. Foul weather or any other emergency might keep you out for longer than planned. Food gives you the energy you need to walk another mile and also keeps you warm when cold weather kicks in. Even if you plan to cook your meals once you set up the tent, always bring ready-to-eat snacks. A good outdoor snack should be in a sealed bag for portability. It should also be non-perishable and ready-to-eat. Again, it should not be spicy and should offer enough calories to keep you going. Ideal hiking snacks include power bars, pistachios, peanut butter, beef jerky, and jelly sandwiches. If you love caffeine, you can bring instant coffee or a few caffeine pills. 7. WaterYou can survive for a few days without food, but not water. You need at least two liters of water every day. If you are hiking under the hot sun, you need more than two liters to replace the water you lose through sweat. Bring a sufficiently large water bottle to carry enough water for at least a day. Stainless steel bottles are better than plastic ones as they do not damage with ease or give you a plastic taste and smell in the water. Water bladders might also be a great option. A water bottle is only good for a day’s hike. After that, you need to find more water from the wilderness. This is where water purification and water enhancers kick in. You can bring a portable water filter/straw or water purification tablets. Tablets are easy to use as you only need to add them to the water and they instantly purify it. If you do not want the chemicals in the tablets, choose a water filter. There are plenty of affordable water filters on the market, and all you need is to choose one that meets your needs. 8. Source of LightDo you need a flashlight in your backpack if you are hiking during the day? You need a flashlight just as you need temporary shelter when hiking during the day. You might underestimate your walking pace and end up walking so much away from your initial target distance. Again, an emergency such as an injury or getting lost might keep you in the wild for longer than you expected. When the sun goes down, you need a flashlight to illuminate the trails or rummage through your bag. If you are camping, a flashlight is even more important as you will need to find your way in the dark. A flashlight also signals rescuers towards you when you blink it incessantly. You could use your smartphone as a flashlight, but it is not as bright or as effective as a flashlight. When shopping for a flashlight, pick one that balances weight and brightness. For outdoor use, you can pick headlamps with LED bulbs as they use less battery power. They also keep your hands free and are lightweight. You can also bring tactical flashlights, which are compact, but bright. These tactical units sport highly durable materials to last long. Remember to bring a new battery pack and ensure the bulbs are in good condition before heading out. 9. First Aid KitYou will likely not suffer an injury, but you can never be too prepared. Cuts, sprains, and bruises are common during a hike. When considering what to bring camping, a first aid kit should be one of the items you bring. First aid kits do not have to be bulky boxes that take up a few liters of space in your backpack. Today, you can pick waterproof first aid kits in Ziploc bags. Instead of creating a list of all the items you could bring, buy a complete first aid kit and pack it. However, if you would like to curate the contents of the kit, you can bring:
You do not need all the above, but these will get you started. If you have any medical condition, talk to your doctor to know any other camping must-haves for you. 10. ToolsThe last of the 10 camping essentials is tools. These are simple tools to help you do more than your bare hands allow. A knife is the most basic of these tools as you can use it to prepare food, administer first aid, and start a fire among others. Instead of a simple knife, you can bring a multi-tool that adds a pair of scissors, a nail file, a screwdriver, and a bottle or can opener among others. You also need small length of paracord. You can use this cord to make traps, fix your tent, use it as emergency fishing lure, or fix your bag. A repair kit is also important to keep your supplies in good condition. Simple items to bring include fabric, zip ties, duct tape, and replacement part for your tent. Your tent comes with repair fabric to help you mend holes on the fabric of the tent. ConclusionAbove are the 10 essentials or camping essentials that you must never forget. When backpacking, think of what might happen if you are ever stuck in the woods. If it gets dark and you are deep in the woods, what will you need to survive? From there, prepare a list of the items you need to survive. The number of items you bring will depend on how you get to the campground. If you are driving, you can bring everything you need. If you are backpacking, you might need to shed some of the items that are not necessities.  Are you frustrated your American passport doesn’t grant entry to many countries due to the corona virus epidemic? Are you wondering where you can travel safely during these critical times? The price is right with so many good deals available at the moment. Allen Batista Travel, a small NYC travel agency, has several travel packages – Maldives, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Florida, Las Vegas and California – make your bucket list destination(s) a reality. Nestled in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a soft adventure lovers’ paradise. It is also one destination welcoming American travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To enter this country, the Maldives government kindly request that all travelers present health documents showing negative test results for the corona virus 14 days prior to entering the country. Tourists will undergo the compulsory temperature checks at the airport and face masks are MANDATORY for the transatlantic journey. We are following the CDC and World Health Organization guidelines to keep you safe. We are partnering with Turtle Maldives to provide on the ground logistical details and to whisk you away by speed boat to a private island. We have three wonderful packages to make the Maldives a once in a lifetime experience. Our four days and three nights deal includes four nights’ accommodations, four breakfast and dinners, half day excursion to relax and unwind on secluded island and romantic dinner for two on a beach. Our six days and five nights offer features five nights lodging, five breakfasts and five dinners, half day excursion to a secluded island, night fishing and intimate dinner for two on a beach. Our eight days and seven nights package seven nights’ accommodations, seven breakfasts and seven dinners, half day excursion to a secluded beach, sunset cruise and star gazed dinner for two on a beach. For savvy travelers who may be looking to venture a little closer to home, then we hope you will consider our all-inclusive packages for Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Guanacaste, and Montego Bay. We also have amazing deals for die hard travelers looking for an escape within the U.S. For those who live in the New York tri-state area, we have an action packed one day trip on November 14 -- shopping at Clinton Crossing, indulging in an all you can eat lobster feast and more at Nordic Lodge and participating in a game of chance at Foxwoods Casino. Once again, we are following the CDC guidelines to keep you safe and face masks are mandatory for this trip. Nestled in the Catskills, Windham Ski Resort is an outdoor enthusiasts’ playground offering inspiration for downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding and snow shoeing. We are starting to accept bookings for our one day ski trip to Windham on January 16, 2021. We hope you join us one of these adventures. Visit www.abtravel.us or email jallen@abtravel.us for more information.  Are you looking for a team building activity, quinceañera, sweet 16 or milestone birthday, anniversary or retirement celebration, bachelor or bachelorette or engagement party this fall? Then, we hope you will consider one of our socially distanced party boat cruise up the East River in New York City. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has literally brought the travel industry to a halt during the last six months. We have all had to embrace the new normal by becoming digital nomads working from home while helping loved with their virtual learning school instructions. It’s a new normal during this COVID-19 pandemic and our customers’ health and well being are our number one priority. We are brokering two socially distant five hour party boat cruise on board the Jacana and Cosmos this fall. We are following NYC’s mandated guidelines to operate at a 75 percent capacity by limiting the cruise to no more than 40 people. We hope you will come set sail up the East River and take in spectacular views from the water of Manhattan’s key attractions such as Statue of Liberty, South Street Seaport all from the comfort of a climate controlled, and U.S. coast guard certified party boat. Upon arriving at the marina, all guests will have their temperatures checked prior to boarding the boat. Face masks are MANDATORY for the cruise up the East river. There will be ample hand sanitizers on board the party boat. Our party boat package includes the private charter rental, lunch or dinner, open bar for cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and dj spinning your choice of top 40, R&B, hip hop, Latin music. NO dancing will be allowed on board the boat per NYC’s mandate to minimize the spread of the COVID-19. In keeping with NYC’s guidelines, we are only serving lunch and dinner, cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during the first hour while boat is docked at the marina. The party boat will set sail for up the East River once the meal, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages has been consumed on board and all guests puts on the MANDATORY face masks. In case you are wondering about the party boats, then we hope to paint a picture in words and inspire your decision to book this private socially distant party boat package. Jacana is a smaller vessel with two decks – indoor and upper deck connected by a spiral staircase. The modern décor and its intimate size makes this party boat an ideal choice for wedding, bachelor or bachelorette party or milestone birthday. Cosmos is a spacious climate controlled party boat with two decks – indoor and an open air outdoor deck. Both party boats have tables, chairs and white tablecloth linen, audio and visual system, service bar and central air conditioning, as well as heating all throughout the indoor deck. We are here to help. Visit www.abtravel.us.  Life’s an adventure. Allen Batista Travel, Inc. (www.abtravel.us) has several suggestions for staycations, virtual experiences, domestic and international trips to keep your travel diary busy.
For those looking for staycation experiences, ABT has five walking tours – Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown, Lower East Side, Mid-Manhattan, Philadelphia Independence Mall, and Philadelphia Ghost Tours – in New York City and in Philadelphia. A licensed tour guide will transport participants on a fun, yet educational walking tour to learn interesting facts and figures about these iconic neighborhoods. We are offering private walking tours with two to 10 people to stay within the social distancing guidelines. Face masks are MANDATORY for the private walking tours. Tri-state residents (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) who are looking to celebrate a socially distant birthday, anniversary, engagement, team building, bachelor or bachelorette or milestone event, we are now offering all-inclusive private boat rides (boat rental, food, open bar and entertainment) at a reduced capacity of 40 people. ABT can offer themed private boat charters (stand-up comedy, magic show or sightseeing tour) or just a standard private boat ride with a dj spinning top 40, Latin, or R&B music. Face masks are MANDATORY and there will be NO dancing on board the boat. Our virtual experiences present novel ways to stay connected with friends, families and colleagues residing in different parts of the world. Our virtual experiences range from virtual walking tours, virtual magic shows, virtual comedy shows, and virtual wellness experiences (Zumba, salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha, belly dance, yoga). Group rates are available for 10 to 100 people to tune in on Zoom from the comfort of their computer or iPad. For those who have the itch to travel, we have several good deals available right now. Our Maldives package has three options – three nights, five nights and six nights – for American and Canadian travelers who can provide a health certificate showing you tested negative for the COVID-19 virus. Athens, Greece, on the other hand, is only welcoming Canadian travelers at the moment. Our Athens tour operator will operate this tour at a reduced capacity based on the World Health Organization guidelines to social distance and operate safely. Finally, ABT also has combination packages – airfare, hotel (all-inclusive or room and breakfast only) and/or car rentals for destinations – Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Cancun, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Key West, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Los Cabos, Napa Valley, Puerto Vallarta, Rivera Maya, Santa Barbara, St. Lucia, and Tahiti. We also have good deals for hotels and car rentals only. We hope you will join us for one of our staycations and virtual experiences or allow us to organize your bucket list trip. Visit www.abtravel.us to plan your next adventure.  It is a new world order as the COVID-19 (also known as the novel corona virus) takes the world by storm literally and figuratively. During the last four months, many Americans have adjusted to the mandatory stay at home orders and strict social distancing guidelines when you leave home.
As countries around the world re-open and welcome back tourists, U. S. travelers, sadly, are temporarily on a no entry list until the novel corona virus gets under control here. Staycations are now all the rave again as we look for interesting things to do as the U.S. economy starts to re-open. And, to help you keep your social diaries active, Allen Batista Travel, Inc. (ABT) has a couple of virtual experiences to reduce the cabin fever brought on by COVID-19. Groups of 10 to 100 people just need to join us on Zoom for the virtual experiences. For those who have New York City as a bucket list destination, ABT has four great suggestions for virtual walking tours – Mid-Manhattan, Lower East Side, Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown and Wall Street. Philadelphia, another destination for our virtual walking tours, showcases the sites associated with founding the U.S. democracy, as well as the city’s ghostly side. Our licensed tour guides will take you on a fun, yet educational 1.5 virtual tour of these iconic neighborhoods. For the young people embracing the new normal and remote learning, ABT offers an entertaining virtual magic shows, as well as virtual interactive magic classes for aspiring magicians to learn the tricks of the trade. We understand it is hard to keep young people, ages four years and older, engaged with anything and we have kept our virtual magic show experiences to just 30 minutes long. During these challenging times, laughter is the best remedy to lift the spirits and tickle your funny bone. Our virtual one hour stand-up comedy show features rising comedians who have performed at the New York Comedy Festival, Montréal Just for Laughs Festival, as well as has appeared on national television shows and movies. And, our virtual experiences would not be complete without offering a couple of virtual wellness sessions – Zumba, belly dance, yoga, spinning, body sculpting, and Latin dance (salsa, bachata, merengue and cha cha) to help you stay in shape while you are stuck at home. All wellness sessions are talked by professional dancers. You do not need any experience for the wellness sessions. You just need to come an open mind and a willingness to try something new. We hope groups of 10 to 100 people will join us for one of these virtual experiences.  Guest post by Jessie Clarke from Soulful Travel Due to quarantine rules and post-lockdown regulations, many families are feeling a bit stir-crazy. Fortunately, there are activities you can partake in that allow you to follow social distancing guidelines. Here are nine solutions for keeping families busy — and safe. Explore Nature at Home and Beyond Getting outside can help everyone burn energy and breathe a little deeper. From your backyard to natural spaces, here’s how you can get outdoors.
Plan a Camping Trip Going camping is a great way to spend time outdoors as a family. At the same time, you can keep away from others in accordance with social distancing rules.
Head to Museums and Zoos Visiting local attractions like museums and zoos can be a great way to get out of the house. At the same time, you need to take special care when heading out.
Many families are eager to get out and about following a long self-isolation period. The good news is that there are tons of activities you can enjoy. Keeping social distancing in mind, plan your family’s exploits with optimism and a sense of adventure.  Guest Post from Money.com Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel industry to a virtual standstill and credit card companies are tightening applications, it still might be a good time to look into travel credit cards. Despite not being able to immediately use some of the cards’ benefits, you can still start to rack up points or miles to use in the future. Some have even adapted to the ongoing situation and are offering their users additional—and currently, more applicable—benefits. For example, Chase recently announced that eligible cardmembers will be able to apply points on the Ultimate Rewards site to pay for purchases in select categories, starting with grocery stores, dining, and home improvement stores. Whenever travel restrictions are eased, the best travel credit cards available in 2020 provide attractive perks such as skipping through airport security lines, relaxing in comfortable airport lounges, and scoring free benefits like checked bags or in-flight Wi-Fi each time you fly. Others let you upgrade your travel by making it easy to book suites in luxury hotels, cozy business class seats on international flights, and more. Travel perks are nice, but you’ll want to make sure you earn a lucrative sign-up bonus and generous rewards for each dollar you spend on your card as well. To help with your search, we’ve studied and compared hundreds of travel credit cards in terms of their earning rates, welcome bonuses, travel benefits, and fees. This list of top travel credit cards for 2020 highlights the absolute best credit cards for travel whether you want to plan a weekend getaway or a luxury trip thousands of miles away from home. Important Things to Know About Travel Credit Cards The top travel credit cards let you earn rewards for each dollar you spend. However, you need to think long and hard about the type of points you’d like to earn before you sign up. With some travel credit cards, you earn points that are only good for a few redemption options, such as flights with one airline or stays with a specific hotel brand. *Don’t automatically write off cards with high fees. Most travel credit cards offer lucrative annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and other perks that can make paying an annual fee well worth it. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, a credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, and more in exchange for its $550 annual fee. *Many of the top travel credit cards charge a high APR whenever you carry a balance — even as high as 25.49%. To make the most of travel credit cards and other rewards credit cards, you should strive to pay your balance in full each month so you avoid long-term debt. If you need to carry a balance, it’s better to pick up a low interest credit card or a 0% APR credit card. Travel Credit Cards and the COVID-19 Pandemic While many of the benefits and rewards remain unchanged, credit card companies such as Chase and American Express have extended the eligible purchase periods by an additional three months so customers have extra time to earn their cards’ welcome bonuses. Further, since many travel credit cards usually provide bonus points for purchases made at airlines, hotels, and car rentals–most of which are currently unavailable– some companies are providing additional bonus points for purchases that have picked up due to the pandemic such as streaming services and food and grocery deliveries. To learn more about the Money.com guide to best travel credit cards, click here. https://money.com/best-travel-credit-card/ Best Travel Credit Cards of 2020 Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel industry to a virtual standstill and credit card companies are tightening applications, it still might be a good time to look into travel credit cards. Despite not being able to immediately use some of the cards’ benefits, you can still start to rack up points or miles to use in the future. Some have even adapted to the ongoing situation and are offering their users additional—and currently, more applicable—benefits. For example, Chase recently announced that eligible cardmembers will be able to apply points on the Ultimate Rewards site to pay for purchases in select categories, starting with grocery stores, dining, and home improvement stores. Whenever travel restrictions are eased, the best travel credit cards available in 2020 provide attractive perks such as skipping through airport security lines, relaxing in comfortable airport lounges, and scoring free benefits like checked bags or in-flight Wi-Fi each time you fly. Others let you upgrade your travel by making it easy to book suites in luxury hotels, cozy business class seats on international flights, and more. Travel perks are nice, but you’ll want to make sure you earn a lucrative sign-up bonus and generous rewards for each dollar you spend on your card as well. To help with your search, we’ve studied and compared hundreds of travel credit cards in terms of their earning rates, welcome bonuses, travel benefits, and fees. This list of top travel credit cards for 2020 highlights the absolute best credit cards for travel whether you want to plan a weekend getaway or a luxury trip thousands of miles away from home. Important Things to Know About Travel Credit Cards The top travel credit cards let you earn rewards for each dollar you spend. However, you need to think long and hard about the type of points you’d like to earn before you sign up. With some travel credit cards, you earn points that are only good for a few redemption options, such as flights with one airline or stays with a specific hotel brand. *Don’t automatically write off cards with high fees. Most travel credit cards offer lucrative annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and other perks that can make paying an annual fee well worth it. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, a credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, and more in exchange for its $550 annual fee. *Many of the top travel credit cards charge a high APR whenever you carry a balance — even as high as 25.49%. To make the most of travel credit cards and other rewards credit cards, you should strive to pay your balance in full each month so you avoid long-term debt. If you need to carry a balance, it’s better to pick up a low interest credit card or a 0% APR credit card. Travel Credit Cards and the COVID-19 Pandemic While many of the benefits and rewards remain unchanged, credit card companies such as Chase and American Express have extended the eligible purchase periods by an additional three months so customers have extra time to earn their cards’ welcome bonuses. Further, since many travel credit cards usually provide bonus points for purchases made at airlines, hotels, and car rentals–most of which are currently unavailable– some companies are providing additional bonus points for purchases that have picked up due to the pandemic such as streaming services and food and grocery deliveries. https://money.com/best-travel-credit-card/  Protect a carefully-planned trip with coverage for delays, illness, lost luggage, and even natural disasters—the best travel insurance can soften the impact of unforeseen events.
Click here to learn more about Consumer Advocate.org guide to the best travel insurance. |
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