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A Note From Clint:

The summer travel season is here and that means finally making use of the credit card rewards we’ve earned throughout the year. Redeeming rewards certainly reduced the out-of-pocket costs of an upcoming visit to San Francisco and Yosemite for my own family of four.

But did you know that your credit card may offer travel perks beyond the rewards you earn and redeem? Many of the top rewards credit cards can provide protections or enhance your experience while you’re away. Today, we’ll look at a few lesser-known, but potentially valuable, credit card travel benefits.

Cheers!

Clint

Clint Proctor

Lead Editor

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

6 Underrated Credit Travel Benefits Worth Exploring  

Here are a few lesser-known credit card travel benefits that you may be able to take advantage of this summer (and beyond):

• Trip delay/cancellation insurance: These plans can reimburse costs related to an unexpected delay or ticket cancellation from an eligible carrier. Trip delay insurance often covers $500 per day and kicks in after your delay has reached six to 12 hours or forces you to stay overnight. Trip cancellation insurance, meanwhile, could provide $2,000 to $20,000 of coverage per trip. 
• Auto rental insurance: These policies may cover the cost of damages incurred to your rental car due to a collision or theft if you paid for the car with your credit card. Some cards provide secondary auto rental insurance coverage, while others offer primary coverage which applies before your personal insurance. With either type of coverage, you’ll typically need to deny the insurance offered at the rental car counter for it to apply.
• Baggage delay/loss insurance: Dealing with a delayed or lost checked bag during a trip can be frustrating—and expensive if you end up having to replace your belongings on the spot. Thankfully, certain credit cards can alleviate the sting by reimbursing you up to $100 per day for essential purchases in the case of a baggage delay or up to $3,000 per person to replace lost baggage.
• Elite status perks: Some credit cards provide elite status with hotels or rental car loyalty programs that provide perks like room and car rental upgrades, late checkout, free breakfast and car rental discounts.
• Free checked bags: Several airline credit cards enable you to check one or two bags for free. For some, these benefits extend to a few traveling companions as well.
• Hotel credits: If you have a credit card that gives you access to an issuer’s exclusive hotel collection, like Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts, you’ll receive a credit during stays at eligible hotels that can be used toward food, beverages or experiences.

To learn which travel perks you may be entitled to, review your credit card benefits guide or call the number on the back of your card. And if you’d also like to get more out of your card when you’re at home, check out these nine valuable credit card benefits you may already have. Happy travels!

Here’s what else you should know
this week:

Average Cost Of Travel Statistics For 2023 

Are Americans breaking their budgets to get away? Here’s what we found.

Worst Airports For Summer Travel, Ranked 

You may want to buckle up for a rough ride if your summer travel itinerary brings you through any of the airports on this list.

Best Places To Travel In 2023

If you haven’t finalized your summer travel plans yet and you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our 50 top destinations for 2023.

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