Dear New Teachers: Why You Should Consider a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Hey there, new and future teachers! Welcome to one of the most rewarding professions out there. As a veteran teacher with 19 years of education under my belt, I’m here not just to share teaching advice but also to help you enjoy some well-deserved perks outside the classroom. Let’s talk about something practical that you might not have thought about in your teacher prep: credit cards—specifically, travel rewards credit cards. You’ve joined an incredible field, but it’s no secret that many of us are here for the passion, not the paycheck. So, let’s make every dollar we do spend work a little harder for us!

Why Travel Rewards Credit Cards?

Teaching can be tough, and those breaks throughout the year can be a perfect time to recharge. Travel is one of the best ways to reset, learn, and bring new experiences back into your classroom. However, traveling can get expensive quickly, especially on a teacher’s salary. That’s where a good travel rewards credit card can make all the difference. With responsible use (which means you don’t ever spend more than you can pay off in full every month), a credit card can help you earn points or miles that cover (or mostly cover) flights, hotels, and even full trips.

Plus, with the sign-up bonuses many travel cards offer, you can hit the ground running and accumulate points right from the start. Choose a credit card that offers a signup bonus for the amount of money you already spend over a given time (usually 3-6 months). Don’t spend extra to do this, or it defeats the purpose.

Choosing the Right Travel Rewards Credit Card

There are tons of credit card options out there and the best option for you depends on what you want to get out of it, but I have a few favorites after doing 100’s of hours of research.

Note, that each of these cards does have an annual fee, but that fee is offset by the perks. This is what scared me away when I was a new teacher. Why would I pay to have a credit card? My husband was actually who convinced me that a card with an annual fee was worth it. We dove in to a high level card with a Chase Sapphire Reserve (referral link), which has been great for us, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for you if you’re a brand new teacher. It comes with a hefty annual fee ($550), but that fee is offset with a yearly $300 travel credit, access to 1,000’s of airport lounges around the world (where we enjoy free food and drinks) and amazing travel insurance benefits. Not to mention $120 Global Entry credit, $60 in DoorDash credits.

Travel Rewards Credit Card with good travel insurance are 100% worth the annual fee. All three cards listed below come with various forms of insurance. The Chase Sapphire Reserve & Preferred and the Capitol One Venture X have phenomenal travel insurance. Including:

• Primary Rental Car Insurance (unless you live in NY)
• Trip cancellation
• Trip interruption
• Delayed or lost luggage
• Various medial travel coverage
• …and more

I speak from experience. Two years ago my family planned a once in a lifetime Disney trip with both sets of grandparents – a total of eight people flying to and staying at Disney. Within one day of our arrival it became clear that Orlando was in the direct path of a hurricane. Our flights home were canceled. Disney actually shut down. Having the Chase Sapphire Reserve was a GAME CHANGER!

We knew that we were covered. We could rent a car, book a hotel for the way home, pay for unexpected food expenses etc and we would be reimbursed by Chase. I booked a van and a hotel for us half way home and we made it out safely. We were also reimbursed for all the expenses we incurred due to our flight cancellation because we booked the flight and hotel on our Chase card, and subsequently paid for all incurred expenses with that card (and kept careful track of receipts). The piece of mind alone made the annual fee, which really is only $250 after the $300 travel credit, more than worth it. Not to mention that our family probably ate over $100 worth of food and drinks in the airport lounges.

All of that said, I wouldn’t recommend most new teachers start with the Reserve. I recommend you start with either the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Capitol One Venture X, or the AMEX Gold.

#1 Recommendation Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is known at the #1 entry level travel credit card. Here’s why:

• Point multipliers:
  • 2x points on dining and travel
  • 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which includes everything from Uber rides to flights.
  • 1x points on everything else
• Sign-up Bonus:
  • Chase often offers a sign-up bonus of around 60,000 points if you spend a certain amount in the first three months (usually around $4,000).
  • These points can be worth up to $750 in travel when booked through Chase’s portal and significantly more when booked through travel partners.
• Travel insurance
  • Some of the best travel insurance offered by a credit card
• Redemption options:
  • Chase’s points (called Ultimate Rewards) are some of the most versatile. You can use them to book directly or transfer to a wide range of travel partners, including United, Southwest, and Hyatt.
• Lounge Access
  • None
• Annual Fee: $95—a small fee that’s easily outweighed by the sign-up bonus and travel benefits.

#2 Recommendation Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

I don’t have this card yet, but I want it. My husband having the Chase Sapphire Preferred is great, but that also means that when/if I travel without him I don’t have access to lounges and now that I’m spoiled and bougie I definitely want lounge access when I travel. I also want the travel protections when I travel without him.

Here’s why this card is awesome:

• Point multipliers:
  • 2x miles on every dollar you spend, no matter the category. It’s perfect if you don’t want to worry about keeping track of bonus categories.
• Sign-up Bonus:
  • New cardholders typically get 75,000 miles when they spend around $4,000 in the first three months, worth around $750 in travel.
  • Plus 10,000 bonus miles each card anniversary
• Travel insurance
  • Some of the best travel insurance offered by a credit card
• Redemption options:
  • Capital One miles are easy to use for statement credits against travel purchases (via their “travel eraser” tool), so you have more flexibility on when and how you redeem them.
  • You can use them to book directly or transfer to a wide range of travel partners.
• Travel Credit
  • $300 annual travel credit that can be used on bookings made through Capital One Travel, essentially reducing the cost of the annual fee to $95.
• Lounge Access
  • Access to Capital one lounges and Priority Pass Lounges
• Annual Fee: $395, with no foreign transaction fees—a nice perk if you plan to travel abroad.

#3 Recommendation American Express Gold Card

Where do most people spend the most? If you’re like me, it’s on groceries and dining. That’s where the AMEX Gold Card (referral link for elevated 100,000 point welcome offer!) comes in. I do have this one and I exclusively use it on groceries and restaurants.

• Point multipliers:
  • 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year), which adds up quickly for everyday spending.
• Sign-up Bonus:
  • The card typically offers a 60,000-point bonus if you spend around $4,000 within the first six months—worth about $600 when redeemed for travel.
  • But if you use my link you can earn:100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on your new card in your first 6 months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months, up to $100 back!
• Travel insurance
  • Nominal, but it does have some great purchase protection insurance
• Redemption options:
  • Amex points are versatile and can be transferred to over 20 travel partners, including Delta, JetBlue, and Marriott, giving you flexibility on where and how to use them.
• Lounge Access
  • None
• Annual Fee:
  • $325, but the card offers annual dining and Uber credits that can help offset this cost.
• The ability to earn extra points with Rakuten

Tips for Maximizing Your Travel Rewards

1. Use Your Card Responsibly: Only spend what you can afford to pay off each month. The interest on these cards can easily outweigh the rewards if you carry a balance.
2. Take Advantage of Travel Portals: Many credit card companies have their own travel portals where you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars directly. Often, you get bonus points for using these portals.
3. Set Travel Goals: It’s easier to stay motivated and rack up rewards if you have a goal in mind, like a summer trip to Europe or a winter break ski trip. Knowing what you’re saving points for can help keep you focused and excited.

Final Thoughts

A travel rewards card can be a great way to balance work and relaxation, allowing you to get the most out of those hard-earned school breaks. Plus, seeing the world and recharging will bring you back to your classroom as a better, refreshed teacher. A travel rewards credit card isn’t just about flying for nearly free; it’s about embracing the experiences that make teaching (and life) a little richer.

Happy travels and happy teaching!

If you found this post helpful, check out some of my other posts:

Saving for retirement

Retirement account options for teachers (part 1)

Retirement account options (part 2)

How does a pension plan work

Can you live on a teacher’s salary?

10 month vs 12 month pay checks

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