The best travel reward credit card is one that provides you ease and comfort when you travel abroad. Are you the kind of person who enjoys an extra bit of pampering? Are you even a glutton for luxury treatment? If so, there are handful of credit cards out there designed just for you. These are cards that offer concierge services along with no foreign transaction fees. With these cards, you can save big on conversion fees, and use the extra cash to enjoy creature comforts in a foreign land. When you find both together you truly have the best travel reward credit card.
Sometimes overlooked or even forgotten by holders of no foreign transaction fee cards, the free concierge service can be of amazing value. Not only is it a great way to enhance your travels, but it’s also a practical solution to relieving some of the stress you might face in booking the right table or hotel room at the last minute.
In some cases, the concierge service might even go that extra mile and fulfill some odd requests. Business thought leader and popular blogger Timothy Ferris once tested the limits of the concierge services connected to Visa’s line of Signature products. Ferris called the company and asked his “personal assistant” to find a huge tub of nacho cheese in the Austin, Texas area. Within a day, he was given the name, address, and phone number for the store where he could find it. They even quoted him a price for the giant bucket of comfort food!
But before you get too excited about this plastic resource in your wallet, know that concierge services have their limitations. They will not help you with your homework, or obtain government documents for you, or plan your wedding, or help you break the law. And contrary to what you might think, concierge services actually do not have access to your account information or loyalty rewards program. The services will also do their best to solve your problem but they won’t necessarily comparison shop, so you might not get the best price for your solution.
Be sure to utilize your virtual assistant in a smart and practical way, but remember — they aren’t superheroes!
If you have an airline or hotel-branded Visa Signature Card, you will have complimentary access to the company’s personal assistants who can help you with a variety of expertise. Not all Signature cards will waive the foreign transaction fee, but some cards that do are the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card and the U.S. Bank Skypass Visa Signature Card. Concierge services include restaurant recommendations and reservations, travel arrangements, shopping, entertainment and ticketing, and business-related help such as hospitality and conferences. To speak with a personal assistant 24/7, call 800-953-7392 (U.S.) or 804-673-1693 (collect outside the U.S.).
Another established concierge service is offered to holders of World MasterCards and World Elite MasterCards. At the World MasterCard level, concierge assistants can help you with buying and delivering gifts, organizing business arrangements, making dinner reservations, and securing event tickets. At the World Elite MasterCard level, the Global Concierge Service includes an on-call personal travel advisor to help you with your luxury needs.
Both levels also give you access to a 15% discount on the MasterCard Airport Concierge service, which will designate a “meet and greet” agent to escort you through departures, arrivals, and connecting flights. This service is ideal for VIP international travelers who want the convenience of a fast track through immigration and baggage, or who prefer a chauffeured ride to their final destination. The MasterCard Airport Concierge service is currently available at more than 450 destinations worldwide. Travelers considering this the World MasterCard might want to consider the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard, which has no foreign transaction fees and earns 2x miles on all purchases. To reach MasterCard Concierge Services 24/7, call 800-336-6420.
Lastly, when it comes to concierge services, American Express is the industry’s pioneer, having creating the concierge service for its elite members many years ago. The American Express Business Platinum Card is perhaps the best travel reward credit card and one card you may want to consider if the $450 annual fee does not discourage you. To contact American Express Business Platinum Concierge Services 24/7, call 800-492-8468 or 623-492-8468 (collect outside the U.S.). Or, to compare credit cards online check out creditcard.com’s comparison tool, or simple compare the cards we have listed here on your own.
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