Need Long Term Credit Card for Travel / Hotel

LMoBeigi on 05/02/2025 - 15:28
Last edited 05/02/2025 - 16:06 by 1 other user

Hi all, I am looking for a long term credit card to hold for the sole purpose of travelling / hotel reservations etc.

Right now I basically use my debit card which I use to pay for everything (which is dumb I know since I don't earn any points). I also have a Ubank debit card with 0% international fees which I use for international payments in other currencies.

I've had many CC's in the past which I've churned the points on but I want to:

  • Start using a CC for most of my payments so I can earn points.
  • Setup some seem-less auto pay so I can always pay off the amount automatically form my savings.

I'm with CommBank for my main debit card so maybe considering the Ultimate Rewards Card as my long term credit card. This way I can also set up the auto-pay integration nicely. However, the fee on it is $35 and I don't think I'll spend $4k on most months to waive it so I'll basically be paying the fee each month. Not sure if the rewards program is particular good either. No good current offer on it either.

Is this a bad idea? Should I instead just stick to churning cards yearly with good offers instead. The only thing I hate about that approach is having to go through hassle of switching credit card every year which can be time consuming but ignoring that, it gives best rewards payback.

Thank you.

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • askbargain on 05/02/2025 - 15:32
    -3

    Ask a friend to be an additional card holder of their AMEX. Foreign transaction holds don’t count towards their limit

    • MoBeigi on 05/02/2025 - 15:35

      Ah I'd rather not bother anyone with an ask like that.

      • askbargain on 05/02/2025 - 15:38

        Keep an Amex long term. They don’t like churners anyway

  • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:33

    Qantas Amex Ultimate: 100,000 Qantas Points ($5,000 Spend in 3 Months), $450 Travel Credit, $450 Annual Fee

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/888915

    Card benefits include:

    a $450 Qantas travel credit each year (for Qantas flights booked via Amex Travel)

    2 Qantas lounge passes after you book a flight with Qantas directly

    2 Amex lounge passes (for Melb and Syd international)

    Travel insurance

    Qantas Wine premium membership

    4 free supplementary cards

    Annual fee: $450

    New Amex cardholders only. You must not have held a card issued by Amex Australia in the last 18 months.

    • MoBeigi on 05/02/2025 - 15:36

      That is a good offer and card. My question is, would you churn this card (use it for a year and drop it) or continue to pay the $450 annual fee each year to use it as a 'long term CC'.

      I feel like it would only be good for the first year mostly.

      • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:36
        +1

        I am using it as my long term CC as I can easily use the $450 travel credit to book a qantas flight for me or my family members - offsetting the $450 annual fee

        • MoBeigi on 05/02/2025 - 15:41

          Oh I completely missed the $450 travel credit is awarded yearly, not just as a one off. That makes it pretty decent.

          Can I ask how long you've had this card? Also I am not sure if you know but is there is a way to setup some sort of auto-pay feature from other banks? So it can automatically direct debit any amounts outstanding without needing to manually send money over so you never miss a repayment on the card?

          • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:47

            @MoBeigi: I have this card for more than 3 years.

            Yes, you can set up a direct debit from your bank account.

            Paying your bill via Direct Debit
            A Direct Debit lets you pay bills automatically, so you don't have to worry about missing due dates. Simply provide your bank account details to American Express and tell us the amount you’d like to pay each month.

            https://www.americanexpress.com/au/credit-cards/manage-your-…

    • jv on 05/02/2025 - 15:43
      +2

      $450 Qantas travel credit each year (for Qantas flights booked via Amex Travel)

      So you'll end paying twice as much for your flights?

      • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:50

        The $450 travel credit can only be used for qantas flight booked via Amex Travel (it's a travel agent), generally the fare is similar with what qantas offers on their website.

        • jv on 05/02/2025 - 15:52
          +4

          and Qantas flights often cost about twice as much as other airlines.

          • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:53
            -2

            @jv: For international flights, they are often competitive.

            • jv on 05/02/2025 - 15:54
              +2

              @kolorijo: You use the term 'often' loosely…

              • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 15:54

                @jv: Often in my personal experience flying internationally

                • jv on 05/02/2025 - 15:55
                  +3

                  @kolorijo: Often in my personal experience flying internationally the usually cost much more than other airlines.

                  • SnowDragon on 05/02/2025 - 16:02

                    @jv: Are you a big fan of Scoot jv?

                  • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 16:37

                    @jv: Understood, everyone's experience are very subjective and can be different. Cheers.

                    • jv on 05/02/2025 - 16:38
                      +2

                      @kolorijo: True, but unless you are only wanting to travel Qantas, you don't really get the $450 value back…

                      • kolorijo on 05/02/2025 - 16:44

                        @jv: Agree, the travel credit is restricted to qantas and can make your options limited and you can only use the credit for flights only (hotels are excluded)

            • SlickMick on 06/02/2025 - 11:14

              @kolorijo: I can't remember the last time I flew Qantas. It hasn't been competitive any time I've taken a trip in a long time.

              • kolorijo on 06/02/2025 - 11:53

                @SlickMick: I just flew with them in Dec & Jan. Yupe, like I said everyone's situation and experience will be different. I booked early so I got a good fare with them.

          • Russell Dupsumtucka on 05/02/2025 - 16:11

            @jv: Delta has entered the chat with triple the costs.

  • Koulie on 05/02/2025 - 16:32
    +4

    Consider the Smart Awards CBA CC, it has a lower monthly spend for the fee waiver and also has 0% international transaction fees.

  • SmiTTy on 05/02/2025 - 17:19
    +1

    Bankwest zero platinum

    No annual fee so it's a good long term card
    Zero foreign transaction fees so it's good for travel

    No points accrual though as you usually pay for that privilege

  • Worf on 05/02/2025 - 20:05
    -1

    Wise offers good exchange rates, you can get both physical and digital cards… you can change the digital card numbers on demand (I.e., get a new card number, but don’t get to choose the numbers), which is useful if you are concerned with fraud whilst abroad. If using wise, OzB has referral links.

    • surfingedge on 05/02/2025 - 20:17
      +2

      Hotels and car rentals don't like using Wise for pre auths

  • try2bhelpful on 05/02/2025 - 20:53

    It might be worth looking at Virgin as well.

  • 6079 Smith on 06/02/2025 - 09:13

    The CommBank Ultimate is a great card but only if you’re hitting the $4k more often than not.

    I’d say the only other viable daily driver with no fx fee is the BankWest Platinum, at $160/year it’s not too expensive and has tolerable earn rates and a modest sign up bonus (I just dot one for the missus during the recent QF 20k promo)

    Failing that just keep churning and get a Bendigo Ready to use when overseas and for the free travel insurance

  • soan papdi on 06/02/2025 - 10:47
    +1

    Is this a bad idea? Should I instead just stick to churning cards yearly with good offers instead

    Very bad idea. You should churn more often. Keep one card long term for direct debits etc. Use the new card just to meet spend criteria.

    • MoBeigi on 06/02/2025 - 18:41

      Seems like churning is the optimal strategy to get the most rewards. And you'll always have a CC available for hotel / car rental authorizations.

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