The Best Travel Credit Cards for Students Studying Abroad

Traveling abroad is one of those experiences in life that you will never forget. Studying in a foreign country will leave you meeting new people, making lifelong friends, and seeing parts of the world you never even knew existed.

According to studyabroad.state.gov, each year, over 300,000 American students will study abroad for academic credit for two weeks to a full academic year.

Paying for these adventures isn’t always as glamorous as the adventures themselves. Here’s where doing some research on the different travel credit cards for students can really pay off.

From interest rates to rewards points, not every credit card is right for you. Read on to learn more about some of the best travel credit cards for students.

What Makes the Best Travel Credit Cards for Students?

From train tickets to staying in hostels, studying abroad can be expensive. Planning ahead by researching different travel credit cards can save you money in the long run.

The best travel credit cards are ones with lower interest rates and cards with no foreign transaction fees. Cards with cashback or rewards programs can also make great options.

Students should also note that you won’t be approved for every card out there since you likely have a limited credit history. Sometimes, however, your limited credit isn’t an issue with cards designed for students, and you may qualify for instant approval.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

The rewards program on this card makes it a contender for the best travel credit card for students. If you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days, you’ll receive 25,000 reward points. That’s a $250 credit towards travel.

You can also earn 1.5 points per dollar spent with this card and a 10% bonus if you have a Bank of America checking or savings account.

also :

• No annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.
• 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After that, a variable APR of 18.24% - 28.24% applies.
• Preferred Rewards members can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase.
• Contactless chip technology and digital wallet capabilities.
• No blackout dates, points don't expire. Redeem for statement credits toward travel, dining, vacation packages, etc.

Journey Student Rewards From Capital One

Based on the Capital One website, here's a comparison of the SavorOne Rewards for Students card and the Quicksilver Rewards for Students card:

The SavorOne Rewards card offers 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and grocery stores, plus 1% on other purchases. The Quicksilver Rewards card provides a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. 

Both cards have no annual fee. They also come with the same new cardholder bonus of $50 after spending $100 in the first 3 months.

A key difference is that SavorOne has bonus categories to earn a higher 3% cash-back rate, while Quicksilver earns an unlimited 1.5% on every single purchase. 

The SavorOne could be better if you spend a lot in the bonus categories. But the Quicksilver is simpler since you earn 1.5% cash back on everything without tracking categories. Both are solid options for students looking to build credit and earn rewards.

Discover It Student Chrome

The Discover it Student Chrome card is a student credit card with no annual fee designed to help students build a credit history. It offers 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 combined per quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no limit on how much total cashback can be earned. Discover matches all cash back earned in the first year.

The card has no foreign transaction fees. It provides tools to help students monitor spending and payments through the Discover mobile app. Discover reports card activity to credit bureaus to help build credit history when payments are made on time. The card is accepted at 99% of places in the U.S. that accept credit cards.

It pays to study abroad and do well academically with this card. Discover will also match all of the cash back you earn the first year. That’s extra money in your pocket to pay for study abroad expenses.

The Time of Your Life

Anyone you talk to who has taken time to study abroad will tell you that it was one of the best times of their lives. From backpacking to meeting new people in exotic places, the memories you make along the journey are priceless.

Taking the time to look at the different travel credit cards for students will leave you with more money to spend on trying new foods and that last-minute metro ride with friends.

Be smart with your money, use your credit card wisely, and enjoy every minute. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will be worth every penny.

Be sure to follow our blog for more travel advice.