Having poor credit or no credit doesn’t mean you never travel or that you couldn’t benefit from a quality credit card when you take your trips. In fact, responsibly using a credit card, whether traveling or staying home, is one of the best ways to improve your credit score.
Your poor credit, however, will likely keep you from qualifying for the top travel rewards cards out there. Even so, you can still benefit from the security, perks and, yes, even rewards, that some cards offer to people with less-than-stellar credit.
An excellent place to start is with a secured credit card that reports to the three major credit bureaus. With a secured card, your security deposit – commonly a minimum of $200 – usually determines your credit limit. If you want to increase your credit limit, you need to increase your security deposit.
Your primary goal when looking to improve your credit from the poor/limited level is to show a pattern of responsible card use and payment. That means sticking to a budget and always paying off the card balance in full each billing cycle.
That said, there are some added benefits and factors to consider.
Secured cards offer the same protections afforded traditional, unsecured credit cards in terms of fraud protection and ease of use. Since you want to travel with your card, you also want to consider things like whether the card charges foreign transaction fees (none of the cards on this list do) and if its widely accepted abroad.
Lastly, you can earn rewards with a credit card for poor/limited credit; you just have to know where to look. Fortunately, CardRatings has done the research and put together the following list of the best travel credit cards for bad credit.
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Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards for bad credit
How to get a travel credit card with bad credit
To get a travel credit card with bad credit, your best option is typically a secured credit card that offers rewards. These cards require a deposit and help build your credit score with responsible use, eventually allowing you to qualify for better travel rewards cards. Focus on improving your credit first, as premium travel cards require good to excellent credit.
How can I build credit to qualify for better travel credit cards?
To qualify for better travel credit cards, focus on improving your credit score. Key steps include:
- Pay bills on time: Payment history is the most crucial factor. Set up automatic payments to avoid missing due dates.
- Keep credit utilization low: Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit (e.g., if you have a $1,000 limit, keep your balance under $300).
- Maintain a long credit history: Don’t close old credit accounts, as the length of your credit history impacts your score.
- Diversify credit mix: Having a mix of credit types (e.g., a credit card and a small loan) can be beneficial.
- Limit new applications: Each new credit application results in a “hard inquiry” which can temporarily ding your score.
Start with a secured credit card or a card for fair credit if needed, use it responsibly, and your score should gradually improve, opening doors to better travel rewards cards.
How long does it take to improve credit enough to qualify for a travel card?
Improving your credit to qualify for a travel card generally takes at least 6-12 months of responsible credit behavior, and often longer to reach the “good” or “excellent” score ranges (typically 670+ FICO).
The exact time depends on your starting point and consistency. Paying bills on time and keeping credit utilization low are the fastest ways to see improvement, but a longer credit history also plays a significant role.
