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For American travellers looking to save on holiday travel, selecting the right credit card can significantly reduce costs through rewards, discounts, and travel perks. Based on the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle-class income (two-thirds to double the median household income, roughly $48,000–$145,000 for a household in 2023, varying by state), and assuming lower-middle-class households earn closer to the lower end (e.g., $48,000–$80,000), I’ve identified credit cards and deals that align with their spending habits and financial constraints. These cards prioritize low or no annual fees, accessible rewards, and practical travel benefits, focusing on airfare, hotels, and related expenses. All recommendations are tailored for international holiday travel, given the context of your previous question about tourism, and are based on data from 2023–2025 (e.g., NerdWallet, CNBC, Forbes). I’ve also considered cards with reasonable credit score requirements (typically 650–700) to ensure accessibility.

Key Assumptions:

• Spending Profile: Middle-class households spend ~$5,000–$10,000 annually on credit cards, with $1,000–$2,000 on travel-related expenses (flights, hotels, dining). Lower-middle-class households spend ~$3,000–$6,000, with $500–$1,000 on travel.
• Goals: Maximize savings on flights and hotels, avoid high annual fees, and leverage welcome bonuses and rewards.
• Credit Score: Good to fair (650–700), as premium cards requiring excellent credit (720+) may be out of reach.
• Travel: Focus on international holiday travel (e.g., Europe, Caribbean, Asia), but domestic deals are noted where relevant.

Best Credit Cards and Deals for Middle-Class and Lower-Middle-Class Travelers

1. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

• Best For: No-fee card with versatile travel rewards.
• Annual Fee: $0.
• Welcome Bonus: 20,000 points ($200 cash value) after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.
• Rewards:
• • 3x points on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals), dining, gas, transit.
  • 1x points on other purchases.
  • Points redeemable for travel at 1 cent each or through travel partners.
• Travel Perks:
• • $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases ($50+), covering baggage fees or tickets.
  • Cell phone protection (up to $1,000, $25 deductible).
  • Visa Signature® Concierge and Luxury Hotel Collection: $25 dining credit, room upgrades, late checkout at 900+ hotels (e.g., Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt).
• Savings Example (Middle-Class Household, $8,000 annual spend, $1,500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $200 toward a flight (e.g., $200 off a $400 ticket to Mexico).
  • Rewards: $1,500 travel x 3x = 4,500 points ($45); $6,500 other x 1x = 6,500 points ($65). Total: $110/year.
  • Airfare Credit: $50/year.
  • Hotel Perks: $25 dining credit + potential $50–$100 room upgrade value per stay.
  • Total Savings: ~$430 first year, ~$230/year ongoing.
• Lower-Middle-Class Fit ($4,000 spend, $500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $200 (achievable with lower spend).
  • Rewards: $500 travel x 3x = 1,500 points ($15); $3,500 other x 1x = 3,500 points ($35). Total: $50/year.
  • Airfare Credit: $50/year.
  • Total Savings: ~$300 first year, ~$100/year ongoing.
• Why It Works: No annual fee and a low spending threshold for the bonus make it ideal for both groups. The airfare credit and hotel perks add value for occasional international travelers (e.g., Caribbean or Europe).

2. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Best For: Low-fee card with flexible miles for international flights.
• Annual Fee: $0.
• Welcome Bonus: 20,000 miles ($200 travel value) after spending $500 in 3 months.
• Rewards:
• • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • 1.25x miles on all other purchases.
  • Miles transferable to 15+ airline partners (e.g., Air France-KLM, Singapore Airlines) at 1:1 ratio, ideal for international flights.
• Travel Perks:
• • No foreign transaction fees (saves 3% on overseas purchases).
  • Travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
• Savings Example (Middle-Class, $8,000 spend, $1,500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: 20,000 miles = $200 or a one-way economy ticket to Europe (e.g., 17,500 miles via Air France-KLM).
  • Rewards: $1,000 hotels via Capital One Travel x 5x = 5,000 miles ($50); $7,000 other x 1.25x = 8,750 miles ($87.50). Total: $137.50/year.
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $1,000 overseas spend = $30.
  • Total Savings: ~$367.50 first year, ~$167.50/year ongoing.
• Lower-Middle-Class Fit ($4,000 spend, $500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $200 (easy $500 spend requirement).
  • Rewards: $300 hotels x 5x = 1,500 miles ($15); $3,700 other x 1.25x = 4,625 miles ($46.25). Total: $61.25/year.
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $500 overseas = $15.
  • Total Savings: ~$276.25 first year, ~$76.25/year ongoing.
• Why It Works: The low bonus threshold and no-fee structure suit lower budgets. Transferable miles maximize value for international flights, and no foreign transaction fees help with overseas holidays (e.g., Asia or Latin America).

3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Best For: Middle-class travelers willing to pay a modest fee for premium rewards.
• Annual Fee: $95.
• Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points ($750 via Chase Travel) after spending $4,000 in 3 months.
• Rewards:
• • 5x points on travel via Chase Travel, 3x on dining, select streaming, online groceries.
  • 2x on other travel, 1x on other purchases.
  • 25% bonus on travel redemptions via Chase Travel (points worth 1.25 cents each).
  • Transferable to 10+ airline partners (e.g., British Airways, United) at 1:1.
• Travel Perks:
• • $50 annual hotel credit via Chase Travel.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision waiver.
  • 10% anniversary points bonus based on spending.
• Savings Example (Middle-Class, $8,000 spend, $1,500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $750 via Chase Travel (e.g., round-trip to Europe or 60,000-mile transfer for business class to Caribbean).
  • Rewards: $1,000 travel via Chase x 5x = 5,000 points ($62.50); $500 dining x 3x = 1,500 points ($18.75); $6,500 other x 1x = 6,500 points ($81.25). Total: $162.50/year.
  • Hotel Credit: $50/year.
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $1,000 = $30.
  • Anniversary Bonus: 10% of $8,000 = 800 points ($10).
  • Total Savings: ~$1,002.50 first year, ~$252.50/year ongoing (net ~$157.50 after fee).
• Lower-Middle-Class Fit ($4,000 spend, $500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $750 (may be harder to hit $4,000 spend).
  • Rewards: $300 travel via Chase x 5x = 1,500 points ($18.75); $200 dining x 3x = 600 points ($7.50); $3,500 other x 1x = 3,500 points ($43.75). Total: $70/year.
  • Hotel Credit: $50/year.
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $500 = $15.
  • Anniversary Bonus: 10% of $4,000 = 400 points ($5).
  • Total Savings: ~$890 first year, ~$140/year ongoing (net ~$45 after fee).
• Why It Works: The high welcome bonus and transfer partners offer huge value for international trips (e.g., Europe economy for 22,500 points via British Airways). The $95 fee is manageable for middle-class budgets but may strain lower-middle-class households unless travel is frequent.

4. Citi Double Cash® Card

• Best For: Lower-middle-class travelers seeking simple cash back for travel.
• Annual Fee: $0.
• Welcome Bonus: $200 cash back (20,000 ThankYou points) after $1,500 spend in 6 months.
• Rewards:
• • 2% cash back on all purchases (1% at purchase, 1% when paid off).
  • Convertible to ThankYou points, transferable to airline partners (e.g., Etihad, JetBlue).
• Travel Perks: No foreign transaction fees.
• Savings Example (Middle-Class, $8,000 spend, $1,500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $200 (covers half a $400 ticket to Mexico).
  • Rewards: 2% x $8,000 = $160/year (cash or points for travel).
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $1,000 = $30.
  • Total Savings: ~$390 first year, ~$190/year ongoing.
• Lower-Middle-Class Fit ($4,000 spend, $500 travel):
• • Welcome Bonus: $200 (manageable $1,500 spend).
  • Rewards: 2% x $4,000 = $80/year.
  • Foreign Transaction Savings: 3% x $500 = $15.
  • Total Savings: ~$295 first year, ~$95/year ongoing.
• Why It Works: Simple 2% cash back is versatile for travel or other expenses, and no fee suits tight budgets. Points can stretch further with airline transfers (e.g., 20,000 points for a JetBlue flight).

Additional Tips for Maximizing Savings

• Book Strategically: Use card portals (e.g., Chase Travel, Capital One Travel) for bonus rewards or transfer points to airline partners for high-value international redemptions (e.g., 17,000 miles for Iberia economy to Spain).
• Join Loyalty Programs: Enroll in airline (e.g., United MileagePlus) or hotel (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy) programs to stack rewards with card points. Free nights or flights amplify savings.
• Avoid Interest: Pay balances in full to avoid high APRs (15–25%), which negate rewards. If carrying a balance, prioritize no-fee cards like Citi Double Cash.
• Flexible Travel Dates: Middle-class travelers can save by booking off-peak (e.g., spring/fall for Europe) or using points for dynamic pricing.
• Check Restrictions: Some perks (e.g., hotel upgrades) have blackout dates or require specific booking channels. Review terms to ensure usability.

Summary of Savings

Recommendations

• Lower-Middle-Class: Prioritize Wells Fargo Autograph or Citi Double Cash for no fees, easy bonuses, and flexible rewards. These cards offer $295–$300 in first-year savings, covering a significant portion of a budget international flight (e.g., $300–$400 to Latin America).
• Middle-Class: Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred for high-value bonuses and transfer partners, yielding ~$1,000 in first-year savings, enough for a round-trip to Europe or Asia. Alternatively, Capital One VentureOne is a no-fee option with strong international flexibility.
• Best Overall Deal: Chase Sapphire Preferred offers the highest first-year savings ($1,002.50 for middle-class), but Wells Fargo Autograph is the best no-fee option for both groups, balancing savings and accessibility.

Notes

• Data Sources: Savings estimates are based on spending assumptions, card terms from NerdWallet, Forbes, and CNBC, and travel redemption values from 2023–2025.
• Credit Requirements: All cards require good credit (650–700), accessible for most middle-class households but potentially challenging for some lower-middle-class applicants with limited credit history.
• International Focus: Savings prioritize international travel (e.g., flights to Europe, Asia, Caribbean), but cards also work for domestic trips.
• Critical Note: Always verify current offers, as bonuses and terms change. Avoid cards if you can’t pay balances in full, as interest erodes savings.