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Bank of America Travel Rewards Review: A Solid Travel Card for Beginners

Review Updated
Elizabeth Aldrich
Robin Hartill, CFP
By: Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.

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 and  Robin Hartill, CFP
Robin Hartill, CFP
Robin Hartill, CFP
Writer

Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column. She is based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Nathan Alderman
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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is good for occasional travelers looking for a good travel credit card with no annual fee. The intro bonus is one of the biggest in the no annual fee category, and it's well-suited to existing Bank of America customers, especially if they are enrolled in one of the Preferred Rewards programs.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card isn't a perfect card for everyone, but it's quite competitive in a crowded field. Find out more details in our Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review below.

Ratings Methodology

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

1.5 points per dollar

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

25,000 points

  • This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5% points on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier).

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • No annual fee
    • Competitive rewards rate on purchases
    • Great 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
    • Limited ways to use points
    • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
    • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
    • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
    • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
    • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
    • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
    • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
    • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
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Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Bank of America Travel Rewards card review

Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it?

You can find travel credit cards with more generous rewards for big spenders, as well as flashier spending bonuses. However, these cards often have an annual fee of several hundred dollars. One big advantage of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is that there's no annual fee, plus the welcome bonus is fairly easy to earn.

Perks aren't linked to any specific hotel or airline, so the card is worth considering if you aren't loyal to any particular chain or carrier.

Author's personal experience

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is the oldest travel card in my wallet. I wasn't a big traveler in the past, but it seemed like a good idea because it doesn't charge an annual fee and it has a decent welcome bonus that's fairly easy to earn.

I've never liked juggling rotating bonus categories, so I appreciate that the card gives you points on spend with no limits and redemption is straightforward.

Now that I travel more, I've found other cards that provide more lucrative rewards. But I still hang onto (it) because no foreign transaction fees are a good thing to have when you travel abroad.

What everyone else is saying

Individual experiences with any given credit card will vary, so it's important to get multiple perspectives before you apply. Check out what others are saying about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.

What other review sites say

Average rating: 3.6 / 5.0 stars

Some of our competitors like the fact that earning and redeeming points with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is pretty simple. They praise the flat rewards rate, as well as the fact that you have the flexibility to redeem points as a statement credit for a wide variety of travel and dining purchases.

However, the flat rewards rate isn't a positive for everyone, as a couple of websites list the lack of bonus categories as a con.

Another common critique is that it's surprisingly void of travel perks, given that it's a travel rewards card. Unlike many cards that cater to travelers, you won't get perks like trip cancellation and interruption insurance or a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Social media consensus

Social media generally sees the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card as a decent starter travel card, especially if you're already a BofA customer. Users like the lack of an annual fee or foreign transaction fee. But they point out that you can earn better cash back rewards and welcome bonuses elsewhere.

Bank of America Travel Rewards card features and benefits

Generous welcome offer

A sign-up bonus provides a serious head start in the points total. This card's welcome offer of 25,000 points is worth $250 for travel.

The minimum spend is low, too -- the bonus kicks in after you make at least $1,000 in qualifying purchases within 90 days of opening the account. It's worth noting that this is one of the biggest bonuses in a travel card with no annual fee.

Unlimited 1.5 points per $1

The card keeps it simple with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get 1.5 points per $1 on transactions. There are no spending caps and earning is unlimited.

No annual fee

This no annual fee credit card still offers many of the perks and features of rival cards that do charge a yearly fee.

No foreign transaction fee

Many credit cards charge an extra 3% on foreign purchases, but the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. If you plan to travel abroad with this card, this is a helpful perk that can save you money.

SEE MORE: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Up to 75% bonus for Preferred Rewards members

People loyal to Bank of America's products can earn 25% to 75% point bonuses through the Preferred Rewards program. The Preferred Rewards card bonus tiers are as follows:

  • Gold Preferred Rewards: Earn a 25% points bonus.
  • Platinum Preferred Rewards: Earn a 50% bonus.
  • Platinum Honors Preferred Rewards: Earn a 75% bonus.

Preferred Rewards program members can boost the value of their credit card rewards.

If you're eligible to earn the maximum 75% bonus, you would earn 2.62 points per $1 instead of 1.5 points per $1 with this credit card.

RELATED: Best Rewards Credit Cards

What could be improved

No bonus points for travel spending

It's unusual that a card billed as a travel rewards card doesn't offer bonus points for travel-related purchases, though this card has other perks for travelers. (The story is different with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.)

Yes, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns cash back on purchases at a flat rate, but there are no annual fee cards that feature a higher bonus rate for certain spending categories, such as groceries or travel.

Lower rewards and sign-up bonus than other cards

If you have excellent credit, you may be able to find a more generous redemption rate and sign-up bonus.

For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers an unlimited 2X miles per $1 spent, plus a welcome bonus of 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 during the first 3 months. Though the card charges a $95 annual fee, frequent travelers may find the fee is worth it.

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit score

Users report that good to excellent credit is required to obtain this Bank of America card, so you should have a FICO® Score of at least 670 before applying. That said, approval is never guaranteed no matter your score, and some consumers with lower scores may still be able to qualify for this card.

READ MORE: Best Bank of America Credit Cards

Pre-approval process

Bank of America's website has a credit card screening tool that provides customized offers when you provide a few details, like your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Using the tool won't result in a hard pull on your credit, so you don't have to worry about dinging your credit score.

Intro APR

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card has an intro APR offer for both new purchases and balance transfers. Cardholders can get a 0% APR on new purchases for 15 billing cycles. After that, the standard 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR kicks in.

For balance transfers, a 0% intro APR applies for the first 15 billing cycles after you initiate the transfer. A balance transfer fee applies.

Fees

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%

Credit limit

Bank of America doesn't publish credit limits on its website, but many users report that they were approved for a limit right around $10,000. Some users report credit limits well above $30,000, though. Bank of America allows cardholders to request a credit limit increase online or by phone.

KEEP READING: Best Credit Cards

Should you apply for the Bank of America Travel Rewards card?

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good way to dip your toe into the world of travel credit cards. You don't have to be a big spender to earn the welcome bonus. Earning and redeeming points is fairly simple, plus the card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • Yes, the card offers 25,000 points online bonus points -- a $250 value -- when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account. You can redeem bonus points for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases.

  • No, this card doesn't have trip cancellation insurance.

  • Bank of America travel rewards don't expire, as long as your card account remains open and in good standing.

  • You can use Bank of America's website or call to use rewards points to offset a qualifying travel or dining purchase. Points have a 1% redemption value, so 2,500 points will equal $25. You'll need to have at least 2,500 points before you can redeem your points for a travel credit.