Travel credit cards are a great way to earn points for money spent on flights, hotel rooms and other travel-related expenses.

If you’re looking for a no-fuss travel card that earns rewards on a plethora of purchases, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card does just that—earning you 1.5X points for every purchase made with the card.

To find out more about what makes the Bank of America Travel Rewards card stand out, we interviewed Kelli Lovett, author of the travel blog, The Vanabond Tales. She’s been using this card since 2018 while traveling full-time. Keep reading to learn about her favorite features and perks.

No annual fees

Many rewards credit cards charge an annual fee just for being a cardholder, though some cards will waive this fee for the first year. Depending on the card, annual fees can range from $95 to more than $500.

Lovett likes the Bank of America Travel Rewards card because it forgoes an annual fee.

“The Bank of America card is a great introductory travel rewards card without an annual fee,” says Lovett.

The lack of an annual fee means you can maximize your travel rewards without having to justify the cost of a high, yearly charge.

Welcome offer and intro APR

If you’re new to the Bank of America Travel Rewards card, you’ll want to take advantage of the welcome offer. If you spend at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening, you can earn 25,000 bonus points. These points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit to be used toward travel purchases.

Further, new cardholders receive a 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% – 26.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers.

This offer can help you pay off a large purchase over time without interest.

Flexible rewards

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card earns you 1.5X points on every purchase (which includes travel). Further, when you book travel and make other purchases through the Bank of America Travel Center, in particular, you can earn 3X points for those purchases (except insurance). Your Bank of America Travel Rewards points don’t expire, and there are no limits on the amount of rewards you can earn.

As a travel card earning points on every purchase, this Bank of America credit card works well for cardholders who value simplicity and versatility.

“Based on my experience, travel seems to be defined as anything you purchase while not in your home area,” says Lovett. “Being on the road most of the last three years means that almost all of my purchases qualify as travel… for which I can claim a $25 statement credit for 2,500 points earned.”

Preferred Rewards members earn more

Lovett likes that she can earn higher rewards rates as a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member. “… you can also earn between 25 percent to 75 percent more points on every dollar spent, which adds up quickly.”

The Preferred Rewards program has five different tiers—Gold, Platinum, Platinum Honors, Diamond and Diamond Honors. Gold members can earn a 25 percent rewards bonus on eligible purchases, Platinum members can earn a 50 percent bonus and Platinum Honors, Diamond and Diamond Honors can earn a 75 percent bonus.

Further, Bank of America reviews your balances each month to see if you’re eligible for a higher tier. If you qualify, you’ll automatically be moved into the next tier.

Great for international travel

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent option for international travel. Other cards charge foreign transaction fees between 1 percent and 3 percent of each purchase.

That’s one of the reasons Lovett uses this card primarily for international travel.

“Being a Visa card, you can use the card almost anywhere in the world, unlike other [credit card networks].”

Overnight card replacement

As a Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card holder, Bank of America will overnight you a new credit card if your current card is lost or stolen. Lovett says this is one of her favorite features.

“On multiple occasions, I have needed a new card,” says Lovett. “Bank of America overnights one to whatever address that I am currently located at so that I am not stranded without a means of payment.”

In comparison, she’s had other credit card companies take weeks to send a new replacement card.

The bottom line

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is worth it for anyone wanting a straightforward way to earn travel rewards. There are no limits on the amount of points you can earn as well as no annual fee. You can redeem your points for gift cards, cash back or a statement credit to cover past travel and dining-related purchases.

New cardholders can also take advantage of an introductory zero-interest offer on new purchases and a favorable 25,000-point sign-up bonus (earned after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days).

Before you apply, be sure to compare this card to other popular travel credit cards so you can find the option that’s best for your spending style.

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card was last updated on August 23, 2022.