Our favourite places to stay on this sleepy Cebu island.
Travellers typically don’t hold on to their cash for very long before spending it all on a seat sale, a cute hotel room, or an absolutely necessary spa retreat. Hey, we get you! And that’s how we know it’s a must to plan and manage your finances well to hit every destination on your bucket list without going broke.
One of our essentials? A good credit card. In and out of the Philippines, credit cards make spending money easier, more convenient, and more manageable on the wallet. Not to mention, making payments via credit card can be safer when you’re abroad. Plus, perks like airport lounge access, free travel insurance, discounts, and extra miles on frequent flyer programs allow us to enjoy more and spend less. (So that we can travel even more, obviously.)
If you need a little help finding the right card, we’ve got your back. Take a peek at our top 10 picks of the best travel credit cards in the Philippines for frequent travellers.
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Citi PremierMiles Card is one of the best credit cards if earning miles is your number one priority. Travellers earn one (1) PremierMile for every ₱30 they spend, and as a bonus, these PremierMiles never expire. Anytime you’re planning a trip, these PremierMiles can be converted into miles for flights on over 60 airlines around the world. They can also be converted into hotel points or cash rebates.
If you’re a big spender abroad, may be the right pick. The credit card offers surprisingly low foreign exchange rates (1.85%), making it perfect for shopping trips in other countries. Credit card holders also earn one (1) reward point for every ₱20 spent, which they can then redeem for miles, shopping credits, or gift certificates. You’ll also enjoy exclusive discounts all year round.
Meanwhile, frequent road trippers looking for credit cards in the Philippines may prefer the BPI Petron Mastercard to get 3% fuel rebates at Petron.
Travellers will have a couple of credit cards to choose from at UnionBank. Out of all the options, we’d recommend to make the most of the bank’s fully-loaded travel program. Local travellers even enjoy more points for travel-related expenses! UnionBank Cebu Pacific Gold and UnionBank Cebu Pacific Platinum are both solid options, too, especially if you’re a frequent Cebu Pacific flyer.
Fans of cashbacks won’t be disappointed with HSBC Platinum Visa Rebate Credit Card. Expect high year-round rebates; for essential travel and shopping expenses, you’ll get an impressive 5% cashback. Even your gas money will earn you cashbacks! It’s also ideal for travellers who prefer road trips, with year-round rebates on Caltex fuel purchases.
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Look no further than to rake in the miles — specifically, KrisFlyer miles. It has a relatively high annual income requirement, but if you can afford it, this Mastercard is definitely one of the best travel credit cards in the Philippines. Thanks to the generous spend-to-miles conversion rate of EastWest, travellers can earn a bunch of miles quickly and travel more as a result. The low foreign currency conversion fee (1.70%) is also a plus.
Fly Philippine Airlines often? Then you’ll appreciate the . As the name suggests, this credit card is designed to maximise your purchases and earn as many Mabuhay Miles as possible to take you around the world. It has a pretty steep income requirement, but if you missed the mark, go for other traveller-friendly PNB-PAL credit cards: PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles NOW Mastercard or PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles Platinum Mastercard.
With an extremely low spend-to-miles conversion, makes it extra easy for you to collect rewards points that you can redeem as miles. It’s the main draw of this credit card, although Mastercard’s other perks like concierge services and lounge access are also welcome — it’ll definitely make you feel like you’re a VIP while soaring the skies.
RCBC AirAsia Credit Card is your ticket to flying non-stop on the budget airline AirAsia. This co-branded credit card lets you haul in the miles without spending too much. Moreover, cardholders get dibs on exclusive AirAsia rewards and Final Call sales and deals every quarter. And even better, it has one of the lowest minimum income requirements, so it’s accessible even to travellers on a strict budget.
Also read: How to Ditch the Travel Itch When You’re Too Broke to Book a Flight
Featuring the lowest spend-to-mile conversion on this list, Metrobank is undoubtedly among the credit cards in the Philippines that travellers should consider. Great benefits like unlimited lounge access and premium customer service make it even more appealing to travellers who spend most of their time on the go.
If you’ve ever dreamed of swiping your AmEx in your globe-trotting adventures, now’s your chance. Get your and unlock an array of benefits, including earning Asia Miles instantly upon using your card. High flyers can opt for Cathay Pacific American Express Elite Credit Card for an even more premium experience.
It goes without saying that the best travel credit cards in the Philippines should make it easier for cardholders to accumulate air miles. With the BPI Platinum Rewards Mastercard, you can earn BPI points faster and redeem rewards of your choice. Use your accumulated, non-expiring points to redeem a wide selection of rewards like shopping credits, shopping electronic gift cards (eGCs), dining eGCs, or miles!
At a glance:
Love dining out? Be a mile closer to your free trip with the BDO Diners Club Premiere Credit Card! This travel credit card doubles your travel miles when you use it on all your dining transactions, local and overseas. Not only that, but you’ll get exclusive access to a range of benefits and deals that’ll let you jet-set with confidence!
At a glance:
Elevate your adventures across the globe with the Citi Prestige Credit Card! Get rewarded with every purchase you make and accumulate one ThankYou Point for every ₱30 spent. That said, you can get five times points when you shop, dine, and spend when you travel. Additionally, you can easily transfer ThankYou Points to participating travel loyalty programs for as low as three (3) points to one (1) air mile or hotel point!
At a glance:
Lastly, the BDO American Express Explorer Credit Card lets you explore the world faster by rewarding you with more miles for every Peso spent. With a travel credit card like this one, you can earn one (1) Membership Rewards Point for every ₱40 spent, which you can redeem for air miles across six airline loyalty program partners. The best part? You’ll earn 2,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points upon your BDO AmEx Explorer Credit Card anniversary when you spend ₱600,000 per annum!
At a glance:
Also read: Bank Transfer Fees + Online Banks With No Bank Charges
Do you have a credit card you use specifically for travel? Let us know what other credit cards in the Philippines you find handy to tote around during your trips!
Featured image credited to manusapon kasosod via Canva Pro.
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