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.
Also read: Ready for Revenge Travel? Even Better With Money Back — Here’s How!
1. Citi PremierMiles Card
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.
At a glance:
- Points/Miles: 1 PremierMile for every ₱30 spend
- Insurance Coverage: Up to ₱1 million
- Airport Lounge Access: VIP lounge access in local and international airports
- Other Perks: Welcome gift of 30,000 never-expiring miles
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱5,000 (first year free)
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱360,000 per year
2. BPI Visa Signature Card
If you’re a big spender abroad, BPI Visa Signature Card 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.
At a glance:
- Points/Miles: 1 point every ₱20 spend (can be converted into miles)
- Insurance: Up to ₱20 million
- Lounge Access: Access to Pacific Club Lounge at NAIA 3
- Other Perks: Ayala Rewards Circle membership
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱5,500 (first year free)
- Interest Fee: 1.82%
- Income Requirement: ₱960,000 per year
3. UnionBank Miles+ Platinum Visa Card
Travellers will have a couple of credit cards to choose from at UnionBank. Out of all the options, we’d recommend UnionBank Miles+ Platinum Visa Card 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.
At a glance:
- Points/Miles: 1 point every ₱25 spend; 1.5 points every ₱25 travel-related spend (can be converted into miles)
- Insurance: Up to ₱10 million
- Lounge Access: Access to lounges in NAIA 1 and 3
- Other Perks: Visa payWave experience
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱3,000
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱600,000 per year
4. HSBC Platinum Visa Rebate Credit Card
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.
At a glance:
- Rebates: 5% on shopping and travel, 1% on insurance, and 0.50% on all other transactions
- Insurance: Purchase Protect insurance
- Lounge Access: N/A
- Other Perks: 3% rebate on Caltex fuel year-round
- Annual Membership Fee: Free (until 31 Dec 2022)
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱500,000
Also read: Here’s Why We Should Shift Towards Cashless Payments
5. EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Platinum Mastercard
Look no further than EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Platinum Mastercard 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.
At a glance:
- Miles: 3 KrisFlyer miles for every ₱45 Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and KrisShop spend; 3 KrisFlyer miles for every ₱45 international/cross-border, travel agency, hotel, online, and international cash advance; 1 KrisFlyer mile for every ₱45 local spend
- Insurance: Up to ₱20 million
- Lounge Access: Priority Pass membership for access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- Other Perks: Welcome gift of 5,000 KrisFlyer miles; Priceless Cities Program
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱4,000
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱1,200,000 per year
6. PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles World Mastercard
Fly Philippine Airlines often? Then you’ll appreciate the PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles World Mastercard. 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.
At a glance:
- Points/Miles: 1 Mabuhay Mile every ₱30-55 spend
- Insurance: Up to ₱10 million
- Lounge Access: 1 free lounge access per year with Mastercard Airport Experiences
- Other Perks: Welcome gift of 2,000 Mabuhay Miles, World Assist concierge service, Priority Check-in at PAL Business Class Counters
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱6,000
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱2,400,000 per year
7. Security Bank Platinum Mastercard
With an extremely low spend-to-miles conversion, Security Bank Platinum Mastercard 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.
At a glance:
- Points/Miles: 1 point every ₱20 spend (can be converted into miles)
- Insurance: Up to ₱10 million
- Lounge Access: 2 free lounge access per year in more than 1,000 lounges worldwide via LoungeKey; Unlimited access to Marhaba Lounge Terminal 1 and 3
- Other Perks: Mastercard concierge services
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱4,000
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱780,000 per year
8. RCBC AirAsia Credit Card
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.
At a glance:
- Miles: 1 airasia point every ₱22-25 spend
- Insurance: N/A
- Lounge Access: Access to airport lounges worldwide
- Other Perks: Welcome gift of up to 8,000 airasia points; Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage pick-up
- Membership Fee: ₱300 per month
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱250,000
Also read: How to Ditch the Travel Itch When You’re Too Broke to Book a Flight
9. Metrobank Travel Platinum Visa
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.
At a glance:
- Miles: 1 mile every ₱17 spend on airlines, hotels, and foreign currency transactions; 1 mile per ₱50 spend on other categories
- Insurance: Up to ₱5 million
- Lounge Access: Unlimited access to more than 950 airport lounges worldwide
- Other Perks: 24-hour concierge service
- Annual Membership Fee: ₱5,000
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱700,000
10. Cathay Pacific American Express Credit Card
If you’ve ever dreamed of swiping your AmEx in your globe-trotting adventures, now’s your chance. Get your Cathay Pacific American Express Credit Card 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.
At a glance:
- Miles: 1 Asia Mile every ₱42 spend locally or overseas; 2 Asia Miles every ₱42 spend on Cathay Pacific
- Insurance: Up to ₱10 million
- Lounge Access: Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world
- Other Perks: Free Marco Polo Club membership, 24/7 Global Travel Assistance
- Membership Fee: ₱200 per month
- Interest Fee: 2%
- Income Requirement: ₱1,200,000 per year
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.
