Spring break savings

Tap your credit cards for sweet deals

If you’ve been stuck in that familiar post-holidays, pre-summer travel dry spell, chances are you’ve had your spring break dates circled on the calendar for some time. You’ve likely already set your destination and bought your tickets, but there are still ways you can save money on your trip, especially if you have the right credit card.

1 No foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, generally 1 to 3 percent of each purchase, every time you use them internationally. If you charged $2,500 on a credit card with a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, it would cost you an additional $75. “My husband’s family is from Canada,” says Kimberly Tate, mother of two and blogger at Stuffed Suitcase. “The first trip we ever went up there, we had a card that didn’t have the no foreign transaction fees, and we were just shocked.”

2 Checked bags or travel credits

Airline credit cards and premium travel credit cards typically charge annual fees, but you can offset that cost if the card offers free checked bags or travel credits. If you’re loyal to one airline, your airline credit card can save about $25 on checked bag fees each way. That’s $50 round trip, and potentially more if the card offers free checked bags for travel companions. For frequent travelers, the savings outweigh the annual fee. Premium travel credit cards can offer annual travel credits that may include checked bags, airfare, in-flight purchases and more.

3 Airport lounge access

Instead of splurging on meals at the airport, see whether your credit card offers airport lounge access. If so, you may have access to complimentary meals, beverages, Wi-Fi, even a shower, depending on the lounge. “If you’re someone like me that travels all the time, and you add up the meals that you get at the lounges, it does end up saving you money,” says Anisa Alhilali, who lives in Norwich, England, and runs the blog Two Traveling Texans.

4 TSA precheck or global entry credit

If time is money, find out whether your credit card will reimburse you the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry programs. These programs can offer faster clearance through airport screening, and some cards offer application credits of up to $100. TSA PreCheck gives you access to special security lanes at 200 airports nationwide. Global Entry gives you the same benefits as TSA PreCheck, plus expedited customs screening when you’re re-entering the U.S.