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Bank of America Travel Rewards Review: A Solid Travel Card With a Big Bonus

Review Updated
Elizabeth Aldrich
Robin Hartill, CFP
By: Elizabeth Aldrich and Robin Hartill, CFP

Our Credit Cards Experts

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card isn't a perfect card for everyone, but it's quite competitive in a crowded field. In fact, Bank of America credit cards often find their way into many people's wallets, thanks to the bank's size and coverage area. This specific card offers a lot to like, particularly for its target no annual fee audience. Find out more details in our Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review below.

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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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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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)
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, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

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

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards

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 per dollar 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 for 15 billing cycles for purchases offer 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 18.24% - 28.24% 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.

Full Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review

This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who want a no annual fee travel card. Bank of America clients can earn bonus rewards if they meet balance minimums in their banking or investment accounts.

Top perks

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comes with a variety of desirable features.

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

Alternatives to consider

If you travel more than a couple of times per year: You might want to consider the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. This card charges a $95 annual fee but offers a higher rewards rate on travel and dining, as well as a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points points.

If you want to earn bonus points on travel, groceries, select streaming services, and dining: Another great option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases. It also comes with a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points. Points can be transferred to many travel partners.

LEARN MORE: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

As of Nov. 27, 2023
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card Chase Sapphire Preferred® 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
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 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

Credit Rating Requirement: 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)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: 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)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: 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)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

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

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

60,000 points

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

Rewards Program:

1.5 points per dollar

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 2 points per dollar on travel & dining purchases, unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases, 25%-75% more points for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members

1.5 - 2 points per dollar

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

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, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

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

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Regular APR:

20.24% - 27.24% (Variable)

Regular APR:

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Annual Fee: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$95

Highlights:

  • 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 18.24% - 28.24% 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.

Highlights:

  • Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5-3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87-2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
  • Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
  • Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
  • Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Low $95 annual fee.
  • 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.

Highlights:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC
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What could be improved

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card falls short in a couple obvious areas.

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 2 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.

Clumsy points redemption

It takes some hunting around Bank of America's site to find the redemption options, and even then it isn't 100% clear how to redeem points. Some cardholders may have to resort to calling the bank's customer service line for clarification on how to redeem points. An intuitive online redemption process would be preferable.

Find the best credit card for your needs

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

Suggested 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

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is right for you if:

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is best 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 also very well suited to existing Bank of America customers, especially if they are enrolled in one of the Preferred Rewards programs. You won't find a no annual fee travel card that offers such a lucrative earnings rate for the highest Preferred Rewards tiers, nor will you find many competing cards with such a long intro APR offer.

Keep reading: Best Credit Cards

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.

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