What’s the best thing about starting a new year? A new round of travel credits from our favorite rewards cards – that’s what. Between Amex Platinum, Citi Prestige, Ritz Carlton, and of course the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, a ton of the best cards offer annual travel credits good for various travel expenses.
One of my favorites is the $300 travel credit both my husband and I get from our Ritz Carlton credit cards. Why? Because you can use it in more than one way, and the rules aren’t as strict as Amex Platinum’s travel credit, for example.
How Can You Use the Ritz Carlton Travel Credit?
The current offer on this card lets you earn 2 free nights at a Category 1-4 Ritz Carlton property after spending $4,000 on your card within three months of account opening (there’s also an offer for 3 free nights floating around). On top of that, you’ll get a $300 travel credit to use each year.
Here’s how Chase describes the travel credit on the offer page:
“Enjoy a $300 annual travel credit to use for baggage fees, seat upgrades, access to your preferred airport lounge and more.”
In other words, the travel credit is good for:
- Baggage fees
- Seat upgrades
- Airport lounge access
- On-board meals and drinks
- In-flight wifi and entertainment fees
Word on the street is that you may be able to buy gift cards directly from airlines and get reimbursed, but that’s a YMMV situation for sure.
The Best Ways to Use Your Ritz Carlton Credit
So, what’s the best way to use the travel credits on your Ritz Carlton credit card? It really depends on your travel style and goals.
I will tell you that, as soon as the new year hit, I went ahead and booked two different reservations for Club Mobay (a VIP arrival and lounge service in Jamaica) for 2017. Since I value not waiting in line for three hours at the Montego Bay airport, I thought this was a great use of points for me. Keep in mind, the Ritz Carlton credit card does offer Priority Pass lounge access, but this is not a regular lounge.
When you book Club Mobay, a person meets you at the gate with a sign and walks you through a special customs and immigration line, then helps you to a lounge with food and booze while you wait for your ride. It’s awesome, and I highly recommend it (especially if you’re not really paying for it).
On my husband’s card, I upgraded the last one of us for a Delta Comfort seat for our Fall break trip to Spain later this year. Again, this is because I value having four extra inches of leg room on an overnight flight.
Final Thoughts
You can use your credits however you want, but I would suggest you use them for something you wouldn’t pay for otherwise – or a perk that feels especially valuable to you. Where it might be lounge access for one person, it might be seat upgrades or a ton of airplane food for somebody else.
Just remember that, like other travel credits, you’ll lose it if you don’t use it. If you have the Ritz Carlton credit card, I suggest hatching a plan to make the most of your travel credit right away.
How do you use your Ritz Carlton travel credit?