Is an Annual Fee Travel Card Worth It? A Guide for Occasional Flyers

Is an Annual Fee Travel Card Worth It? A Guide for Occasional Flyers

Author: NerdWallet Personal Finance July 27, 2026 Duration: 38:54
Learn how to decide if a travel card's annual fee is worth it and which card suits occasional flyers. What does it take for a travel credit card's annual fee to actually pay off? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola help listener Lacey understand whether annual fees would be worth her paying for premium travel credit cards, despite only flying home a few times a year. Sally French, travel credit card expert and co-host of the Smart Travel podcast, joins to walk through the cards Lacey already carries and explains what to consider before committing to any annual-fee card. She also discusses why transfer partners matter for cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the single gut-check question to ask yourself before signing up for any annual-fee card. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards Delta SkyMiles Gold AmEx Review: Pricey for What You Get Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Review: Choose Your Own Bonus Category World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost American Express Gold Card Review: Friendly for Foodies, Families Apple Card Review: Extra Rewarding for Apple Fans Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header  Smart Money’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@nerdwalletsmartmoney To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money can feel complicated, but it doesn't have to be a source of constant stress. On NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast, the team of experienced personal finance journalists from NerdWallet takes the questions you're actually asking and turns them into a straightforward conversation. You'll hear them unpack the nuances of everyday financial choices, from figuring out the right way to budget for an irregular income to demystifying how to start investing without a huge sum of money. They tackle everything-credit card strategies, the true costs of homeownership, and effective saving techniques-by cutting through the noise and popular myths. Every discussion is rooted in careful research and a practical understanding of how people live their lives, ensuring the advice you get is both credible and immediately useful. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting reliable guidance from a knowledgeable friend who wants you to succeed. Each episode leaves you with a clearer perspective and concrete steps you can take to feel more in control of your financial future, building confidence one decision at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How to Put $200K to Work and The Truth About Generational Spending [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:30
Learn what generational spending data reveals and what to do when fear is keeping $200K in savings from growing. What do the stereotypes about each generation's finances actually get wrong? Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabet…
Renting vs Buying A Home (When You're A High Earner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:06
Learn what really goes into the rent versus buy decision beyond comparing your mortgage to a rent check. In this special episode, Your Next Dollar host Andrew Giancola walks through a step-by-step total cost of ownership…
Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:46
Meet Your Next Dollar, a new podcast from NerdWallet Wealth Partners. This is the podcast for you if you are a high earner learning how to build wealth, navigate money trade-offs, and spend on what you actually value. Fo…