Many of us are ignorant about how much side benefits our daily spending can reward us because of the many complicated terms and conditions that come with signing on a credit card. But trust me, once you’ve figured out the one (or multiple) card that fits your lifestyle, you’ll wish you had started using them earlier.
Unless you are impossibly rich or are covered by your company, hardly any one of us would be willing to pay over $10,000 for a First Class seat for what may be a few hundred dollars’ worth of flight ticket.
But what if you had the opportunity of enjoying First Class without having to fork out actual money?
That is why accruing air miles on your credit cards is the way to go.
Your next question would then be: what are some of the most travel-friendly credit cards to use to convert as many dollars into air miles?
If you’re a serial traveller, or have a dream to be one, this is going to be one post that will help you re-evaluate your credit card spending with these points below.
I give you a breakdown below on the best credit cards to get the best (miles) bang for your buck with the least limitations.
Citibank PremierMiles Visa Card
With a Citibank PremierMiles Visa Card, earn 10 mpd for booking hotels online on Kaligo. What this card trumps over the other credit cards is that you don’t have to pay in foreign currency, there is no limit on spending per month, and you certainly don’t have to fully prepay your reservation online – that means you can cancel your hotel reservations anytime without incurring any charges!
Apart from hotel bookings, earn 2.4 Citi miles per S$1 overseas spend in foreign currency and 1.2 Citi miles per S$1 local spend.
1 Citi Mile = 1 Mile with KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, Royal Orchid Plus and etc.
For new customers – Get 30,000 bonus miles with an annual fee payment of $192.60 and when you spend a minimum of $7,500 within the first 3 months.
Earn 4 miles per dollar when you purchase air tickets online. Unlike other credit cards, this card doesn’t limit you to certain carriers you book with and there is no minimum monthly spending. The only drawback is that you can only spend $2K a month.
UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card
An easy go-to card for everyday spending. Earn 4 miles per dollar each time you pay with Paywave/ Samsung Pay/ Apple Pay/ Google Pay on the go. The only limit is that you can only spend up to $1000 per calendar month, except where SMART$ are issued.
BOC Elite Miles World MasterCard
Earn 5 miles per dollar on your overseas currency transactions. There is no minimum or maximum spending, so this is one convenient card you can carry around while travelling and not have to worry about using to shop overseas!
Owning a credit card is something that most Singaporeans have for its benefits, but how do you know that you are getting the most bang for your buck with that movie deal or that buffet dinner? With the plethora of credit cards in the market, finding a suitable credit card for your lifestyle needs may be daunting. Therefore, we have rounded up the best credit cards for you, which offers the best deals for your lifestyle, so you do not need to do it. So, get the most out of your travels, shopping, entertainment and more, with this guide.
Psst! Even if you already own a credit card, you can consider signing up for another one! Promotions varies from company to company, and you may score a deal with another card!
Cards selected was chosen from SingSaver’s comparison tool. Here are the top 7 credit cards for your different lifestyle needs.
1) For The Gourmand, Shopaholic and Movie Buff
Upsize your rewards with the Standard Chartered Rewards+ Credit Card for overseas and Singapore use. With 10X reward points for every $1 spent in foreign currency transactions, 5X reward points for every $1 spent on local dining, and 1 reward point for all other spending. These accumulated points can be converted to cash rebates or even flight miles. Besides reward points, the Standard Chartered Rewards+ also offers 1-for-1 Platinum Movie Suites Tickets with Cathay Cineplexes and exclusive dining privileges of up to 50% off at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel. Now, you can impress your date while you save! For those who use their cards for Grab rides in Singapore and overseas before 31 December 2018, you can also enjoy up to 15% off on your Grab booking.
Application Benefits: $100 cash back for new customers and $20 cash back for existing customers. This promotion ends 31 Jan 2019.
SingSaver Bonus Benefit: Additional $50 cash for new customers and $20 cash for existing customers. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
If you travel frequently, Citibank’s PremierMiles Visa Card would tickle your fancy. Earn 1.2 Citi miles per $1 local spend whereby 1 Citi miles = 1 mile with Krisflyer, Asia Miles, etc. Double up your earned miles overseas with foreign currency spent on retail purchases with Citibank’s current promotion from 10 October – 31 December 2018. Besides earning miles for your next flight, hotels, rewards or cash rebate, the PremierMiles Visa Card also offers complimentary access to over 600 airport VIP lounges twice a year with Personalised Priority Pass membership card. Also, receive complimentary Travel Accident Insurance on your travels.
Application Benefits: Get 30,000 bonus miles with annual fee payment + spend a min. of $7,500 within the first 3 months for new applications. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefit: Additional $200 NTUC/Takashimaya/Grab vouchers for new customers and $50 NTUC vouchers cash for existing customers. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
For those who love travelling luxuriously, specifically on Singapore Airlines, apply for the AMEX Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Card and pamper yourself with great savings. Enjoy one night complimentary stay at any of the 101 Hilton Properties in Asia Pacific, and four complimentary lounge access passes to any participating SATS Premier and Plaza Lounge every year. Also, if you spend S$10,000 within 3 months of your card approval, you can receive 43,000 KrisFlyer Miles! Enough to redeem an Economy Class ticket to Maldives!!!!!!
Application Benefits: Get 5,000 miles upon first spend and S$10,000 within 3 months of card approval and receive 26,000 bonus miles + 12,000 on 1.2 earn rate. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefit: Additional $150 cash for both new and existing customer. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
For savings on your daily expenditures such as groceries, bills, fast food, movies and more, enjoy up to 5% savings on Citibank’s SMRT Card with a minimum monthly spend of $300. Do your grocery shopping at FairPrice Xtra Kallang Wave and get 7.3% savings! Also doubling up as a transportation card, manually topping up your EZ-Link card is no longer necessary as the card offers an EZ-Reload feature with 2% savings with each top up. All accumulated savings go to SMART$ points, which can be redeemed for cash rebates, rides and shopping vouchers. You can earn a maximum of SMRT$600 annually.
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefit: Additional $200 NTUC/Takashimaya/Grab vouchers for new customers and $50 NTUC vouchers cash for existing customers. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
For those who drive, apply for Citibank’s Cash Back Visa Card and enjoy fuel savings of up to 20.88% at Esso and Shell. This cash back card also offers 8% cash back on Grab, dining, groceries and fuel worldwide. Cash back is capped at S$25 per category per statement month, with a minimum spend of $888 per month.
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefit: Additional $200 NTUC/Takashimaya/Grab vouchers for new customers and $50 NTUC vouchers cash for existing customers. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
Those who wish to get more discounts on your expensive purchases can also apply for the HSBC Advance Card. Receive 2.5% cash back for expenditures more than $2000 a month, or 1.5% for spending below $2000. If you are a HSBC Advance banking customer, you will gain an additional 1% cash back too! Cash back is capped at $70 per calendar month, or $125 per calendar month if you are a HSBC Advance banking customer. So if you are eyeing that new iPhone or that computer, it may now be the right time to buy it. *wink
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefit: $150 cashback for new customers and $100 cashback
for existing customers, upon $600 spend in first 30 days. This promotion
ends 31 Oct 2018.
If you are an extravagant spender and the Advance Card does not fulfil your needs due to its cap, consider the AMEX True Cashback Card. At 1.5% cash back with no cap and no minimum spend, receive greater cash back for your purchases if you spend above $4,667.
Application Benefits: 3% cashback on up to a total of S$5,000 spend for the first 6 months for both new and existing customer. This promotion ends 31 Dec 2018.
SingSaver’s Bonus Benefits: Additional $150 cash for both new and existing customer. This promotion ends 31 Oct 2018.
To enjoy SingSaver’s Bonus Benefits, apply for your cards directly through SingSaver. More information on promotions and cards can also be found on the website! For those who have applied for the cards, do not forget to fill up the gift redemption form to register for SingSaver’s exclusive benefits!
We have provided a table as a summary of the discounts exclusive to SingSaver for the respective banks below.
*All promotions are valid till 31 October 2018 and subjected to T&Cs.
Visualize beautiful and serene sandy beaches of Boracay, Philippines or the bountiful shopping escapades in New York City, USA. Your everyday spending using your frequent flyer or air mileage credit card can turn your dreams into reality. Bringing the world closer to you, here are the best credit cards in Singapore that you shall consider:
DBS Altitude American Express Card offers rewards for air mileage and dinner deals. Dinner deals include discounts at over 1, 000 places nationwide with the DBS Indulge program. For example, cardholders get 1-for-1 Buffet Dinner at Hotel Jen Singapore.
With a fee of S$180 every year (waived for 1 year), and a minimum annual income of S$80, 000 for Singaporean, PR, and Foreigners, you can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on online flight and hotel transactions. Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent overseas and 1.2 miles for every dollar spent locally. The best thing about this is that your accumulated miles will never expire! Use it at your convenience.
ANZ Travel Visa Signature Credit Card’s minimum annual income eligibility for Singaporeans/PR is S$60, 000 while its S$90, 000 for Foreigners. With ANZ Travel Visa Signature, you may indulge on the complimentary access to airport limousine at departure or to airport lounges around the world. Earn 2.8 miles per S$1 spent on direct flight booking with Qantas and Jetstar airlines and 1.4 miles per S$1 for local spending. Aside from giving you rewards on air mileage, this card lets you convert your Travel$ to Cash Credit. The annual fee of S$200 is waived for a year.
I cannot begin to enumerate the wide selection of rewards, Citi PremierMiles Card can gives to its faithful cardholders. You earn 2 Citi Miles for every dollar spent overseas and 1.2 Citi Miles for every dollar spent locally. These miles are redeemable in 70 airlines worldwide!
By signing on to S$193 fee a year (waived in the first year) and a minimum annual income of S$60, 000 for Singaporean, PR, and Foreigners, you are entitled to not just milage rewards but also dining and petrol deals. Enjoy up to 14% discount at Esso stations and 13.6% discount at Shell stations. Exclusive dining deals to Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, Yan Ting, LaBrezza, Tiffin Room, Long Bar Steakhouse, Bar & Billiard Room and more, are courtesy of Citi Gourmet Pleasures. What’s more? REceive 10, 000 Citi Miles upon annual membership renewal and round-trip ticket to Bali on Singapore Airlines with S$12, 500 (15, 000 miles) spending.
With the lowest minimum annual income eligibility among these 4 cards…American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Credit Card requires S$30, 000 annual income for Singaporean/PR and S$60, 000 for Foreigners. Enjoy 1 KrisFlyer mile for every S$1.60 spent. Earn 50% more KrisFlyer miles when you charge S$5, 000 or more to your card in a year and 50% additional KrisFlyer bonus miles for a minimum spend of S$12, 000 in a year. Not only is the first year waived but you also get a welcome bonus of KrisFlyer miles.
Worry not about the accumulation process since miles are credited directly to your KrisFlyer account.
