3 Reasons Your Credit Card Is Your Best Summer Travel Companion

There are a lot of good reasons to use a credit card to book your summer travel. For one thing, credit cards offer more protections than using a debit card, including against fraud. You also have more options if you have a problem with a booking or purchase.

Beyond security, good travel credit cards can actually make your travel easier, cheaper, and more enjoyable. Here's how.

1. Rewards make anything possible

Some cards I have for perks, some for benefits -- but many I have just for the travel rewards. Because those rewards help me travel for free. Indeed, they even help me travel in business or first class and stay in 4- and 5-star hotels.

The best way to earn lots of rewards in a relatively short period of time is through welcome bonuses. These are bonuses you can earn as a new cardholder by hitting a set spending requirement. The requirements vary by card.

For example, you might earn 100,000 points by spending $5,000 in the first three months of opening your account. Depending on the rewards, that could be enough to pay for a big chunk of your vacation in one go.

2. Perks give you status and upgrades

Your card's ability to make your vacation better doesn't stop at booking -- at least, not when you have a perk-heavy travel card with lots of benefits. Here are just a few of my current favorite travel benefits:

• Hotel elite status: Higher status with hotel brands can mean everything from room upgrades to breakfast credits.
• Airport lounge access: Spending time in airport lounges is so much better than the gate that I've paid cash for the privilege when my cards didn't get me in.
• Priority boarding: Being one of the first people on the plane makes it easier to secure overhead bin space for my bag and avoid gate checking it.

Some of the very best travel cards also pack in lots of credits to help you save money. For example, a lot of hotel cards offer free night certificates. You may also get airline fee credits, credits to use towards a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, property credits, or even general travel credits that can be used toward any kind of travel.

3. Travel protections offer peace of mind

Rewards and perks are flashy and full of easy appeal. But don't underestimate the potential value of good travel protections.

Top travel cards offer various travel insurances and coverages that can be worth a lot of money should something go wrong on your trip. For example, if your flight is delayed overnight, your card's coverage could help reimburse you for related expenses, like a surprise hotel stay.

Or, worse, what if you need to cancel a trip, either last minute or while already traveling, due to a medical emergency? Trip interruption and cancellation protection could help cover the cost of any nonrefundable travel expenses paid for with your card.

Start your summer off right

There is still plenty of time before summer vacation to pick up some new travel rewards cards and collect a few good welcome bonuses. Earning just one or two bonuses can be enough to cover the cost of a fun trip -- if they're the right bonuses.

Decide where you'd like to travel. Then, do a little research into which airlines or hotels you'd like to use. This will give you an idea of which rewards you need to collect. For example, if you know you're going to stay in a Hyatt property, you need to collect Hyatt rewards points.

Once you know which rewards you need, just pick the cards with the most useful welcome bonuses. Cobranded cards will earn airline miles or hotel points directly. Flexible travel rewards cards earn points that can be turned into miles or hotel rewards through partner transfers. Both types can play a role in getting you on your dream vacation.