3 Reasons I Recommend This Bank of America Card to Credit Card Newbies

At this point, I've been working as a personal finance writer and editor for long enough that a lot of people I know ask me for advice about different aspects of money management. Most recently, someone in my life asked about travel rewards credit cards. She's actually never had a credit card before, and since so many of the best travel credit cards come with a steep learning curve, I wanted to recommend a card that is refreshingly simple to use.

So here's why I talked up the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. Could it be a good fit for you, too?

1. It's very easy to use

According to credit card research from The Motley Fool Ascent, a higher percentage of ordinary (read: not rich) Americans have cash back credit cards vs. travel credit cards (72% vs. 23%). This makes sense -- if your net worth is under $1 million, you're probably not jet-setting as often as you're trying to squeeze extra savings from your everyday purchases.

That said, those of us without big bank account balances still deserve to save money on travel. And unlike a lot of travel cards that earn points or miles (that you either redeem through a travel portal or transfer to an airline or hotel), the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is rather straightforward.

You'll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases -- no matter what you buy, and no matter how much you spend, since these earnings are unlimited. You'll have a few options to use those points: You get the best value for them as a statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases (2,500 points = $25), but you can also use them to book travel with Bank of America or redeem them as gift cards or cash directly. What could be easier?

2. It has a worthwhile welcome bonus

A nice welcome bonus can make getting a new credit card even sweeter. And one feature of Bank of America credit cards that I really appreciate is the fact that they come with great welcome bonuses that don't require a big spend. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is no exception -- if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days with the card, 25,000 points can be yours. Redeem them as a statement credit for travel and dining purchases, and they're worth $250.

That required spend is pretty achievable when you break it down by month. Stretching your spending to meet a welcome bonus requirement can be a short trip to credit card debt, so it's nice that this card's requirement is so reasonable.

3. It lacks two major fees

A lot of the best travel rewards cards have annual fees -- this isn't inherently a bad thing, as paying an annual fee for a card can mean getting access to better perks (like airport lounge access) and perhaps a higher rate of earning on purchases. But if you're new to credit cards, it's best to start slowly and try out a card with no annual fee first. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card fits the bill.

It also comes without foreign transaction fees, which makes it the perfect companion for international travel. Foreign transaction fees often amount to about 3% of purchases made in currencies other than USD, and while that doesn't sound like much, it can add up. Travel is expensive enough, so it's worth choosing a card carefully to ensure you're not paying extra on your overseas vacation.

If you're a credit card pro and can handle wading through bonus categories, complicated points transfers, and paying an annual fee for extra perks, another travel card might be a better fit for you. But if you're a credit card newbie who enjoys travel, I highly recommend taking a closer look at the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.