The most important thing to consider is you’ll earn rewards that you can actually redeem for relevant travel purchases. For example, if you live near a Delta hub but your card earns rewards for United, then you’ll have a harder time redeeming your hard-earned miles. Make sure the card aligns with your personal needs.

Also, check to see if the card charges a foreign transaction fee. If you’re going abroad, you should always use a card that waives foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees can cost you hundreds of dollars depending on your total purchases. Plus, it’s fairly easy to find a travel card that waives these fees.