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Travel reward credit cards are only a great benefit if you travel frequently. While that may seem trite it needs to be said. You may think, "what a great idea - travel reward credit cards. I might want to take a vacation next year."

You're probably going to find that if you only travel once in awhile the benefit of the travel reward credit cards is offset by the higher APR (annual percentage rate) annual fee, or other charges clear or hidden.

Travel reward credit cards may be specific to airline travel, or even to one specific airline. They might also provide rewards for purchase of gas, for auto rental, for hotel stay, or even purchases at retail shops. It's important, before you choose from the vast array of travel reward credit cards, that you assess what type of use you might make of travel reward credit cards. Then look for cards that offer the biggest savings on the types of use you'll most often make of them.

Keep in mind, too, that the discount may be useful if you're not the traveler. If you have family or friends that travel to you - or if you're a recruiter who is flying job applicants in for interviews, for example - you might find the airline or car rental perks advantageous.

Travel reward credit cards can offer cash advances that can be very handy when you're traveling. They can also offer travel insurance that includes worldwide emergencies such as medical evacuation, lost luggage and emergency expatriation. All of which are extremely difficult to resolve without adequate pre-travel preparation and purchase of coverage.

Travel reward credit cards may also offer discounts or points as a result of retail purchases, although many do not unless you are carrying over a balance at the end of the month. You should also check and see if the travel reward credit cards you are considering have a ceiling on the monetary value on which they will offer rewards.

You need to know the schedule and the value of the travel rewards these credit cards offer as well. When it comes to cash rewards, do you have to wait until the end of the year to get your cash from the travel reward credit cards, or do they send the money to you every $20 as its accrued?

In general travel reward credit cards offer U.S. and Canada round trip flights at the reward redemption value of one single round trip ticket for every 25,000 miles purchased on your travel reward credit cards.

The other important factor to take into consideration when deciding which of the many travel reward credit cards to use is the charge for cash advances - if, in fact, you see this as being a feature you'd use with any regularity.

When it comes to choosing and using travel reward credit cards, the old truism applies: "It pays to compare."