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Best Youth and Student Travel Discount Cards

How to Easily Score Student Discounts as You Travel

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One of the best perks of student travel is having access to thousands of discounts. You'll be able to score cheaper prices on everything from accommodation to flights and entrance fees to tours. 

You technically do not have to be a student either. If you're a traveler under the age of 26, you should be eligible for most of the discounts. 

And the discounts are not only travel-related, you can have access to discounts on practically everything you can think of. Check out the best card offers out there like the International Student Identity Card, the International Youth Travel Card, the Student Advantage Card, the International Student Exchange Card, and various hostel discount cards.

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Full-time students who are 12 years and older can get their hands on an International Student Identity Card to gain discounts on flights, accommodations, shopping, entertainment, and more.

You can get free travel insurance while traveling outside the U.S. through this card (although it is basic), as well as have the opportunity to make inexpensive international phone calls. This is a huge bonus.

The card, which costs about $25, is good through December 31 each year. It is issued by the International Student Travel Confederation and if you are going to go with only one student discount card, this is the one you should get. For $25 a year, you will definitely make your money back and save several hundreds of dollars if you have a few trips planned. 

Check out a full list of discounts you'll be eligible for and learn more about how to get an ISIC card.

The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC)

Also issued by the International Student Travel Confederation, the International Youth Travel is a discount card for travelers under 26 who are not enrolled in a school. You get a wide range of youth travel discounts, not quite as many as the ISIC, but it may be worth having if you plan on traveling. It costs $25 a year and comes with free travel insurance as well. 

Check out the list of youth travel discounts you can get with IYTC card and learn more about how to get an IYTC card.

The Student Advantage Card

The Student Advantage Card provides student travel, retail, and entertainment discounts for an annual $22 membership fee (you can add up to three additional years of membership for $10 per year).

As for whether it's worth it, it really does depend on how you'll be traveling. You can gain 15 percent off Amtrak and Greyhound fares, and you get booking fees waived if you use HostelWorld. That all sounds great, but you should bear in mind that you can get a Greyhound student discount without the card and that Amtrak gives the same discount to ISIC cardholders. The main bonus, then, is saving on the HostelWorld booking fee. If you're planning a big trip or lots of travel and staying in hostels, dishing out $22 on the Student Advantage Card could be a good deal. If not, get the ISIC instead. 

The International Student Exchange Card (ISE)

The $25 ISE card offers many of the same discounts as the ISIC card. Issued to travelers under 26, the card's "youth" version doesn't offer quite as many discounts as the "student" version, issued to enrolled students. Is it worth it for you? You should take a look at the discounts offered, compare them to those offered by the ISIC, and see which of them will be more valuable to you. If both sound great and can offer you great deals independently, then get both. You can buy the mobile-only membership for $9—which cuts out the need for a physical card. Or, you can get a physical ISE card with a SIM card for international calling for $35 (shipping included).

Hostel Discount Cards

Hostel discount cards offer discounts on some hostel bunk nights and a few additional benefits. Some hostel discount cards offer only to waive online booking fees, which may be covered by the Student Advantage Card. Major hostel outfit Hostelling International has a membership card, which can get you a free night stay and other deals.

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What travelcards & discounts can I get on public transport?

Studying in London is a unique experience compared to other universities. Whilst the capital offers an unrivalled amount of things to see and do, it can at first be challenge. Although there are a few discount options available to help reduce costs, understanding which one is best and most suitable can in itself be a confusing process. Most students are aware of the 18+ Student Oyster Photocard, but there are also other, lesser known discount railcards. So, which one is the best? The simple answer is that it depends entirely on you - how frequently you use the transport network, and during which times.

Important to know:   If you’re travelling on public transport in London, check the  Transport for London (TfL) to see which services are running, plus y ou can sign up for email updates from TfL.

What is the 18+ Student Oyster card and how can I get one?

The 18+ Oyster entitles you to 30% off travelcards and Bus and Tram season tickets. It is available to full-time King’s students living in the Greater London area, and you apply online using the TfL website at a cost of £20. You’ll simply need your course dates, the student number on your ID card, as well as a photo and your email. Applying a discounted travelcard to an Oyster gives peace of mind that you won’t spend any more than the amount you’ve already paid. However, bear in mind there is no discount to pay-as-you-go fares with an 18+ Oyster. You could be overpaying for a travelcard if you aren’t using the tube or buses frequently, so it is worth considering the other option before handing over £20 to TfL. We recommend reading the detail of what the benefits are, as well as the eligibility criteria for this travel card at TfL 18+ Student Oyster photocard . If you are eligible and wish to apply, please refer to our specific guidance when applying as a King’s student in the guidance below. Important to know: If you take a break from your studies, you won’t be eligible for the 18+ Oyster card for the duration of your interruption.

How do I apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard?

Full-time students can apply for a Transport for London (TfL) 18+ Student Oyster photocard, which provides a 30% discount on travel in London. You can  apply online  via the dedicated TfL site and will need a digital photograph and a credit/debit card. You can check your eligibility at  TfL 18+ Student Oyster which also includes important information about how and when applications will be validated. Steps when making your application

When you make your application, please ensure that you select King’s College London as the institution: ‘Kings College London, James Clerk Maxwell Building, 57 Waterloo Road.’ (institution code 0403).

If selecting the institution from a list, make sure to select Kings College London, and not the NHS Foundation Trust or “Kings London.”

If you don’t apply to the correct 'Kings College London' your application will be rejected by another institution and you may have to make a new application and incur the £20 administration fee again.

When entering your Course Details (Step 3) you will be asked to provide your Student enrolment (ID) Number. This is the 7 or 8 digit number on your student card. Please do not enter the ID that begins with a “K” as this may cause delays in approving your application.

Important to know:

Most part-time students and students on a break/interruption of study are not eligible for the 18+ Student Oyster photocard. Please refer to the more detailed guidance at  TfL 18+ Student Oyster and to our guidance on interruptions for undergraduate students or postgraduate taught students .

The King's Student Funding Office confirms whether applicants are registered as full-time for TfL.

Applications  cannot be approved until the first day of term , so the Student Funding Office will begin approving application from then onwards.

How long will it take for my Oyster application to be approved? The Student Funding Office approves all Oyster card applications directly with TfL. It takes a couple of weeks for this to come through at the start of term, but these are approved as soon as possible. 

What is the 16+ Student Oyster card and can I get one?

If you are still 17 on the 31 August ahead of starting your degree course (usually September), you should be able apply for this discount without university approval, and it will remain valid until your 18 th birthday.

Foundation courses can count as level 3; this means that if you are 18 and studying on the King’s International Foundation course, you can apply for this discount but because of your age, you’ll need to get approval from King’s for this.

To apply (for students on Foundation courses):

Submit a Form Request and upload your application form.

We will check your record and ensure you meet the relevant criteria, and then sign and stamp the form for you, returning it to you via email.

If you're eligible, we will then let you know - at which point please book an appointment to come a collect your form in person.

Important to know: When seeking to apply for this discount travelcard, please make sure you read all the information at 16+ Zip Oyster photocard and please refer to the TfL Eligibility criteria before applying . If your application is rejected because you are ineligible, you run the risk of losing your application fee. If you are at all unsure if you are eligible, please seek advice from TfL .

What is the National Rail 16-25 Railcard and can I get one?

Important to know: When it comes to the railcard, there is no discount to peak fares Monday-Friday 06:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00 or to bus fares. How can I apply?

If you’re aged between 16-25 years , you can do it all online yourself, opting for a digital or plastic railcard at 16-25 Railcard .

If you’re over 25 , you are best to apply for the  26-30 Railcard .

If you’re over 30 and a full-time student , you’ll need to start off your application online and then you’ll be directed to a Mature Student Railcard application form, which we’ll need to sign and stamp for you. Please:

If you would like to collect this in paper form in person, please ensure you have still logged a  Form Request  and uploaded your application form first, and let us know through your enquiry if you want to collect the completed form in person.

• Students studying on a distance learning course don’t qualify for a railcard. Please visit the  16-25 railcard eligibility  for more information.

I’m a part-time student; am I eligible for this railcard?

We will check your record and ensure you meet the relevant criteria by liaising directly with your department for confirmation, and then sign and stamp the form for you, returning it to you via email.

This railcard is not tied to your student status but rather your age; if you’re under 25, you can apply whether you’re a student or not.

Always carry your 16-25 Railcard when buying tickets and travelling.

If you’re unsure if you’re eligible for this railcard, visit 16-25: Are you eligible?

What is the National Rail 26-30 Railcard and can I get one?

A valid passport or UK Driving Licence to verify your identity.

A digital passport-style photo saved to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

A debit or credit card.

The  Railcard app .

Check when and with which ticket(s) you are permitted to use your 26-30 railcard by visiting  Where and when can I use my Railcard?

Always carry your 26-30 Railcard when buying tickets and travelling.

I’m a mature or part-time student; am I eligible for this railcard?

Both the 26-30 and the 16-25 railcards are dependent on your age, so you don’t have to be a student to apply. Anyone under 31 is covered by either one of the railcards without needing any further approval – you can apply directly through the website. The main difference comes if you are studying and over 30; for this you’re best to refer to details for the 16-25 railcard.

Comparing the 18+ Student Oyster card and 16-25 Railcard: which student travel card is right for me?

If you are not using public transport frequently but instead walking or cycling to university and only using the tube occasionally, the 18+ Oyster may not be worthwhile. To check fares for travel across the different zones using the various payment methods, refer to TfL 18+ Student fares . Unless you travel very regularly on pay-as-you-go fares, a 16-25 Railcard may be more appropriate to save money on off-peak fares, when using the tube or city trains to see friends or explore London for leisure. Even if you use the tube frequently on one day, fares automatically cap at the zone rate, ensuring you can’t spend any more than this in one day. Caps can increase year on year, so if you think you might stick to standard pay-as-you-go, we recommend checking TfL’s Pay as you go caps . The 16-25 railcard offers an additional ⅓ off daily caps when using the tube off-peak bringing the cap down further. On the other hand, if you are regularly using transport to travel into university and at peak times, the discounted travelcard allows for unlimited journeys on a weekly or monthly basis, and so may make the 18+ Oyster better value. If you do opt for the 18+ Oyster, you can still apply a 16-25 railcard discount allowing for the best of both worlds. You can opt for a discounted travelcard in the weeks you use public transport frequently whilst allowing for a pay-as-you-go discount when not using transport frequently outside of term time. If you are living in Zone 2, you may opt for a Zone 1-2 weekly travelcard to get to university, but use the 16-25 Railcard when you make journeys to Zone 3 and beyond to explore areas outside of Central London. A combination of the two allows for maximum flexibility. In the end, it depends entirely on your personal use. It’s a good idea to check how much you are using public transport to see if the total regularly exceeds or is below the cost of a travelcard for your zone. To work out what you’re spending your money on to help you budget better, refer to our guide on managing your money .

Additional support for students with disabilities  

I’m a disabled student living in London, can I apply for a freedom pass?

If you live in a London borough and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass, which can provide free access to public transport across the Transport for London network. For further guidance on how to submit an application, visit the London Councils webpage ​​​​​​.

Step 1: Make sure you're using either an Oyster or Contactless Card

Paper ticket fares are incredibly expensive in London, and nowadays often unnecessary when so many credit and debit cards have the contactless feature.

You will know if your debit card is contactless depending on whether it has the contactless symbol. Though contactless removes the need to top-up, discounts cannot be applied and it can be more difficult to keep track of spending.

Adult Oyster cards are available at ticket machines at any Tube station for a £5. Even if you opt to apply for an 18+ Oyster, it is worth paying this while you wait for your 18+ Oyster, because it can sometimes take a couple of weeks for the university to approve this for you.

Step 2: How much are you using transport and when?

To keep track of usage, make sure to register your Oyster Card online following the instructions on the TfL website. Once you have done this, you can view journey history and see daily expenditure.

You may wish to set up a Contactless and Oyster account which also has a matching app , which allows you to check your journey history, easily top-up credit and you’ll get notifications when your credit runs low.

Keeping track of your journeys and your spending means you can total the weekly and estimate the monthly and annual costs, and compare this with the cost of discounted travelcards for each zone. For details on fares across a range of transport types in the capital visit TfL Find fares .

Step 3: Apply for the discount cards

If you find you are exceeding the cost of a travelcard via pay-as-you-go fares it is likely that an 18+ Oyster is a sound investment and can be applied for online. Please refer to our guidance in How do I apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard?

If you are only occasionally using public transport and therefore coming in below the cost of a travelcard, or simply want both discounts and the option of discounts on trains throughout the UK, you can apply for the 16-25 Railcard online .

Buses are almost always cheaper than the tube and the Hopper Fare gives you unlimited journeys, made within 1 hour of touching in.

Remember to tap in and tap out at all stations even if there are no barriers. Forgetting to tap both in and out on the tube will lead to a penalty fare .

King’s Student Funding Office confirm student attendance to TfL for applications to be approved. September and October are very busy periods as many students apply for the 18+ Oyster card, so bear in mind you may need to wait; please allow at least 3 weeks for processing.

How can I travel around London on a budget?

If you’d like to minimise your travel on public transport and want an alternative cheap mode of transport, you could try  Santander Cycles . This is an easy bike hire system with no need to book in advance. You can simply hire a cycle by going to your nearest docking station terminal with a debit or credit card. Be sure to take your card with you; while contactless cards are accepted, but contactless devices including phones and smartwatches, are not .

You can also download the free Santander Cycles app  and pay for the hire using the app instead. For up to 30 minutes, you can ride an unlimited journey for just £2. Every additional 30 minutes will be charged at £2. Remember to return your cycle within 24 hours to your nearest docking station terminal. Otherwise, you may be charged.

The Money Mentors have also put together some tips in their blog  Getting around London: practical tips .

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Weekly and Monthly Travelcards excluding Zone 1

Weekly and Monthly Travelcards are available for zones excluding zone 1 (central London). So if you’re working, studying or visiting relatives in the suburbs of London, you don’t need a Travelcard including zone 1 unless you travel through zone 1 to reach your destination or enter or exit a station in zone 1.

Travelcards excluding zone 1 are cheaper and for occasional visits to the centre, you can top up your Oyster card with Pay as you go money to pay the difference between the zones your Travelcard covers and zone 1.

Top Tip: A Travelcard for any zone entitles you to travel by bus all over London, including central London (zone 1).

• See where to buy a Travelcard
• See London transport zones to find the zones you need
• See Travelcard fares including zone 1

Zone 2–3,4,5 or 6 Travelcards 2024

Zone 3–4,5 or 6 travelcards 2024, zone 4–5 or 6 travelcards 2024, zone 5–6 travelcards 2024, related pages.

• One day and weekly Travelcards including zone 1
• Guide to London’s transport tickets
• London transport zones

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How To Travel Around London

Travelling around London may be costly, so we’ve compiled a list of tips for navigating about the capital city efficiently. Get a student travel card or a student Oyster card sent to your door to help you save money and minimise travel costs daily!

Student Oyster Card For Bus Travel

Get A Student Oyster Card To Save Money On Tube, DLR, Bus And Overground

If you are 18 or older, a student, and live in a London borough, you can use an Oyster Photocard to save money on your journeys. You will save up to 30% on the Adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets.  You may apply online by clicking here!

Keep in mind… when your course ends, your 18+ Student Oyster Photocard expires. Your school, college, or university will notify TFL if you are no longer qualified or if the end date of your course has changed. Your Photocard benefits will then end.

If you are in a hurry, you can take a taxi around London. There is the traditional taxi as well as private rental cars known as minicabs such as Addison Lee and local cab businesses. There has recently been a surge in the number of new taxi services, such as Uber, Ola, and Lyft. All of this is accomplished through the use of phone apps. Some individuals may prefer these apps since they allow you to get a cab quickly and without having to plan ahead of time. You can also earn discount codes and credits to help save on your journey.

The cost of renting a Santander Cycle is £2 for unlimited travel of up to 30 minutes. If your journey lasts more than 30 minutes, you will have to pay £2 for every extra 30 minutes. If you do not return the cycle within 24 hours, you will be charged. Simply download the Santander Cycles app or go to any docking station terminal with your bank card and touch the screen to get started. When you’re through with your journey, return it to a docking station.

Use A Student Travel Card

If your route requires you to travel on public transport that is outside of London’s central zones, you may need to obtain a student travel card. The 16 to 25 Railcard is an example of this. This Railcard gives you one-third off train fares. When you make your purchase you have the choice of receiving it in digital or physical form. It just costs £30 each year or £70 for three years. More information about Railcards may be found here !

So, as a student, take advantage of these travel options!

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What’s a London Travelcard?

A London Travelcard is a ticket type that allows unlimited travel for a certain amount of time on:

• The London Underground within zones 1-4 or 1-6
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Which London Travelcard is right for me?

One day london travelcards.

There are two types of One Day London Travel cards:

Anytime Day Travelcards: you can use these anytime on the date shown on your ticket, until 04:30 the following day.

Off-Peak Day Travelcards: you can use these from 09:30 Monday – Friday and at any time on weekends and bank holidays on the date on your ticket, until 04:30 the following day.

London Weekly Travelcard

The London Weekly Travelcard offers 7 days of travel for the price of 5.

Monthly London Travelcard

Monthly Travelcards are typically more cost-effective than buying consecutive 7-day ones. You’ll save 11% on your journeys if you go for the monthly option.

Weekend London Travelcard

The Weekend Travelcard is valid for 2 consecutive weekend days (Saturday, Sunday, or a bank holiday). You can make a return journey from the start station to the Travelcard zones on each of the 2 days, and get unlimited travel in London Zones 1-6 on the eligible days.

Group One Day London Travelcard

Travelling as a group of 10 or more? Get a Group One Day London Travelcard. It’s valid for the day from 9:30 am (Monday to Friday), anytime on weekends or public holidays right up until 04:30 the next day.

London Travelcard season tickets

We have various London Travelcard Season Ticket options, including:

Your Travelcard season ticket can start on any day of the week, and you can travel right up until 04:30 on the day after your travelcard expires.

How do I get a London Travelcard?

You can get a travelcard when you buy an Anytime , Off-Peak , Super Off Peak , Advance or season (except Flexi Season ) train ticket to London on our website, SWR app or at your local station.

You can add London Travelcards to your SWR touch smartcard , making it easier for you to tap in and out across the capital.

Travelling outside the area covered by your Travelcard

If you have a Travelcard, then you are permitted to use any services within its Zones (subject to the time restrictions of the Travelcard). If you wish to travel beyond the Zones permitted by your Travelcard, then you can purchase a Boundary Zone ticket to or from the station outside of those Zones.

For example, if you have a 7-Day Zones 1 to 3 Travelcard and wanted to travel to Shepperton, you can buy a Boundary Zone 3 to Shepperton Day Return ticket from any staffed ticket office or from our self-service ticket machines. The train you are on does not need to call at a station within Zone 3 to be valid. Boundary Zone tickets can also be sold in the opposite direction (e.g. Shepperton to Boundary Zone 3).

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London Travelcard Prices 2024 - One Day, Weekly & Monthly Pass

Travelcard prices for children, what is a travelcard.

London travelcards come in two different types. The cheapest version just covers buses and trams, whilst the more expensive one includes the trains as well.

Travelcards bought at a National Rail station (the big overground hubs like Waterloo , shown with a symbol on the London underground map ) are printed on orange paper. Travelcards bought at an underground station are printed on pink paper. Other than the colour of the paper, there is no difference between the two. It’s also possible to load a travel card onto a blue Oyster card . (Note: It is not possible to load them onto a Visitor Oyster card or contactless card .)

If you buy a pass that includes the trains then you will also have to choose which fare zones you want it to cover. If you buy a one day travelcard then you’ll only have three options: zones 1-4, zones 1-6 or zones 1-9. If you buy a weekly, monthly or annual travelcard then you can choose a combination of different zones between 1-9.

Important note: there are no trams in central London, only in zone 3 and beyond (in places like Beckenham, Croydon and Wimbledon). So if you buy a zone 1-2 travelcard then you won’t find any trams to travel on.

What are the benefits of a travelcard?

• London travelcards can cover one day, one week, one month or one year, depending on how long you’re staying in London
• They’re very easy for tourists to understand: you simply choose the zones and dates you want it to cover, pay once, and then you can make an unlimited number of journeys between those dates
• Depending on which one you buy, travelcards can be valid on the tram, bus , Docklands Light Railway, London Underground , London Overground, TFL Rail and National Rail
• You can also benefit from a discounted fare on the cable car and Thames Clipper riverboat

What are the downsides of a travelcard?

• Depending on how many journeys you make, you might find that Oyster prices and contactless prices are cheaper than travelcard prices
• You’re only allowed to travel in the fare zones you chose at the start. If you later decide to travel outside the zones then you’ll have to buy a completely separate ticket
• Two people are not allowed to share one travelcard
• If you lose a paper travelcard then there’s no way of replacing it, or getting your money back

How long does a travelcard last?

A travelcard lasts for one day , one week , one month or one year , and you choose which one you want when you buy it. You can then travel as many times as you like during that period.

You always have to choose a start date when you buy it. The date can be in the future, but it’s not possible to buy a dateless card.

One Day Travelcards (Anytime) – Valid for the date shown on the ticket, plus any journeys that start before 4.30 AM the next morning

One Day Travelcards (Off-peak) – Valid for the date shown on the ticket, but only after 9.30 AM on Mon-Fri, plus any journeys that start before 4.30 AM the next morning

Weekly, Monthly & Annual Travelcards – Valid between the start date and end date shown on the ticket. And they all have to be consecutive days (it’s not possible to buy a 7 day travel card that skips a day in the middle, for example).

Can two people share one travelcard?

No . Two people are not allowed to share one travelcard between them. And you can’t share an Oyster card that has a travelcard loaded on to it either.

What time is Anytime and Off-Peak?

Anytime – Anytime is valid for the dates shown on the ticket, and up to 4.30 AM the following morning. (So if your travelcard expires on the 10th, you can actually travel up to 4.30 AM on the 11th.)

Off-Peak – Off-Peak travelcard holders are restricted to travelling after 9:30 AM on Mon-Fri, but can travel at anytime during the weekend or on a public holiday.

Is it cheaper to use a travelcard?

Travelcards are not always the cheapest way to travel in London.

1-Day Travelcards – The Oyster daily cap and contactless daily cap are always cheaper than a one day travelcard (by around two-thirds).

Weekly Travelcards – Weekly travelcards are always cheaper than buying seven one day travel cards, but whether it works out cheaper than the Oyster card weekly cap depends on how many journeys you make. If you make two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six of the days, then a weekly travelcard is likely cheaper. But the only way of knowing for sure is to add up all your journeys on a calculator (sorry!).

Monthly Travelcards – Monthly travelcards are always cheaper than buying four weekly travel cards.

Annual Travelcards – Annnual passes give you 12 months travel for the price of ten and a half.

Where can you use a travelcard?

Buses – All travelcards are valid on TFL buses , regardless of which zones they cover. That’s because buses don’t have zones. So if you buy a zone 1-4 travelcard then you can ride the trams and trains in zones 1-4, but you can ride the buses all the way out to zone 6.

Trams – Bus & Tram travelcards don’t have zones, so they’re valid on all the buses, and all the trams. But Train, Bus & Tram travelcards are only valid on the trams if they cover zones 3 and beyond, because there aren’t any trams in zones 1-2.

London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, TFL Rail, National Rail – A Train, Bus & Tram travelcard is valid on all of these trains as long as it covers the right zones (you choose which zones you want when you buy it). The exceptions are the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express, Heathrow Connect to Hayes and Harlington, and high-speed Southeastern services between St. Pancras and Stratford .

IFS Cloud Cable Car – You can’t actually use your travelcard to ride the cable car , but if you present it at the ticket window you’ll get a 25% discount off the price.

Thames Clipper – You can’t use it on the Thames Clipper river boat service either, but if you show it at the window you’ll get a 33% discount off some of the fares.

Where can you buy a travelcard?

Day Travelcards (for Bus & Tram only) – It’s not possible to buy a day travelcard for the Bus & Tram from the TFL website. It’s not possible to buy one in advance either. You can only purchase them on the day of travel from a train station or London Visitor Centre.

There are seven Visitor Centres in London: Euston station , King’s Cross , Liverpool Street , Paddington , Piccadilly Circus , Victoria and Heathrow airport.

These will always come as a paper ticket.

You can also buy a Bus & Tram pass from an Oyster Ticket Stop, but these ones will be put onto an Oyster card instead. Oyster Ticket Stops are just normal shops (usually newsagents) which have a blue Oyster sticker in their window. (Note: The usual £7 deposit will apply if you need to buy a new Oyster card, which will come on top of the day travelcard price. It is not possible to load a travelcard onto a London Visitor Oyster Card .)

Day travelcards do not require a photocard.

Day Travelcards (for Bus, Tram & Train) – Paper tickets for the Bus, Tram & Train are available to buy online from the TFL website and from train stations and Visitor Centres.

Group Day Travelcards – Group Day Travelcards can be ordered from the TFL website . They only last for one day and you need to be travelling in a group of at least ten people during off-peak hours (after 9:30 AM Mon-Fri, or any time during the weekend).

Weekly Travelcards – Weekly Travelcards can be bought online at TFL’s Visitor Shop , You can also have it loaded onto your Oyster card at a train station, Oyster Ticket Stop, London Visitor Centre or TFL’s Oyster website (but you need to set up an Oyster account with them first).

Weekly travelcards do not require a photocard.

Monthly Travelcards – Monthly Travelcards can be loaded onto your Oyster card at train stations, Oyster Ticket Stops, London Visitor Centres and TFL’s Oyster website .

Annual Travelcards – Annual travelcards can be loaded onto your London Oyster card at TFL’s Oyster website , and most London Overground, TFL Rail and National Rail stations… but not London Underground stations, London Visitor Centres or Oyster Ticket Stops.

What zone travelcard do you need?

Most tourists will choose a travelcard that covers zones 1-2, which covers the touristy heart of London.

Zone 3 is for places like Highgate Cemetery , Kew Gardens , Wimbledon and London City Airport . Zone 4 will take you to Wembley Stadium . And if you’re flying into Heathrow then you might need a zone 1-6 travelcard.

How do you use a travelcard on a bus?

Using a travelcard on a London bus is easy. If you have a paper travelcard then just show it to the driver as you board the bus.

If you have an Oyster travelcard then touch it against the big round yellow reader by the front door (some buses also have Oyster readers by the middle door and back door). There’s no need to touch the travel card down again when you leave the bus – you only have to do that for trains.

How do you use a travelcard on a train?

Using a travelcard on the London Underground is easy. If you have a paper travelcard then just insert it face-up into the slot at the front of the barrier. The same ticket will then pop out of the slot on the top. The gate won’t open until you remove your travelcard from that slot.

If you have an Oyster travelcard then all you have to do is wave it in front of the big round yellow reader and the gate will open automatically.

Which is better: Travelcards or Oyster?

TFL travelcards are very easy to understand – you simply choose the starting date, the duration, which zones you need (probably just zones 1-2 if you’re here on holiday), and then you pay just once and can make an unlimited number of journeys until the travel card expires.

The downside is that travelcards are only available for fixed periods – either one day, one week, one month or one year – so if you’re visiting for a different number of days then you’re better off buying an Oyster card .

Train travelcards are also limited to the zones you buy it for, so if you decide to make an extra journey out of the blue then you’ll have to buy a completely different ticket, whereas the pay-as-you-go credit on an Oyster card can be used in all zones.

Your comments and questions

CC Hi, I want to know if I buy the one day card does it means it lasts 24 hrs? Or just till midnight of the day I purchase it?

Staff Hi CC. It actually lasts until 4.30 AM the next morning. So if it's dated for the 1st, it will last until 4.30 AM on the 2nd.

Leanne Hi there, I am travelling to London with 3 children aged 8, 10 & 11 and will need a travelcard that will cover us all. We have a few things planned but im not sure of which travelcards I need and for which zones? We will need to travel from Paddington station to Waterloo, and will be visiting the Cambridge Theatre and also Knightsbridge. Is it possible to buy a 3 day ticket that will cover those areas? Ive not been to London before so would like to plan as much as I can in advance. Thank you

Staff Hi Leanne. It's not possible to buy a 3-day card unfortunately - they only come as 1-day or weekly cards (or monthly). And the only travelcard that covers multiple people is the Group Day Travelcard, but that's for a minimum of ten people. The good news is that your 8 and 10 year old will travel for free on the tube, so I recommend that you use your contactless bank card, and you get an Oyster card for your 11 year old. That's because contactless and oyster fares are cheaper. The most you will pay each day is the 'daily cap' for zone 1, which is less than the cost of a 1-day travelcard (all of the places you mentioned are inside zone 1). Unfortunately you will also have to pay a £5 deposit the first time you buy a new Oyster card - but you can claim that back at the self-service ticket machine at the end if you want.

Leanne Thank you very much, that's very helpful

Csaba Is it possible to buy a new Oystercard and put a 7-day Travelcard on it at the newsagents generally? Do I have to have a minimum pay-as-you-go balance on it if using a Travelcard loaded onto my Oystercard?

Staff Hi Csaba. You can just have the travelcard on your Oyster card if you want. There's no need to have any pay-as-you-go credit on there as well, but you can do that as well if you want. You should be able to do it at any newsagent displaying the Oyster symbol in their window - not all of them have it.

Lafont If I have a travelcard on my Oyster card for zones 1 and 2, and I want to visit Hampton Court, how to proceed.

Staff Hi Lafont. Hampton Court is in zone 6, so you just need to add some pay-as-you-credit onto the same card to cover zones 2-6. You can see that fare here - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php . When you tap it down on the gate the computer will recognise that the travelcard already covers zones 1&2 and just use the credit for the extra bit.

Pamela Laurie I need only a paper 1 day Oyster ticket, is it over 24 hours from when you buy it? ie. 12am one day till 12 am next day ?

Staff Hi Pamela. You buy it for a particular date. It will then last for the whole of that date, and up to 4.30 AM the next morning.

Ch What time can you use your travelcard from on a Sunday?

Staff Hi Ch. If it's a 1-day card then it's all day Sunday, right up to 4.30 AM Monday morning. If it was a midweek one then it would be different, because there are two cards available midweek: anytime and off-peak. The off-peak ones wouldn't start until 9.30 AM

Awi If I buy a zone 1-6 travelcard from Vauxhall rail station will that entitle me to the National Rail 2for1 promotion? Thanks

Staff Hi Awi. You have to be careful because you need a National Rail paper ticket for the 2for1 offer. Don't buy it from the underground station because then it will be a TFL ticket. That won't be valid. Buy it upstairs from the National Rail windows, and make sure they give you a paper ticket rather than putting it on an Oyster card, because that won't be valid either.

Diane Can you use a one day travelcard on any of the London tour buses?

Staff Hi Diane. No, sightseeing tour buses have got nothing to do with normal buses, so you'll have to buy a ticket from them.

Cathy If I buy a weekly travelcard from a train station, will the start day to use to card be the day I buy it? Or can I tell the counter staff which day I would like to start to use the travelcard? For example, I want to buy the paper travelcard at London Paddington Station on July 1st and I would like to start using it on July 6th. Is it possible? Thanks for your help.

Staff Hi Cathy. Sure. You can tell them which date you want it to start. It doesn't have to be the same day that you buy it. Paper tickets will then have the start date printed on the front.

Elle Hi, With weekly travelcards, do I need to get an identity card to go with it? Thanks

Staff Hi Elle. Not if you're an adult, no. You only need to provide a passport photo for monthly and annual travelcards, but not weekly ones. And a child would need a photocard

Ray Does the one day travelcard include journeys to Heathrow? Thank you Ray.

Staff Hi Ray. You have to choose the zones when you buy it. If you choose the one that covers zones 1-6 (or 1-9) then it will.

Cozzieanne Hi there, I'm soon going to be travelling four times a week from Ealing Broadway to Leytonstone station on the Central Line. If I buy an annual Zones 2-9 travelcard, does that mean that I can get on and off at literally any stop, on any line, at any time, as long as I'm within those zones? And does it include buses? Thank you! Cozzieanne

Staff Hi Cozzieanna. A zone 2-9 travelcard won't get you from Ealing Broadway to Leytonstone on the central line, because that journey goes straight through zone 1, so you'll need a zone 1-9 instead (actually, you only really need a 1-3 for that journey, unless you've got some other plans out to zone 9 that you haven't mentioned). A zone 1-9 travelcard will let you get on and off at any stop within zones 1-9, at any time, as many times as you like. And you can use it on the bus as well.

Graham Can a London Travelcard be used on both the Underground and on Network Rail trains? I'm planning to travel from Baker Street to Monument on the Circle Line, then from London Bridge to Waterloo East on normal Network Rail. Is the Travelcard valid for both journeys?

Staff Hi Graham, It works on both the underground and National Rail trains within the zones you buy it for. So assuming your travelcard covers zone 1 (which all those journeys are in), then it will be fine

Harmeen I just want to know that if I opt for a weekly travelcard for Zone 1 and 2, how many trips am I allowed in a week?

Staff Hi Harmeen. As many as you like. There's no limit with travelcards

Lailiyah McInnes Can I buy weekly travel card to London zone 1-2 and5? And how much the cost weekly and monthly .I just from Bromley south to Victoria to Fulham

Staff Hi Lailiyah. You can buy one for zones 1to5 (price is in the table above), but not zones 1,2+5. They don't sell one for just zone 5 on its own either. If you really wanted to then you could put a zone 1-2 travelcard on your oyster card, and then top it up with some pay-as-you-go credit as well. Then every time you tap it down on the gate the computer will recognise that you have a travelcard for zones 1-2, and only take the fare for zones 2-5 from the pay-as-you-go credit

Heather Is there a student discount on Oyster cards.

Staff Hi Heather. There is a discount, but you have to apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard to get them. All the details are here - tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​free-and-discounted-travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard

amar Can I use oyster card on traine

Staff Hi Amar. You can, yes. But it depends what train you’re talking about. It has to be within the Oyster zones. If you're talking about putting a travelcard onto an oyster card, then the train will have to be in the zones you buy the travelcard for

Jerry I need Travelcard from zone 2 to 8. How can I get one?

Staff Hi Jerry. It sounds a bit bonkers, but they don't sell travelcards for zones 2-8. You can get one for zones 1-8, or zones 2-9 instead which is a bit cheaper

Jerry I don`t understand why I have to pay more for something what we don`t need.

Staff Maybe you could try using a contactless card instead, because there's a cap for zones 2-8 on that. But if you want the weekly cap then it only works from Mon-Sun (not Tue-Mon, or any other combination of 7 days) - londondrum.com/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

Bob Scrivener Where do you find a zone map?

Staff Hi Bob. Here's one - content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

Nigel Hi, I plan to come to London in the Autumn. It looks as if I’ll need to travel in zones 1-3 between my University and accommodation. Can you advise what the weekly cost is for a travel card

Staff Hi Nigel. All the prices are shown in the table above - at the moment it's £43:50 for zones 1-3

Karen Wilce Are there any concessions

Staff Hi Karen. If you mean senior concessions then you can get something called a Freedom Pass or a 60+ Oyster card, but you need to live in a London borough to qualify. If you live outside London then you can get a Senior Railcard. There are more details here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

Theresa I have a monthly travel card zones 1 to 4, but i need to get to zone 6, what do i need to do.

Staff Hi Theresa. Assuming that it’s on an Oyster card, all you have to do is go up to a ticket machine and load some pay-as-you-go credit on to it. When you tap down on the gate the computer will recognise that the travelcard already covers zones 1-4 and just charge for the extra zones. You can see the price on our Oyster card page - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

Anita Ganea My daughter is a 2nd year university student living in London, travelling to university and also to her place of work. She has now got a student oyster card and also has a 1/3 16-25 railcard. Does she have to link these to get the full benefits of the oyster card. I said that her travel will be a 1/3 cheaper if she gets the oyster card but obviously if she uses it as a pay as you go it is still the same, why is this?

Staff Hi Anita. She needs to get the railcard loaded onto her Oyster card, then she can use the Oyster card like normal and it will charge the discounted fares. She needs to take both cards to a London Underground station and then ask a member of TFL staff to load it on. You can usually find one standing behind the ticket barriers. Bear in mind that she doesn't get a discount on all Oyster fares, just off-peak ones, and zone 1-9 travelcards (if bought together with another National Rail ticket) - full details here 16-25railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Steven Gatting Hi folks,,, returning uk resident arriving with Family from US for 7 day visit covering all areas on tube. Kis are 10. 14 and 16 . Shall I just get 7 day travel cards.Will be making plenty travel around the tube on all days. Thanks Steve Gatting

Staff Hi Steven, if you’re staying seven days then a weekly travelcard usually works out cheapest if you’re making at least two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six days, but it depends what zones you buy (most people only need zones 1-2). Your 10 year old will travel for free, but bear in mind your 14 and 16 year olds will have to pay for adult passes because it won’t be worth paying out extra for photocards to qualify for the kid prices.

Michael Just to make sure it will work: I want to buy a weekly 1-2 zones paper travel card at Paddington railway station. All I need is to bring £37 and paper-sized photo, right? No need to buy Oyster card or something like that?

Staff Hi Michael. You can only get a paper travelcard if it’s a 1-day travelcard. Weekly ones will go onto an Oyster card. If you don’t have an Oyster card you’ll have to go to an Oyster Ticket stop shop (newsagent) in the National Rail part of Paddington (and pay £5 deposit for a new card on top). The underground bit only has self-service machines. If you do have an Oyster card then you can load it on at a self-service machine. You don’t need a photo

Selina Rahman Hi, If I want to travel from Woodford to Bermondsey by train and then bus from Bermondsey to Bricklayer's Arms by bus, can I buy a weekly oyster card from zone 2-4? If not, please suggest how I can make this journey with the most economical option? Thanks,

Staff Hi Selina. Thats okay for Woodfood to Bermondsey (assuming you don't choose a route that passes through zone 1). theres more than one bricklayers arm’s in london so we don't know which one you're talking about, but it should be alright because buses don’t have zones. all travelcards are valid for bus travel in zones 1-6, regardless of which zones they cover

Polya Genova Why when I transfer via Wimbledon from Streatham to Fulham Broadway I am overcharged for zone 1.??? I notice 3 times on my way going but mot charge in my way back. The pink rider was no clear sound.

Staff Hi Polya. You're only supposed to tap down on the pink readers if your journey would normally take you across London through zone 1, and you're changing trains to bypass zone 1. But the journey you're doing wouldn't normally go through zone 1 anyway, so I would stop tapping down on the pink reader and see if that helps - just tap down at the beginning and end of your journey instead

Lorraine I am travelling to london from Leigh on sea going to Wood Green station / Shepherd’s Bush there are 6 of us all together 2 adults 4 chikdren under 11 years we have bought the Kidszania tickets What would be the cheapest fares to travel on the tube

Staff Hi Lorraine. your national rail tickets would be separate, but if all four kids are under 11 then they travel for free on the tube, and the adults should just use their contactless cards to pay (oyster is the same price as contactless, but you have to pay a £7 deposit to get hold of the cards)

MR JOHN ROZNOWSKI Is there any discount for ENCTS pass holders who live outside London?

Staff Hi John. Not if you want to buy a travelcard, but you should be able to use it to travel for free on TFL buses (with time restrictions) if it has the red rose symbol on it. Theres some more information here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-bus-fares.php

Engrid Hello, Do children travel for free with a parent who purchases a travel card?

Staff Hi Engrid. Only if they’re under 11. They travel for free with a fare paying adult - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Pauline My partner and myself are travelling on Avanti train from Lancaster for the day.Can we buy I day travel cards when we buy our train tickets in Lancaster. Thankyou

Staff Hi Pauline, we cant really help with what’s for sale in Lancaster, but we doubt that the train company will sell them. But you’d be better off just using your contactless card to pay anyway (assuming that you both have one), because the ‘daily cap’ for contactless is half the price of a 1-day travelcard - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php

John Evans RAIL CARDS OR SENIOR BUS PASS Are they valid with one day travel card off peak

Staff Hi John. A senior bus pass with the red rose symbol lets you travel for free on TFL buses, with time restrictions, but you cant use them to buy a travelcard, A Senior Railcard will give you a discount on “Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-9 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside London (subject to minimum fare)” - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

James allison Is their a pensioner discount

Staff Hi James. Not for travelcards, no, unless you have a senior railcard as mentioned in the comment above. But you can travel for free on the buses and trains if you have a freedom pass or 60+ oyster card (with time restrictions). More info here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

Paul Hoelzley Good afternoon, We are Canadian seniors (82 & 76) and will be in London for 5 days early January 2023. Could you kindly help us and advise us on what is the cheapest card to use during our stay. There seem to be so many different choices and fares and this is very confusing to us. Thank you for taking the time to answer our question (s). Regards, Paul H.

Staff Hi Paul. A Visitor Oyster card will be the cheapest, and you can buy it online before you go and have it delivered to you in Canada - more information about that here: londondrum.com/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php . You’ll have to choose how much credit you want on it, so just work out which fare zones you’ll be travelling through each day (most tourists just need zone 1), and look at the ‘daily cap’ for that zone in the fares chart. That will be the maximum you will be charged that day. Add up all the daily caps for the five days, and thats how much credit you’ll need. Alternatively… you can just buy a weekly travelcard when you arrive in London. You’ll lose a little bit of money, but its a lot less complicated because you can make unlimited journeys for the whole week

Mark Hi, we will be travelling to London from Melbourne in September. Four adults For five full days. We are flying into Gatewick. What is the best way to get to accommodation near Hyde park and where should we get recommended pass?

Staff Hi Mark. I would buy tickets for the Gatwick Express into Victoria on their website, and then get Visitor Oyster Cards for everyone and have them delivered to Australia before I travel. Oyster cards have the cheapest fares, and you can use them on the tube to wherever it is you're staying around Hyde Park. Info about where to get Visitor Oyster cards here - londondrum.com/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Ali Need a travel pass ticket in London for tube and buss

Staff Hi Ali. We've explained how you can get one on this page

Jordi Hello, I'm going to travel to London for a 7 days in July. 2 adults and 1 of 14 years. We move for zones 1-3. Wich is the best option? and Where can I buy better?

Staff Hi Jordi. It depends how many journeys you're making. If you make two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six of the days, then a weekly travelcard should be cheaper. Otherwise the adults should use their contactless cards if they're from the UK, or Oyster cards if they're from abroad (which have the same fares as contactless, but you have to pay a £5 deposit on top). The 14-year old should get an Oyster card and have the 'Young Visitor Discount' applied to it, as explained on this page - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Keith Morgan How much will a 1-6 zone one day travelcard for 2 adults and two children with a family railcard

Staff Hi Keith. You dont get a discount if you buy the travelcard on its own. You need to be coming into London on another train. According to their terms: “With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £20,30)” - familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/​help/​faqs/

DEREK SPELLER Good afternoon.......we are travelling into Heathrow from Canada in August and staying in Paddington. The London Transport Travelcard will allow us onto the Tube at Heathrow but NOT the Heathrow to Paddington Airport Train.....am I correct?

Staff Hi Derek. That's correct, yes. You can use an Oyster card on the Heathrow Express, but not a travelcard. If you want to use a travelcard on the tube from heathrow to paddington then you'll have to get one covering zones 1-6

Muraleedharan vp Which are the places covered by differrnt zones?

Staff Zone 1-2 covers the central touristy part of London, which is good enough for 99% of tourists. but maybe you'll want zone 3 for kew, and zone 6 for heathrow

Reda Weekly travel card zone 2 to zone 4. Travelling from zone 4 to zone 4 without crossing zone 1 , why I got charged £2.50 at the end of the day.

Staff Hi Reda. Is the travelcard loaded onto an Oyster card? £2.50 is a zone 1 fare, so the only thing I can think of is that you didn’t tap out at the end.

B Walker Can I purchase a weekly anytime travel card as ticket? Not plastic oyster

Staff Hi B Walker. Only if you buy it online from the TFL shop - visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/​en/​london-travelcard . If you buy it anywhere in London then it will be loaded onto an Oyster card.

Veronica We are a family of five traveling into London Kings Cross on 7th Oct children are aged 15,15,14, We are staying for 9 nights at Twickenham and will be travelling in/out London and going to attractions. What would be the best travel option?

Staff Hi Veronica. We always recommend that adults use their contactless bank card. (oyster cards have the same fares, but you have to pay a deposit on top.) and then get oyster cards for the kids. but get the ‘young visitor discount’ applied to the oyster cards when you arrive in London, which is explained here - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Veronica Which zone is Twickenham in. Should I order the child oyster card before we arrive and do they require a photo

Staff Its in zone 5. you can order it in advance if you want to, they don’t require a photo. its all explained on our oyster card page - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

PEDRO Do foreign children between 11 and 15 have a discount with the one-day travelcard? I think no...

Staff Hi Pedro. They can do, but only if you get them an Oyster Zip photocard as well. But you have to pay extra for those, which will wipe out any savings you make. So we dont recommend getting one if its just a one-off visit - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Alex If I buy a travelcard at Heathrow and need to travel to Hammersmith but only on the next day do I need to make another journey (in zones 1 and 2), can I buy a 7 day travelcard at the same time as buying some PAYG but somehow POST-DATE the 7 day travelcard so it is only active from the NEXT day?

Staff Hi Alex. You can do. You always have to choose the start date when you buy a travelcard so i would do that first, then load some credit on after. Another way is to just buy a zone 1-2 travelcard at heathrow, from the first day, and load some extra credit on to cover the zones 2-6 bit

Alex Hello again. Travelling from Buckhurst Hill to Hampton Wick with a Zone 1-2 Travelcard and PAYG. I see this necessitates a National Rail Journey from Zone 1 to 6. Will it cost a Zone 1 to 6 fare from PAYG despite the travelcard because it's National Rail and not Overground/Underground? Does one have to check in/check out at a station on the border of zones 2-3? Pink card reader or something?

Staff As long as the National Rail station is within the oyster zones (which your stations are) then you can pay with a travelcard and oyster - theres no difference. you dont have to tap down on a pink reader. you only use those if you're making a detour to avoid zone 1, on a journey that would normally go through zone 1. you just have to tap down at the beginning and end of your journey like normal

ELHAMUDDIN ZAHID Hello I am student and have class two days a week and live in zone 5 which option will be cheap for me. Many thanks

Staff Hi Elhamuddin. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to just use your contactless card - londondrum.com/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

Alex Hi. I just phoned up TFL and got my PAYG balance refunded (£8:70) from my oyster into bank account. I'm no longer on London and couldn't do it at machine in London as I still had a valid travelcard on my last day! Now the oyster card has been removed from the app! Is the card still valid should I return to London in the future? Or did refunding the PAYG balance cancel the card? I paid £7 for the card. Perhaps they canceled the card and refunded the £7 as well as the £8:70?

Staff Hi Alex. The card gets voided at the same time as the refund, so you wont be able to use it anymore. The deposit would have been converted into PAYG credit after 12 months, but if you've had it less than that then you don't get it back.

JOHN Hello everyone, I have a crucial to me question that puzzles me when I try to buy online a London weekly anytime travelcard for my planned trip to London next month, i.e. November 2022, landing at Heathrow airport. As far as I understand, a 7-Days (weekly) London anytime travelcard does not have a peak, or, off-peak option (As 1-day travelcards do). They are valid throughout the whole day (And, if I am not mistaken valid until 04:30 am of the next day after their expiry). I am trying to buy the card from abroad (within EU) prior my arrival & ordering it to be mailed to my home country. I choose adult, Ticket Duration = 7 Day (only option), Ticket Zone = Zones 1-6, Then it requires me to choose (Under: “Admission)” an option, BUT, the only option available in the: “Peak”. Then date of first use which I provide and then the total price is £70.30. Question is, in the field entitled: “Admission” the only option being: “Peak”, What do they mean by the word: Peak ? If I choose Peak (the only option available) will I purchase a weekly anytime travelcard that I will be able to use throughout the whole day, OR, will I be able to ONLY use it during Peak hours (i.e. prior 09:30 am) which does NOT make any sense as a 7-Days (weekly) anytime travelcard (As the name clearly states) is valid throughout the whole day ? I am at a loss. What do they mean by the option: Peak ? Can somebody please help me ? Many thanks in advance for your time & effort. Looking forward to your reply/assistance. Many thanks & Best Regards

Staff Hi John. The way they've worded it does look a bit confusing (they should have called it 'anytime') but it will definitely be valid for an entire week, both off-peak and peak hours. That's the only version you can buy for a weekly travelcard.

JOHN Many thanks for your reply ref London weekly anytime travelcard. Much appreciated. If I land to Heathrow during weekend will I be able to buy a London weekly anytime travelcard from Heathrow Visitor Center, OR, from a Heathrow ticket machine ? In this case do I need an oyster card ? Can I use the very same card to travel (By tube and/or overground rail) from, AND, to Heathrow airport (E.g. Heathrow to Waterloo)? In the latter case, are there any specific tube/overground trains I cannot use, i.e. express ? Many thanks in advance for your time & effort. Looking forward to your reply/assistance. Many thanks & Best Regards

Staff You won't be able to buy a paper travelcard at Heathrow, but you will be able to get one loaded onto an Oyster card. Assuming that you haven't got an Oyster card already, that will add another £7 deposit on top. But if you do get an Oyster card then you may as well forget the travelcard and load some credit onto it instead, and pay normal Oyster fares, which might work out cheaper depending on how many days you're staying. Oyster credit can be used on buses and trains in all the zones, including Heathrow. But if you catch the Heathrow Express then the credit will be used to pay the normal Heathrow Express fare instead (rather than a cheaper Oyster fare - you'd have to catch the tube for that). More info about all that here - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php - If you want a paper travelcard then your only option is to get it from the TFL site and have it posted to you.

Matt Greer Are weekly travelcards discontinuing in January 2023? If so, what is replacing it for tourist weekly travel?

Staff Hi Matt. There was talk about scrapping them last year as well, but nothing has happened so far. If they do disappear then people will have to use the weekly cap on Oyster and contactless instead (which is the same price as a weekly travelcard). So tourists will have to buy an Oyster card.

Eva Ticket type Hi, I found Super Off-Peak Day Travelcardincludes London Travelcard with Travel conditions Same day return off-peak travel including unlimited bus, tube, tram and DLR journeys around London. I would like to use with the 2 for 1 promotion wisiting London Eye. I would like to be sure that this train ticket is accepted by them. thank you

Staff Hi Eva. It has to be from a National Rail station rather than an underground station (so it has to be printed on orange paper), and you have to book the London Eye in advance rather than turn up on the day. You can check the ticket here - daysoutguide.co.uk/​travel-by-train/​is-my-ticket-valid-for-2for1-and-other-offers

Muhammad Athar Masood I am coming to London on March 29 and shall stay here upto April 11. During my stay, I intend to travel in almost all zones of the city using bus, tube, tram or train whichever convenient. Please guide me if should buy a Travle Card or an Oyester Card.

Staff Hi Muhammad. Price-wise you're probably going to be better off with an Oyster card rather than a travelcard, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Have a read of this page which explains them all - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-contactless-travelcard-comparison.php

Sandr Hi, Me and my husband are coming to London with our kids age 8,15,16.We will be there one week.Is the seven days travelcard best options for us?

Staff Hi Sandr. Travelcards usually work out cheaper if you make 2 or more journeys on each of the 7 days, or three or more on 6 of the days. Otherwise you’ll be better off with Oyster cards (unless you have UK bank cards, then you can just use contactless instead)

Sandra Thank you very much for your answer.We surely will be using it more than 2 times a day.And my daughter age 8 doesn't have to have a travelcard?My daughter age 15 has a child travelcard?Does it have to be with a photo? Thanks for your help.

Staff You can only get a child travelcard if you have a child photocard, but you have to pay extra money for those which means you’d wipe out all the savings. So its not worth it. Your 8 year old travels for free. Its all explained on our child fares page - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Kathe Conway Hello, riding here i am curious, i will be in london for seven days thinking it is best to get a travel card, can you buy this at Heathrow ? Also if for one day I am traveling to zone four does it make more sense just to buy a single trip that day? sorry so confusing :)

Staff Hi Kathe. You can get it loaded on to an oyster card, but youll need the oyster card first. You can have a paper one posted to you if you order it online (even abroad - its all described in the ‘Where can you buy a travelcard?’ section above). If you want to use it from heathrow into central london that would be zones 1-6, which would also cover zone 4. You wouldnt be travelling zones 1-6 all week though, so it would be a bit of a waste of money. I would probably recommend getting an oyster card instead, which you can get from heathrow - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

Giuluano Hi there, how much cost me a travel card zone 1to 6 on Sunday?

Staff Hi Giuluano. Sunday is off-peak so get the off-peak one - 15,20

Richard Can I buy the 1 day Travelcard at any national trainstation (planning for Knockholt)? As this is a requirement for 2for1

Staff Hi. Richard. You can, yes (assuming you mean one of the stations in London). But you have to get it from the windows/machines upstairs, in the National Rail part of the station. If you go downstairs to the London Underground part then it will be printed on different paper, which is no good for the offer.

Richard Thanks. Indeed we drive from SevenOaks to Knockholt national railstation, with our Diesel from the Netherlands, which I want to leave outside LEZ. Thus parking in Knockholt (which is in Zone 6) and then use for the Saturday and Sunday the 2 day paper travelcard. This should allow our group of 6 to have the cheapest means of transportation into London, benefitting from 2FOR1, as long as we purchase the cards at Knockholt national Railwaystation (Can we purchase them at this station!? ). Can you confirm this is the best strategy? Thx

Staff Knockholt is in zone 6, so they should sell them. Its not the cheapest way of travelling (using contactless/oyster would be cheaper) but you’d make all the money back and more from doing the 2-for-1 offer, so it sounds like a good plan. You can buy the off-peak ones if youre travelling at the weekend. And its definitely a lot cheaper than driving into london. If youre talking about this saturday and sunday remember the coronation is on, so everywhere will likely be packed

JOSE CARVALHO If I have a travelcard card for zones 1 and 2, and I want to go Canning Town (zone 2/3) and return, how to proceed.

Staff Hi Jose. if you coming from the direction of zone 1 or 2, and get off at Canning Town, then you're fine, your travelcard will cover the whole journey. If you’re going into zone 3 and your travelcard is on an oyster card, then you can just load on some extra pay-as-you-go credit to cover the fare for zone 2-3 (which can be seen here - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php )

Lynn I am arriving in London from overseas and need just one train ticket from Paddington Station to Kings Cross Station. What is the best way to pay for this trip please

Staff Hi lynn. If it's just a one-off then I would buy a single ticket from the self-service machine in the station

Derek Scriven Is there still a concession on 1 day travelcards with a senior railcard?

Staff H Derek. There is, but only this specific one - "Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-9 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside London" - senior-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Richard I want to find out about the cheapest weekly cost for travel card from Brockley station to Reading.

Lala If I want to travel to London zones 1-6 and I need the weekly travel cards, how much is it and how do I buy it? I also have a 16-25 Railcard, can it be applied when buying?

Staff Hi Lala. the prices for zone 1-6 are all shown in the table at the top. The different ways to buy it are described under ‘Where can you buy travelcards’. The railcard wont get you a discount on a weekly travelcard. The only travelcard you can get a discount on is a “one day travelcard, zones 1-9, when bought together with a National Rail ticket to London (when coming from outside London)”

ALAN Can I use a Rail Travel Voucher issued by Transport for Wales for a cancelled journey to buy a TFL Travelcard?

Staff Hi Alan. I wouldn't imagine so, but it's probably best to ask Transport for Wales - tfw.wales/​help-and-contact/​rail/contact-us

Edward Gould Do I need a photo for an annual season travel card

Staff Hi Edward. You’ll need to get an oyster card and register it on the TFL website. You’ll then be able to buy the annual travelcard through that website and load it straight onto your card

Malcolm Oates What is price of off-peak one day travelcard zones 1-6 for a senior railcard holder. it was 34% off.

Staff Hi Malcom. The normal price is £15,20 and the discount would only apply if you bought the ticket as part of a longer National Rail journey from outside zones 1-9 - senior-railcard.co.uk/​about-the-railcard/​using-your-railcard/

Tahira If I bought a Train, Bus & Tram Travelcard covering zones 5-6, what buses would be covered? Will it always be buses up to zone 6? Or is my case different?

Staff Hi Tahira. Buses don't have zones, so whichever train travelcard you buy it will always cover buses in train zones 1-6

Steve Hi, I’m traveling to Leicester square on the Friday bank holiday from Bedford with two adults and two 15 year olds just for the day. Do we just get the one day travel card or is there a better option. Tia

Staff HI Steve. The fares will be cheaper if you just use your contactless card. But you’ll have to have one card each. if your kids don’t have one then I would get them one day travelcards - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-contactless-travelcard-comparison.php

Steve Thank you for your help

Ron Travelling from Richmond to Stratford using Overground line Do I need to use pink reader anywhere to get cheaper fare using contactless? Thanks

Staff Hi Ron. You need to avoid zone 1, so it will make the journey a lot longer. If you want to do it then you could change onto the Overground at Gunnersbury and tap the pink reader there (don't go through any ticket barriers, because that would end your journey)

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Key takeaways

• A travel credit card offers points or miles for the purchases you make with the card that you can redeem for future travel.
• Travel credit cards come in all shapes and sizes, from co-branded hotel or airline cards to general travel cards that allow points and miles transfers to partner brands.
• In terms of redemption, you'll typically get the most value by redeeming toward travel in your issuer's portal or by transferring rewards to hotel and airline loyalty programs.
• Before applying for a travel card, consider its fees, ongoing rewards structure and first-year welcome bonus opportunity.

Travel credit cards make it easy to earn rewards — usually offered in the form of points or miles — for certain types of purchases. You can typically redeem your travel rewards for the big expenses associated with your next trip such as flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. Some issuers also let you redeem travel rewards for statement credits and other non-travel options.

Some travel credit cards are associated with a specific airline or hotel loyalty program, whereas others let you earn rewards within a credit card’s rewards program . At the end of the day, you’ll want to understand the type of travel rewards your card offers, as well as available redemption options before you sign up.

Regardless of which type of card you choose, becoming a savvy travel rewards credit card holder can help offset travel costs and enhance your overall travel experience.

Types of travel credit cards

No matter your spending habits and rewards preferences, there’s likely a travel credit card that fits. Top travel credit cards include flexible rewards cards and those that are co-branded with another program, such as hotel credit cards and airline credit cards.

Flexible travel credit cards

Hotel credit cards, airline credit cards, how to redeem points and miles.

Once you’ve met the requirements for a hefty welcome offer or earned enough miles to cover your next flight or hotel stay, how do you redeem them? The kind of travel card you have and its respective rewards program determine how you can apply those rewards. If you have a hotel or airline credit card, you can typically only redeem those points with their respective loyalty programs, with a few exceptions. However, there are more ways to redeem flexible travel rewards , like booking through your card issuer’s online travel portal or transferring your points or miles to an issuer’s travel partners.

Redeeming rewards on an issuer’s online portal

Your card issuer will typically have a portal on its website that lists redemption options and points values. Examples of redemption options include statement credits, travel purchases, gift cards and cash back.

Rewards programs typically use a 1 point:1 cent conversion rate, meaning every 100 points or miles is worth $1. Some issuers, like Chase, also offer boosted points values or other perks for travel purchases made through their online portal. To get an idea of how much your points and miles are worth, take a look at Bankrate’s points and miles valuations page for an in-depth look at airline, hotel and credit card program rewards values.

To redeem your rewards on an issuer’s online portal, simply log in to your account and locate the appropriate rewards or travel section.

Redeeming rewards by transferring to a travel partner

Some travel rewards cards let you transfer points or miles to the issuer’s travel partners, which may include frequent flyer programs or hotel loyalty programs. This is often how to get the most value out of your travel rewards.

You can redeem travel rewards by transferring to an eligible travel partner through the issuer’s online portal. Transfer times can range from instantly to a few days — so plan ahead. Note, once you transfer points or miles from an issuer to a travel partner, you won’t be able to transfer them back to the issuer.

After you’ve transferred your points, you can book travel directly through the airline or hotel’s own loyalty program. Your credit card issuer is no longer involved in the process.

Other ways to redeem points and miles

Some credit cards allow you to redeem your points and miles for things like statement credits, cash back, gift cards or other merchandise. This is usually the least valuable way to redeem your points and miles so you’d be better off using them towards travel most times.

What’s the best way to maximize travel rewards?

When you want to make the most of your rewards, there’s no shortage of ways to spend a stockpile of points or miles. But here are some of the best ways to use your travel rewards :

• Book luxury accommodations
• Cover or lower the cost of your next flight
• Reserve a rental car at your destination
• Upgrade a flight or hotel stay

Be sure to check your card issuer’s online portal and travel partners for deals — such as a travel portal redemption bonus or transfer bonus to a specific hotel or airline — to help stretch your rewards further. In many cases, you can also choose to exchange your travel rewards for cash or a statement credit. But keep in mind that doing so usually dilutes the value of those rewards. Once you get the hang of using your travel credit card, you can maximize those rewards on bigger, better travel plans.

In general, the best value for flexible travel rewards will come from transferring them to various loyalty programs. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back, 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal and 2 cents each on average when transferred to a travel partner (according to Bankrate’s valuations ).

However, the value you get out of transferring points ultimately depends on how you redeem them. If you transfer 10,000 points from your travel credit card to an airline partner to book a flight that would’ve cost $300 in cash, your points would be worth 3 cents apiece in this case. However, if you used those same points to book a flight worth $100, your points would only be worth 1 cent apiece.

How to maximize your travel rewards

As we’ve mentioned, the best way to redeem points or miles is to transfer your rewards to one of the issuer’s airline or hotel partners and redeem them for accommodations or airline tickets. But making good use of a travel rewards card is about more than just earning and redeeming rewards — it’s also about managing the card itself well.

Whether you’re trying to get the best possible redemption value or want to know which pitfalls to avoid, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your travel rewards.

Use your card responsibly

The most important rule of using a travel credit card is to always pay your bill on time and in full and never carry a balance if you can help it. To do this, make sure you never charge more than you can afford to pay off each month, and don’t let the prospect of rewards cause you to overspend. Credit card rewards aren’t worthwhile if you’re going into debt or racking up interest charges and fees to get them.

Don’t miss out on a sign-up bonus

Many travel credit cards come with generous sign-up bonuses requiring you to spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. Although these bonuses are often an attractive incentive to apply for a card, make sure the spending requirement is realistic for your budget and travel plans before you choose a travel credit card . You don’t want to end up in debt for the sake of earning extra rewards.

Don’t ignore the card’s fees

Credit card fees don’t directly affect the rewards you earn, but the cost of the fees does affect a card’s overall value to you. Take note of all the fees associated with any card you’re interested in getting.

One of the biggest fees to watch out for with travel credit cards is the annual fee some cards charge. Not all travel cards come with an annual fee, but those that do can range from an approachable $95 to $695 (or more). If you’re interested in a travel card that has an annual fee, be sure that the rewards and benefits will offset the cost. Otherwise, consider our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee .

Watch out for foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee for purchases made abroad or in a foreign currency. This fee is usually around 3 percent of a purchase, and you’ll pay this fee for every transaction you make overseas. If you travel abroad frequently, you should consider getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fees .

Luckily, many of the best travel rewards cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but it’s always a good idea to verify that before applying.

Make sure you have the right card

It’s important to find the right travel card for your needs, which you can do after comparing options and considering all their pros and cons . For example, if you’re partial to a certain airline or hotel chain, a co-branded credit card can offer better rewards rates, discounts and perks related to that specific airline or hotel compared to a generic travel card.

Additionally, pay attention to a travel credit card’s rewards categories. For example, earning points or miles at restaurants won’t deliver a lot of value if you rarely dine out. But if you use services like Lyft or Uber a lot, you may want to look into a card that offers points or miles for rideshares.

How to choose a travel rewards card

Choosing the right travel rewards card is a highly personalized decision. Ultimately your spending habits, goals, finances and credit history will determine which travel card works best for you. This may require some self-reflection and an assessment of your financial situation to find the right travel card. Review these factors in your financial life to get clear on which travel card you need:

• Travel preferences. Do you prefer using one specific airline or hotel chain when you travel? Or would you rather have the freedom to use your points on whichever hotel and flight you choose? For loyalty-based rewards, go for a co-branded travel card. If you prefer flexibility, generic travel cards will give you more options.
• Spending habits. What do you spend the most money on? One of the best ways to choose a travel card is finding one that offers the highest rewards for the categories you spend the most in.
• Welcome offers. You may find welcome offers for travel credit cards where you can earn extra rewards by meeting purchase requirements within a certain timeframe. As long as you’re able to comfortably meet the spending requirements, a bonus offer could be a deciding factor.
• Credit history. Like most credit cards, applying for a travel rewards card means a hard credit check to determine eligibility. If you know where your credit score stands, it’s best to choose travel rewards cards that fit your credit profile to avoid unnecessary denials and credit inquiries. For cards that match your credit, use Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool .
• Annual fee. There are plenty of travel credit cards with no annual fee if that’s what works for your budget. However, some cards with annual fees are worth it thanks to extra perks and benefits.

Travel rewards cards for beginners

When you’re ready to earn rewards, it’s best to start with a beginner-friendly travel card so you can get the hang of things. Here are our picks for beginner travel rewards credit cards:

• Discover it® Miles . Earn unlimited 1.5X miles on all of your purchases without an annual fee. With a simple rewards structure and a mile-for-mile match on all of the miles you earn at the end of your first year, you’ll find plenty of ways to make the most of this flexible travel rewards card.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . Get flexible travel rewards that are easy to use and understand, for a modest $95 annual fee. Earn 2X miles on all purchases and 5X the miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
• Bilt Mastercard® . If you want to earn travel rewards by paying your rent, the Bilt Mastercard has you covered. Earn 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points each year) without any transaction fees, 2X on travel and 3X on dining. Plus you’ll access exclusive benefits on the first of every month as part of Bilt’s monthly “ Rent Day ” promotions.
• Chase Sapphire PreferredⓇ Card . If you’re looking for your first travel credit card, but it’s not your first time using a credit card, the Sapphire Preferred offers tons of cardholder perks and high rewards on travel and everyday categories like dining. For $95 per year, you’ll benefit from a $50 annual hotel credit through the Chase Travel portal, a solid lineup of travel protections and 25% more value when you redeem your points through Chase Travel.

These might not be your forever cards, but they’re a good starting point for learning how travel credit cards work. They’ll also help you get familiar with earning, redeeming and eventually maximizing travel rewards.

The bottom line

Using a travel rewards credit card can help you elevate your travel experiences by earning points or miles from your purchases. When you choose a travel card that aligns with your budget and goals, it can significantly reduce your travel costs or provide perks that enhance your trip. There’s a learning curve to using a travel card, but once you get the hang of it, you may be surprised by how much you can accomplish with your redemptions.

To make sure a travel credit card is ultimately worth it for you , be sure to select a card that rewards you for the type of purchases you make most often or the categories you spend the most in. Ideally, it won’t charge a fee that costs more than you’ll earn in rewards. If you’re ready to jump into the travel rewards lifestyle and start earning points toward your next trip, take a look at the best travel rewards cards to make your decision a little easier.

A guide to earning and redeeming frequent flyer miles

Do I need credit card travel insurance?

5 benefits you need from a travel credit card

Are travel credit cards worth it?

The pros and cons of travel credit cards

Should I get a travel credit card that earns points, miles or both?

5 steps to choose the best travel card

Best Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Credit cards 101: The beginner's guide

Editor's Note

Here at TPG, we love credit cards . We've experienced the power of redeeming credit card rewards, and we want to help everyone else have that great experience.

But if you're new to the world of credit cards, reading a credit card application (or even a review ) can make you feel like you missed a course somewhere everyone else appears to have taken. If that's you, you're in the right place.

Below, we're taking the mystery out of credit cards. We cover everything from terms to types of credit cards and even breaking down a credit card bill. So settle in, maybe grab a notepad, and let's get into it.

Credit card debt

Before we go over anything else, it's important to note that while we're huge fans of credit cards at TPG, we never recommend carrying a balance on a credit card. Carrying a balance means you'll be charged interest, which costs you far more than the value you'll get from any rewards you earn.

If you're considering getting a credit card, first make sure you have a plan to stick to your budget and pay off your card balance each month. Never charge a purchase to a credit card unless you're 110% sure you can pay it off when your bill is due.

Related: Credit card debt hits new record of over $1 trillion — here's how to consolidate and pay off your debt

Credit scores

A credit score is a number — usually between 300 and 850 — that potential lenders use to determine their risk in lending you money.

Your credit score is made up of numerous factors, including payment history, the amount you owe and new credit opened. You must borrow and pay it back on time to build and keep a good credit score. Using your credit card and paying your balance in full each month is a great way to improve your credit score .

When you apply for any type of credit, including a credit card, the potential lender will check your credit score to help them decide whether or not to approve your application. Typically, the best rewards cards require good to excellent credit scores for approval.

However, if your score is less than stellar, don't worry. We can show you how to improve your credit score and how to earn rewards while you're improving your credit .

Related: How to check your credit score for free

Debit vs. credit cards

When you use a debit card, money is pulled directly from your bank account to cover your purchase. That's why your $1,000 purchase will be declined if you only have $500 in your bank account.

However, when you use a credit card, you borrow money from the credit card company to make your purchase. When you pay off your balance, you're paying them back for your loan. If you fail to pay within the given time frame (typically around a month), you'll be charged fees and interest, and your credit score will drop.

The main benefit of using a debit card is that it keeps you from overspending. If you use a credit card responsibly, however, you'll earn rewards, get additional benefits and improve your credit score.

Related: Why a credit card is a smarter choice than a debit card

How to read your credit card bill

The terms, dates and different numbers on a credit card bill can make reading one feel like a decoding activity. But the good news is that the code is easily broken by understanding some key terms.

First, let's clarify the terms "bill" and "statement." Before we had access to online banking, cardholders would receive a paper statement (aka bill — the terms are used interchangeably) in the mail each month. That statement would outline the cardholder's charges for the billing period (the time since the last bill), statement balance (amount the cardholder charged during the billing period), minimum payment amount and payment due date.

Now, we have the luxury of checking our accounts online at any time. We still have statements that reflect our billing periods, but we can also see the transactions we've made since our last statement. This extra information is nice, but it can make things a bit confusing.

Here's a breakdown of what you might see when you log in to your online account:

The statement balance is the amount charged during your most recent billing period. You must pay this amount by the due date to avoid being charged interest or late payment fees.

The due date for your billing cycle will depend on your respective card (you can find this information in your terms and conditions).

So, in the example above, the cardholder needs to pay their statement balance of $89.86 by the due date of Nov. 22 to avoid being charged any fees.

The minimum payment is the lowest amount you can pay by the due date to avoid being charged a late payment fee. However, if you only pay the minimum payment (or anything lower than the full statement balance), you'll carry a balance over to the next billing period and be charged interest on that amount.

The "total balance" refers to the entire amount that you owe on your card: the statement balance from the previous month, along with any charges that have been made since that billing cycle closed. In this example, the cardholder has charged $11.44 since the closing date, so the total balance is the statement balance of $89.85 plus the recent charges of $11.44. The cardholder can pay the total balance, but they can also just pay the statement balance and still avoid paying any fees. If they do this, the $11.44 will show up on the next bill, which they'll have to pay the next month.

Another number you'll likely see is "available credit," which is the amount left in your credit limit. This number will fluctuate as you pay off your balance or charge more to your balance. For example, if this user's credit limit were $4,000, their available credit would be $3,898.70 (the total balance of $101.30 subtracted from the credit limit of $4,000). Try not to max out your credit limit, as your card will be denied or be charged an over-the-limit fee if you charge more than your credit limit affords.

Related: After 15 years, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card

Rates and fees

Now that you understand how to pay your credit card bill, let's review all the essential fees a credit card company might charge.

• Annual percentage rate (APR): The interest rate charged for the entire year. There are various types of APRs, including balance transfer, cash advance, penalty and purchase APRs. The most common APR type is your purchase APR, which is the monthly interest rate charged to your credit card balance if you fail to pay off your statement balance in time.
• Introductory APR offer: A reduced APR for a defined period can help you avoid additional interest charges on purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: The cost of owning your card, charged once per year. Some cards have no annual fees, while others can charge $550 (or more) per year.

• Foreign transaction fee: The amount charged to your account when paying with a foreign currency. Some credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, while others can charge fees — usually up to 3% of each transaction.
• Late payment fee: The amount charged to your account when you fail to pay the minimum payment by your payment date. In addition to the penalty APR charged to your balance, you'll also be charged a late payment fee.
• Over-the-credit limit fee: The amount charged to your account when you exceed the credit limit defined on your card.
• Return payment fee: The amount charged to your account when the payment method you provided for your credit card statement fails or bounces for reasons such as insufficient funds, account freezes or closures.

Related: How to choose a credit card with 0% APR

Types of credit cards

If you're new to credit cards, the sheer volume of options can feel overwhelming. It helps to narrow your search by first determining which type of credit card you want.

Here are the most common credit card types.

General travel

These credit cards earn travel rewards and come with travel perks that aren't tied to any airline or hotel brand. They typically earn transferable rewards, which are our favorite type due to their high value and flexibility.

These cards also usually come with general travel benefits, such as travel insurance , TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits and airport lounge access .

For our top picks, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards .

Related: Why transferable points are worth more than other rewards

Airline credit cards are cards tied to one specific airline. You'll earn rewards in the form of that airline's points or miles and get perks tied to the airline, such as free checked bags, automatic elite status and airport lounge access.

For our favorites, check out our full list of the best airline credit cards .

Hotel credit cards are tied to a specific hotel brand. You'll earn rewards in the form of points that you can use for any hotel within that brand, and you'll get perks like free nights and automatic elite status.

For some great hotel cards, check out our full list of the best hotel credit cards .

Cash-back cards are usually the simplest in terms of earning and redeeming. With a cash-back card, you'll earn a percentage of your purchase back in rewards. Then, you can redeem your rewards for cash — either as a statement credit, a check in the mail or a direct deposit into an eligible checking or savings account, depending on the issuer.

To see some of our favorite cash-back cards, check out our full list of the best cash-back credit cards .

Related: How to choose a cash-back credit card

A secured credit card is a good option if you have limited credit history or a low credit score. With a secured card, you'll pay a security deposit when you open the card, which functions as insurance for the credit card company.

Generally, these don't earn rewards, but they're a good way to build your credit and increase your chances of being approved for a rewards credit card later on.

For some great options, check out our full list of the best secured credit cards .

Related: My 1st-year journey into the world of cards and points

A student credit card is for — you guessed it— college students. They're designed to help students build credit, good financial habits and a relationship with a bank so they'll be ready for a more advanced credit card when they graduate.

These tend to earn minimal rewards, but they're a great option for students to ease into the world of credit cards.

For some student-focused options, check out our full list of the best credit cards for college students .

Related: Why the Citi Rewards+ is great for college students

Authorized user

An authorized user is someone who has been added to an existing credit card account by the primary account holder. An authorized user has full spending abilities on their credit card but usually has limited benefits .

If you're having trouble getting approved for a credit card, being added to someone else's account as an authorized user can help your credit score.

Related: Have good credit? Share it with an authorized user

Earning rewards

Each rewards card earns a type of rewards "currency." The American Express® Gold Card earns transferable American Express Membership Rewards points , for example, while the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® earns American Airlines AAdvantage miles and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns Hilton Honors points . These currencies have different values, so check out our TPG valuations chart to get an idea of what each rewards type is worth.

Your card's earning rate and spending habits determine the amount of rewards you'll earn. Some cards earn at a fixed rate , meaning they earn the same amount on all purchases. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , which earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar spent, and the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ), which earns 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay), are both examples of cards that earn at a fixed rate.

Other cards have bonus-earning categories. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , for example, earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining , popular streaming services and grocery delivery purchases, as well as 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases. On all other purchases, it earns 1 point per dollar spent.

Additionally, many rewards cards come with a welcome bonus that can be really valuable (we're talking hundreds or thousands of dollars in value). To earn the welcome bonus, you'll need to spend a certain amount of money in a given period of time.

The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The best credit cards for each bonus category

Credit card best practices

You may have heard that credit cards should be avoided because they can get you into serious trouble. Although you won't hear us tell you to avoid credit cards, we only condone responsible credit card use.

Here are some of the best credit card practices that we live by.

Always pay your balance on time and in full. It may seem like we're heavily emphasizing this point, but for good reason. Not only will you negate any points and miles you earn if you start to accrue interest charges, but carrying a balance can get you into significant debt quickly.

Credit cards are not free money, so never charge more than you can afford. Similarly, remember that you'll owe the statement balance on your card each month. Budget and manage your credit wisely so your finances don't get out of hand.

Understand credit card application restrictions. You may be tempted to dive into the deep end of credit card rewards immediately, but it's best to take it slowly. In addition to giving yourself time to find a credit card budget system that works best for you, know that some issuers have their own set of restrictions . It pays to be thoughtful and have a longer-term plan before you apply for a credit card.

Wait at least three months (ideally, six months or longer) between card applications. Opening new lines of credit impacts your credit score, and it's a red flag you apply for new cards too quickly. Pace yourself by earning a card's sign-up bonus and taking some time to learn how well the card matches your lifestyle. Then, you can choose your next card based on what will complement that card (and any others in your wallet).

Think twice before canceling a credit card. As you add more cards to your portfolio, you might be tempted to cancel the ones you aren't reaching for as often. However, if a card has no annual fee, there's no harm in keeping the card in your wallet — potentially forever. Length of credit is a factor in your credit score, so keeping your earliest cards open helps increase your credit history and, therefore, your credit score.

Related: TPG's 10 commandments of credit card rewards

Building a points-and-miles strategy

Now that you have a baseline understanding of credit cards, it's time to choose your card.

Don't feel like you need to have a strategy in place right now. If you're overwhelmed by the types of rewards, you can start small with a cash-back card to solidify your good credit habits and enjoy simple rewards redemptions.

But if you do have a dream trip in mind, you can set your sights on a travel rewards card that will help make that dream a reality.

When you're ready to think about a points-and-miles strategy, check out our TPG guide to getting started with points and miles to travel .

Bottom line

Congratulations! You're armed with the terms and knowledge you need to research, apply for and responsibly use a credit card.

Now, take a look at our recommendations of the best first credit cards and use the knowledge you've gained here to help you choose the one that fits your spending habits and rewards goals. We'll be here for you as you go through every step of your credit card journey.

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This week's personal loan rates rise for 3- and 5-year loans

The latest trends in interest rates for personal loans from the Credible marketplace, updated weekly. ( iStock )

Borrowers with good credit seeking personal loans during the past seven days prequalified for rates that were higher for 3- and 5-year loans when compared to fixed-rate loans for the seven days before.

For borrowers with credit scores of 720 or higher who used the Credible marketplace to select a lender between June 17 and June 23:

• Rates on 3-year fixed-rate loans averaged 15.69%, up from 15.48% the seven days before and from 15.18% a year ago.
• Rates on 5-year fixed-rate loans averaged 19.66%, up from 18.76% the previous seven days and from 18.71% a year ago.

Personal loans have become a popular way to consolidate debt and pay off credit card debt and other loans. They can also be used to cover unexpected and emergency expenses like medical bills, take care of a major purchase, or fund home improvement projects .

Average personal loan interest rates

Average personal loan interest rates have increased over the last seven days for 3- and 5-year loans. While 3-year loan rates rose by 0.21 percentage points, rates on 5-year loans increased by 0.90 percentage points. Interest rates for 3- and 5-year terms remain higher than they were this time last year, up 0.51 percentage points for 3- year terms and up 0.95 percentage points for 5-year terms.

Still, borrowers can take advantage of interest savings with a 3- or 5-year personal loan, as both loan terms offer lower interest rates on average than higher-cost borrowing options such as credit cards. 

But whether a personal loan is right for you depends on multiple factors, including what rate you can qualify for, which is largely based on your credit score. Comparing multiple lenders and their rates helps ensure you get the best personal loan for your needs. 

Before applying for a personal loan, use a personal loan marketplace like Credible to comparison shop .

Personal loan weekly rate trends

Here are the latest trends in personal loan interest rates from the Credible marketplace, updated weekly.

The chart above shows average prequalified rates for borrowers with credit scores of 720 or higher who used the Credible marketplace to select a lender. 

For the month of May 2024:

• Rates on 3-year personal loans averaged 22.35%, down from 22.65% in April.
• Rates on 5-year personal loans averaged 24.52%, down from 24.53% in April.

Rates on personal loans vary considerably by credit score and loan term. If you're curious about what kind of personal loan rates you may qualify for, you can use an online tool like Credible to compare options from different private lenders.

All Credible marketplace lenders offer fixed-rate loans at competitive rates. Because lenders use different methods to evaluate borrowers, it’s a good idea to request personal loan rates from multiple lenders so you can compare your options.

Current personal loan rates by credit score

In May, the average prequalified rate selected by borrowers was: 

• 13.42% for borrowers with credit scores of 780 or above choosing a 3-year loan
• 32.07% for borrowers with credit scores below 600 choosing a 5-year loan

Depending on factors such as your credit score, which type of personal loan you’re seeking and the loan repayment term, the interest rate can differ. 

As shown in the chart above, a good credit score can mean a lower interest rate, and rates tend to be higher on loans with fixed interest rates and longer repayment terms. 

Where are interest rates headed?

A lot happened this week in the world of interest rates.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Wednesday that inflation slowed in May, raising hopes for multiple interest rate cuts in 2024. Later that day, the Fed concluded its June meeting , signaling one cut by the end of the year while holding rates steady. As of now, we anticipate one 25 basis point (0.25 percentage points) cut this year, and a 100 basis point (1 percentage point) cut in 2025.

Currently sitting at 5.25% to 5.50%, the federal funds rate is the highest it's been since 2001. Sticky inflation and low unemployment had made any cuts seem unlikely as of a week ago. But the news may deliver relief for borrowers burdened with high interest costs and those considering a loan. However, demand for personal loans has increased and all signs point to this trend continuing, while debt levels and delinquency rates have risen as well. This may indicate more consumers will struggle to be approved at low rates or at all — even if we see rates fall. 

How to get a lower interest rate

Many factors influence the interest rate a lender might offer you on a personal loan. But you can take some steps to boost your chances of getting a lower interest rate. Here are some tactics to try.

Increase credit score

Generally, people with higher credit scores qualify for lower interest rates. Steps that can help you improve your credit score over time include:

• Pay bills on time: Payment history is the most important factor in your credit score. Pay all your bills on time for the amount due.
• Check your credit report: Look at your credit report to ensure there are no errors on it. If you find errors, dispute them with the credit bureau.
• Lower your credit utilization ratio: Paying down credit card debt can improve this important credit-scoring factor.
• Avoid opening new credit accounts: Only apply for and open credit accounts you actually need. Too many hard inquiries on your credit report in a short amount of time could lower your credit score.

Choose a shorter loan term

Personal loan repayment terms can vary from one to several years. Generally, shorter terms come with lower interest rates, since the lender’s money is at risk for a shorter period of time.

If your financial situation allows, applying for a shorter term could help you score a lower interest rate. Keep in mind the shorter term doesn’t just benefit the lender – by choosing a shorter repayment term, you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan.

Get a cosigner

You may be familiar with the concept of a cosigner if you have student loans. If your credit isn’t good enough to qualify for the best personal loan interest rates, finding a cosigner with good credit could help you secure a lower interest rate.

Just remember, if you default on the loan, your cosigner will be on the hook to repay it. And cosigning for a loan could also affect their credit score.

Compare rates from different lenders

Before applying for a personal loan, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare offers from several different lenders to get the lowest rates. Online lenders typically offer the most competitive rates – and can be quicker to disburse your loan than a brick-and-mortar establishment. 

But don’t worry, comparing rates and terms doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process.

Credible makes it easy. Just enter how much you want to borrow and you’ll be able to compare multiple lenders to choose the one that makes the most sense for you.

About Credible

Credible is a multi-lender marketplace that empowers consumers to discover financial products that are the best fit for their unique circumstances. Credible’s integrations with leading lenders and credit bureaus allow consumers to quickly compare accurate, personalized loan options – without putting their personal information at risk or affecting their credit score. The Credible marketplace provides an unrivaled customer experience, as reflected by over 6,500 positive Trustpilot reviews and a TrustScore of 4.7/5.

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Family Information Form – Visitors, Students and Workers (IMM 5645)

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Family Information (IMM 5645)

Who needs to complete this form.

This form must be completed by each person, 18 years of age or older, applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, a study or work permit outside Canada.

Write the personal details about:

• If you are married and you were physically present at the marriage, choose “married - physically present” in the marital status box.
• If you are married and you were not physically present at the marriage, choose “married - not physically present” in the marital status box.
• If you are married and your spouse was physically present at the marriage, choose “married - physically present” in the marital status box.
• If you are married and your spouse was not physically present at the marriage, choose “married - not physically present” in the marital status box.
• your mother,
• your father.

Include: full name, relationship, date of birth, marital status (married, single, widowed, common-law, divorced, separated, annulled marriage), present address and occupation (job), and if they will come with you to Canada by checking “ Yes ” or “ No ”.

If a person is deceased, write “deceased” under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

If not currently employed, please indicate if that person is retired, studying, etc.

You must answer all questions. If a section does not apply to you, write “Not applicable” or “N/A”.

Note: If you do not have a spouse or a common-law partner, read “ Note 1 ”, then sign and date the declaration at the end of Section A.

Section B - Children

Write the personal details about your children. It is very important that you list all of your children even if they are already permanent residents or citizens of Canada. This includes:

• married children;
• adopted children;
• children of your spouse (step-children) or common-law partner;
• any of your children who have been adopted by others; and
• any of your children who are in the custody of an ex-spouse, former common-law partner or other guardian.

Write full name, relationship, date of birth, marital status (married, single, widowed, common-law, divorced, legally separated, annulled marriage), present address and job, and if they will come with you to Canada by checking “ Yes ” or “ No ”.

If a person is deceased, indicate this under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

Note: If you do not have children, read “ Note 2 ”, then sign and date the declaration at the end of Section B.

Section C - Brothers and Sisters

Write the personal details about your:

• brother(s),
• half-brother(s) and half-sister(s), and
• step-brother(s) and step-sister(s).

If a person is deceased, write this under “Present address”, and write the city and the date they died.

Section D - Certification

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