Credit card travel saving tips

It's easier to find cheap flights by comparing prices from different sources. Look for airline promotions and use flexible dates to get the best deals because flight prices vary based on dates and time. While booking directly with airlines can sometimes be cheaper than using travel platforms, some flight comparison sites track prices and send you alerts when fares drop. You might even catch a flash sale.

Skip expensive hotels and book a guesthouse or an Airbnb property instead. You can save money, experience local culture, and even cook your own meals. Some places offer free stays in exchange for work, such as pet-sitting.

To get around, use buses, trains and trams or even ride-hailing instead of taxis. City travel cards make getting around much cheaper too. Planning a road trip? Look for credit card promotions for car rental, and don't forget your driving licence.

Many Hong Kong tourists like to visit Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Thailand for short-haul trips. Popular cities, like Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Busan, Bangkok and Pattaya, have easy transport and plenty of dining options. But tourist areas can be busy and pricey.

Smaller cities offer great attractions at lower costs, with cheaper stays and transport. Places like Taichung in Taiwan, Hiroshima in Japan, or Chiang Mai in Thailand are budget-friendly and less crowded. You can enjoy local culture, food and nature at a relaxed pace.

Christmas, New Year, Easter and other long holidays mean higher prices and larger crowds for travel. Plan your trip outside these busy times and local public holidays. You'll get better deals and enjoy a more relaxed, less crowded travel experience.

Many people now use credit cards instead of cash when spending overseas. This avoids the hassle of currency exchange and lets you earn rewards.

Flight tickets, hotel bookings and travel packages often costs a lot of money.

Paying with a credit card is easier, and it earns you reward cash and miles. Compare different credit cards for travel benefits, such as overseas spending rewards, extra miles for trips and airline ticket credit card offers.

When booking flights or hotels with a credit card, bear in mind that some platforms charge in foreign currencies, which leads to overseas transaction fees and exchange rate fees. You can use your card's overseas spending benefits and rewards to help you cover these costs.

Besides earning rewards, credit card solutions, like HSBC's Spending Instalment Plan, help manage expenses. 

Pre-travel expenses can be high, and you might not always have enough money right away. Also, during trips, it's easy to spend more when you are in a relaxed holiday mood. Credit card instalment plans let you break big expenses into smaller payments.

Travel financing is key when the unexpected happens. Even with travel insurance, you might need to pay out of pocket for emergencies. Credit card instalment plans can help ease your financial stress.

Note: Your monthly repayment amount may differ. Check your loan confirmation letter for the correct information.

With HSBC's Spending Instalment Plan, you can split travel expenses of HKD7,000 over 6 to 60 months. Instead of paying HKD7,000 in one go, you can repay a few hundred or even just more than HKD100 a month. That's as low as about HKD4 a day, which is cheaper than a pack of lemon tea! This gives you more wiggle room for a nicer hotel or a trip to somewhere farther away.

Repayment calculator for Spending Instalment Plan

Plan your repayments wisely, pay on time, and only borrow what feels manageable.

Usually, you don't need to set up HSBC credit cards for overseas transactions. You can pay for overseas expenses anytime.

HSBC credit cards support overseas and travel expenses. Overseas transaction fees range from 1% to 1.95%. Some HSBC credit cards offer lower fees for RMB and Macau Pataca transactions.

After paying for travel with your credit card, apply for Spending Instalment Plan at least 3 working days before the relevant transaction's payment is due.

To borrow or not to borrow? Borrow only if you can repay!