06.2024 Life Guide
Enjoy discounts on overseas consumption through card swiping and leisure activities
Far Eastern International Bank / Lin Yingying
In 2023, the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, and the tourism industry is gradually returning to its former glory. 2024 is also a year for many people to travel. However, due to factors such as rising airfare and bus prices, not only has Japan's group fees increased by nearly 10% this year, but the group fees for Southeast Asian routes have also increased by more than 5%, and the increase for European and American routes is closer to 20%. Although travel expenses are increasing steadily, as long as you swipe your credit card correctly, you will receive a card swiping fee reward from the banking industry. In this issue of "Finance Column", we will share overseas travel card swiping discounts, allowing you to earn higher card swiping fees for every purchase and prepare for your next trip.
Purchase tickets and enjoy installment discounts
In 2024, the demand for overseas tourism will continue to burn, coupled with high inflation and high prices leading to an increase in tourism prices. The prices of group tourism will also be adjusted in a rolling manner in response to market changes. If you are worried about not having enough travel expenses, you may want to use your fixed deposit to pay in full every month, and you will have the opportunity to save the required funds within a year; Or make good use of your credit card installment plan and enjoy a credit card payment discount.
Many credit card operators cooperate with well-known travel agencies such as Lion, Coca Cola, Southeast, Wufu, etc. to swipe their cards to buy air tickets, group itineraries, tickets, or book rooms, etc. They can enjoy 2-3% card swiping rewards for accumulated points/credits. During the summer vacation, the whole family goes overseas to play and concentrate on using the same credit card. In addition to enjoying card swiping rewards, they can also accumulate bonus points or airline miles. In addition, travel agency operators have also collaborated with credit card operators to launch discount programs, such as island vacation itineraries, Eurasian heritage trips, specific air tickets, etc. By using designated credit cards, customers can immediately enjoy a cash discount of NTD1000-2000.
Enjoy exclusive discounts when booking a room
Finding affordable and comfortable hotels is an important part of traveling. Many consumers are accustomed to using booking websites to compare prices, and each website has its own unique features and advantages. Among them, well-known booking websites such as Agoda, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com will periodically offer discounts. Consumers who want to save money can compare the credit card discounts offered by various credit cards. For example, some banking companies offer discounts of 6-10% for card purchases, while others collaborate with booking websites to launch exclusive discount booking pages. Through credit cards and exclusive discount codes, they can also receive additional price discounts.
It should be noted that some room reservation websites display prices that are tax-free and do not include other fees, or require payment of overseas transaction service fees due to cross-border transactions. Before placing an order, it is necessary to confirm the details and make good use of the point feedback mechanism, membership, credit card and other benefits to save accommodation costs. In addition, choosing a foreign currency card for checkout also provides the opportunity to receive high card swiping rewards (for example, "Far Eastern Group Lejia+Card" can enjoy an unlimited 2.5% reward for overseas consumption).
Overseas consumption earns card money
In 2024, multiple credit card companies adjusted their card usage rights due to cost considerations. How can consumers enjoy the most discounts by swiping their cards? Firstly, some credit card operators offer "overseas physical stores" to accumulate 2-3% of their card payment as a reward, and in popular tourist countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, they specify an additional 1% card payment as a reward. Secondly, international card issuing organizations will also provide additional card swiping rewards. For example, when swiping a full VISA credit card at a designated store in Japan, customers can enjoy a 10% tax exemption and 5% discount. In addition, the credit card industry's overseas consumption feedback can reach a maximum feedback rate of 18%. It is recommended to check relevant information online before shopping.
Not only that, when traveling overseas, you can carry 2-3 credit cards and use them alternately. Small expenses such as eating and buying souvenirs can be paid in cash, while large expenses such as hotel accommodation, shopping, transportation, and park tickets can be paid with credit cards. This not only reduces the risk of cash theft, but also provides good health benefits from many banks. Finally, if the salesperson asks about the payment currency value, it is recommended to use the local currency for card settlement, as there is a chance to reduce additional transaction fees and the impact of exchange rate differences.
Airport parking and airport pick-up are hassle free
When traveling overseas, what method do you usually choose to go to the airport? If you drive by yourself, the parking lot around the airport often charges more than NTD300 per day. By making good use of the airport parking discount included with your credit card, you can save some expenses. However, due to the increase in labor costs, the free parking discounts offered by various banks around the airport this year have limited card types and must meet the consumption threshold in order to enjoy free airport parking. Some banks offer unlimited/world cards with full or 80% or more of the group fee for airfare, and enjoy 20-30 days of free parking at Taoyuan International Airport and the surrounding parking lots of Kaohsiung International Airport; If using other card types, you need to swipe the full or 80% group fee of the ticket or add NTD20000 within the current month and the first 2-6 months to enjoy free airport parking services.
In addition to driving to the airport by themselves, many consumers choose free airport shuttle services, such as using a bank designated card to swipe the full amount of the ticket or 80% or more of the group fee, and reaching NTD20000 or more, they can enjoy free airport shuttle services in designated areas. You can also make an appointment for airport pick-up at the designated website of the International Card Issuing Organization, and enjoy a discounted price of NTD380 per trip according to the card type. However, as the peak summer vacation season for going abroad is approaching, it is recommended to make an appointment in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
It is worth mentioning that some banks have specially planned discounts for "Taiwan's Transportation Convenience" to explore local tourism opportunities. For example, the "Far Eastern Group Lexing Card" provides a maximum of 1.2% cash reward for general consumption, with no limit to cash rewards. For current bills, customers can generally enjoy a maximum of 3% cash reward for designated transportation categories such as high-speed rail/Taiwan rail, refueling, Easy Card stored value, taxis (Taiwan's large fleet, yoxi, Uber), auto repair department stores, etc.
In addition, don't forget about travel insurance before traveling. As long as you use a designated credit card to pay more than 80% of the travel agency fee or the full airfare fee, cardholders, their spouses, parents, and unmarried children under the age of 25 who are supported by them can enjoy NTD 7.5-50 million of public transportation travel safety insurance according to their card rights. Welcome to the official website of Far Eastern International Bank to inquire about travel insurance related instructions and restrictions, or purchase overseas full journey travel insurance at your own expense to make the coverage more complete and the protection more comprehensive.
In short, collect information from all parties as much as possible before traveling, and choose credit cards that offer rewards for card payments or overseas consumption promotion activities; Before swiping a credit card, pay attention to the benefits, features, usage restrictions, and upper limit of the reward threshold for each credit card, and pre convert the maximum reward amount for swiping the card. Concentrate on using the same card, and when the consumption reward threshold is reached, switch to another card to enjoy traveling and smart consumption, and earn more rewards!
*Far Eastern International Bank official website: https://www.feib.com.tw/
*Prudent financial management, invaluable credit
Far Eastern International Bank's credit card revolving interest rate ranges from 6.74% to 14.99% (benchmark date June 1, 2024); Advance cash handling fee=Advance cash amount x 3%+NTD150. For other fees, please refer to the credit card fee/interest rate list for inquiries. During the credit card promotion period and restrictions of Far Eastern International Bank, please check the official website of Far Eastern International Bank.
*Image source: freepik
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Purchase tickets and enjoy installment discounts
In 2024, the demand for overseas tourism will continue to burn, coupled with high inflation and high prices leading to an increase in tourism prices. The prices of group tourism will also be adjusted in a rolling manner in response to market changes. If you are worried about not having enough travel expenses, you may want to use your fixed deposit to pay in full every month, and you will have the opportunity to save the required funds within a year; Or make good use of your credit card installment plan and enjoy a credit card payment discount.Many credit card operators cooperate with well-known travel agencies such as Lion, Coca Cola, Southeast, Wufu, etc. to swipe their cards to buy air tickets, group itineraries, tickets, or book rooms, etc. They can enjoy 2-3% card swiping rewards for accumulated points/credits. During the summer vacation, the whole family goes overseas to play and concentrate on using the same credit card. In addition to enjoying card swiping rewards, they can also accumulate bonus points or airline miles. In addition, travel agency operators have also collaborated with credit card operators to launch discount programs, such as island vacation itineraries, Eurasian heritage trips, specific air tickets, etc. By using designated credit cards, customers can immediately enjoy a cash discount of NTD1000-2000.
Enjoy exclusive discounts when booking a room
Finding affordable and comfortable hotels is an important part of traveling. Many consumers are accustomed to using booking websites to compare prices, and each website has its own unique features and advantages. Among them, well-known booking websites such as Agoda, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com will periodically offer discounts. Consumers who want to save money can compare the credit card discounts offered by various credit cards. For example, some banking companies offer discounts of 6-10% for card purchases, while others collaborate with booking websites to launch exclusive discount booking pages. Through credit cards and exclusive discount codes, they can also receive additional price discounts.
It should be noted that some room reservation websites display prices that are tax-free and do not include other fees, or require payment of overseas transaction service fees due to cross-border transactions. Before placing an order, it is necessary to confirm the details and make good use of the point feedback mechanism, membership, credit card and other benefits to save accommodation costs. In addition, choosing a foreign currency card for checkout also provides the opportunity to receive high card swiping rewards (for example, "Far Eastern Group Lejia+Card" can enjoy an unlimited 2.5% reward for overseas consumption).
Overseas consumption earns card money
In 2024, multiple credit card companies adjusted their card usage rights due to cost considerations. How can consumers enjoy the most discounts by swiping their cards? Firstly, some credit card operators offer "overseas physical stores" to accumulate 2-3% of their card payment as a reward, and in popular tourist countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, they specify an additional 1% card payment as a reward. Secondly, international card issuing organizations will also provide additional card swiping rewards. For example, when swiping a full VISA credit card at a designated store in Japan, customers can enjoy a 10% tax exemption and 5% discount. In addition, the credit card industry's overseas consumption feedback can reach a maximum feedback rate of 18%. It is recommended to check relevant information online before shopping.
Not only that, when traveling overseas, you can carry 2-3 credit cards and use them alternately. Small expenses such as eating and buying souvenirs can be paid in cash, while large expenses such as hotel accommodation, shopping, transportation, and park tickets can be paid with credit cards. This not only reduces the risk of cash theft, but also provides good health benefits from many banks. Finally, if the salesperson asks about the payment currency value, it is recommended to use the local currency for card settlement, as there is a chance to reduce additional transaction fees and the impact of exchange rate differences.
Airport parking and airport pick-up are hassle free
When traveling overseas, what method do you usually choose to go to the airport? If you drive by yourself, the parking lot around the airport often charges more than NTD300 per day. By making good use of the airport parking discount included with your credit card, you can save some expenses. However, due to the increase in labor costs, the free parking discounts offered by various banks around the airport this year have limited card types and must meet the consumption threshold in order to enjoy free airport parking. Some banks offer unlimited/world cards with full or 80% or more of the group fee for airfare, and enjoy 20-30 days of free parking at Taoyuan International Airport and the surrounding parking lots of Kaohsiung International Airport; If using other card types, you need to swipe the full or 80% group fee of the ticket or add NTD20000 within the current month and the first 2-6 months to enjoy free airport parking services.
In addition to driving to the airport by themselves, many consumers choose free airport shuttle services, such as using a bank designated card to swipe the full amount of the ticket or 80% or more of the group fee, and reaching NTD20000 or more, they can enjoy free airport shuttle services in designated areas. You can also make an appointment for airport pick-up at the designated website of the International Card Issuing Organization, and enjoy a discounted price of NTD380 per trip according to the card type. However, as the peak summer vacation season for going abroad is approaching, it is recommended to make an appointment in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
It is worth mentioning that some banks have specially planned discounts for "Taiwan's Transportation Convenience" to explore local tourism opportunities. For example, the "Far Eastern Group Lexing Card" provides a maximum of 1.2% cash reward for general consumption, with no limit to cash rewards. For current bills, customers can generally enjoy a maximum of 3% cash reward for designated transportation categories such as high-speed rail/Taiwan rail, refueling, Easy Card stored value, taxis (Taiwan's large fleet, yoxi, Uber), auto repair department stores, etc.
In addition, don't forget about travel insurance before traveling. As long as you use a designated credit card to pay more than 80% of the travel agency fee or the full airfare fee, cardholders, their spouses, parents, and unmarried children under the age of 25 who are supported by them can enjoy NTD 7.5-50 million of public transportation travel safety insurance according to their card rights. Welcome to the official website of Far Eastern International Bank to inquire about travel insurance related instructions and restrictions, or purchase overseas full journey travel insurance at your own expense to make the coverage more complete and the protection more comprehensive.
In short, collect information from all parties as much as possible before traveling, and choose credit cards that offer rewards for card payments or overseas consumption promotion activities; Before swiping a credit card, pay attention to the benefits, features, usage restrictions, and upper limit of the reward threshold for each credit card, and pre convert the maximum reward amount for swiping the card. Concentrate on using the same card, and when the consumption reward threshold is reached, switch to another card to enjoy traveling and smart consumption, and earn more rewards!
*Far Eastern International Bank official website: https://www.feib.com.tw/
*Prudent financial management, invaluable credit
Far Eastern International Bank's credit card revolving interest rate ranges from 6.74% to 14.99% (benchmark date June 1, 2024); Advance cash handling fee=Advance cash amount x 3%+NTD150. For other fees, please refer to the credit card fee/interest rate list for inquiries. During the credit card promotion period and restrictions of Far Eastern International Bank, please check the official website of Far Eastern International Bank.
*Image source: freepik
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