A good concierge service can take a trip to the next level, and it might already be a benefit that comes with one of your credit cards.
Think of this service as a 24/7 helping hand on your trip. Assistants can help you book reservations, cancel trips, and find deals on your excursion. Best of all, there’s no additional fee for cardholders.
“It’s a perk that not many people even realize is associated with a credit card that they probably already have in their wallet,” says Bobby Laurie, travel expert and host of “The Jet Set,” a weekly travel show. “It’s a good resource to have in your back pocket because you’re able to get help when you need it, or they can at least point you in the right direction.”
Most premium and travel credit cards that offer concierge service and other luxury perks charge a hefty annual fee. But there are a few cards that offer concierge service with an annual fee under $100 or no fee at all.
Even if you’re not a frequent traveler, there are a few cards that offer concierge service and other travel perks that can help you get the most out of your vacation spending without paying hundreds on an annual fee each year. Here’s everything to know about concierge service and credit cards that include it for less than $100 annually:
What Is Concierge Service?
Concierge service can help you plan your trip itinerary, provide restaurant recommendations, and even make reservations and other bookings. Some resorts and hotels offer concierge service at an additional fee, but credit card companies offer similar service to qualifying credit cards. These cards often come with an annual fee, but other travel perks such as hotel credits and trip cancellation insurance may cancel out the cost.
Here’s how credit card concierge service works: Call the given phone number on your card or use the mobile app and you’ll be connected to plan your trip or get one-on-one help with reservations, recommendations for local attractions, and discounts while on vacation.
“It’s a good tool to have, especially if you’re going to take a last-minute trip that you’re not planning in advance,” Laurie says. “Or use it to plan in advance and just make the whole traveling process easier.”
You can use the service to kickstart planning your vacation by telling your concierge assistant your available days, times, and ideas for your trip for them to build an itinerary. And if you’re exploring a new place, your concierge service can come in handy if you’re looking for popular attractions or local favorites. Some concierge services can even advise the best times to go and tips to make your trip smoother.
For instance, if you’re visiting Tulum, Mexico, your concierge assistant may be able to help you secure tickets and transportation to the Mayan Ruins ahead of your vacation. Keep in mind that the service is included as a card benefit, but you’ll still pay for any goods or services.
“It’s those little details nowadays that you can request,” Laurie says. “What’s the worst that could happen is they say no, but it doesn’t hurt to ask — especially when it’s a benefit that comes with the annual fee you’re paying.”
Best Low to No Annual Fee Cards Offering Concierge Service
Most premium travel credit cards offer concierge service and other luxury perks, but that doesn’t mean you can get this perk with everyday cards, balance transfer cards, or even lower-fee travel cards. Fortunately, some cards do — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, Citi Diamond Preferred, or the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. Here’s what to know about these cards:
- Intro offer:60,000 points
- Annual fee:$95
- Regular APR:20.24% – 27.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3x on dining. 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Generous welcome offer
- Tiered bonus points categories
- 25% points boost when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 1:1 point transfer at airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- $95 annual fee
- High APR
- Need to spend within bonus categories to maximize rewards
- Other cards have similar bonus categories with higher rewards rates
Additional Card Details
- Get 10% value of annual purchases back in points every account anniversary
- $50 in annual hotel credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Travel protections
- Purchase protections
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of NextAdvisor’s top travel credit cards for its $95 annual fee and the ability to earn travel rewards on everyday spending. Plus, you can redeem your rewards for travel at a boosted rate when booking with Chase. The card also has travel perks including baggage delay insurance, a primary auto rental collision damage waiver, and travel and emergency assistance services. Plus, you’ll get a $50 annual hotel credit to redeem towards hotel stays booked with Chase.
- Intro offer:$150 Amazon Gift Card
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:14.99% to 22.99% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership* 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores* 1% back on all other purchases*
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Rewards on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases, plus popular everyday spending categories
- No foreign transaction fees
- Metal card
- Sign up bonus comes in the form of an Amazon gift card
- No annual fee, but $119 Amazon Prime membership required
- High variable APR
Additional Card Details
- Visa Signature Card with benefits like Visa Signature Concierge Service and Luxury Hotel Collection access
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay coverage
- Travel accident insurance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranties
- Auto rental coverage and roadside assistance
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is a good no annual fee cash back card that offers travel perks. You can earn cash back on everyday purchases, but you’ll maximize your rewards when shopping at Amazon or Whole Foods. The card offers concierge service, roadside dispatch service, and travel and emergency assistance services. You’ll also get lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:17.24% – 27.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Intro APR on balance transfers
- No annual fee
- 5% balance transfer fee ($5 minimum)
- High variable APR after the introductory period ends
- No rewards and few cardholder benefits
- Penalty APR up to 29.99% variable
Additional Card Details
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer (17.24% – 27.99%, variable APR thereafter)
- Balances must be transferred within 4 months of account opening
- 0% intro APR on new purchases for 12 months from account opening (17.24% – 27.99%, variable APR thereafter)
- 3% balance transfer fee (or $5, whichever is higher)
- Qualify for Citi Entertainment benefits
- Choose your payment due date
The Citi Diamond Preferred is a good balance transfer card if you’re paying off debt, but want travel perks after your outstanding balance is paid. It comes with a 0% APR for 21 months from date of first transfer, and a variable APR of 17.24% – 27.99% after that. The card doesn’t come with any rewards earnings, but it doesn’t come with an annual fee either. The Citi Diamond Preferred Card still offers concierge service and access to Citi Entertainment — Citi’s event portal.
- Intro offer:50,000 points
- Annual fee:$95
- Regular APR:20.24% – 27.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases. Unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a premium travel credit card with a $95 annual fee. You’ll earn the most points on travel and dining purchases. And the card has a few travel perks, including $100 for Global Entry and TSA Precheck and $100 annual airline incidental credit. You’ll also get trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and auto rental insurance, baggage delay insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.
What Services Are Offered by Credit Card Concierge?
Most concierge assistants can help with everything from managing trip emergencies to booking excursions. Here’s how this credit card perk can help you on your next vacation.
Pro Tip
If you have more than one credit card with the concierge service benefit, you may use both cards to cut wait times and book reservations faster by using the concierge service providers with both cards.
Travel Planning
Your credit card’s concierge service can help you book flights, hotels, and rental cars to save time and money ahead of your trip. Your concierge assistant may be able to help you book popular hotels based on your budget and travel itinerary. You may also get help finding the best deals when your concierge service assistant helps you book with travel partners to redeem your rewards for the best value.
And even if you’re good at finding deals and securing reservations on your own, concierge service can be helpful for other services. You can also use the service to use your travel insurance and manage your trip, says Lyn Mettler, travel journalist and founder of Families Fly Free, a travel program for families. If your card has concierge service, you can get free help changing, canceling, and rescheduling your trip if there’s an emergency.
Live Events
Another way to use your card’s concierge service while on vacation is to get access to special events and attractions. Your card may also unlock other perks like upgraded tickets and exclusive access that you may not get otherwise.
For instance, If you’re enjoying your vacation and want to attend a live sporting event or concert, your concierge service can help you book it by phone. As a Chase cardholder, you may get early ticket sales and private events with Chase Experiences. If you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can ask your concierge service to check for these exclusive events and entertainment perks on the Chase Experiences portal to save money (especially if you’re redeeming points) and enhance your experience as a cardholder.
Dining Recommendations
If you’re not sure about dining options or availability, your concierge service can provide a list of restaurants and book reservations on your behalf. And if you’re planning to dine at a popular restaurant that’s usually booked, your concierge service may have special limited availability for cardholders to secure a reservation.
Concierge service came in handy when Laurie was booking restaurants and shows in Las Vegas with one of his Mastercard credit cards that offers World Elite concierge service.
“It was just as easy as scrolling through the app and finding the restaurant we wanted to go to. Within about 30 minutes, we got a confirmation for the time we wanted and at the restaurant we wanted,” he says. “Whereas, when we called the restaurant ourselves and searched OpenTable, there were no reservations.” He was also able to get exclusive tickets to a Cirque de Soleil show that was sold out.
What to Know Before Using Concierge Service
If concierge service is a must-have for your vacations, check to see if it’s available for a credit card you already have or might be considering before applying. For instance, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards offer this service, but it depends on the card. If you don’t plan to travel enough to justify a travel card with a hefty annual fee, you’ll benefit from a card with a lower annual fee to still get this benefit and earn rewards to use on your next trip.
As helpful as concierge service can be, there might also be times it takes longer to get assistance. Changing COVID restrictions and worldwide staffing shortages are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and can strain concierge services’ ability to assist travelers.
“Don’t rely on it to be your only source of making plans or finding a reservation somewhere,” says Laurie.
It’s best to be flexible and have a few expectations in mind to help make the most of your trip. For instance, if you’re traveling with kids, be prepared to share their ages, how long you’d like to spend at certain attractions, and backup plans to make planning easier. You may be able to get limited access to an excursion or event faster than all-day access that may already be sold out if you’re flexible, Laurie adds.
Most concierge service assistants can buy tickets and make reservations for you, but keep in mind that they’ll use your credit card to make the purchase. Make sure you have available credit to make the charges and always follow good credit habits to avoid interest and debt.
