Tag: Review

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited card held up in front of plants on a windowsill

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If you want to travel cheaper, better, and longer, one of the best tools in your arsenal is a solid rewards credit card.

Still, despite how often I talk about the topic, many travelers (or would-be travelers) are reluctant to get one. They think it’s a scam, don’t want to pay an annual fee, or just are generally wary of the whole thing.

If you’re in that camp, today I want to discuss a credit card that may be the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles: the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

This card offers great value, with no annual fee and solid earning potential. It’s excellent as a standalone card with tons of potential for leveling up your game if and when you’re ready. It’s a favorite for newbies and seasoned travelers alike.

So, in this post, I’m going to break down why the Chase Freedom Unlimited deserves a spot in your wallet and how you can use it to turn everyday purchases into free travel.

What is the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited (sometimes referred to as CFU) is a credit card issued by Chase. What I love about it is that it has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It’s great for points and miles beginners who don’t want to worry about earning at different rates across various categories.

Plus, if you do want to level up your game, you can combine it with a Chase Sapphire card to supercharge your rewards earning capabilities (more on that below).

This card earns you the following:

  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM
  • 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
  • Current welcome offer: an extra 1.5% cash back on everything you buy on up to $20,000 spent in the first year

You can redeem this cash back against your next statement or choose to get it directly deposited into your bank account.

But you can get even more out of this card when you combine it with one of Chase’s Sapphire cards (more on this soon).

Perks and Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited

In addition to these excellent earning rates, you’ll get access to a number of perks and benefits. Again, since it has a $0 annual fee, these are all just bonuses.

  • Access to Chase Offers, an ever-changing selection of deals for various merchants , including online shopping, gas stations, delivery services, clothing brands, and hotels, among many other sectors (you could really see anything here)
  • Complimentary three months of DashPass when you activate by January 31, 2025 (through which members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders)
  • Secondary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, or other covered situations)
  • Purchase protection (covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account)
  • Extended warranty protection

 

Combining with a Chase Sapphire Card

While this card is a great cash-back card in its own right, it’s best when paired with a more premium Chase card that earns transferable points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are the two most popular, though you could also do this with my favorite business card, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. (Note that these cards do have fees.)

That’s because, when you also hold one of these cards, you can convert the cash back earned on the CFU to valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. (The Freedom Unlimited on its own only earns cash back.) That means you can pool points earned on either card together and have access to Chase’s great airline and hotel transfer partners.

While getting cash back is easier (and certainly enticing), I consider points to be much more valuable. That’s because you can typically get at least 2 cents per point when transferring to travel partners (sometimes much more).

So why not just have one of the Chase Sapphire Cards and no Freedom Unlimited?

While this is an excellent option (and what many people do), having two cards within the same “family” ensures that you maximize earning categories while earning the same type of points. (You don’t want to spread yourself too thin across too many different cards earning different types of points that you can’t combine.)

By holding both a Chase Sapphire card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can be sure that you’re earning at least 1.5x points on all purchases, a rarity in a travel card (both Sapphires only earn 1x points on all purchases).

If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, you’d earn:

  • 1.5x on all purchases (CFU)
  • 2x on all travel (CSP)
  • 3x on drugstores (CFU)
  • 3x on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services (both cards)
  • 5x on Lyft (until March 2025, both cards)
  • 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel (both cards)

Lastly, since the CFU does have a foreign transaction fee, you won’t want to use this card when traveling. Think of the CSP as your travel card and the CFU as your everyday card with a higher earning rate on all purchases. Using the two together is an excellent combination.

Pros of the CFU

  • No annual fee
  • Solid rewards structure, with at least 1.5% back on everything
  • Easy to redeem cash back as statement credit or direct deposit
  • Great value when paired with a Chase Sapphire card

Cons of the CFU

  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • Not a ton of travel benefits

Who is this card for?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for those who want an easy-to-use card that gets a better-than-average earning rate on all purchases. It also leaves room to grow into the points-and-miles world when combined with a higher-level card from Chase. And, if you already have a Sapphire card, adding the CFU to your wallet allows you to continue to level up your game, maximizing your rewards on all purchases.

As with any credit card, you should not get it if you’re already carrying a balance or plan to carry one. Interest rates for travel credit cards are notoriously high, and this one is no different. The points just aren’t worth it if you’re paying interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need good or excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit so you can start improving your score today.)

Lastly, this card does count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule (you can’t open more than five cards within 24 months). If you’ve already opened five credit cards (any cards, not just Chase cards) within the past two years (or want to open more soon), you either won’t be able to get this card or might want to skip it for now.

***

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the points-and-miles game or looking to complement your current lineup, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic card. With no annual fee and impressive earning rates, it’s the perfect gateway to the world of points and miles if you’re just starting out.

And, if and when you want to take things up a notch, you can pair it with a premium Chase card down the road to really maximize your points. It’s a no-brainer choice that can kickstart your journey to mastering points and miles.

 

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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

The post Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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World Nomads Annual Travel Insurance Review

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Two people with backpacks hiking across a rugged mountain trail

If you’re a frequent traveler, you know that planning multiple trips throughout the year can be a logistical challenge. There are lots of moving parts to organize, from flights to accommodation to activities. And it gets even more challenging if you’re traveling with friends or family.

In fact, there’s so much to keep track of that most people neglect one of the most important things you can take on any trip: travel insurance.

A lot of travelers avoid even thinking about travel insurance. Comparing prices and plans seems like a hassle (and an unnecessary expense to boot). After all, you probably won’t need it, and then you’ve just paid for nothing.

But you haven’t paid for “nothing.” You’ve paid for assurance that you have a plan in place should the unexpected or unfortunate happen while you’re abroad. And if something does happen, you will be very glad that you have coverage. Accidents and mishaps that happen on the road can add up quickly, leaving you hundreds (if not thousands) out of pocket.

After over 15 years of traveling the world, travel insurance is the one thing I never leave home without. It’s that important!

And while finding and comparing plans used to be time-consuming (I’ve read a lot of fine print over the years), it’s never been easier to learn about new plans. Gone are the days of having to buy a new plan for each and every trip too, thanks to the growing number of annual multi trip plans.

World Nomads, a company I’ve been recommending for over a decade, has just launched its own Annual Travel Protection Plan for US residents. Here’s everything you need to know to decide if it’s the best plan for your next journey:

What is World Nomads?

The World Nomads travel insurance logoThe World Nomads travel insurance logo
World Nomads is a travel insurance* company that started out geared towards backpackers and adventure travelers, with an extensive list of more than 250 adventure sports and activities covered. It’s the one I used on my first big trip around the world (and have used it dozens of times since).

They’ve been around for over twenty years and provide coverage for people from more than a hundred countries. Through World Nomads, you can get international and domestic coverage when traveling at least 100 miles from home for:

  • Emergency medical and dental work
  • Sudden illness and injury
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation
  • 24-hour emergency medical assistance
  • Lost, stolen or damaged baggage
  • Cancellations and interruptions
  • Trip and baggage delay
  • Over 250 types of adventure activities
  • And more!

Overall, World Nomads is a solid travel insurance company for travelers who want bundled coverage. While there are cheaper plans out there, World Nomads offers multiple plans to choose from and varying levels of coverage (especially when it comes to cancellations and adventure activities).

If you’re going to be doing a lot of outdoor activities and want a variety of covered activities available, World Nomads is the company I recommend.

That said, since I’ve already covered World Nomads in depth in this review, today I’m going to focus on their new Annual Plan. It’s something that many travelers have asked me about, both in my inbox and on our travel insurance webinars. I’m glad to see they’ve created an Annual Plan to fill this need.

What is the World Nomads Annual Travel Protection Plan?

Previously, World Nomads only offered single-trip protection plans. You bought a plan for a predefined period and destination, and that was it.

But what if you travel a lot throughout the year? It’s a hassle to have to buy a new plan every time. Those single-trip plans add up too.

With World Nomads annual plans, however, you pay once and get travel protection for multiple countries, and for an unlimited number of trips up to 45-days long through the entire year. This not only simplifies your planning but could save you money in the long run.

There are four caveats though.

First, each trip under the annual plan is capped at 45 days. Most travelers don’t travel abroad for that long, though, so I don’t really consider that a negative.

Second, annual plans do not auto-renew, so you’ll need to purchase a new plan each year. That said, World Nomads sends a reminder a month before your current plan expires, so this isn’t really a big deal either.

Third, the US Annual Plan is only available to be purchased independently per traveler. The plan is not available for family or couple purchases like the single trip plans; however, you can purchase individual Annual Plans for each member of your family under the age of 69.

Fourth, and most important, the Annual Plan is currently only available to US residents (except residents of Missouri, Montana, New York or Washington). World Nomads also offers a similar Annual Multi Trip plans for UK and Ireland residents, but coverages vary compared to the US plan. Hopefully, if it’s successful, they will expand it to more countries in the future.

What does World Nomads’ Annual Travel Protection Plan cover?

The coverage under a World Nomads Annual Plan is similar to that of its single-trip plans. As a plan holder, you’ll get coverage for more than 250 adventure activities, trip cancellation, emergency medical expenses, and some for lost and stolen gear.

Here’s exactly what’s covered found on the World Nomads website:

screenshot from World Nomads website showing policy coveragescreenshot from World Nomads website showing policy coverage

The plans also cover incidents that occur while you’re participating in any of 250+ adventure activities in the following categories:

screenshot from World Nomads website showing which general categories of activities they coverscreenshot from World Nomads website showing which general categories of activities they cover

Most activities are included in the Annual Plan. More extensive activities could be covered on the single trip Explorer and Epic Plans. To give you an example, zip-lining and snorkeling are covered by Standard and Annual plans, while heli-skiing is covered by the Explorer plan and free soloing is only covered by the Epic Plan.

Here are all the water-related activities that World Nomads covers:

screenshot from World Nomads website showing which water-related activities they coverscreenshot from World Nomads website showing which water-related activities they cover

Of course, there are also things World Nomads does not cover. These include (but aren’t limited to):

  • Engaging in any illegal activities
  • Incidents that occur when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
  • Non-emergency medical treatment that can wait until you return home

In short, World Nomads offers travel insurance, not health insurance. It’s there for when the unexpected happens, not for ongoing treatment or checkups.

Additional Perks for all USA Travel Protection Plans

In addition to rolling out the new annual plan, World Nomads is expanding the non-insurance services included within all USA travel protection plans.

  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance supports you in emergency situations, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The support team can get you to the nearest hospital or consulate, offer translation services and provide guidance in emergency situations.
  • FootPrint ID allows to you to keep track of your medical records and emergency contacts in one place. This is helpful in emergency situations when healthcare providers need quick answers regarding your medical history, prescriptions and contacts.
  • Blue Ribbon Bags offers delayed and lost luggage retrieval services. They can track and expedite the return of delayed airline baggage for outbound flights and are available to assist 24/7.
  • Runway Health provides free pre-trip online health consultations so travelers can get access to prescriptions and vaccinations for common travel needs like altitude sickness and malaria before taking off for their trip.

Pros of World Nomads’ Annual Travel Protection Plan

  • Covers you for an unlimited number of trips within a year
  • Cost-effective and convenient (you don’t have to buy a new plan for each trip)
  • Coverage for over 250 activities
  • Coverage for domestic and international travel
  • Access to 24/7 Emergency Assistance, FootPrint ID, Runway Health and Blue Ribbon Bags
  • Online claims processing

Cons of Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

  • Per trip duration limit of 45 days
  • Higher up-front cost than purchasing plans individually
  • Only available for individual purchase, no family or couple plans
  • Only available for USA, UK & Irish residents at this time

Comparing Annual and Single-Trip Plans

The cost-effectiveness of annual versus single-trip insurance depends on your habits. If you take multiple trips each year, both domestically and internationally, 12-month travel insurance could save you money.

Let’s say that within a year, you plan to travel to Thailand for three weeks, Paris for a long weekend, Mexico for one month, the Bahamas for 10 days, Iceland for a long weekend, and then Spain for a week. If you got annual travel insurance, the quote for a 40-year-old person from the US would be $506 USD. Not bad at all for an entire year’s worth of coverage (that’s just over $42 USD per month)!

If you were to get separate policies for each trip, it would total around $635 USD. Not to mention the added convenience of only having to buy the plan once and get coverage for the entire year. Plus, you’d still be able to go on more trips (or extend your trips) with the annual plan without spending more money!

While prices vary depending on factors such as where you’re going, the length of the trip, and your planned activities, most of the time, it’s a no-brainer to get the annual plan. It’s just so easy and hassle-free.

Both annual and single-trip plans offer the same benefits too. That includes trip cancellation, emergency medical expenses, and personal baggage coverage.

Remember, limits and exclusions may vary. No matter what plan you get, it’s essential to review the plan details carefully.

Who is World Nomads Annual Plan for?

World Nomads annual plan is best for frequent travelers who take several trips throughout the year. You can sign up for a plan once a year, and then go about your travels without thinking about it again. Simply purchase a new plan when the time comes (you’ll get an email reminder).

Personally, I think a lot of travelers who do lots of short weekend trips will find this plan super helpful, as you won’t have to purchase a plan every single time you want to get away. The saved time and money alone make the annual plan worth it, in my opinion.

That said, annual plan is not ideal for full-time digital nomads, since each trip is capped at 45 days. Additionally, World Nomads only covers unexpected emergencies, so if you’re a digital nomad looking for ongoing health insurance (i.e., for non-emergencies), you’ll want to look elsewhere.

***

Having used World Nomads for over 15 years, I think these new additions are a game changer. While they are only available in the US, UK and Ireland currently, I’m super excited to see what direction the company is moving in. Baggage retrieval service, pre-trip online health consultations — these are awesome perks that I know every traveler is going to appreciate.

Don’t let the hassle of arranging travel insurance for each trip hold you back from exploring the world. Get a quote for World Nomads’ Annual travel insurance plan today and enjoy coverage all year round. Safe travels!

Click here to learn more!

 

*Travel insurance is included as part of the World Nomads travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. U.S. travel protection plan are serviced by their partner Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, who administers both customer service and claims for U.S. customers.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

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