Verdict: Like to spend your time relaxing on the beach? Do you retreat each summer to an island vacation? Then the Sandal and Beaches Platinum Plus Visa Credit Card might be the perfect card for you. This rewards card allows you to build up points that you can redeem for travel, hotel stays, car rentals and merchandise. Even better, you’ll earn double the points when you make charges at Sandals or Beaches resorts.
Overview: In addition to its generous rewards program, the Sandals and Beaches Platinum Plus card comes with a low interest rate, if your credit is good. This helps set it apart from its competitors in the rewards field.
How This Card Works: You’ll earn points for every purchase you charge on your card. However, you’ll earn two times the points whenever you make charges at either a Beaches or Sandals resort. You can then cash in these rewards for cash, travel, hotel stays, car rentals or merchandise. You do, though, have to generate 2,500 rewards points before you can redeem any of them.
Travel and Shopping Benefits: You’ll earn two rewards points for every dollar you charge at a Sandals or Beaches resort. You’ll also earn two points every time you charge a stay at one of these resorts. You’ll earn one point for all other qualified retail purchases that you charge on the card.
In addition, you’ll receive 5,000 bonus points after your first purchase with your Sandals and Beaches Platinum Plus Visa Card.
Fees: The card comes with a nice introductory interest rate of 0 percent. After seven billing cycles, this rate adjusts to anywhere from 12.99 percent to 19.99 percent, depending on your creditworthiness. If you have a higher credit score, you’ll be rewarded with a lower interest rate on this scale. The card comes with no annual fee, another bonus. Late-payment fees run up to $35, while returned-payment fees can hit $25. The card’s cash-advance fee is either $10 or 4 percent of the advance amount, whichever is higher.
Pros
- Generous rewards program.
- Low interest rates for cardholders with good credit scores.
- No annual fee.
Cons
- Interest rate can hit 19.99 percent for cardholders with poor credit scores.
- Cardholders have to earn 2,500 rewards points before they can redeem them.
- Late fees of $35.
