A solid rewards card that’s not just for seniors

The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays is tailor-made for those on the go, offering generous and unlimited rewards on dining and getting around. Although AARP is a membership organization known for advocating on behalf of seniors and retirees aged 50 and above, anyone aged 18 and older can apply for this , without any obligation to join the group.

• Complimentary FICO Score: Check your FICO credit score for free when logged into your card account.

• No foreign transaction fees. When traveling outside the U.S., you won’t have to pay an additional surcharge on your international spending.

• $0 fraud liability protection. If your card is used for unauthorized transactions, you won’t be responsible for the charges when you promptly notify Barclays.

You’ll earn unlimited cash-back rewards with the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard credit card in several elevated bonus categories plus an ongoing rewards rate on all other spending. Cash back earned from the AARP Travel Rewards credit card never expires as long as your account is open and in good standing.

• 3% cash back on airfare, hotels, and car rentals

• 2% cash back at restaurants

• 1% on all other eligible purchases

In addition to the rewards you earn, Barclays will donate 1% of your eligible electronic and telecommunication purchases to the AARP Foundation.

• Direct deposit to a bank account. Transfer your cash-back rewards to a linked checking or savings account with redemptions starting at $25. There is a daily limit of $500 for bank deposit redemptions, so it pays to redeem your rewards frequently.

• Statement credits. Redeem your earnings for statement credits. While these redemptions lower how much you owe, they do not count toward your monthly minimum payment due.

• Gift cards. Use your cash-back rewards to buy gift cards from dozens of popular retailers. Redemptions start at $25, and the selection varies throughout the year.

• AARP membership. Redeem rewards to purchase or renew your AARP membership. Redemptions start at $16, and you can purchase memberships for one, three, or five years at a time. You can also gift AARP memberships.

• Merchandise. Shop through the BarclaysUS website for products and services that you can use yourself or give as a gift.

The AARP Travel Rewards credit card is best for those who support AARP’s mission and want a simple, no-annual-fee card that earns cash back on and dining. It can be particularly beneficial for those who belong to AARP or are plan to, since the rewards can be applied towards the membership fee.

• Generous rewards on travel

• No annual fee

• Easy-to-earn welcome bonus

• No foreign transaction fees

• Limited bonus categories and redemption options

• Does not include an intro APR offer on purchases

• Paltry benefits compared to similar

The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted for payment. Mastercard is one of the most widely accepted credit cards in the U.S. and internationally. With and high rewards on travel spending, it’s an excellent choice when away from home.

To get the most out of the AARP Travel Rewards credit card, use it to pay for your travel and dining, where you’ll earn 3% cash back.

• Online at

• Set up recurring payments

• Over the phone by calling (866) 928-3104

• Through the Barclays mobile app (, )

• Mail payments to:

  • Card Services, P.O. Box 60517, City of Industry, CA 91716-0517

  • Card Services, P.O. Box 13337, Philadelphia, PA 19101-3337

The AARP credit card is not the best choice for people who want to with a greater variety of redemption options, or those who rarely spend on travel and dining. If a card with these features is important to you, consider these alternatives.

Why we like it: The has a $95 annual fee, but earns excellent rewards to help offset the cost. This includes earning 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as unlimited 2x miles on all other eligible purchases. Your rewards can be taken as a statement credit against eligible travel purchases, used to book travel through Capital One Travel, or transferred to over 15 airline and hotel . You can also take your earnings as cash back, but that option is worth less than a penny per point. Other money-saving benefits include a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit and on items purchased with the card.

Why we like it: If you’re seeking a low-cost high-yield travel rewards card,travel , the is ideal. Points earned on this card can be used in multiple ways including taken as cash back, used to buy gift cards or transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners on a 1:1 basis. One other potentially valuable option is booking travel through Chase Travel, where the issuer’s Points Boost feature could increase the value of your rewards to more than a penny per point. If you’re trying to decide between the consider which travel rewards partners you like best.

Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card has a $0 annual fee and a stronger rewards rate than the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard. The Autograph Card has a greater variety of redemption options, including taking your earnings as a statement credit or a cash deposit to an eligible Wells Fargo account, using them to pay for travel booked through Wells Fargo, buying gift cards, or even transferring your rewards into the loyalty accounts of several airline and hotel partners. This gives you more flexibility to use your rewards how you want to. Additionally, the Wells Fargo Autograph card offers up to $600 of cellphone coverage against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible) plus access to travel and emergency assistance, including roadside dispatch.

This article was edited by Robin Saks Frankel

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