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Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card benefits guide

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Key takeaways

• The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is considered a starter travel rewards card, and for good reason. It doesn't have the robust benefits found with many other travel credit cards — but that doesn't mean it's not useful for some.
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards program members can get more out of this card with their boosted earnings rate.
• Because Bank of America's definition of "travel" is less strict than other issuers, cardholders can get travel credits for more than just airfare, hotels and related purchases.

If you like to adventure or have a few big trips coming up, you might be considering getting a travel credit card to supplement your budget by earning rewards. Most people don’t want to start off with a premium travel credit card, which comes with steep annual fees and rewards systems that can feel confusing to navigate. That’s where the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card might come in.

This Bank of America credit card has no annual fee but still offers enough benefits to get you started on your award travel journey. It also earns a flat rate of 1.5X points on all purchases. Although you’ll get the most out of this card as a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member — an invite-only program based on the sum of your deposits with the bank — it might still be a worthwhile card to consider.

To help potential cardholders understand what this card promises, we’ve made this benefits guide.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card’s rewards benefits

While the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card doesn’t offer much in terms of specific category rewards, it does still have its benefits when it comes to deals, redemption options and boosted rates.

Welcome bonus and intro APR offer

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a solid welcome bonus that’s easily attainable for most cardholders. You can earn 25,000 points when you make $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. That’s about $250 worth of travel credits.

In addition to the welcome bonus, cardholders also get a 0 percent introductory annual percentage rate (APR) for 15 months on both purchase and balance transfers, but balance transfers do come with a 3 percent balance transfer fee and must be made within 60 days of account opening. After the introductory period ends, the ongoing variable APR of 18.24 percent to 28.24 percent takes over.

Varied redemption options

You can redeem your rewards points in a variety of ways, including as:

• Statement credits in an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. This could add up if you decide to use the card as an everyday spending card.
• Cash deposits in an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. The best part is that your cash redemptions don’t lose value, as with some rewards credit cards .
• Travel credits for purchases up to 12 months after the date of purchase. However, there’s a redemption minimum of 2,500 points, which is equal to about $25.
• Statement credits for dining and takeout purchases. Bank of America considers this to be a pretty broad category, meaning that in addition to restaurants, you can possibly get statement credits for purchases from bars, lounges and nightclubs.
• Gift cards. This redemption option only gives your points a value of 0.6 cents apiece and has a redemption minimum of 3,125 points.

Boosted rewards rates with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards Program

If you’re part of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program , you’ll earn up to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar you spend on your Travel Rewards card. The only requirement is to maintain a minimum balance in your eligible Bank of America or Merrill investing accounts. The minimum balance for each tier is as follows:

Though you need to maintain a significant amount of money on deposit with the bank to qualify for these tiers, you’ll find that it can really boost your earnings with the Travel Rewards card. At the highest tier, you could earn up to 2.62 points for every dollar spent on the card.

BankAmeriDeals

The BankAmeriDeals program gives you access to exclusive discounts by using your card at eligible retailers for a specific period of time. You can save anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent on certain purchases by activating your offer and using your card according to the offer details. Some common retailers include:

• 1-800 Flowers
• The Home Depot
• Ulta Beauty

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card’s travel benefits

As a more entry-level travel card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card lacks some of the more common travel benefits, like credits towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. There’s also no lounge access, travel insurance or annual credits. Instead, the card offers the following travel benefits:

No foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction fees are typically 1 percent to 3 percent of a purchase, which can add up quickly depending on where you’re shopping. If you plan to travel abroad or shop internationally while online, you at least won’t bust your travel budget with these extra fees.

No annual fee

Most travel rewards credit cards charge an annual fee to pay for all of the perks they offer — especially if they’re branded as luxury travel credit cards. These cards can have fees as high as $695. However, while the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee, it also doesn’t have nearly the same level of perks and benefits, so you’ll have to decide whether paying a fee is worth what you get with this card.

Visa Signature benefits

As a Visa Signature® card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card also offers:

• Visa Signature® Concierge services
• Extended warranty coverage
• Access to roadside dispatch for emergency vehicle assistance
• Travel and emergency assistance

Broad travel categories

One benefit of the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card that you don’t always see with other travel cards is how varied its definition of “travel” truly is. You can get travel statement credits for purchases with:

• Hotels and motels
• Trailer parks, motorhomes and recreational vehicle rentals
• Campgrounds
• Car, truck, trailer and boat rentals
• Cruise lines
• Travel agencies, tour operators and real estate agents
• Passenger trains
• Taxis, ferries and limousines
• Parking lots and garages
• Tolls and bridge fees
• Tourist attractions and amusement parks
• Art galleries and museums
• Carnivals and circuses
• Aquariums and zoos

Museums on Us

This unique benefit allows Bank of America cardholders to get free access to over 225 cultural institutions during the first weekend of each month. The program is perfect for those who love planning day trips or those who have a list of museums they’ve been excited about seeing. To take advantage of this perk, all you have to do is present your Bank of America debit or credit card and a valid photo ID.

How to maximize the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

This card’s flat rewards rate of 1.5X points for all purchases makes maximizing the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card fairly easy — just use it on everyday purchases to see the points rack up.

Combine this card with another

However, you still might not get much out of just this card alone at the end of the day. To truly maximize your rewards, consider pairing this card with one that has a higher reward rate in specific spending categories. For example, you can get a rotating category credit card like the Discover it® Cash Back or a dining and entertainment card like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards credit card . Then, you can use your Bank of America card to fill in the gaps for spending categories that won’t get boosted rewards with your other card.

Take advantage of the intro APR offer

If you’ve got a big purchase on the horizon or want to get rid of some credit card debt, the introductory APR can help you avoid interest. Just make sure you pay off your balance before the intro period ends and factor in the balance transfer fee as you pay off your debt.

Use this card for travel in niche categories

As we mentioned before, Bank of America has a much broader definition of what counts as “travel.” While you might get more rewards with another travel credit card when it comes to airfare or hotel stays, you likely won’t find many others that let you redeem travel credits for parking lot fees, tolls, campground rentals, museums or zoos. This card can come in handy for those kinds of expenses.

The bottom line

The Bank of America Travel Rewards isn’t the very best travel credit card out there. For most people, they’d be better off with a card that offers a higher travel rewards rate or even with a flat-rate cash back card like the Citi® Double Cash Card , which offers up to 2X rewards (1% when you buy 1% as you pay) on all spending.

But for those who meet Bank of America Preferred Rewards requirements, the card could provide substantially more value. Plus, it could be appealing to someone that wants their travel rewards to be useful for more than just airfare and hotels, or someone who is just getting started on their travel rewards journey . But even then, there are likely better cards available for you to take your travels to the next level.

Issuer-required disclosure statements

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card was last updated on February 5, 2024.  Citi is an advertising partner.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

“ Museums On Us ” Bank of America. Accessed on February 5, 2024.

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Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Review

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Bank of America Travel Rewards Review: Easy Rewards for Easy Travel

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

This solid no-fee travel credit card is especially rewarding for Bank of America® banking customers.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Ongoing APR

APR: 18.24%-28.24% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: See Terms

Penalty APR: 29.99%, Variable

Balance transfer fee

3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%

Foreign transaction fee

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

No annual fee

New cardholder bonus offer

No foreign transaction fees

Flexible rewards redemption

Intro APR period

Requires good/excellent credit

No bonus categories

Best rewards limited to certain customers

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent option for frequent travelers who want flexible rewards but just can't bring themselves to pay an annual fee for a credit card.

Cardholders earn an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases. Rewards never expire as long as the account is open, but some of the redemption options have a time limit attached (more on that later). Points can be redeemed for credit against any travel or restaurant purchase. With no foreign transaction fees and a $0 annual fee, this card definitely travels light.

Note that this card is different from the similarly named Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students . For more information about that version of the card, see our full review .

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best travel credit cards

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Basics

Card type: Travel .

Annual fee: $0 .

Sign-up bonus: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

Rewards: 1.5 points per dollar spent.

Points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for travel or restaurant purchases and a little over half a cent apiece for cash. Points can also be redeemed for gift cards at varying point values. Minimum redemption: 2,500 points for travel or cash.

Interest rate: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply . (A 0% APR period is relatively rare on a travel card.)

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Flexible rewards

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card isn't tied to any particular airline or hotel chain. Book travel any way you want, with no restrictions and no blackout dates, and then use points to wipe out the cost on your statement. Bank of America® also has one of the broadest definitions of "travel" of any major issuers. You can use points to get credit for airfare, hotel stays, cruises and car rentals, of course — but also for things like campgrounds, art galleries, amusement parks, carnivals, circuses, aquariums and zoos. Add to that, points are good for credit on restaurant purchases, too.

Points don't expire, but the travel and dining purchases you can redeem them for have a time limit. You can redeem points for a statement credit toward travel or dining purchases made within 12 months prior to the date of redemption. And, these redemptions are limited to the most recent 2,500 qualifying travel and dining purchases.

Travel-friendly features

As part of the Visa network, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card travels well internationally. Visa is widely accepted worldwide, meaning you're less likely to run into trouble using it abroad. You also don’t have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees, which typically cost 1% to 3% of every transaction.

» MORE: Benefits of the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card

Bank of America Preferred Rewards® boosts earnings

The Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® program allows certain Bank of America® credit card holders to earn bonus rewards. If you have enough money in combined balances in Merrill accounts, you can earn bonuses of 25% or more. There are three tiers to the program, determined by your combined balances in those bank and investment accounts:

Say you spent $10,000 on your card in a year. That would usually earn you 15,000 points, worth $150 at a penny a point. If you were a Gold member in Bank of America Preferred Rewards®, your bonus would push your earnings to 18,750 points ($187.50). If you were Platinum, 22,500 points ($225). For Platinum Honors, 26,250 ($262.50).

» MORE: Bank of America® credit cards mobile app review

Other cards pay higher rewards rates

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a great $0 -fee travel companion, but depending on how much you spend and how you prefer to redeem, a different card might better suit you.

Bigger spenders will likely get more value from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , which earns 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Like the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card , it allows you to redeem rewards for credit against travel expenses at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

The annual fee on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is $95 . But, if you spend more than $4,750 annually, the rewards will offset the annual fee. Once you spend more than $19,000 a year, your rewards exceed those on the Bank of America® card even after taking into account the annual fee (assuming you aren't a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member). Reducing the sting of the fee even further, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also reimburses you for the application cost for TSA Precheck or Global Entry, and it offers a substantially higher sign-up bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

You get a lower redemption value for cash

The Discover it® Miles has a lot in common with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : an unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar spent, a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. But a key difference is that the Discover it® Miles gives you the same value per point whether you redeem for travel or cash back. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has an edge over this card Visa's wider acceptance abroad, but the Discover it® Miles is worth considering if you want better cash-back value.

Premium perks can take your travel further

The PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card offers premium perks without the premium cost. Cardholders get 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases (4 points for those enrolled in the PenFed Honors Advantage program) and 1.5 points per $1 spent everywhere else. On top of rewards, the card offers a $100 annual air travel credit and up to $100 in the form of a statement credit for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs every five years.

This card comes with a $95 annual fee, but it's waived for PenFed Honors Advantage members. Even without qualifying for PenFed Honors Advantage, you can effectively cancel out the annual fee as long as you can take advantage of the full $100 air travel credit. You’ll need to be a credit union member to qualify for this card.

If you'd like to see how these cards compare with other potential travel card options, you can search NerdWallet's list of best rated credit cards .

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers a solid travel rewards program for the fee-averse. If your deposits reside at Bank of America®, you can gain even more rewards.

If you're willing to pay an annual fee ( $95 ), this card gives you 2 miles per dollar on most spending. It has a big sign-up bonus, and miles are redeemable for statement credit against any travel expense.

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good choice for someone looking for simple rewards with a $0 annual fee. Cards with annual fees, however, typically offer more robust rewards and perks and may be a better fit for heavy travelers. With this card, you earn 1.5 points per $1 spent. (Bank of America Preferred Rewards ®customers earn 25%-75% more points.) Points can be redeemed for credit against any travel purchase.

Use your Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card to book travel however you want, and then redeem points for credit on your statement against those travel purchases. You can use points to cover expenses like flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, baggage fees and more.

Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for a travel statement credit.

Points don’t expire as long as your card account is open, but you will forfeit unused points if you close your account. While points don't expire, the travel and dining purchases you can redeem them for do have a time limit. You can redeem points for a statement credit toward travel or dining purchases made within 12 months prior to the date of redemption. And, redemptions are limited to the most recent 2,500 qualifying travel and dining purchases.

The more often you travel, especially if you travel internationally, the more value you can get out of a travel rewards credit card. However, if you don’t travel often, you may benefit from a cash-back card instead.

About the author

Melissa Lambarena

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The Travel Sisters

How to complete a bank of america travel notice online.

by The Travel Sisters | Mar 12, 2017 | Credit Cards | 1 comment

One of the things I do before I travel, is to let my banks that issued my credit or ATM cards know that I will be traveling abroad.  While you can call your bank, some banks make it easy to quickly notify them of your travel plans online. Fortunately, Bank of America has an online travel notification form which makes it really easy to let them know of your travel plans.

When Should You Notify Bank of America of Your Travel Plans?

According to BofA, a travel notice can be set no more than 60 days prior to departure and can last for up to 90 days from the first day of your trip. Also, you can only have one travel notice set at a time.

While I usually complete travel notifications only when traveling internationally, the form also allows you to notify Bank of America when traveling to another state in the US. If you will be charging a lot of things on your credit card, it does not hurt to take a minute to complete the form.

How to Set Up a Bank of America Travel Notification Online 

Log into your bankofamerica.com account and hover your mouse over “Help & Support” on the top right.

You will see a few options – click on “Set Travel Notice” and the Travel notification form will come up.

If you click on “Help & Support” you can reach the travel notification form either by clicking on “Set Travel Notice” under  “Common Topics” or by clicking under “Travel Information”:

Complete, the Travel Notice form. You can complete the form for either domestic travel or international travel. The form even has a box where you can provide details of your trip.

While some people don’t notify their banks before travel and they don’t have any issues, I always make sure to complete an online travel notification form online.  It only takes a minute and it is worth it to avoid getting your credit card declined in a foreign country.

Hello this Ysabel and Francisco Collado, we’re going to Europe and want to know we’re we can use atm in Rome to withdraws euro. Also let you guys know we’re goin away.

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How to use Bank of America travel rewards points

Key takeaways.

• T he Bank of America travel rewards program can be lucrative and flexible, but the specifics of how you’ll earn points in this program depend on which credit card you sign up for.
• Bank of America travel rewards points can generally be redeemed for eligible travel purchases, cash back and gift cards.
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar spent.

Many credit card issuers boast a lineup of rewards credit cards that let you earn cash back, points or miles on travel, and Bank of America is no exception. Although not as popular as travel credit cards from Chase or American Express, Bank of America travel cards can be rather lucrative and flexible — but the specifics will depend on which credit card you sign up for.

If you’re ready to give the Bank of America travel rewards program a chance, you should find out which Bank of America credit cards let you earn rewards for travel, which travel rewards benefits are offered and how to use Bank of America travel rewards points to your advantage.

Which Bank of America cards earn travel rewards?

The main two Bank of America travel rewards cards are the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card . However, Bank of America also offers the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card * and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students .

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for no annual fee

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points ($250 statement credit value toward travel purchases) if you make $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening the account
• Rewards rate: Unlimited 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases; 3X points on Bank of America Travel Center purchases
• Annual fee:  $0
• Notable perks: No foreign transaction fees, flexible travel rewards

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card: Best for occasional travelers

• Welcome bonus: 60,000 online bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
• Rewards rate: Unlimited 2X points per dollar on travel and dining; 1.5X points per dollar on all other purchases
• Annual fee:  $95
• Notable perks: Up to $100 in statement credits per year for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs; up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; no foreign transaction fees

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card: Best for frequent travelers

• Welcome bonus: 75,000 online bonus points (a $750 value) after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
• Rewards rate:  Unlimited 2X points on dining and travel purchases; unlimited 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Annual fee: $550
• Notable perks: Up to $300 annually in airline incidental statement credits for qualifying purchases (like seat upgrades and baggage fees); up to $150 annually for eligible lifestyle conveniences (including video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services); up to a $100 statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years; complimentary Priority Pass membership; 20 percent off on domestic or international airfare for any class when paid with points

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best for students

• Welcome bonus: 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• Rewards rate: 1.5X points on all purchases
• Annual fee: $0
• Notable perks: No foreign transactions fees, flexible travel rewards

Which Bank of America travel cards do not earn travel rewards points?

Bank of America also offers a surprising number of co-branded travel credit cards that are geared to loyalists with specific brands. However, these cards do not earn Bank of America travel rewards points. These include:

• Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
• Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®*
• Allegiant World Mastercard®*
• Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card*
• Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®*
• Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card*
• Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® *
• Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*

When it comes to redeeming your Bank of America travel rewards, your options may vary depending on the card you have.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

With the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students, you can use your points for:

• Cash back in the form of a check or direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account
• A statement credit to cover eligible travel-related purchases

Unlike with other travel rewards programs, you can use your eligible card to book travel with any eligible providers, and Bank of America’s list of qualifying travel purchases is extensive. In addition to airlines, hotels, car rentals and eligible transit, travel-related purchases also include purchases made with eligible cruise lines, parking garages, travel agencies, tourist attractions, art galleries, amusement parks and more.

From there, you can redeem your points for a travel credit statement through your Bank of America account. However, note that you’ll need at least $25 worth of points to redeem for a travel credit.

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card lets you cash in your rewards for:

• Travel bookings through the Bank of America Travel Center
• Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a direct deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account

Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card, you can redeem your points for:

• Travel, experiences, event tickets and more through our Bank of America’s Concierge service

How to maximize Bank of America travel rewards points

To get the most of your travel rewards points with Bank of America, you should try to be as strategic as you can. When you go to redeem points, consider the ways you may be able to earn more points on your spending and any ways you can maximize your rewards .

Join the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program

One major way to earn more Bank of America travel rewards involves signing up for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program . Doing so can net you an additional 25 percent to 75 percent more in rewards for each dollar you spend. However, note that you do need to meet certain qualifications to enroll in this program, including:

• An active, eligible Bank of America checking account
• A three-month average combined balance of $20,000 or more in eligible Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts

Also, keep in mind that the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program offers additional perks like savings boosters and loan discounts for members with cash on deposit. The following chart shows how much more you could earn in rewards as a member, as well as how much you need to keep in eligible accounts to qualify for each tier.

While the minimum balance requirements are high, the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can help you earn considerably more points on your spending if you qualify. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card members in the Platinum Honors tier have the potential to earn up to 3.5X points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and up to 2.62X points on other purchases.

Also, it’s worth noting that there is one more Bank of America Preferred Rewards program tier, Diamond Honors.

Compare pricing in the travel portal

Keep in mind that the Bank of America Travel Center lets you make travel bookings with over 200,000 hotels and resorts and more than 200 airlines, among other options. Since some Bank of America travel rewards credit cards let you redeem your points for either travel-related statement credits or travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, you should compare the prices offered in the travel portal with other travel sites. By comparing prices, you can make sure you get the best deal.

Pick a card with an annual fee

Finally, make sure to think about your goals before you sign up for a travel credit card from this issuer. After all, a card with an annual fee comes with more benefits and perks. For example, when you pay the $95 annual fee for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card, you’ll get higher rewards rates on travel and dining spending, up to a $100 annual credit for incidental airline expenses to cover eligible costs and up to a $100 application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership every four years. All of this could easily leave you “ahead” in a financial sense.

The bottom line

Bank of America travel rewards can work differently depending on the card you sign up for, so make sure to compare all the rewards card options available before you decide on a card. In the meantime, spend some time comparing cards from this issuer to travel rewards credit cards from other major issuers. You may find that Bank of America has what you’re looking for in a travel rewards card, but you’ll never know for sure unless you check.

The Bank of America content in this post was last updated on June 23, 2023.

The information about the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card was updated on June 23, 2023.

*The information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®, Allegiant World Mastercard®, Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card, Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard®, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature® card, Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® and Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Foreign transaction fees: Everything you need to know

Editor's Note

There's very little that we dislike more here at TPG than unnecessary fees — including foreign transaction fees.

You may have noticed that when you use some credit cards abroad ( or on a website not hosted in the U.S. ), an additional fee gets tacked on to each purchase.

Today, let's walk through what those fees are and how you can avoid them in the future.

What Is a foreign transaction fee?

Foreign transaction fees are charged on certain cards when you make a purchase that goes through an overseas bank to process the transaction. When you make a transaction while traveling or through a foreign website, banks may have to convert the purchase into U.S. dollars. On some credit cards, issuers will then pass the conversion cost onto consumers.

The standard foreign transaction fee tends to be around 3%. However, Capital One and Discover are unique in having zero foreign transaction fees on all credit cards. And you can find no foreign transaction fees on personal and business cards from all issuers.

How much are foreign transaction fees?

Generally, foreign transaction fees hover around 3% for most issuers. Visa and Mastercard charge a 1% fee to banks for processing purchases made abroad, and many U.S. issuers tack on an additional 1-2% fee. Capital One and Discover do not charge foreign transaction fees on any of their credit cards.

Which cards have no foreign transaction fees?

Most of the top travel credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees . In fact, it's rare for a card that offers travel rewards and perks to charge any foreign transaction fees. While most issuers charge foreign transaction fees of around 3% on at least some of their products, Capital One and Discover do not charge foreign transaction fees on any of their credit cards.

Card issuers are required to give potential and existing customers access to rates and fees associated with a credit card, including foreign transaction fees . Check the terms and conditions of your credit card to see whether or not your card (or the card you're considering applying for) charges foreign transaction fees.

When looking at the rates and fees table, you can typically find the foreign transaction fee listed explicitly under a fees section.

Foreign transaction fees vs. ATM fees

Another type of fee you may hear about when you travel is a foreign ATM fee. While the two fees can apply when traveling outside the U.S., they are not synonymous.

A foreign ATM fee is charged when you withdraw cash from an ATM in a foreign country. Some banks waive this fee, especially if you use an ATM that falls within a specific network of banks.

Additionally, you might be on the hook for additional fees when you use an ATM abroad, including a flat fee from your bank for using an ATM not affiliated with the bank (which is typically $5), a foreign currency conversion fee (which typically falls in line with foreign transaction fees at 3%) and additional fees charged by the owner of the specific ATM you use.

This is one reason we recommend paying with a credit card wherever possible. But in some places, cash is still king and you'll need to have a game plan for avoiding these types of fees — or factoring them into your budget.

Related: Ways to save on overseas ATM withdrawals

How to avoid foreign transaction fees

Use a card with no foreign transaction fees.

The easiest way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a card that doesn't charge them. TPG has a regularly updated guide on the top credit cards with no foreign transaction fees that can help you figure out the best cards to use for your trips.

Unfortunately, cash-back cards such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates and fees ) tend to charge foreign transaction fees. But keep in mind that some issuers, including Capital One and Discover, don't charge foreign transaction fees at all across their credit cards.

Avoid 'dynamic currency conversion'

When using a card terminal abroad, you may be prompted to pay in the local currency or in U.S. dollars. You should always choose local currency.

Dynamic currency conversion is a sneaky way that banks encourage you to pay in your home currency (U.S. dollars) while abroad. However, they'll usually give you a poor conversion rate, so it's best to pay in euros, pesos or whichever is the local currency.

Related: I fell for dynamic currency conversion — reader mistake story

Pay with cash

Of course, you'll also avoid foreign transaction fees by paying with cash. But those purchases won't earn you any rewards, and withdrawing cash abroad may be subject to pesky fees.

Bottom line

The good news is that foreign transaction fees are much less common across top credit cards than they used to be. Hopefully, the industry as a whole is moving away from charging customers these types of fees. Until then, check your credit card's terms and conditions to know if you'll be on the hook for a fee when you're traveling and plan your card usage accordingly.

To avoid foreign transaction fees, choose a top travel rewards card or one from Capital One or Discover. And make sure to always pay in the local currency rather than U.S. dollars so that you can avoid poor conversion rates.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Stella Shon.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card, click here .

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Moscow Travel Guide

• Guide to Russia
• Russian Destination Guide

Why travel to Moscow

Contrasts: 12th century monasteries and some of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe can be found side-by-side in this complex and captivating city. The diversity of this mega-city is astounding. Only a few steps away from the solemn red facade of the Kremlin and the sounds of righteous church bells, a buzzing night scene and alternative-fashion boutiques can be found.

Culture: In Moscow only the best goes. Be it a theatre, restaurant or gallery, the standards are certain to be world-class. The Bolshoi ballet company is reputed to be even better than the Mariinsky’s and “MMOMA” (Moscow’s museum of modern art) exhibits works of art as profound as any that could be found in the famed MOMA.

Convenience: Unlike the rest of Russia, it’s easy enough to get by with just English in Moscow and, driving excepted, it is surprisingly safe: the murder rate is lower than in some of America’s major cities.

Top Sights in Moscow

St. Basil’s

Novodevichy Convent

MORE SIGHTS

• Moscow Fact File
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FEATURED MOSCOW TOURS

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Why visit Moscow

It would take more than two days to walk around the perimeter of the biggest city in Europe, Moscow. Many of its inhabitants barely know what’s beyond the few blocks around their flat and there are so many attractions that it’s almost impossible to know where to start. If there is such a thing as an antidote to boredom, Moscow City is it. The mind-boggling range and diversity of things to do, places to eat, parks, historical monuments and more means that a vacation in Moscow has a wealth of activities to offer for every type of traveler, from young families to retirees.

Reasons to Vacation in Moscow in 2022

The Bolshoi theatre is familiar to almost everyone as Russia’s grandest theatre, but what people don’t know is that there are many more bolshoi (big) sites in Moscow that are worth travelling all the way to Moscow to see. For more than 100 years, the world’s biggest bell has been hidden behind the Kremlin’s walls and inside Moscow’s main park (which is bigger than some countries!) there is the world’s largest outdoor ice-rink. Travelers that visit Moscow can stay at the Izmailovo, Europe’s biggest hotel, then eat at the largest and most historic McDonald’s in Europe and after that have fun at the largest European indoor theme park!

Ancient Past & Stunning Architecture:

As those who travel to Moscow will see, just because Moscow is a city of record-breaking, glitzy high-rises doesn’t mean that there is no history. On the famous Arbat street, time-worn, wooden storehouses and century-old churches are squashed up against grey, soviet blocks which are then towered over by 21st century office-blocks. Unlike its much younger sibling, St Petersburg, Moscow’s roots stretch way back to the 12th century. Within the walls of the Kremlin, the city’s oldest building the Cathedral of Assumption can be admired in all its 500+ years of age.

Culture & Convenience

For a foreigner who has never visited Russia, Moscow is the perfect stepping stone into this great land of mystery. From the country’s best classical ballet troupes to snow-white troikas trotting through the parks, all the highlights of Russian culture can be had in Moscow without any of the complications that would be expected in other, less developed regions of Russia.

Cheap as Caviar

In Moscow, everything is bargain when with the current foreign exchange rates being what they are. Even caviar doesn’t seem so dear when the exchange rate is at 60rub to the dollar, so go on indulge yourself! Take your 2022 vacation in Moscow and have the best of both worlds, with European luxury at very affordable prices.

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

We had a great time both in Moscow and St Petersburg. Your travel agency was excellent in coordinating the whole trip. Everything worked like clockwork. The guides assigned to us were very nice and friendly. They had a great knowledge of their subjects. The cars and the drivers were great. The hotels were good and the itinerary was good. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice dealing with you and your company. Thank you very much for a great Russian experience. Have a great future ahead

• 31 reviews of Express to Russia Moscow Tours in Moscow

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Opening your U.S. bank account

You may find that you need a U.S. bank account right away. banking or checking account is a type of account that enables you to deposit and withdraw available funds on demand, typically by using a debit card, using Bill Pay or transferring money to a friend." data-tooltip-title="bank of america foreign travel" data-tooltip-close-text="" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" aria-label="Help"> That's where we come in.

Application process and requirements

To apply for an account, you need to visit a Bank of America financial center.

You must be living in the U.S. in order to open an account and you'll need to provide both your foreign and your U.S. address.*

Home or permanent residence address

This must include building name or number and street name, city or town, state or province, country.

U.S. physical address

Only one of the following documents is needed:.

• Government-issued ID with photo
• Student ID with address and photo
• Current utility bill with your name and address
• Other (rental agreement, etc.)

*A post office box or locally known mail drop location (such as Mail Boxes) is not an acceptable U.S. physical address.

You will need two forms of identification.

• Foreign passport with or without passport visa (with photo)
• U.S. Non Immigrant visa and Border Crossing Card-DSP-150 (with photo)
• Mexican, Guatemalan, Dominican, Colombian Consular ID (with photo)
• Canadian Citizenship Certificate Card (with photo)

Secondary ID

• Foreign driver's license with photo or U.S. driver's license
• U.S. student ID validated for current term or school year (with photo)
• Debit or major credit card with Visa® or Mastercard® logo
• Major retail credit card from a nationally well-known company
• U.S. Department of State Diplomat ID
• Mexican Voter Registration Card (with photo)

Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN)

An FTIN issued by a country other than the U.S. A U.S. TIN/ITN is not required unless you’ve been issued one.

Pick a time and location that’s convenient for you.

Schedule an appointment

Once everything is in order, you’ll be able to start enjoying conveniences like the Mobile Banking app 1 , debit card and digital wallets – designed to help manage your finances.

If you're a non-resident alien, you must apply in person at one of our financial centers to open your account.

• You're looking to open a Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® account
• You are not a U.S. citizen
• You have a physical U.S. residential address
• You are not a permanent resident of the U.S.  Non-resident alien: Any individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national Resident alien: Individuals who have met either the green card test or the substantial presence test for the calendar year Permanent resident: Green card (or permanent resident card) holders who are authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis" data-tooltip-title="bank of america foreign travel" data-tooltip-close-text="" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" aria-label="Help">

You must be living in the U.S. to open your account. You'll need to provide both a foreign and U.S. address, as well as two forms of ID and a tax identification number.

See what you'll need

Once you have all your information collected and ready, find a time to see us.

Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® is a great choice for students

No monthly maintenance fee.

We'll waive the monthly maintenance fee for this account with an owner under 25 2 .

Just for you

Sole ownership can start as early as age 16 for students with a valid U.S. visa and physical U.S. address.

Where you need us

We have thousands of physical locations if you need assistance or just an ATM.

Make your financial journey here a little easier

Guidance, tools, calculators; it's all a part of banking with us.

International student? Why you should open a U.S. bank account

Learn how opening a U.S. bank account can help you save money and make it easier to manage your finances. Read more

International students: set yourself up for U.S. banking success

Having a domestic bank account up and running can make for a smoother adjustment to university. Read more

Today's exchange rate

Our foreign exchange calculator can help you find out how much your currency is worth in U.S. dollars. Try it

1 Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

2 Fiduciary titled accounts, including UTMA/UGMA, do not qualify for the under the age of 25 requirement to waive the monthly maintenance fee. Please refer to your Personal Schedule of Fees for more information.

Better Money Habits, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation

Advertising Practices

We strive to provide you with information about products and services you might find interesting and useful. Relationship-based ads and online behavioral advertising help us do that.

Bank of America participates in the Digital Advertising Alliance ("DAA") self-regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising and uses the Advertising Options Icon on our behavioral ads on non-affiliated third-party sites (excluding ads appearing on platforms that do not accept the icon). Ads served on our behalf by these companies do not contain unencrypted personal information and we limit the use of personal information by companies that serve our ads. To learn more about ad choices, or to opt out of interest-based advertising with non-affiliated third-party sites, visit YourAdChoices powered by the DAA or through the Network Advertising Initiative's Opt-Out Tool . You may also visit the individual sites for additional information on their data and privacy practices and opt-out options.

To learn more about relationship-based ads, online behavioral advertising and our privacy practices, please review the Bank of America Online Privacy Notice and our Online Privacy FAQs .

Qualifying direct deposit

A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other eligible regular monthly income, electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into your new checking account. Please note, this does not include a transfer done via ATM, online, or teller, or a transfer from a bank or brokerage account, Merrill Edge® or Merrill Lynch® account.

Qualifying purchase

A qualifying debit card purchase is any purchase of goods or services made in store, by telephone or online using the debit card and/or debit card number associated with the new checking account that qualified for the $150 bonus. Purchases will be qualified based on the day the purchase posts to your new account. Purchases include any payments made using your debit card number but do not include ATM transactions (such as withdrawals).

This is the second paragraph

Bank of America Core Checking®

Have at least one Qualifying Direct Deposit of $250

Maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or more

Students under age 24 are eligible to have this fee waived while enrolled in high school, college or a vocational program.

Preferred Rewards clients get this fee waived.

Or pay $12 /month

Bank of America Interest Checking®

Maintain a combined balance* of at least $10,000 or more

*Combined balances include: The average daily balance in eligible linked checking and savings accounts for the statement cycle

The current balances in linked personal CDs and IRAs at the end of the Interest Checking statement cycle

The current balance (2 business days before the end of the Interest Checking statement cycle) in your eligible linked Merrill Edge® and Merrill Lynch® investment accounts

Or pay $25 /month

Bank of America® Rewards Savings

Maintain a minimum daily balance of at least $500

Link your Bank of America Interest Checking® account to your Rewards Savings account (waiver applies to first 4 savings accounts)

When you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client (waiver applies to first 4 checking and savings accounts)

Or pay $8 /month

Important Notice

You're continuing to another website that Bank of America doesn't own or operate. Its owner is solely responsible for the website's content, offerings and level of security, so please refer to the website's posted privacy policy and terms of use. It's possible that the information provided in the website is available only in English.

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Es posible que el contenido, las solicitudes y los documentos asociados con los productos y servicios específicos en esa página estén disponibles solo en inglés. Antes de escoger un producto o servicio, asegúrese de haber leído y entendido todos los términos y condiciones provistos.

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Navy Federal replaces Bank of America as operator of DOD’s Community Bank

A Bank of America logo is covered on a Community Bank ATM at the Navy-run New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Account holders should experience no change in service as the world’s largest credit union takes over all Department of Defense banks on overseas military bases.

Navy Federal Credit Union starting this month will operate those 60 facilities, known as Community Banks, and the 272 ATMs on installations in Europe and the Pacific, according to a Navy Federal press release April 2.

Bank of America held the contract for more than 40 years, Yahoo! Finance reported April 4.

“The Overseas Military Banking Program fits our core values at Navy Federal and is consistent with our primary mission of supporting Active Duty military members and their families,” Navy Federal’s chief operations officer, Kara Cardona, said in the release. “Serving these families through this important DoD program is directly aligned with our mission.”

Navy Federal claims 13 million members across all service branches and assets of more than $168 billion. It won the $9.4 million Overseas Military Banking Program contract, previously held by Bank of America, on Sept. 25, according to the DOD website.

Community Bank customers should expect business as usual, Navy Federal spokeswoman Amber Southard told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

Navy Federal Credit Union claims 13 million members across all service branches and assets of more than $168 billion. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Navy Federal came under scrutiny after a CNN investigation published in December found the credit union approved mortgages for more than 75% of the white borrowers who applied for a new conventional home purchase in 2022 while approving less than 50% of Black borrowers who applied for the same type of loan. The cable news channel cited the most recent federal data available.

In January, 10 U.S. senators wrote Secretary Marcia Fudge of Department of Housing & Urban Development and director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asking them to “thoroughly review Navy Federal’s mortgage lending practices and outcomes for compliance with all federal fair housing and fair lending laws and regulations.”

The same day, 42 members of the congressional Black Caucus wrote separately to Navy Federal president and CEO Mary McDuffie asking her to explain the reported disparity in lending and answer a series of questions.

An unnamed Navy Federal spokesperson in CNN’s Jan. 12 report said the credit union was already reviewing its mortgage practices and that it provided a higher percentage of its loans to Black borrowers than most other large lenders.

Community Bank provides unsecured, debt consolidation and auto loans, but not mortgage loans, according to its website. It also provides access to foreign currency, local ATMs, bill pay, savings, checking and other financial services to installation personnel and commands.

Navy Federal’s spokeswoman underscored Friday that the credit union and Community Bank are separate entities.

“Community Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union are independent of one another,” Southard wrote in her email. “While Navy Federal Credit Union has been selected to manage the Overseas Military Banking Program, these institutions will remain as separate entities.”

Customers cannot access Community Bank accounts at Navy Federal Credit Union locations, she said.

DOD established the Overseas Military Banking Program after World War II to provide active-duty service members and base commands with retail financial and cash services, according to a Navy Federal press release Sept. 25.

Community Bank operates through a contract between DOD, a commercial financial institution and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The contract began with a transition period, followed by a base year starting April 1 and one-year options for another eight years.

“There are no immediate improvements or features planned for Community Bank,” Southard said. “As we gain experience operating Community Bank for the DoD’s Overseas Military Banking Program we may identify opportunities for improvements in products and services. Those will be vetted through DFAS for approval prior to implementation.”

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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Moscow plans measures to woo tourists, Foreign Tourist Card in the offing

To woo tourists from across the world, the Moscow City Tourism Committee is taking several measures and to address payment-related issues the Russian government is planning to come out with a virtual ‘Foreign Tourist Card’, that will enable cashless payments for various services.

During the Covid pandemic, the tourist flow to Moscow had dropped significantly. However, the number of Indian tourists visiting Moscow is slowly witnessing an uptrend and with tourist-friendly measures like e-visa, this number is likely to grow in the coming months.

“We are still on our way to restore the flow of Indian tourists in Moscow like it used to be before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, there was very steady growth like 12-15 per cent on a y-o-y basis,” said Bulat Nurmukhanov, Head of International Cooperation Division of Moscow City Tourism Committee.

Travelling to Moscow has now become easier as tourists from India and 54 other countries can apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia from August 1, 2023.

Moreover, initiatives like the Foreign Tourist Card will help address payment-related issues, after the departure of MasterCard and Visa from the Russian market, Bulat said.

“There is an initiative by the Federal Government of Russia to develop a ‘Foreign Tourist Card’. The initiative is under process, and some legislative documents have been amended in order to make this card possible.

“The idea behind this card is that a person back home in India can remotely apply for this card and then he/she can transfer money from the personal bank account to this bank account,” Bulat added.

This will be a virtual card and this will be issued to the person back home. This card will address the payment-related issues of foreign tourists in Moscow.

To give more travel options to tourists, in March this year, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot increased the frequency of its flight services on the Delhi-Moscow route to seven times a week against four weekly services earlier.

India and Russia “in principle” agreed to revise their bilateral air services agreement earlier this month, allowing Russian carriers to operate up to 64 flights per week from 52 to India.

Russian carriers are allowed to operate these flights to six Indian cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Amritsar and Ahmedabad.

“We are really looking forward to the Indian Airlines to restore their flight connections to Moscow. Right now only Aeroflot is operating flights between Delhi and Goa. However, there are some other options available from Dubai to Moscow,” Bulat said.

In a bid to tackle the language barrier that makes arriving in and navigating in a new country quite intimidating, there are seven tourist centres across Moscow. It also has a call centre for foreign tourists in case they need any help, Bulat said.

“We are working on translating the city navigation into English. Our businesses are really active and quick to respond to what the market requires,” Bulat added.

Source: PTI

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Middle East latest: US predicts attack by Iran against Israel - as Iranian sources 'brief Washington officials on nature of response'

Washington officials expect Iran to attack Israel in retaliation to a strike on its embassy in Syria - as the US says it will not be drawn into any wider war and Tehran suggests its response will be non-escalatory. Listen to our latest podcast on how tensions are escalating in the region.

Friday 12 April 2024 12:24, UK

• Israel-Hamas war
• US predicts attack by Iran against Israel - but says Washington won't be drawn into war
• Iran attack on Israel expected in next 36 hours - report
• Tehran 'telling US' it won't act hastily and will avoid major escalation
• Number of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza rises to 33,634, health ministry says
• Dominic Waghorn:  Risk of bigger war rising - but Biden knows he can't blink
• Alex Crawford report : Yemeni fishermen face threat of Houthi attack - but on Gaza they are firmly behind the militants
• Live reporting by Niamh Lynch

The Israeli military said the first humanitarian aid trucks entered through a newly opened northern crossing point on Thursday.

Israel said the trucks were inspected at the Kerem Shalom crossing point on the border with Egypt before moving north to cross.

Israel had said earlier this month it would re-open the Erez crossing point that had been closed since the start of the war with Hamas last October. 

The country has said it would step up supplies in the face of mounting pressure to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Israel is preparing for a "direct" attack from Iran as soon as today or Saturday, it is being reported.

US news outlet the Wall Street Journal cited a person "familiar with the matter". However, the newspaper said a source briefed by the Iranian leadership said that while plans were being discussed, no final decision on the attack has been made.

It also reported that the attack could be within Israel's borders, as opposed to Israeli interests elsewhere.

Iran has vowed to avenge last week's strike on its embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed top Iranian military officials - although it is reported to have made clear to US officials that any response will be non-escalatory.

France's foreign ministry has issued a recommendation for French citizens not to travel to Iran, Lebanon, Israel or the Palestinian Territories. 

The ministry said it was also bringing back the relatives of Iran-based diplomats and that French civil servants were now banned from conducting any missions in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

For context: Tensions have ratcheted up in region - which is already strained by the Gaza war - in the wake of an attack last week on the Iranian embassy in Syria. 

The airstrike on 1 April in Damascus killed a top Iranian general and six other Iranian military officers.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Israel "must be punished and it shall be", adding that it was tantamount to an attack on Iranian soil.

Elsewhere, Argentina's highest criminal court has found that Iran planned the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre headquarters in Buenos Aires.

It also concluded that Lebanon’s Hezbollah group then carried out the attack, which killed 85 people and wounded 300. 

Argentina's Court of Cassation said the attack came in retaliation for Argentina reneging on a nuclear cooperation deal with Tehran. 

Alleging Iran's "political and strategic" role in the bombing, the court paved the way for victims' families to bring lawsuits against the country. 

In the past three decades, Iran has not turned over citizens convicted in Argentina. 

Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn explains how Iran may retaliate after Israel hit the country's embassy in Syria last week.

Tensions in the Middle East have been growing since the deadly Damascus attack, which killed a top Iranian military general.

An update from the Gaza health ministry this morning. 

At least 33,634 Palestinians have been killed and 76,214 injured in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since 7 October, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory has said today. 

In the past 24 hours, 89 Palestinians were killed and 120 were injured, the ministry added. 

The ministry's figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters, but it says the majority of those killed were women and children.

The White House has appeared to row back on comments made by the head of a significant US aid agency on famine in Gaza. 

Samantha Power, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, said it was "credible" to assess that famine had already started there. 

But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted repeatedly on Thursday that famine conditions in parts of Gaza were only "imminent".

"That is why we're doing everything we can to uptick, obviously, the humanitarian aid" arriving into Gaza, Ms Jean-Pierre said, noting that the number of trucks carrying aid into Gaza has increased dramatically in recent days.

"We know how dire the situation is in Gaza, so we are certainly deeply concerned about these reports," Jean-Pierre said.

"We have been working around the clock to get more of that aid into Gaza."

She added that the US would "continue to push Israel to increase the flow" of aid.

Under US pressure, Israel has promised to ramp up aid to Gaza dramatically, saying last week it would open another cargo crossing and surge more trucks than ever before into the besieged Palestinian territory.

But days later, there are few signs of those promises materialising and international officials say starvation is widespread in hard-hit northern Gaza.

Israel says it has dramatically increased the number of aid trucks entering the territory, but UN workers report only a slight uptick.

A likely retaliatory attack on Israel will be calculated with the aim of avoiding major escalation, Iranian sources have told Reuters news agency.

They say this was communicated to the US and that Iran will not act hastily.

Iran has been threatening a response for the suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which killed a top Iranian commander. 

Iran's message to Washington was conveyed by Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian during a visit on Sunday to the Gulf Arab state of Oman, which has often acted as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington, the sources said.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment on any messages from Iran, although they said the US has told Iran it was not involved in the strike on the consulate. 

A source familiar with US intelligence was not aware of the message conveyed via Oman but said Iran has "been very clear" that its response to the attack in Damascus would be "controlled" and "non-escalatory". 

They added Iran planned "to use regional proxies to launch a number of attacks on Israel". 

Iran has been considering its response for close to two weeks now as it appears it does not want a wider war in the Middle East. 

The country's foreign ministry has urged citizens to avoid travel to the Middle East as fears of escalation rise. 

In particular, it told people to keep away from Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also joined the UK in calling for Iran to show restraint ahead of a likely retaliation against Israel. 

"Right now it's very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilisation of the situation in the region, which doesn't exactly shine with stability and predictability," Mr Peskov said.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin have discussed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security as it faces a threat from Iran.

We reported last night that Mr Gallant told the defence secretary in a phone call that an Iranian attack on Israel would "require an appropriate Israeli response".

The Pentagon said in an update that Mr Austin echoed Joe Biden's "unequivocal message" to Benjamin Netanyahu and "assured minister Gallant that Israel could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened".

It added that US general for the Middle East Michael "Erik" Kurilla had moved forward a visit to Israel in order for him to meet with the country's military top brass and discuss "current security threats."

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