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BUSINESS Saturday 13 July 2019
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How your 2019 vacation can pay for your 2020 vacation

By JUNE CASAGRANDE points per dollar. The same
NerdWallet dynamic applies for airline
Associated Press loyalty programs: You earn
If you're gearing up for sum- miles just for flying, but you
mer vacation, you might can increase those miles
be wincing at the cost. substantially by paying for
Plane tickets, hotels, rental your flight with an airline-
cars, meals and activi- branded card. One thing
ties can turn any getaway to balance: Airfare tends
into a financial burden. But to spike within two weeks of
what if this year's vacation travel dates, so if this sum-
could pay for next year's, mer's trip is fast approach-
or at least cover a good ing, you might need to
chunk of it? book flights before you se-
Thanks to points and miles cure a new card.
, it's possible, especially if BE STRATEGIC IN EVERYDAY
you're willing to pledge SPENDING
your loyalty to one or two Routine spending can help
brands. pay for next year's vaca-
PICK A HOTEL GROUP tion, too, because travel
The goal here is to be able rewards credit cards gen-
to pay for next year's hotel In this July 2, 2019, file photo a surfer walks out of the water after riding waves at dusk at Scripps erally pay at least 1 point
with points you earn this Beach in San Diego. per dollar on anything you
year. The first step? Reserve Associated Press buy. Some cards give you
your 2019 hotel in the same to your 2019 vacation spot ment. you can focus on using one a points boost in certain
family of hotels you'll stay may not be competitive to Check the latest credit card for three months, then spending categories, like
with in 2020, and sign up your 2020 destination — or card offerings for your cho- the next card for the follow- resta urants and gas sta-
for that chain's loyalty pro- even an option. And fares sen hotel group and airline, ing three months, even if it tions.Other opportunities
gram. frequently change. then apply for the ones that means you can't use one include:
Look at hotels in the place Just make your best edu- best suit you. These cards of them on this year's trip. — Using your airline or ho-
where you'll spend your up- cated guess. Search for often come with perks that And be sure both cards you tel's virtual mall, a web por-
coming vacation, note a tickets for this year's des- make travel easier, such as apply for are ones you can tal where you earn bonus
few you like, then search tination and next year's free checked bags or late- keep and use regularly, as points by shopping at hun-
hotels in the place where to see which airlines have checkout privileges. opening and closing ac- dreds of big-name retailers.
you expect to vacation the most competitive fares But proceed with caution: counts can have an effect — Signing up for an airline
next year. Most will be part right now. Sign up for that Earning that big bonus typi- on your credit scores. or hotel's dining rewards
of the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, airline's frequent flyer pro- cally requires you to spend BOOK YOUR 2019 TRIP WITH program, to enhance your
IHG, Wyndham, Best West- gram. a minimum of $2,000 to YOUR NEW CARDS earning potential when
ern, Radisson or Choice Ho- APPLY FOR TWO CREDIT $5,000 on the card in the Travel credit cards can you dine out.
tels chains. Now pick a 2019 CARDS WITH BIG SIGN-UP first three months. Be sure boost your points-earning If you don't like the idea of
favorite and a 2020 favorite BONUSES you can meet that require- potential with your chosen a hotel- or airline-branded
within the same family. This is where you'll earn the ment, while paying off your airline or hotel group. For credit card, you can devise
PICK AN AIRLINE bulk of points to redeem balance in full each month example, members of Hil- a similar strategy using gen-
The same philosophy ap- next year. Credit card sign- to avoid interest charges. ton's Honors program earn eral travel rewards or even
plies to your airline: Fly this up bonuses offer you tens And be aware of cards' an- 10 points for every dollar cash-back credit cards.
year and earn points to- of thousands of hotel points nual fees, which can eat spent on a qualifying ho- The goal is to maximize the
ward next year's trip. This or airline miles after you're into the value of the bonus. tel stay, but booking with rewards you earn in 2019 so
can be trickier, though, as approved and meet a If necessary, stagger your a Hilton card can earn an you'll have points to spend
a carrier with great fares minimum spending require- credit card applications so additional 7, 12 or even 14 in 2020.q

China imports from US plunge 31% in June amid tariff war

By JOE McDONALD helped to reassure jittery financial markets
Associated Press but forecasters say their truce is fragile be-
BEIJING (AP) — China's imports from the Unit- cause the two sides are divided by the same
ed States plunged in June amid a tariff war array of conflicts that caused talks to break
with Washington while exports to the U.S. down in May. Trade envoys talked by phone
market weakened. Imports of U.S. goods fell Tuesday in their first contact since Trump and
31.4% from a year earlier to $9.4 billion, while Xi met in Japan, the Chinese Commerce Min-
exports to the American market declined istry said. It gave no details or a date for more
7.8% to $39.3 billion, customs data showed contacts. Trade weakness has added to pres-
Friday. China's trade surplus with the United sure on Xi's government to shore up econom-
States widened by 3% to $29.9 billion. ic growth and avoid politically dangerous job In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019, photo, containers
U.S.-Chinese trade has weakened since Presi- losses. Washington is pressing Beijing to roll are piled up at a port in Qingdao in east China's
dent Donald Trump started hiked tariffs last back plans for government-led creation of Shandong province.
year on goods from China in a fight over Bei- Chinese global competitors in robotics, elec- Associated Press
jing's technology ambitions. China retaliated tric cars and other technologies. The United American exporters have been hit hardest,
with penalty duties and ordered importers to States also wants other changes including Chinese industries including electronics that
find non-U.S. suppliers. cuts in subsidies to Chinese industry. Beijing sees its economic future have suffered
Trump and his Chinese President Xi Jinping Chinese leaders express confidence their double-digit declines in sales to the United
agreed in June to resume negotiations. That economy can survive the tariff fight. But while States, their biggest market.q