[Expired] Amazon Prime Day Is Here: The Best Travel Gear Deals and How To Maximize Credit Card Rewards

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Amazon Prime Day has arrived, kicking off 2 days of online shopping deals for Prime members in over 48 countries.

While inflation remains high, Amazon continues to scale Prime Day. This year’s event is expected to net $14 billion in sales according to Adobe Analytics.¹

In addition to many discounted products, we’ve found even more ways to save, including using the right credit cards and shopping portals. If you have upcoming travel plans, take a look at which essentials are a good deal to add to your cart this Prime Day. 

Amazon Prime Day 2024 Overview

Amazon Prime Day is a 2-day sale event for Amazon Prime members from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 17. With over 35 million items across dozens of shopping categories, there’s no shortage of deals available to grab. If you don’t already have Amazon Prime already, here’s what you need to know about the membership:

• Sign up for a 30-Day Free Amazon Prime Trial: If you decide to keep the membership, it’s $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
• Eligible Customers Can Get Discounted Amazon Prime: Prime Access costs $6.99 a month for people who qualify for government assistance such as SNAP EBT and Medicaid. Prime Student is $7.49 a month or $69 per year for people 18 to 24 and students in a 2- or 4-year college program.

Amazon Prime comes with a long list of benefits outside of participating in Prime Day sales, free 2-day shipping on eligible items or even same-day delivery, access to Prime Video, Amazon Music, and Prime Gaming, savings at Whole Foods, and more.

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals 2024

I spent hours searching around some of the best travel deals pre-Prime Day so you don’t have to. Here’s what I found:

Luggage

If you have a shorter trip coming up and prefer a suitcase, an expandable spinner wheel carry-on is a necessity. I was shocked to find this Rockland Melbourne carry-on luggage, which is already on sale for over 60% off, at just $55.99 (originally $140). 

I am more of a backpack guy myself, so this Thule Chasm Backpack 26L would be on the top of my list if I didn’t already have an Osprey backpack.

While not on sale for Prime Day, I highly suggest the Osprey 55-liter bag, and have taken it to over 20 countries. 

If you have a larger journey ahead of you, a carry-on likely won’t cut it, but the large suitcase in the Coolife Luggage 3 Piece Set could.

Electronics

If you need new headphones but want to remain cost-efficient, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones are a great deal.

If you prefer earbuds, Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are a bargain this Prime Day.

Travel Accessories

Finally, a luggage necessity that should be on every traveler’s list is packing cubes. I enjoy using the HOTOR Packing Cubes as they are inexpensive and efficient. 

Hot Tip:

It can sometimes be difficult to know if you’re getting the best deal when shopping online, but Camelcamelcamel.com is a great tool that has a historical record of every Amazon item. Simply plug in the URL of the item you’re interested in, and you can see if you’re getting a good price relative to past prices.

Best Credit Cards for Amazon Prime Day

If you’re shopping on Prime Day, it’s recommended to use credit cards for rewards and protections when shopping online. Here are the best cards to use on Amazon Prime Day, and why each one can be your go-to card on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Prime Visa Card

The Prime Visa card is one of the Amazon credit cards offered by Chase and offers unlimited 5% back on your Amazon.com purchases with an eligible Prime membership, along with other lofty categories.

It has $0 annual fee, although you’ll need an Amazon Prime membership to have the card. In addition, the Prime Visa card has no foreign transaction fees and excellent benefits, such as travel and purchase protections.

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card

If you’re a business owner, you may qualify for the Amazon Business Prime Amex card, which has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees). This card also earns unlimited 5% back on Amazon.com purchases, along with Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market. Finally, you’ll also earn 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers.

Targeted Credit Card Promotions Offered for Amazon Prime Day

In addition, other issuers are offering incentives on your Prime Day shopping spree.

American Express

If you have an American Express card in your wallet, you may be able to score an easy $15 statement credit:

• Check if you’re eligible for the promotion by clicking here
• Add an American Express card to your Amazon account
• Enter the promo code AMEXPD15OFF

To qualify, the total purchase amount must be $15.01 or more, and you must use the promo code by July 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT. It will end after the first 27,500 people have redeemed the promo code, so make sure to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Capital One

If targeted, register your eligible Capital One Miles credit card and get a 40% discount when you Shop With Points using miles.

• Check if you’re eligible for the promotion by clicking here
• Add your Capital One credit card to your Amazon account

You must redeem a minimum of 625 miles with a maximum discount of $20. The promotion ends at 5 p.m. PT on July 19, 2024.

Citi

Citi is also offering $15 off a purchase of $15.01 for its cardholders. Here’s how to redeem the code:

• Check if you’re eligible for the promotion by clicking here
• Add a targeted Citi card to your Amazon account
• Enter the promo code 24CITIPD 

This promotion ends at 5 p.m. PT on July 19, 2024, or after 16,666 eligible customers have redeemed the offer.

Discover

In a similar fashion, Discover is offering a $20 discount for its cardholders. Here’s how to redeem the code:

• Check if you’re eligible for the promotion by clicking here
• Add a Discover card to your Amazon account
• Enter the promo code 24DISCOPD

The total purchase must be over $20.01, and the promo runs through Friday, July 26, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT.

Make Sure You’ve Got Credit Card Purchase Protections

Amid the excitement of Prime Day deals, the credit card you select may have additional protections in case your purchase goes awry. So before you click the buy button, be sure to look at your credit card benefits guide and what it covers. Note that for the purchase to qualify for coverage, the card must be used for the purchase.

For example, the Prime Visa card comes with extended warranty protection and purchase protection. The former policy extends a product’s warranty by 1 year, if the warranty is 3 years or less. The latter benefit protects purchases from damage or theft within 120 days of purchase. This coverage is good for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account on eligible items. 

Hot Tip:

Check out our guides to the best credit cards for extended warranty protection and purchase protection.

Final Thoughts

Amazon Prime Day is an excellent opportunity to grab travel necessities without the hassle of searching up and down store aisles. But before running for a sale, make sure you’ve got a credit card that you can use to earn rewards and protect your purchases.