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Uplift travel loans review
Last updated:
Travel now and pay later with this unique lender.
Bottom line: Uplift can be a good choice if you’re looking to beat the high rates offered by travel credit cards. But its limited selection of partners — and potentially high APR for borrowers with fair credit — mean you’ll be limited in how you use your funds.
$15,000
Max. Loan Amount
4.01% to 35.99%
APR
550
Min. Credit Score
Details
| Product Name | Uplift travel loans |
|---|---|
| Min. Loan Amount | $500 |
| Max. Loan Amount | $15,000 |
| APR | 4.01% to 35.99% |
| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
| Min. Credit Score | 550 |
| Loan Term | Up to 10.8 months |
Review by
Kellye Guinan
kellye.guinan@findercrew.comKellye Guinan is a seasoned financial writer with over 500 articles under her belt spanning all things loans from auto to personal to business and everything in between. With four years in the field and five years of research experience, she's able to make complex personal finance decisions easier for everyday people to tackle. When she's not up to her knees learning about the latest trends in lending, she spends her time improving her own financial literacy and expertise.
Expert review
UpLift is good for borrowers with good to excellent credit who are looking for an alternative to credit cards for their vacations. You can book your trip now and pay later. You only need to make a single down payment, and unlike some layaway programs, you won’t need to have your entire balance paid off before you travel.
You’re limited to booking travel through one of its eight partner sites, however. And your APR could be as high as 35.99% — which could cost you more than a credit card.
If you’re looking for more flexible financing for more than just a vacation, compare personal loans to see what other top lenders have to offer.
Pros
- Travel during repayment
- Small loan amounts of $500 available
- Low starting APR of 4.01%
- 15-day grace period for late repayments
Cons
- High maximum APR of 35.99%
- Limited selection of travel partners
- Interest accrues immediately
- Down payment of 11% required
Uplift rates, fees and terms
Uplift allows you to finance travel expenses ranging from $500 to $15,000. Its APR ranges from 4.01% to 35.99%, including a 2% origination fee. But you’ll still need to provide a down payment of around 11% to qualify for a loan.
Terms vary based on the travel provider you book with, but most have payment plans of up to 0.9 years.
Pricing is based on your credit score and the cost of your package, among other factors. While Uplift accepts borrowers with bad credit, you’re unlikely to qualify for a competitive rate. But if you have good to excellent credit, you may be able to score an APR close to its minimum of 4.01%, making it a much less expensive than most credit cards. You can use our calculator to gauge how much your travel might cost when financed through Uplift.
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What sites does Uplift partner with?
Uplift works with a wide selection of flights, cruises, resorts and vacation packages, including:
- American Airlines Vacations
- Carnival Cruises
- Expedia Cruises
- Frontier
- Funjet Vacations
- Lufthansa
- Norwegian Cruises
- Royal Caribbean Cruises
You can view Uplift’s full list of partners on its website.
- Southwest Vacations
- Spirit Airlines
- Spirit Vacations
- United Airlines
- United Airlines Vacations
- Universal Orlando Resort
- Vacation Express
- Vacatia
How Uplift compares to other lenders
For other ways to finance your travel, compare lenders by selecting your credit score and state. Then click Show me my personalized options to view our selection of lenders.
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Uplift reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 105 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 23 October 2020 |
Uplift travel loans does not have any Trustpilot reviews.
Uplift receives mixed reviews on its BBB page. Many of the recent reviews talk positively about Uplift’s customer service and the ease of making travel plans. However, there are numerous negative reviews about Uplift’s poor response to the COVID-19 crisis, including the lack of full refunds for canceled trips.
How to qualify
To finance your next vacation with Uplift, you’ll need to meet a two basic criteria:
- Credit score of 550+
- Flight must originate in the US (if financing air travel)
What information do I need to apply?
You will need to submit your full Social Security number and annual income to complete an application. But because you won’t be applying directly through Uplift, the exact information you need will depend on the provider you use.
How the application works
Since you don’t apply directly through Uplift, the application process varies depending on the travel provider you’re using. When you use Uplift, you’ll need to find a travel partner through its website — or you can book directly from a provider’s website. If your trip is available to finance, you’ll see the option to pay with Uplift on the checkout page when you’re set to book your vacation.
If you’re approved and want to accept the loan offer, you’ll need to enter your full Social Security number and payment information. Uplift will do a hard pull of your credit to determine final approval.
How do repayments work with Uplift?
Interest starts to accrue as soon as you receive your financing. Monthly payments are automatically withdrawn from the debit or credit card you have on file — and Uplift sends you both email and text reminders before each withdrawal. Uplift also allows you to make manual payments on its website by signing in to your account.
If you know you won’t be able to make a payment, notify Uplift at least three days before the due date to request a 15-day grace period to prevent a late payment. Payments more than 30 days late may be reported, which could damage your credit.
What sets it apart
Uplift is a unique lender that works directly with major travel providers. Unlike many lenders, you’ll be able to skip the long application process and finance directly when you book a vacation package. But beyond that, it works like any other personal loan. There are no major features that set it apart, and you’ll only be able to finance your vacation. If there are other expenses you want to cover, Uplift won’t be the right choice for you.
Is Uplift legit?
Yes, Uplift is a legit service that allows you to borrow for your vacation — and it works with top travel partners. It has a secure website and a privacy policy that covers how your information is collected and used. You can contact Uplift by phone or email, and it frequently responds to customer complaints on its BBB page.
Not sure Uplift is right for you? Check out our guide to financing your vacation or compare more personal loan options to pay for your next trip.