A credit cards for travel can prove to be a valuable asset in reducing your travel expenses. By utilizing it strategically, you have the potential to acquire complimentary flights, hotel accommodations, and various other benefits.
Every month, our team conducts a thorough evaluation of the leading travel credit cards available in the market. We meticulously compare their fees, welcome offers, travel insurance policies, and other relevant factors. Through our extensive research, we have identified a selection of the finest travel credit cards, which include the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Continue reading to discover our comprehensive compilation of the top travel credit cards, their functionality, and the most effective approach to selecting the ideal card that suits your needs.
Chequepay’s Main Takeaways
- Travel credit cards provide generous rewards for travel expenses, allowing cardholders to redeem them for various benefits such as airfare, hotel accommodations, cash back, statement credits, and more.
- Numerous travel credit cards additionally provide bonus points or miles for regular expenditures in various categories, such as dining and fuel.
- Travel credit cards that are considered the best frequently come with added benefits like travel insurance and annual statement credits.
Why Trust Us?
Our team of editors has dedicated a significant amount of time, exceeding one thousand hours, to thoroughly analyze, evaluate, and compare the leading credit card offers available in the market. We meticulously examine the fine print of each card to comprehend their features, limitations, and potential advantages for consumers. Our card reviews are conducted independently, guaranteeing the accuracy of our content and adhering to editorial integrity. For a comprehensive understanding of our approach, we invite you to read our complete methodology.
- 46 travel credit cards evaluated
- 100+ sources reviewed
- 10+ data points used, including ongoing fees, reward programs and welcome offers
Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an ideal choice for travelers who want to test the waters. It offers a moderate annual fee but provides all the necessary features. With this card, cardholders can earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be used to access transfer partners or for hassle-free redemptions in the Chase travel portal. Additionally, there are no foreign transaction fees and a diverse range of travel insurance options available.
Rewards: Get rewarded for your purchases with Chase Ultimate Rewards®! Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs). For all other travel purchases, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar, and for all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar. Start earning points today!
Welcome offer: Get rewarded with 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account.
Annual fee: $95
Other benefits and drawbacks: You have multiple options for redeeming your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can use them on Chase’s travel portal, transfer them to their airline and hotel partners, or exchange them for a statement credit. Additionally, when you book a hotel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, you’ll receive a $50 credit. On top of that, you’ll get a 10% boost in points on your card’s anniversary. So, if you spend $10,000 on the card, you’ll earn an extra 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you renew your card.
Best Premium Travel Rewards Card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $395
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months
APR: 19.99%-29.99% variable APR
Rewards:
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
Why this is the best card for premium travel
The Venture X stands as Capital One’s superior travel card within the Venture lineup, catering specifically to avid travelers who appreciate the straightforwardness of earning a consistent 2x miles on all their transactions.
In order to recover the increased yearly fee on a recurring basis, you will receive a $300 travel credit each year. This credit can be utilized for any travel bookings made through Capital One Travel. Additionally, on your account anniversary, you will earn a bonus of 10,000 miles annually, which adds another $100 in value. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to receive up to $100 to cover TSA Precheck/Global Entry fees, access to Capital One Lounges and partner airport lounge networks, a $100 credit when booking Premier Collection hotels, and an additional $50 credit for Lifestyle Collection hotel bookings (through Capital One Travel), among other benefits.
Best travel credit card no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Receive a bonus of 30,000 points upon spending $1,500 within the initial 3 months.
APR: Introductory 0% APR on new purchases for 12 months; 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter
Rewards:
3x points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
3x points on travel
3x points at gas stations and electronic vehicle charging stations
3x points on transit (subways, parking, rideshares, and more)
3x points on popular streaming services
3x points on cell phone and landline phone plans
1x points on all other purchases
Why this is the best card for no annual fee
The Autograph Card from Wells Fargo stands out among the limited options of travel credit cards that do not charge an annual fee. One of the main factors that makes it worthy of inclusion in our list is its extensive selection of rewards categories, without any restrictions on the number of points you can accumulate. With its coverage of travel expenses, dining establishments, fuel purchases, phone plans, and more, it becomes effortless to optimize your points both during your travels and in your everyday life.
Additionally, it boasts an exceptional introductory promotion that surpasses other travel cards with no annual fees. By fulfilling the $1,500 spending threshold, you can earn a remarkable 30,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for up to $300 in value. When the time comes to redeem your rewards, you have the flexibility to book travel through Wells Fargo, opt for statement credits towards your account, make purchases with eligible retailers, and explore various other options.
Best travel credits card for boosted redemptions: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months
APR: 21.49% – 28.49% variable APR
Rewards:
- Earn 5 times the points on travel made through Chase, excluding hotel expenses that contribute to the annual credit.
- Enjoy 3 times the points on dining, including takeout and delivery.
- Receive 3 times the points on online grocery purchases, excluding wholesale clubs, Target, and Walmart.
- Get 3 times the points on select streaming services.
- Earn 2 times the points on all other travel expenses.
- Receive 1 times the points on all other purchases.
Best for flexible travel credits: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Annual fee: $550
Welcome offer: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months
APR: 22.49% – 29.49% variable APR
Rewards:
Earn 10 times the points on hotel stays and car rentals when using Chase, once you have spent the first $300 on travel expenses in a year.
Get 5 times the points on travel when booking through Chase, after you have spent the initial $300 on travel annually.
Enjoy 3 times the points on dining, including takeout and delivery.
Earn 3 times the points on all other travel, once you have spent the first $300 on travel expenses in a year.
Best for lower-cost airline rewards: JetBlue Plus Card
Annual fee: $99
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and paying the card’s annual fee within the first 90 days
APR: Introductory 0% APR on balance transfers only for 12 billing cycles (when the transfer posts within 45 days of account opening); 21.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% ongoing variable APR
Rewards:
6x points on eligible JetBlue spending
2x points at restaurants
2x points at eligible grocery stores
1x points on all other purchases
How to choose the best travel credit card
Here are a few key details to look for in any new travel credit card:
1. Annual fee
Regardless of your financial situation, there is a travel credit card available with an annual fee that suits your needs. You can explore excellent options without any annual fees, such as the Discover it® Miles general travel card or the Hilton Honors American Express co-branded card. On the other hand, there’s The Platinum Card from American Express, which may require a yearly payment of $695 (see rates and fees). However, it offers a plethora of valuable benefits and perks that can potentially provide you with even greater value throughout the year.
2. Sign-up bonus
New cardholders can enjoy significant value in their first year with a sign-up bonus. These bonuses can range from 10,000 to 100,000 bonus points or miles, which can be converted into hundreds of dollars in rewards value.
Opening a new travel credit card while planning a trip you’ve been saving for is a clever move. It allows you to take advantage of the opportunity to spend more than usual, which will help you meet the bonus requirement sooner. Additionally, you’ll earn rewards on your travel purchases, which can be used towards your future adventures.
3. Rewards
Rewards are one of the biggest reasons for many people to open a travel credit card.
Earning rewards with travel cards often works in one of two ways. You’ll either earn rewards on your everyday spending (groceries, gas stations, restaurants) to redeem toward future travel, or earn rewards on your travel spending to put toward future travel.
Knowing your spending habits can help you make the most of credit card rewards. Certain cards provide a mix of rewards, so understanding your spending preferences is key. If you tend to spend more on everyday expenses, you might find greater value in cards that cater to that. On the other hand, if you’re a frequent traveler who often splurges on flights, hotels, and rental cars, opting for travel-based rewards categories can help you accumulate points faster.
4. Travel perks and benefits
Consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card with its $395 annual fee. Every year, you’ll receive a $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles (equivalent to $100 for travel) on your account anniversary. This alone covers the annual cost, without even factoring in the additional rewards and perks such as up to $100 in fee credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.
Just keep in mind: Select a card that offers benefits to save on purchases you would have made anyway. If you usually arrive at the airport just before your flight and don’t really care about access to airport lounges, you won’t actually receive the full $200 value from that particular benefit.
5. Travel protections
Travel credit cards offer a range of unique benefits for cardholders when they are on the go. These benefits include various protections that can come in handy during your travels. Some of the common protections provided by travel credit cards include insurance for trip cancellation and interruption, car rental coverage, reimbursement for trip delays, insurance for delayed baggage, access to emergency assistance services, and much more.
If you use your card to pay for your travel expenses such as booking flights, hotels, tours, and more, you can be eligible for the travel protection benefits. However, it’s important to carefully read the terms and conditions of your specific card to understand what it offers. Remember that the travel benefits may differ from one card to another, so it’s essential to review the details mentioned in your card agreement.