If you are a travel lover and need a credit card then this article will give you the proper guideline for choosing the best credit card. The best credit cards for travel provide more than just great cash-back incentives, they also include a slew of perks and upgrades that can elevate your next trip from basic to luxurious without breaking the bank.
Now is the time to apply for the best travel credit cards in order to take advantage of all the perks and benefits available. First, have a look for the best credit cards for travel we choose for you.
1. Best Credit Cards for Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Reason to choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice, especially if you transfer points from other Chase cards to it. For a card with a $95 annual fee, the sign-up bonus is exceptional. It is one of the best credit cards for travel.
| BEST FOR | Mid-tier travel rewards card |
| ANNUAL FEE | $95 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 80,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® earns 5x points. *3 times on dining. *2x on all other travel purchases, plus additional benefits. |
| PROS | *Earn high rewards on a variety of purchases. *Transfer points to travel companions at a 1:1 ratio. *There are numerous travel and shopping safeguards. |
| CONS | *The annual fee *There is no introductory APR offer. *The best travel rewards are only available for bookings made through Chase. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Details | *Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. *When you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you’ll receive $1,000. *Benefits include a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases, among others. *When you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you will receive a 25% bonus. For instance, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 in travel. *When you redeem your points for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories with Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer. *Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance, and other benefits are available. |
2. Best Credit Cards for Travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Reason to choose Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Capital One’s premium travel credit card can provide excellent benefits if you are willing to spend your money on travel through the issuer’s online booking portal. That’s where you’ll earn the highest rewards rates, as well as credits that can cover the majority of your annual fee.
| BEST FOR | All-round high-end travel credit card |
| ANNUAL FEE | $395 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 80,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *Earn unlimited 10X miles when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel. *On flights booked through Capital One Travel, you can earn 5X miles. *Earn 2X miles on all other purchases indefinitely. *Welcome Offer/Sign Up Bonus: 75,000 miles |
| PROS | *The annual fee is lower than that of competitors in its category. *The annual fee could be justified solely by the annual travel credit and anniversary points. *Points are simple to earn and use. |
| CONS | *There is a scarcity of domestic airlines and upscale hotel travel partners. *Capital One’s lounge network is still in its infancy. *Inadequate hotel status benefits |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Details | *Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account, which is equal to $750 in travel. *Receive up to $300 in statement credits per year for bookings made through Capital One Travel, where you’ll find the best prices on thousands of options. *Every year, beginning with your first anniversary, you will receive 10,000 bonus miles (equivalent to $100 in travel). *Earn unlimited 10X miles on Capital One Travel-booked hotels and rental cars, and 5X miles on Capital One Travel-booked flights. Earn 2X miles on all other purchases indefinitely. *Get away from the airport crowds and recharge before your flight with unlimited access to all-inclusive amenities at the Capital One Lounge and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide. *Get a credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. *You can use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars, and more—you can even transfer your miles to one of 15+ travel loyalty programs. |
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3. Best Credit Cards for Travel: American Express® Gold Card
Reason to choose American Express® Gold Card: If you can afford the annual fee, the American Express® Gold Card offers generous rewards at restaurants and on airfare, and its grocery rewards are among the best of any travel card.
| BEST FOR | Dining at restaurants |
| ANNUAL FEE | $250 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 60,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants in the United States, plus takeout and delivery. *Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X). *Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points when you book flights directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. |
| PROS | *Earning potential with high rewards *Many partners have the option of transferring points to them. *Add up to 5 authorized users for no extra charge per year. *You can choose between regular and rose gold versions. |
| CONS | *There are no lounge benefits. *There are few options for carrying a balance. *The pay overtime feature has a high APR. |
| American Express® Gold Card Details | *Rose gold is a trend that is here to stay. Cardholders can select between a Gold and a Rose Gold Card. *Spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points. *Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants in the United States, plus takeout and delivery, and earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at supermarkets in the United States (on purchases up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X). *Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points when you book flights directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. *$120 Uber Cash versus Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account to receive $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the United States, up to $120 per year. *$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you use your Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This could result in an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment is necessary. *There are no foreign transaction fees. |
4. Best Credit Cards for Travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Reason to choose The Platinum Card® from American Express: The luxury benefits come at a high cost, but if you’re willing to pay to be treated like a VIP when traveling, The Platinum Card® from American Express will be worthwhile.
| BEST FOR | Access to Premium Lounges with a Premium Travel Card |
| ANNUAL FEE | $695 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 100,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, up to a maximum of $500,000 per calendar year. *Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotel reservations made through American Express Travel. |
| PROS | *High potential for rewards when booking flights and hotels through American Express Travel. *Having multiple credits can help to justify the fee. *Access to all airport lounges With enrollment, you will receive luxury travel benefits and elite status with Hilton and Marriott. |
| CONS | *The annual fee is extremely high. *Maximizing the statement credits requires some effort and may be impractical for many people. *Outside of travel, the reward rate is subpar for a premium card. |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express Details | *Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases with your new Card during the first six months of Card Membership. Apply and choose your preferred metal Card design: traditional Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. *Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel for up to $500,000 per calendar year, and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for prepaid hotel reservations booked through American Express Travel. *When you pay with your Platinum Card®, you will receive $200 in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings that require a minimum two-night stay through American Express Travel. *Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following services: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment is necessary. *$155 Walmart+ Credit: A statement credit will cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership after you pay for Walmart+ with your Platinum Card each month. The price includes $12.95 in addition to any applicable local sales tax. *The Centurion® Network has been expanded by American Express to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations around the world. There are even more places where your Platinum Card® can get you free admission and exclusive perks. *$200 Airline Fee Credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for baggage fees and other charges at one qualifying airline. *$200 Uber Cash: Earn Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or food orders in the United States each year. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status are only available to members of the Basic Card. *When you pay with your Platinum Card®, you can get up to $25 back each month on the Equinox+ digital fitness app or eligible Equinox club memberships. Enrollment is necessary. *$179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card to get up to $179 back on your CLEAR® membership per year. |
5. Best Credit Cards for Travel: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Reason to choose Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has one of the most generous sign-up bonuses of any credit card available anywhere, and it pays out handsome rewards in a variety of categories.
| BEST FOR | Maximizing commercial purchases |
| ANNUAL FEE | $95 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 100,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *Each account anniversary year, earn 3 points for every $1 spent on travel and select business categories. *Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases – there is no limit to how many points you can earn. |
| PROS | *One of the highest sign-up bonuses we’ve seen — 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 in the first three months after opening the card. *Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to redeem points. *Annual fee of $95 is reasonable. *Primary car insurance is one of the most important bonus categories for business owners. *Benefits include phone and purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. |
| CONS | *High spending is required to receive the 100,000-point sign-up bonus. *There are no travel benefits. *Card applications are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Details | *Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. When redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, that’s $1,000 cashback or $1,250 toward travel. *Each account anniversary year, earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel and select business categories. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. *With Fraud Protection, your card transactions will be monitored in real-time for signs of fraudulent activity. *You will not be held liable for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information if you have Zero Liability. *Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more – points do not expire as long as your account is open. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Purchase Protection protects your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. |
6. Best Credit Cards for Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Reason to choose Chase Sapphire Reserve®: One of our favorite premium travel cards is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases, and other benefits, you can get an excellent value that far outweighs the card’s annual fee.
| BEST FOR | Transfer Partners Premium Card & Travel credits |
| ANNUAL FEE | $550 |
| SIGN UP BONUS | 50,000 points |
| EARNING RATE | *When you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you can earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals. *Earn 5x total points when you fly with Chase Ultimate Rewards®. *Earn 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases. *Earn one point for every dollar spent on all other purchases. |
| PROS | *The $300 annual travel credit is extremely adaptable. *a sizable welcome bonus *When you redeem points for travel through Chase or for select purchases through the Pay Yourself BackSM program, you will receive a 50% increase in value. *Points can be transferred to useful airline and hotel partners. |
| CONS | *Expensive annual fee *Purchases have a high variable APR. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® Details | *Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. That’s $750 in travel credit when you redeem the Chase Ultimate Rewards® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card on your account’s anniversary year. *Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after spending the first $300 on travel purchases per year. Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on other travel and dining and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. *When you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you will receive a 50% increase in value. For instance, 50,000 points are worth $750 in travel. *When you redeem your points for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories with Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer. *Transferring points to a major airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio *Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after a simple one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select, as well as up to a $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance, and more. |
FAQs on Best Credit Cards for Travel
How to choose the best credit cards for travel?
Several factors should be considered when selecting the best card for your needs. Here are some suggestions for selecting the best credit cards for travel.
- Think about whether you’re willing to pay a yearly fee. Some travel cards have annual fees of more than $500, which can be worthwhile but are not for everyone. Make sure you do the math to determine whether an annual fee travel card is right for you.
- Another important factor to consider is the type of travel you prefer. If you only travel within the United States, it doesn’t matter if your credit card charges foreign transaction fees. If you’re going to Mexico or Spain, however, you’ll need a card with no foreign transaction fees.
- Your decision should also take into account the benefits to choose the best credit cards for travel.
- You can compare card benefits side by side to determine whether one card is superior to another.
Why should you get the best credit cards for travel?
Using one of the aforementioned travel cards can earn you more than $2,000 in rewards over the course of five years, which can help you offset the cost of previous travel expenses or an upcoming vacation.
If you travel frequently and pay for purchases with cash or debit, you’re missing out on rewards and perks that could help you save money on your next trip.
It may be in your best interests to obtain a credit card with high rewards rates on airfare, hotels, rideshares, and other common travel expenses.