If you love to travel, you know a good travel credit card is key. These cards offer rewards like airline miles, hotel points, and cash back. You can use these rewards for free or discounted trips. There’s a card for every travel style and budget, from beginner to luxury.
We’ll look at 16 top travel credit cards in this guide. We’ll cover their rewards, perks, and fees. This will help you find the best card for your travels. Whether you fly often, stay in hotels, or just spend a lot, these cards can open up new travel options.
Key Takeaways
- Travel credit cards offer rewards like airline miles, hotel points, and cash back that can be redeemed for free or discounted travel.
- The best travel cards provide generous sign-up bonuses, elevated rewards on travel and dining purchases, and valuable perks like airport lounge access and travel insurance.
- Popular travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
- Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express come with high annual fees but offer exclusive benefits.
- Airline and hotel co-branded cards can be a great fit for loyal customers, while no-annual-fee options provide flexibility for casual travelers.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Earning Miles
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a top pick for those who travel often. It offers a simple way to earn and use miles. This card is great for getting the most out of your travel spending.
Earn Miles with Ease
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you 2 miles for every dollar you spend. Plus, you get 5 miles for every dollar on hotels and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal.
New card members get a big bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. This bonus can quickly add up, helping you get to your next trip faster.
Flexible Redemption Options
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card lets you use your miles easily. You can redeem miles for any travel expense, like flights, hotels, or car rentals, without any blackout dates. Each mile is worth 1 cent for travel, making it easy to use your rewards.
You can also transfer miles to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners. This can give you even more value from your rewards.
Valuable Travel Perks
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers great travel benefits, including:
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel accident insurance and rental car collision damage waiver
These benefits can help cover the $95 annual fee. It’s a great choice for frequent travelers who want to earn more rewards and have a smooth trip.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a top choice for general-purpose travel cards. It’s easy to earn miles, has flexible ways to use them, and offers valuable travel perks. It’s a great card for anyone looking to earn rewards on their purchases or plan their next big trip.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Flexible Rewards for Beginners
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is perfect for those new to travel rewards. It gives a big sign-up bonus and rewards on travel and dining. Plus, you can transfer points to many airline and hotel partners. This makes it a great card for getting the most from your rewards.
Earn Valuable Rewards
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can earn:
- 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 2X points on travel and dining purchases.
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025.
- 1X point on all other purchases.
Your points are worth 1.25 cents each when used for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program. This means the sign-up bonus is worth at least $750 in travel.
Flexible Redemption Options
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives you many ways to use your rewards. You can:
- Redeem your points for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more.
- Transfer your points to 11 airline and 3 hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, such as United, Southwest, and Marriott.
- Enjoy a 25% bonus on your points when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
This flexibility lets you get the best value from your rewards. Whether you’re booking flights, hotel stays, or other travel experiences, you can make the most of it.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great pick for beginners in travel rewards. It offers a big sign-up bonus, rewards on travel and dining, and flexible ways to use your points. This card can help you get the most from your spending and enhance your travel adventures.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Maximize Business Purchases
For business owners looking to boost their rewards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great choice. It’s made to help you make the most of your business spending. You can earn points that can be used for travel or in loyalty programs.
Earn Triple Points on Key Business Expenses
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card gives you triple points on the first $150,000 you spend each year on things like:
- Shipping purchases
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- Travel
This means you can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points faster. You can then redeem for valuable travel experiences or transfer to partner loyalty programs.
| Spending Category | Earn Rate |
|---|---|
| Shipping, Advertising, Internet, Cable, Phone, Travel | 3 points per $1 spent |
| All other purchases | 1 point per $1 spent |
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card also has a big welcome bonus. You get 120,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first 3 months. This can be worth $2,460 in travel, based on The Points Guy’s valuations.
If you’re a small business owner or travel a lot, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great pick. It lets you maximize your business purchases and earn amazing rewards. With its special bonus categories and a big sign-up bonus, it’s a top choice for travel rewards for small businesses.
Travel Credit Cards
Travel credit cards offer many types, from general-purpose cards to airline and hotel co-branded ones. They let you earn points or miles for free or discounted travel. The right card can boost your rewards and cut costs on your next trip.
General-Purpose Travel Rewards Cards
General-purpose cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card make earning and using points or miles easy. They give extra rewards on travel and dining and let you transfer points to loyalty programs.
Airline and Hotel Co-Branded Cards
Airline and hotel cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the United℠ Explorer Card, focus on a specific loyalty program. They offer more points or miles for spending with the airline or hotel. Plus, you get perks like free bags, priority boarding, or elite status.
Choosing the right travel card is key. It’s important to know how the travel rewards program overview works. Use your card wisely to earn more rewards for free or discounted travel.
“Travel credit cards can be a game-changer for frequent travelers, allowing you to earn points or miles that can be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses.”
Premium Travel Cards: High Fees, High Rewards
If you travel a lot and want the best in luxury and rewards, consider premium travel cards. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express might be a good choice. They have high annual fees but offer big rewards, travel credits, and special perks for frequent travelers.
Generous Rewards and Perks
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives you 10X points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase portal. You also get 5X points on air travel and 10X on hotels and car rentals through the portal. Plus, you get a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access, and points worth 50% more when used for travel through Chase.
The Amex Platinum Card® offers 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. It also gives you access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
High Annual Fees, High-end Benefits
The annual fees for these travel credit cards can be high, from $395 to $695. But for those who travel a lot, the benefits and rewards can make it worth it. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee, but the $300 travel credit makes it $250.
The Amex Platinum Card® has a $695 annual fee but offers up to $200 in Uber credits, a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and many other luxury travel perks.
Used wisely, these premium travel cards can offer great value for your travel costs. They provide luxury travel benefits and high annual fee travel cards for those who love to explore the world.
Airline and Hotel Co-Branded Cards
Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards are great for frequent travelers. They let you earn airline credit cards and hotel credit cards. You can use these to get rewards within the brand’s co-branded travel rewards cards and brand-specific travel rewards programs.
These cards offer special rewards for spending with the airline or hotel. For instance, the United℠ Explorer Card gives 4 points per $1 on United purchases. The Hilton Honors American Express Card gives 12 points per $1 at Hilton places.
| Card | Rewards Earning | Sign-up Bonus | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card | 3 miles per $1 spent directly with Alaska Airlines, 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days | $75 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | 6 points per $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2 points per $1 on all other purchases | 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months | $95 |
| United℠ Explorer Card | 2 miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased directly from United, 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months | $0 for the first year, then $95 |
Co-branded travel rewards cards are great if you stick to one airline or hotel. But they might not be as flexible as general-purpose travel credit cards. Make sure to think about your travel habits and what you need before choosing a card.
Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards are great for those who travel a lot and want to earn rewards with a specific brand-specific travel rewards program. By looking into the special features of these cards, you can pick the best one for your travel style.
No Annual Fee Travel Cards
Many people don’t like the idea of paying an annual fee for travel credit cards. But, there are great options that don’t have an annual fee. These cards let you earn points or miles for travel without the extra cost.
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a top choice. It earns 1.25 miles for every dollar spent, which is good for all purchases. Plus, you get a 20,000-mile bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. This is a great way to start earning travel rewards.
The Discover it® Miles card is another excellent option. It has no annual fee and matches all the miles you earn in the first year. This means you could earn up to 70,000 miles ($700 towards travel) in the first year.
If you spend a lot on everyday items, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good choice. It gives you 1.5 points for every dollar spent. You can also earn a 25,000-point bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. This bonus can be used for a $250 statement credit towards travel.
These are just a few examples of no annual fee travel credit cards that offer low cost travel rewards and even free travel. By looking at your spending and travel needs, you can find the best card for you. This way, you can make the most of your purchases and earn more travel rewards.
Maximizing Travel Rewards
Understanding how to use travel credit card rewards is key. These cards offer many ways to earn and use points or miles. Knowing how to make the most of them can boost your travel savings.
Focus on earning rewards in the right areas. Many cards give extra points or miles for spending in certain categories, like travel, dining, or gas. By spending in these areas, you can quickly build up your points or miles.
- The CardName awards new cardholders 60,000 bonus points worth $750 after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- The CardName discontinued awards 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within three months, which are worth $200 in flexible travel rewards.
- The CardName provides a $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit, offering $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more each year, excluding taxes and fees.
Travel credit cards also let you transfer points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs. This flexibility is powerful. It helps you get the best value from your rewards by choosing the best redemption options.
| Card | Bonus Offer | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CardName | Earn 10 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠ | $200 in flexible travel rewards |
| CardName | 50% more value for points redeemed through Chase Travel | $750 |
| CardName | Up to $200 a year in statement credits to cover incidental airline charges | $200 |
By understanding your card’s rewards program and using it wisely, you can get the most from your points and miles. This way, you make the most of your travel credit card rewards.
Conclusion
Travel credit cards offer many options, each with special features and benefits. Whether you fly often or just now and then, there’s a card for you. They help make your trips better.
When picking a travel rewards card, think about how you spend money, what you like about traveling, and what benefits you want. Some cards with high annual fees give great rewards and luxury perks. But, cards with no annual fee are great for those who want rewards without extra costs.
The best travel credit card for you matches your travel goals and makes your spending valuable. By knowing about different rewards programs and using your card wisely, you can open up new travel doors. This way, you can make your travels even better.
FAQ
What makes the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card a great travel credit card?
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a simple rewards program. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel. Plus, you get 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. These miles can be used for any travel purchase, without the usual restrictions.
It also offers a big sign-up bonus and other great perks.
Why is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a good travel rewards card for beginners?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases. You get 25% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase. Plus, you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners.
It also has a fantastic sign-up bonus, perfect for those new to travel rewards.
How does the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card help maximize business purchases?
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card gives triple points on common business expenses. This includes shipping, advertising, internet, cable and phone services, and travel. The $150,000 cap on bonus rewards is higher than many other cards, making it great for business owners.
What are the key differences between general-purpose travel credit cards and airline/hotel co-branded cards?
General-purpose cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earn rewards that can be used for any travel or transferred to loyalty programs. This is ideal for those who don’t stick to one airline or hotel. On the other hand, airline- and hotel-specific cards, like the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card, earn points that can only be used with the brand. This limits your flexibility.
What are the benefits of premium travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express?
Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express have high annual fees but offer lots of rewards, travel credits, and luxury perks. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel. It also boosts point value by 50% when redeeming for travel through Chase, and you can transfer points to about a dozen partners.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers similar benefits, making these cards great for frequent travelers who can use the perks well.
