Traveling the world is an amazing experience. There’s just something so satisfying about seeing all the world has to offer. However, it can be a hassle to book the right hotels, plan for the best flights, and take care of your needed transportation. To help make your traveling experience as great as it can be, we compiled a list of all the cards that will reward you on your trip and make it even more worthwhile.
Editor’s Note: To maximize your rewards on travel stays, see our list of the Best Credit Cards for Hotel Stays.
Types of Travel Credit Cards
You can redeem transferable points by moving them to a transfer partner, such as a hotel loyalty program or airline. Because of how flexible it is, this type of reward is considered to be the most valuable. Because of this, the majority of the best travel cards earn transferable points.
When you have an airline card, you can earn miles and many other airline-specific benefits such as in-flight discounts, elite-qualifying miles, free checked bags, and more.
Hotel cards are similar to airline cards, but you will be able to receive hotel-specific benefits like free award nights, complimentary elite status and others.
Check out our list of best hotel credit cards here.
If you have a fixed-rate card, you can earn rewards that are worth the same value. For instance, Bank of America Premium Rewards points are always worth $0.01 each. This type of card might be good for you if you are a casual traveler or aren’t the best at maximizing transferable points.
What We Considered
The factors that we considered to determine the best credit cards include:
- Welcome bonus
- Earning potential
- Annual fee
- Travel credits
- Point value
- Travel benefits
- Travel protections
- Rewards simplicity
- Additional benefits
Although this post is focused on travel-related spending, you should choose a card that has additional earning potential on things you usually purchase.
The Best Travel Credit Cards
Overall, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best card for travel and travel credits. However, keep in mind that there is a rather large annual fee. Despite this, though, the card offers lots of credits and valuable rewards that make up for this large fee.
 The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase TravelSM. You'll earn • 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. • 3x points on other travel and dining • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. Member FDIC |
If you are a beginner, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card® is a great option for you and also offers a generous welcome bonus. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the easiest travel rewards to use. You can redeem them for travel and earn $0.0125 per point. Furthermore, you can transfer your points to a partner program to maximize your rewards.
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers up to $1,050 in Chase TravelSM value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase TravelSM This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
If you’re looking for a travel card with simple redemptions, check out the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. With this card, you are able to use your Venture miles to “get rid of” your travel purchases at a fixed rate of $0.01 per mile, with no blackout dates.
 The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®. |
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card is great because there are no annual fees. Similar to the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, there is a fixed rate of $0.01 per mile, with no blackout dates.
 The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card offers 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel. Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. After that, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time. You'll earn: • 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This card comes with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees which is a great choice as your go-to travel card! |
If you’re looking for a great travel card with luxury perks, check out the Platinum Card from American Express.
 The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required. • The American Express Global Lounge Collection can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023. • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card. • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply. • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: CLEAR Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues. • Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. This card comes with a $695 annual fee.¤ (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms apply. |
The best card for international travel is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. Marriott is now the second largest hotel chain in the world which means that this card can help fund your trip no matter where you travel.
 The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers 3 Free Night Awards up to a 150,000 Total Point Value (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchase • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. You gain an automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. You'll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year & an additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. This card does carry a $95 fee; there are no foreign transaction fees. |
The best card for business travel is the Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card. This card is great because of the generous welcome bonus and you can receive bonuses when you spend on hotels and rental cars.
 The Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles - equal to $500 in travel - once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere. • 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck There is an annual fee of $95, however, there is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. |
The best card for commuters is the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card. With no annual fee, you can receive 3 points for every dollar that you spend on flights, hotels, taxis, ridesharing, car rentals, and more.
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Author’s Verdict
If you travel frequently, opening a travel rewards credit card can be extremely beneficial. No mater if you are a beginner who just wants to help with the costs of a trip or you’re an expert traveler, there is a travel card that will fit your needs. Furthermore, make sure that you are choosing a card that aligns with your spending habits in order to maximize your rewards.
In addition, we have a list of bank promotions to get some extra cash in your pockets today. You may also want to check out savings accounts if you want to get started on saving up money.
| PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
| HSBC Premier Checking Member FDIC | Up to $2,500 Cash | Review |
| Chase Private Client | $3,000 Cash | Review |
| U.S. Bank Business Checking | $900 Cash | Review |
| U.S. Bank Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Chase Business Complete Checking® | $300 Cash | Review |
| KeyBank Key Smart Checking® | $300 Cash | Review |
| Chase Total Checking® | $300 Cash | Review |
| Chase College CheckingSM | $100 Cash | Review |
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Up to $700 Cash | Review |
| Chase Secure BankingSM | $100 Cash | Review |
| SoFi Checking and Savings Account | $325 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $1,000 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Business Checking 100 | $100 Cash | Review |
| Fifth Third Bank Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Axos Basic Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Axos Business Interest Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Axos Bank Business Premium Savings | $375 Cash | Review |
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