If you’re an avid traveler not using a travel credit card to cover your expenses, you’re seriously missing out. With the right travel credit card, you can save big on all sorts of travel expenses including flights, airport services, hotels, and even rideshare services like Uber. To help you find the right card for your needs, below are 10 of the best travel credit cards available on the market.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card almost seems too good to be true. With unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on any travel expense, no blackout dates or restrictions, and no forced loyalty to any single airline or hotel chain, it’s no wonder the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is among the most popular, sought after cards around. There’s even a 50,000-mile signup bonus if you spend $3,000 within three months of opening your accounts.
Card details:
- Receive a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles (equal to $500 in travel) once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates. Plus transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs.
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
- Named ‘The Best Travel Card’ by CNBC, 2018.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that.
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is better suited for people wanting to earn travel rewards without having to pay an annual fee. Despite offering slightly less than the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, this card still offers most of the same perks that make the other Capital One card so popular.
Card details:
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles (equal to $200 in travel) once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime.
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
- Transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs.
- Enjoy 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR) on purchases for 12 months; 13.49% – 23.49% variable APR after that.
Discover it® Miles
No annual or foreign transaction fees, 1.5 miles earned per $1 spent (redeemable as credit for travel purchases or cash), and free access to your FICO credit score make the Discover it® Miles travel credit card the perfect option for people wanting flexibility.
Card details:
- Unlimited Bonus: Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 35,000 miles, you get 70,000 miles. That’s $700 to go towards travel!
- Earn unlimited 1.5x miles for every dollar spent on all purchases — with no annual fee.
- No blackout dates. Simply pay for travel purchases like airlines, hotels, rental cars, and more with your Discover it® Miles card.
- You can either redeem your miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or get cash — your choice.
- Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
- Easily view your FICO® Credit Score for free on your monthly statements by mobile or online.
- Get an alert if they find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Visa® Credit Card
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Visa® Credit Card is yet another example of a card that allows you to earn rewards on every purchase while paying $0 in annual fees. You can also earn 25,000 online bonus points ($250 statement credit towards travel) if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
Card details:
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and your points don’t expire.
- >25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees.
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR ends, 16.49% – 24.49% Variable APR will apply.
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you’re able to get over its $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® opens doors to generous rewards and perks usually only reserved for higher-end, luxury travel cards. This means 3 points earned per dollar spent on travel and dining, 1 point earned per dollar on all other spendings, and Priority Pass airport lounge access.
Card details:
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 towards travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Named “Best Premium Travel Credit Card” for 2018 by MONEY® Magazine.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select.
- Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- One Year Complimentary Lyft Pink ($199 minimum value). Complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash after activating by 12/31/21.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A small step down from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card you earn 2 points per dollar spent on dining and travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Plus, points are worth 25% more when redeemed for Chase-booked travel. The smaller $95 annual fee is also appealing.
Card details:
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- No delivery fees for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with a DashPass subscription from DoorDash (over a $100 value) if activated by December 31, 2021.
- Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That’s 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
For a more luxurious travel credit card, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. You earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and hotels when booked correctly (see their site for more details) and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. You also benefit from an annual credit of $200 for airline fees, up to $200 a year in Uber credit, access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, and a 60,000 Membership Rewards® points sign up bonus if you spend $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
Card details:
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month, plus a bonus of $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card® (enrollment required).
- $550 annual fee.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
As an entrepreneur traveling a lot, the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business is perfect. You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can also redeem your miles for any travel expense at any time with no blackout dates or restrictions.
Card details:
- Earn 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.
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
- Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel℠ using a Spark Miles card.
- Transfer your miles to 10+ leading travel loyalty programs like JetBlue™, Air Canada, and Emirates™.
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services.
- Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA Pre✓® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that.
- Free employee cards that also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card
With the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card, all holders earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1.5 points per dollar elsewhere. However, if you’re with Bank of America® and Merrill, depending on how much you have in the bank, you can earn 25% to 75% more rewards.
Card details:
- Receive 50,000 bonus points (a $500 value) after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases as well as unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase.
- No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire.
- Redeem for cashback as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill accounts, gift cards or purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Get up to $200 in combined airline incidental and airport expedited screening statement credits plus valuable travel insurance protections.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $95 annual fee.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
If you’re looking for an affordable card without any fancy perks, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card will earn you 3 points per dollar spent on such things as restaurants, travel, transit, gas stations, rideshares, and even streaming services.
Card details:
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. That’s a $200 cash redemption value.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign currency conversion fee.
- Earn 3X points on eating out and ordering in, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, gas stations, rideshares, transit, and popular streaming services.
- Earn 1X points on other purchases.
