Best Travel Cards of 2025

A travel rewards credit card can be an excellent companion whether you travel often or just take the occasional vacation. With every purchase, you can use a travel card to collect points or miles that you can redeem for flights, hotels, or other travel bookings. Many travel rewards cards come with extra benefits, too, from free entry into airport lounges to statement credits toward application fees for TSA PreCheck and other programs that expedite security screening at the airport.

You may notice that our list of the best cards differs from many other reviewers. That's because we crunch the numbers on a wider variety of cards, such as those issued by credit unions and smaller banks.

If you’d rather have a card that offers cash back or another type of reward, see our article on the best rewards credit cards. If you just want a smoking-hot sign-up bonus for new cardholders, jump to our current travel credit card bonus deals list.

Know what kind of travel card you want? Jump to these sections, below to see our top three picks in each category. We listed cards alphabetically in each category.

• No Annual Fee
• Worth the Annual Fee
• Flexible Travel Redemptions
• Luxury Travel
• Airline Cards
• Hotel Cards
• Dining Cards
• Best Travel Card Bonus Deals Right Now

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

With these cards, you reap points or miles without paying an annual fee. You will still need to consider foreign transaction fees if you plan to do a lot of international travel.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $300 in travel
• Rewards: Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You’ll also earn 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
• Redemption: Redeem your points for miles at a rate of 1 cent per point.
• Interest rate: Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.99%.
• Annual fee: None.

Wells Fargo Autograph Visa

• Sign-up bonus: Gain 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening.
• Rewards: 3 points per dollar spent on dining, streaming services, cell phone plans, and travel plans, such as hotel, plane tickets, public transit, cruises and car rentals.
• Redemption: All purchases are one point per dollar. Points are worth 1 cent each. You can redeem them for travel, gift cards in $25 increments or statement credits.
• Interest rate: Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.24%.
• Annual fee: None.

Best Travel Cards Worth the Annual Fee

With a high payback on travel spending and some perks on the side, these cards make the annual fee worth paying. Note that Chase, Wells Fargo and American Express offer cards praised for their rental car insurance coverage.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Sign-up bonus: Enjoy 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.
• Rewards: Five miles per dollar spent on hotel stays, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; all other spending earns two miles per dollar; limited airport lounge access and other benefits apply.
• Redemption: Redeem miles at a rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One. Or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs.
• Interest rate: 19.99% to 28.99% variable APR for purchases.
• Balance transfer fee: $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you. This fee is higher than the 3% balance transfer fee offered by many other cards.
• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Rewards:
• Annual hotel discount: Once a year, get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com.
• Redemption: Points are worth a penny each if you redeem them for gift cards or travel bookings through the Citi ThankYou program; you can also transfer points to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs; there are no blackout dates and points do not expire.
• Interest rate: 20.24% to 28.24% variable APR for purchases.
• Annual fee: $95.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

• Sign-up bonus: 20,000 points, worth $200, if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.
• Rewards rates:
• Redemption: You can redeem points at a rate of a penny each for travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise and other options. Cardholders also get reimbursement of the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, four free yearly visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges, and a $30 annual credit if you make 11 months of purchases with eligible streaming services.
• Lounge access: Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership gives you 4 free visits to over 1,500 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide.
• Interest rate: Variable APR of 18.24% to 28.24%. For balance transfer: 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles for balances transferred within 60 days from account opening. After that, 18.24% to 28.24% based on your creditworthiness when you open your account.
• Annual fee: None.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

Best Cards for Flexible Travel Redemptions

Redeem points for travel bookings or transfer them to a broad range of partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Bilt Mastercard

• Sign-up bonus: None.
• Top rewards rate: Three points per dollar on dining.
• Other rewards: Five points per dollar on Lyft rides and restaurants in Bi;t’s Neighborhood Dining program; three points per dollar on dining.
• Other rewards: Get two points on travel, one point per dollar on rent payments (up to 100,000 points each year), and one point on other purchases.
• Redemption: Transfer points that you earn with it on a one-to-one basis to 16 different transfer partner programs, including those of American Airlines, Marriott, United Airlines and Hyatt. Or you can redeem your rewards toward a down payment on a property, in which case points are worth 1.5 cents each.
• Rent Day bonus: On the first of each month, or "Rent Day," the card will double your rewards, in addition to the one point you receive for paying rent. So, instead of getting three points on dining purchases, you get six points for every dollar you spend on that day, and so on. The card also offers a surprise benefit each Rent Day, such as transfer bonuses to airlines or extra points for purchasing sporting event tickets.
• Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance. Get up to a maximum of $1,800 for a trip delay. Get up to $5,000 for non-refundable fares booked with your card.
• Annual fee: None
• Interest rates: 20.49% to 28.49% variable APR.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

• Bonus offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 5x total points on purchases through Chase Travel, excluding purchases qualifying for the Chase $50 hotel credit. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 2 points per $1 on all eligible travel purchases.
• Other benefits: Get a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. And on each yearly anniversary of opening your account, you get a 10% points bonus on total purchases made the previous year. Chase offers excellent travel benefits, including rental car insurance and general travel insurance.
• Redemption: Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. You also get an extra 25% back when you use points to donate to certain charities; to learn more, read Is Chase Pay Yourself Back Worth It?
• Interest rate: 19.99% - 28.24% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $95.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Member FDIC

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

• Welcome offer: Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you make your first purchase in 12 months, and earn 50,000 Bonus Points after qualifying purchases.
• Rewards: Earn up to a total of 17x bonus points by layering reward categories. Earn six Marriott points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, ten points for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, and one point if you are a Silver Elite Status member.
• Other rewards: Earn three points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent yearly at grocery stores, gas stations and dining, and two points per dollar on all other spending.
• One free night per year: Earn a free one-night Marriott stay per year after each account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points; note that certain hotels have resort fees.
• Redemptions: Marriott Bonvoy points are redeemable for stays at Marriott properties, but you can also transfer them to the frequent-flier programs of 38 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United; plus, you get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer; among the card’s benefits are Silver Elite status with Marriott and a one-night hotel stay each year; points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months.
• Interest rate: 20.49% - 27.49% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $95, or if you prefer to pay no annual fee, check out the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

Best Cards for Luxury Travel Rewards

Frequent travelers can more than overcome the high annual fees on these cards by taking advantage of a bevy of perks.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel
• Rewards: Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, five miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and two miles per dollar on all other purchases.
• Lounges and other benefits: Perks include 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary each year, an annual credit of $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel, enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network, and President’s Circle status with Hertz.
• Redemption: Redeem miles at a rate of a penny apiece for statement credits on travel purchases or travel bookings through Capital One, or transfer them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Interest rate: 19.99% - 28.99% variable APR for purchases.
• Balance transfer fee: $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you.
• Annual fee: At $395, the annual fee is lower than that of many luxury travel cards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Rewards: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel^SM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel^SM. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Other benefits: An annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases (purchases that qualify for the credit do not earn points until the $300 travel credit has been applied), perks at properties in the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025. Plus, 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.
• Lounges: Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass^TM Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• When things go wrong: Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Redemption: Points are transferable to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, or trade points at a healthy rate of 1.5 cents each when you redeem them for travel bookings through Chase Travel℠, or for statement credits against purchases in rotating categories through Chase's Pay Yourself Back program (including Airbnb, dining, charitable donations, and other categories).
• Interest rate: 20.24% - 28.74% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $550; $75 for each authorized user.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.

American Express Platinum Card®

• Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Rewards: Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• Lounge benefits: More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Redemption: There is no option for cash back; the greatest value comes from booking travel with points, and from the many discounts and other perks.
• Pay Over Time Interest rate: 19.74% to 28.74% APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
• Annual fee: $895, plus $195 for up to three authorized users and $195 per card for each user beyond three.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Terms apply: See Rates & Fees

Best Dedicated Airline Cards

If you’re loyal to a certain airline or hotel chain, you may be a good candidate to use a credit card that provides points or miles from your preferred loyalty program. Such cards often provide perks such as complimentary checked baggage or free hotel stays each year, too. See whether our picks of the top airline and hotel rewards cards are a good match for you. And note that if you would rather not pay an annual fee, many of the hotels and airlines mentioned here offer no-fee cards, too, but they come with fewer perks.

Traveling with a friend or loved one? Check out our assessment of the best airline credit card bonuses that come with a free ticket.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum

• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 
• Rewards rates: Earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and purchases made with hotels. Earn two miles per dollar on restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn one mile per dollar on all other qualified purchases.
• Other rewards: Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Free annual companion ticket: Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• Free baggage check: Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
• Priority boarding: Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
• Other perks:
• Medallion program: Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Redemption: Miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers (Endeavor Air, Inc., Republic Airline, and SkyWest) and 30+ partner airlines. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Interest rate: 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees
• Annual fee: $350.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Terms apply

JetBlue Plus Card

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 70,000 TrueBlue points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.
• Top rewards rate: Get six points back for each dollar spent on qualifying JetBlue purchases, like airline tickets.
• Other rewards rates: Get two points per dollar for purchases made at restaurants and grocery stores. Note that big box retailers like Costco and Target do not qualify as grocery stores. Get one point per dollar back on all other purchases.
• Get 10% TrueBlue Points after taking award flights: With the award flight redemption bonus, you will receive 10% of your TrueBlue points back as a bonus after you redeem points and travel on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight. For example, if you redeem 30,000 TrueBlue points toward a JetBlue-operated Award Flight, 3,000 of your TrueBlue points will be deposited back into your account after you take the flight.
• Annual bonus: Get a 5,000 TrueBlue points bonus credited to your Membership Account four to six weeks after your Card Account anniversary, as your Card Account remains open and in Good Standing.
• Vacation package credit: Spend at least $100 on a vacation package in a given year and get a $100 statement credit.
• Redemption: Redeem points for travel on JetBlue flights. Points do not expire as long as your account is in good standing and there are no black-out dates. You may also redeem points for travel packages.
• Interest rate: 0% introductory APR on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening is applicable for the first 12 billing cycles that immediately follow each balance transfer. This introductory APR offer does not apply to purchases and cash advances. For new and outstanding balance transfers after the introductory period and all purchases, the variable APR is 20.24% to 29.99%.
• Annual fee: $99. If you want a similar card with no annual fee, check out the JetBlue Card.
• Foreign transaction fee: None, so this card is a good choice for purchases abroad.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after charging $1,000 within three months of opening the account.
• Rewards: Get three points per dollar on Southwest purchases, two points per dollar on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, and two points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services and more; all other spending earns one point per dollar.
• Annual benefits: Cardholders receive four hefty bonuses on each account anniversary: a $75 Southwest® travel credit, a bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, four upgraded boardings when available and a 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost.
• Other benefits: Reimbursement for up to four upgraded airline boardings per year; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card; and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
• Redemption: Points may be redeemed for travel on Southwest Airlines or through its Rapid Rewards program; points may also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and entertainment.
• Interest rate: 20.49% - 27.49% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
• Annual fee: $149.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Member FDIC

Best Dedicated Hotel Cards

Frequent guests of the hotel chains associated with these cards can get great value out of them, earning extra points for hotel stays and certain other purchases. Plus, enjoy benefits such as free-night awards and elevated loyalty status.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

• Intro bonus: Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Annual benefit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
• Car rental status: As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
• Free Night: Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Rewards:
• Other benefits: Get a Priority Pass Select membership that provides 10 free yearly visits to participating airport lounges and enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
• Redemption: Points typically expire if you are inactive in the Hilton Honors program for 24 months, and earning points with the credit card counts as activity; expiration terms may vary by membership tier.
• Interest rate: 19.74%-28.74% Variable. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee: $150. If you prefer to skip the annual fee, try the Hilton Honors American Express Card instead. With this card, earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. The interest rate for that card is 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
• Foreign transaction fee: None. See rates and fees.
• Terms apply.

IHG One Rewards Premier

• Intro bonus: 140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
• Other travel perks: Get a $120 statement credit every four years good for Nexus, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Frequent United flyers want to pair their MilagePlus Account with their IHG card to earn up to a $50 statement credit annually after registering your card with United.
• Redemption: A reward point equals 0.5 cents when redeeming for hotel stays. You can increase this value by joining IHG’s elite program and being flexible with travel dates.
• Annual fee: $99
• Interest rate: 19.99% to 28.49%

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Visa

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. That's typically enough for either free nights at participating properties.
• Rewards earning rates:
• One free night per year: Cardholders get a 7,500-point bonus for each anniversary year.
• Other benefits: You’ll also get an additional discount on the best available rate when making reservations at participating properties, and automatic Platinum loyalty status.
• Redemption: Points may be redeemed at thousands of Wyndham properties worldwide, including hotels, resorts, casinos, vacation homes, and European parks; points expire if your Wyndham Rewards account is inactive for 18 months.
• Interest rate: The standard purchase rate is 19.99% to 29.99% variable APR.
  The card has two 0% APR offers for balance transfers and timesharing purchases.
• Balance transfer fee: 5% of the amount you transfer, which is higher than many other cards. For this reason, you should look for another card with a balance transfer fee of no more than 3%.
• Annual fee: $75; for a no-fee option, look to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Visa.
• Foreign Transaction fee: None.

Best Dining Rewards Cards

Frequent diners can enjoy cash back and other perks using these cards. For other everyday expenses like gas and groceries, see our guide to the best cash back credit cards.

American Express® Gold Card

• Intro bonus: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Rewards rates:
• Other rewards:
• Redemption: Points are redeemable at a rate of 1 cent each for flights booked through Amex and certain gift cards (points are worth less for most other redemption options).
• Interest rate: Pay Over Time APR: 19.74% to 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee: $325. Read our editor's take on why she is keeping her Amex Gold card even with a higher fee.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Terms Apply.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Sign-up bonus: For a limited time, earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Rewards rates:
• Redemption: Cash back is at a one-to-one ratio. You can redeem cash back for purchases at Amazon or PayPal. You can also use them for statement credits or transfer them to a credit card offering miles at a one-to-one ratio.
• Interest rate: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.99% - 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• Annual fee: $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Member FDIC

Chase Freedom Unlimited

• Sign up bonus: Earn $250 back when you charge $500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• Rewards rates:
• Delivery benefits:
• Redemption: Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel. Cash back rewards don't expire.
• Interest rate: Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
• Annual fee: None.
• Foreign transaction fee: 3%, so this card is best used in the U.S.
• Member FDIC

How Do Travel Rewards Cards Work?

Travel rewards credit cards offer points or miles on your purchases and may also offer other travel-related benefits. There are three main types of travel credit cards, including general travel cards, airline cards and hotel cards.

General travel credit cards

General travel rewards credit cards aren't linked to a specific airline or hotel loyalty program. Instead, you'll earn points or miles with the card issuer's rewards program. Examples include American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

General travel rewards programs typically allow you to redeem your rewards for travel through their online portal and may also offer other options, including cash back, gift cards and online shopping. They may even allow you to transfer your rewards to partner airline and hotel programs.

These cards typically won't give you travel perks with a specific airline or hotel brand, but you may get general travel benefits, such as travel credits, airport lounge access and more.

Airline credit cards

These credit cards are co-branded with a specific airline, such as Delta Air Lines or United Airlines. You'll earn miles or points that you can use to book award flights with that airline or for other travel-related purposes.

Airline credit cards also typically offer perks when you fly with a co-branded airline. Examples include priority boarding, free checked baggage, inflight discounts and companion passes.

Hotel credit cards

Like airline cards, hotel cards are co-branded with a particular hotel brand, such as Hyatt or Marriott. You'll earn points with that specific hotel chain's loyalty program, which you can use to book award stays, on-property experiences and other travel.

You'll also typically get perks with that hotel brand, which may include a free anniversary night certificate and elite status, which can come with benefits like room upgrades, late checkout and free premium Wi-Fi.

What are Travel Rewards Worth?

The value of the points or miles you earn with a travel credit card will vary depending on the rewards program and sometimes even the card. General travel programs typically offer predictable redemption rates. For example, you may earn one cent per point on travel bookings, one cent per point on gift cards and half a cent per point for cash back.

With airline frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs, redemption values can vary depending on several variables. With an award flight, for instance, the departure and arrival airports, flight dates and cabin will influence how much your points or miles are worth. With hotel programs, your stay dates, the property category, location and room type can impact your value.

To get an idea of how much value you're getting per point, divide the cash price of an airline ticket or hotel stay by the number of points or miles required to book it. For example, if you can book a $300 flight with 15,000 miles, divide $300 by 15,000, giving you a value of two cents per point. You can also check Bankrate for the estimated value of travel program points or miles.

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards

If you're thinking about a travel credit card, it's important to choose one that's aligned with your travel habits and goals. Here are some of the factors to consider when shopping around and comparing your options:

• Welcome bonus: Consider how much value you can get with the card's upfront bonus and whether you can meet the minimum spending requirement to earn it.
• Rewards rates: Travel credit cards may offer a flat rewards rate on all purchases or a tiered rewards structure, with bonus rewards on certain spending categories. Try to pick a card that allows you to rack up as many points or miles based on where you spend your money.
• Redemption options: Consider how much flexibility you'll get with your rewards. If your goal is to get free flights or hotel stays with a particular airline or hotel brand, pick an airline or a hotel credit card. If you want more options, however, consider a general travel credit card.
• Redemption values: If you're comparing two different cards, one may offer a higher welcome bonus and more points per dollar spent than the other. However, if the value of those points is lower than what you'd get with the second card, you might actually get less value.
• Perks: Think about how you want to use your credit card to elevate your travel experience, then seek out perks that can help you accomplish that objective. And don't forget about trip protections, which can save you some money if things don't go as planned on a vacation. For example, cards issued by Chase and American Express offer some of the best rental car insurance benefits.
• Annual fee: Travel credit cards tend to charge annual fees, but some can run in the hundreds of dollars. Consider how much you're willing to pay each year for a credit card's rewards and benefits.
• International acceptance: If you pick an American Express or Discover credit card, you may have trouble using your credit card abroad. In this case, you can either bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup or simply get a Visa or Mastercard in the first place.

Is the Annual Fee Too High?

Even if you generally like to avoid credit card annual fees, it can be worth paying one in exchange for great benefits. To determine whether an annual fee is worth it to you, consider the following:

• Calculate the value of the card's welcome bonus to see how many years' worth of the fee it covers.
• Add up the monetary value of the card's benefits, making sure to include only benefits you'll actually use.
• Consider the benefits that are difficult to assign a monetary value — rewards flexibility, trip protections or airport lounge access — and what they're worth to you.
• Estimate how much value you'd get in rewards each year based on your spending habits.

Some travel credit cards offer enough value to cover the cost of the annual fee in benefits alone. If a card charges an annual fee and is scant on perks, it might not be worth the cost.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Travel Card

Once you pick a travel rewards credit card, here are some tips to help you maximize its value:

• Make sure you earn the bonus: You'll typically have three or six months to meet the minimum spending requirement to earn a credit card's welcome bonus. Note, however, that the clock starts when you're approved, not when you receive the card. Track your spending to ensure that you earn the bonus points or miles.
• Use your card for everything: Try to use your credit card for everything that you can use it for. Just be sure to avoid overspending for the sake of earning rewards — the value you get likely won't make up for the extra cost.
• Pay in full every month: Make it a goal to pay off your balance in full every month to avoid paying interest, which can neutralize the value of the rewards you earn.
• Get to know your card benefits: You can find most of the card's benefits on the card issuer's website, but make sure you read through the benefits guide you receive with your card, so you know everything about its perks.
• Research the best ways to redeem: Each program is different in how you can redeem rewards, and some may offer outsized value if you redeem them in a certain way. For example, you may be able to get more value by transferring your general travel points or miles to an airline or hotel loyalty program than if you were to redeem them with the card issuer's rewards program.
• Avoid getting too many cards: Having multiple rewards credit cards can help you maximize different bonus rewards categories and card benefits, but if you get too many cards, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. There's no correct answer to how many credit cards you should have, so it's important to consider your preferences and organizational skills to determine the right amount.

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• Capital One Venture Rewards Launches $1,000 Bonus Offer
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• Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $1,200
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Or search for a credit card that meets your needs on this tool from Bankrate.

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