Best Travel Cards of 2025

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No annual fee
Worth the Annual Fee
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How Do Travel Rewards Cards Work?
What are Travel Rewards Worth?
How to Compare Travel Credit Cards
Is the Annual Fee Too High?
How to Get the Most Out of Your Travel Card
Best Bonus Deals

last updated 8 May 2025

Contributions from
Lisa Gerstner, Ellen B. Kennedy

Disclaimer

We may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $36,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.

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.

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

Capital One VentureOne

Sign-up bonus: 20,000 miles if you spend $500 in the first three months

The VentureOne card offers five miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. (One nice perk: If you find a lower price elsewhere within 24 hours after booking travel through Capital One, it will match the price, providing you a credit for the difference.) On all other purchases, you earn 1.25 miles per dollar. You can redeem your miles for travel bookings at a rate of 1 cent per point.

Sign-up bonus: 20,000 miles when you charge $500 in the first 3 months.
Rewards: 5 points per dollar spent on hotel and rental car purchases 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 19.24% - 29.24%.
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

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: $95

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.

For every dollar that you spend on car rentals or hotel bookings through Capital One Travel, you earn five miles; all other spending earns two miles per dollar. You can redeem miles for statement credits on travel purchases or transfer them to partner loyalty programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Finnair Plus and Virgin Red among airline programs and Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges among hotel programs.

The card also packs plenty of helpful benefits, such as a statement credit of up to $120 for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. And each time you stay at a hotel in Capital One’s Lifestyle Collection, you get $50 to use for drinks, dining or activities.

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 29.24% 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

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Cardholders rack up 10 points per dollar charged on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel. You also get three points per dollar spent at grocery stores, gas and EV charging stations, and restaurants as well as on air travel and hotel stays not booked through Citi. Receive one point per dollar on all other purchases. Redeem your points at a rate of 1 cent each for travel booked through Citi or gift cards, or transfer them to participating airline partners, including Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. The card also features an annual $100 credit for a single hotel stay of $500 or more.

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

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

Annual fee: $95, waived the first year

Sign-up bonus: 20,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days

With this travel card from U.S. Bank, you get five points per dollar when you book prepaid hotel stays and rental cars through the bank’s Altitude Rewards Center portal. The card also rewards you with four points per dollar on other travel spending and on up to the first $1,000 spent each quarter at gas and EV-charging stations. Get two points per dollar on purchases with streaming services, restaurants and grocery stores and one point per dollar charged for everything else. What’s more, you get a statement credit of up to $100 for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee (once every four years) and four free annual visits to airport lounges in the Priority Pass network.

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: $95, waived the first year.
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

BILT Mastercard®

This card from Wells Fargo has a unique feature: You earn one point per dollar on rent payments, with no transaction fees (annual earnings are capped at 100,000 points). Plus, get five points per dollar on Lyft rides and at restaurants in Bilt’s Neighborhood Dining program; three points per dollar spent on other dining purchases; two points per dollar on travel purchases, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, rental cars or cruise tickets; and one point per dollar on other spending. (You must make five purchases per statement cycle to earn points.) Bilt earns a nod as one of the best cards for flexible travel rewards because you can transfer points at a 1:1 rate to a number of partner travel loyalty programs, including Alaska Airlines, Hilton Honors, Southwest Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.

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

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: 100,000 points if you spend $5,000 in the first three months

Chase Sapphire Preferred comes packed with benefits for travelers . You get five points per dollar on travel purchases made through Chase Travel and two points on all other travel expenses; cardholders also receive three points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout, and one point per dollar on other spending. Points are worth 1.25 cents each if you use them to book travel through Chase, or transfer them at a 1:1 rate to participating partner loyalty programs, including those for JetBlue, Marriott, Southwest and United.

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

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: $150 statement credit after your first purchase, plus 50,000 points if you spend $3,000 in the first three months

Cardholders earn six points per dollar on Marriott hotel stays (in addition to up to 11 points per dollar they can earn as members of Marriott’s loyalty program) and three points per dollar on up to $6,000 in combined annual spending at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations; all other spending earns two points per dollar. Along with redeeming points for stays at Marriott hotels, you can transfer them to the frequent-flyer programs of nearly 40 airlines (mostly at a rate of three Marriott points to one mile), including American, Delta, United and Southwest. An additional benefit: You’ll earn a free night at a Marriott property each year after your cardmember account anniversary.

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

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: $395

Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months

Travelers enjoy a host of perks with Capital One’s premium credit card. You get an annual statement credit of up to $300 for purchases you make through Capital One Travel, and once every four years, you receive a statement credit of up to $120 for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. And you’ll travel in style with complimentary access to Capital One’s own airport lounges as well as more than 1,300 airport lounges in the Priority Pass network. Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 in travel expenses).

Cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel and five miles per dollar on flights and other travel booked through Capital One. All other purchases earn two miles per dollar. Points are redeemable at a rate of a penny each for travel bookings with the Capital One portal, or transfer them to partner travel loyalty programs.

Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months, equal to $750 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% - 29.24% 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

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual fee: $550

Sign-up bonus: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months

With Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get a $300 statement credit each year for travel purchases and a credit of up to $120 every four years after you apply for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck with the card. You also receive complimentary access for you and two guests to Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide as well as to Chase’s own Sapphire lounges.

Cardholders earn 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases made through Chase, five points per dollar on flights booked through Chase, three points per dollar on other travel purchases as well as at restaurants, and one point per dollar on other spending. Points are redeemable at an impressive rate of 1.5 cents each for travel redemptions through Chase, or you can transfer them to partner airline and hotel programs.

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.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual fee: $695

Sign-up bonus: 80,000 points after you spend at least $8,000 in the first six months.

Amex Platinum makes up for an extra-hefty annual fee with a plethora of perks. Among them are a statement credit of up to $200 annually for bookings with certain hotels and a monthly credit of up to $20 on eligible streaming services, including Hulu, Disney Plus, Peacock and ESPN Plus, charged to the card. Additionally, each year you get a credit of $199 to pay for CLEAR Plus, which allows you to skip the long security lines at busy airports, and $200 in statement credits for incidental fees with one airline of your choice. The card also features a $200 annual Uber credit, payable in $15 monthly increments (plus an extra $20 in December) when you use the card for Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases. And cardholders get free access to a range of airport lounge networks, including Amex’s own lounges as well as Delta Sky Club, Escape, Lufthansa, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select lounges.

Earn five points per dollar on flights booked through American Express (on up to $500,000 spent per year) and on prepaid hotels booked through American Express; other purchases earn one point per dollar. Points are redeemable for statement credits at a rate of 0.6 cent per point or flights purchased through Amex Travel at rate of 1 cent per point, among other options.

Terms Apply. See rates and fees.

Sign-up bonus: 80,000 points after you spend at least $8,000 in the first six months.
Rewards: 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
Lounge benefits: Eligible cardmembers enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
Annual Hotel Credit: $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
Cruise benefits: Cardholders can receive exclusive benefits through the Cruise Privileges Program, available on cruise bookings of 5 nights or more with participating cruise partners; qualified cardholders can also get two rewards points per dollar when booking through the American Express travel portal.
$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.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Free shipping excludes most marketplace items. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
$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® 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.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$199 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. Receive up to $199 per Calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card.
$120 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $120 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.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Other benefits: Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
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: 20.24% to 29.24% APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
Annual fee: $695, 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

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Annual fee: $350

Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You also get a round-trip Companion Certificate for flights within the U.S., Mexico and Central America every year when you renew your card.

This mid-tier card from American Express has a strong earning rate. You'll rack up three miles per dollar on Delta and related flights, two miles per dollar on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and one mile per dollar on all other qualified purchases. You also get an annual companion ticket, 15% off when booking Delta flights with award miles and a 20% credit for Delta in-flight purchases. Cardholders get their first checked bag for free.

Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. For details on this card and related cards, read our article Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $840 Plus a Complementary Ticket.
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 Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
Free baggage check: The first checked bag is free.
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: 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees
Annual fee: $350.
Foreign transaction fee: None.
Terms apply

JetBlue Plus Card

JetBlue Plus Card

Annual fee: $99

Sign-up offer: 70,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee in full.

JetBlue recently overhauled its TrueBlue loyalty program so that even infrequent flyers could earn perks. Our readers took notice, voting JetBlue's cards outstanding for customer service, overall satisfaction and as a card they'd recommend. A recent study found JetBlue has the best legroom of major U.S. airlines. And JetBlue just launched new, affordable Transatlantic Flights to Europe.

Cardholders get six points for each dollar spent on JetBlue flights, two points per dollar for restaurant and grocery stores (excluding wholesalers such as Costco) and one point on all other spending. You also get a 5,000-point bonus each year, 10% of points back after you redeem for travel on JetBlue award flight and an annual $100 statement credit after you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package.

Read more in JetBlue Credit Card Offer Worth $650.

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

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual fee: $149

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after charging $1,000 within three months of opening the account.

The Priority card from Southwest Airlines comes with attractive annual benefits, including 10,000 companion pass points, a $75 annual credit for eligible Southwest purchases, reimbursement of up to four upgraded boardings per year, 25% back on in-flight purchases, and 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent on the card.

Cardholders also get three Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases. Spending with Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and internet, cable, phone and streaming services earns two points per dollar, and all other purchases earn one point per dollar.

Southwest flights aren't limited to U.S. destinations; you can save your travel rewards for flights to Costa Rica, Aruba, Mexico and other getaways south of the U.S. border. Plus, points don't expire, and there are no blackout dates.

Read more at Southwest Credit Cards Launch $1,275 Bonus Offer and learn how Kiplinger readers raved about the card.

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

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Annual fee: $150.

Intro bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. For details, read our article on the Hilton Honors Bonus Offer Worth up to $780.

With this card, you earn 12 points per dollar when you make eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts. You also get six points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, four points per dollar for online retail purchases and three points per dollar on other spending.

Additional benefits include Gold loyalty status with Hilton (or Diamond status if you spend at least $40,000 on the card in a calendar year), a free night reward if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, and up to $200 back on purchases at Hilton properties.

Terms apply. See rates and fees.

Intro bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. According to Bankrate, that's worth about $780 in stays at Hilton properties (when one point is valued at 0.6 cents).
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 complimentary Gold status. If you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’re bumped up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status through the end of the following calendar year.
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: 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR for purchases. 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 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025. The interest rate for that card is 19.99% to 28.99% 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

IHG One Rewards Premier

Annual fee: $99

Sign up bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Bundling perks nets you up to 26 times the total points for stays at IHG properties. Cardholders also earn 5% back on travel, gas station and dining purchases; 3% back on every dollar spent on all other purchases. If you charge at least $20,000 annually, you’ll earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points. You’ll also receive a free night lodging on the anniversary of when you opened your card.

Want more ways to earn points? The World of Hyatt Business credit card has a similar welcome offer. Read more in World of Hyatt Launches Offer Worth up to $1,380.

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

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Visa

Annual fee: $75.

Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Wyndham Rewards points (enough for up to eight nights) if you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days.

Tip: Be sure you click on the tab for the "Earner Plus Visa" version of the card.

This card offers flexible benefits to several categories of travelers. First, the Earner Plus card is designed for travelers who frequent budget or mid-tier hotels such as La Quinta, Ramada and Days Inn and vacation rentals for families or large groups. Second, luxury travelers can enjoy premium resorts and hotels like Wyndham Grand, including the Grand Bonnet Creek Hotel near Disney World. Finally, gamblers take note; since Wyndham partners with Caesar's, you could use your points at the Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

The Wyndham Rewards program is flexible. You can redeem Capital One miles for Wyndham points. Wyndham partners with ten airlines. And if you have earned a high tier with another hotel's loyalty program, Wyndham's Status Match will bump your Wyndham loyalty tier up to the competitor's tier.

Purchases with Hotels by Wyndham and gas stations earn six points per dollar spent. Restaurant and grocery store purchases get four points per dollar, and other spending earns one point per dollar. Cardholders enjoy automatic Platinum status with Wyndham, a bonus of 7,500 points on each account anniversary, and discounts on the hotel’s best available rates.

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

American Express® Gold Card

Annual fee: $325

Intro bonus: The card has enhanced its sign-up bonus for those seeking a lucrative dining card. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

This is a great travel rewards card for foodies who like to cook or dine out. Earn four points for each dollar spent on the first $50,000 of restaurant purchases worldwide each year, then earn one point per dollar on restaurant purchases for the rest of the year. And earn four points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to the first $25,000, then earn one point per dollar). The card also provides additional perks for using your card at many chains and restaurants.

The most lucrative way to redeem points is for airfare booked through AmexTravel.com, or transfer them to hotel or airline partner programs. Though you can use points to pay for purchases at many retailers, such as Amazon and PayPal, the conversion rate is only 0.7 cents per point.

See rates and fees.

Terms apply.

Intro bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of card membership.
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: 20.24% to 29.24%, 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 Rewards

Sign up bonus: Earn $200 when you spend $500 in the first 3 months.
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% APR for 15 months, then 19.24% to 29.24%.
Annual fee: None.
Member FDIC

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. After your first year or $20,000 spent, the rewards rate reverts to 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Get 5% back on travel that you book through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal, plus 3% on restaurant and drugstore purchases and a strong 1.5% back on other spending. Points that you earn are redeemable at a rate of 1 cent each for cash, gift cards and travel bookings. Prefer to get takeout? The card provides discounts on DoorDash and Instacart+ memberships and delivery fees.

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.

Best Travel Card Bonus Deals Right Now

Or search for a credit card that meets your needs on this tool from Bankrate.

Disclaimer

All information about the American Express EveryDay® credit card, the Platinum Card from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card from American Express, the Hilton Honors American Express card, and the American Express Gold Card has been collected independently by Kiplinger. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.

Sean is a veteran personal finance writer, with over 10 years of experience. He's written finance guides on insurance, savings, travel and more for CNET, Bankrate and GOBankingRates.

With contributions from