There's an ideal travel credit card for every type of traveler, whether you're just dipping your toe into the world of travel rewards or have flown around the world on points.
Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel rewards credit cards from national credit card issuers to identify the best options for new applicants, considering factors such as the welcome bonus, ongoing rewards, perks, and annual fees.
We picked the best travel rewards credit cards by weighing the value of each card's range of benefits against its annual fee to decide if
Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2025
Best For | Card | Annual Fee |
Overall | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 |
Beginners | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 |
No annual fee | Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | $0 |
Families | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 |
Travel insurance | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 |
Foodies | American Express® Gold Card | $325 (rates and fees) |
Single-card wallets | Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | $95 |
Hotels | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card | $95 |
Luxury travelers | The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 (rates and fees) |
Vacation home rentals | One Key™ Card | $0 |
Best Travel Credit Card Overall
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- 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.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- 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.
- Member FDIC
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top-choice travel credit card for most people because it strikes the perfect balance between strong benefits and a moderate annual cost.
Even infrequent travelers can easily justify the $95 annual fee with an annual statement credit of up to $50 off eligible hotel bookings through the Chase Travel℠, and a 10% point bonus each year on your card renewal anniversary.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2 points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point on all other purchases.
While these earning rates are generous, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card shines most with top-notch travel insurance benefits on par with premium travel rewards cards with far higher annual fees.
When you pay for travel expenses with this card and meet certain requirements, you can request reimbursement for unexpected expenses that may arise when your flight is delayed or if your baggage is delayed or lost. You'll also enjoy primary rental car insurance coverage, so you won't have to file claims through your personal car insurance plan or pay for coverage from the rental car company.
What we love: High welcome bonus offer, bonus points on travel, dining, and online grocery purchases, redeem points for 1.25 cents apiece for travel or through Chase Travel℠ for 25% value bonus
What we don't love: Doesn't offer upscale travel perks such as airport lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry
Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners
$95
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Get $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year and earn 75,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Venture Rewards Card- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great "set it and forget it" card for people who value simplicity when earning and redeeming travel rewards.
Cardholders earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every other purchase.
Capital One cardholders can use their miles to pay off eligible travel purchases on their recent card statements at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
Alternatively, you can transfer Capital One rewards to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs. Finally, you can also book flights, hotels, and other reservations directly through the Capital One travel portal and use miles to pay at checkout.
Venture Rewards Cardholders can also book Capital One Lifestyle Collection Hotels worldwide for elite benefits such as a $50 hotel experience credit, room upgrades when available, and early check-in/late checkout when available. Cardholders also get up to a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit once every four years.
What we love: Use your miles to cover your recent travel expenses, easy rewards of at least 2 miles per dollar on non bonus purchases
What we don't love: Other cards offer higher rewards on certain spending categories such as travel and dining.
Best Travel Credit Card with No Annual Fee
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (intro fee of 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% of the amount of each balance transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time)
19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 20,000 miles
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- Versatile rewards
- Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories to track
- Lower earning rate than some other no-annual-fee rewards cards
- Limited benefits
The VentureOne Rewards Card is a slimmed-down version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It's one of the few no-annual-fee cards on the market that gives you the option to redeem miles for cash back or transfer them to travel partners.
VentureOne Rewards Card- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is our favorite travel credit card without an annual fee, and it offers many of the same perks as the Venture Rewards Card we just reviewed.
The VentureOne Rewards Card earns 1.25 miles per dollar on most purchases, compared to the 2 miles per dollar its bigger "sibling" earns. But the trade-off is that you don't have to pay an annual fee. You can also earn the same 5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Cardholders can also transfer rewards to Capital One's airline and hotel partners — a rare benefit for a credit card with no annual fee. You'll also enjoy a handful of benefits including car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, and purchase assurance, making this card a permanent star in our guide to the best Capital One credit cards.
The VentureOne Rewards Card is also a solid pick if you want a zero-interest credit card: New cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (intro fee of 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% of the amount of each balance transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), then a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.
What we love: No annual fee, access to transfer partners, generous intro 0% APR offer
What we don't love: Few travel benefits, lower earning rate
Best Travel Credit Card for Families
$395
N/A
19.99% - 29.24% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
Excellent
- Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
- Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
- Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.
Capital One Venture X- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Our third Capital One recommendation in a row is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is best for families because it comes with premium travel perks for the whole household.
This sleek metal credit card is loaded with premium benefits including airport lounge access and an annual travel credit of up to $300, which more than offsets its $395 annual fee. Cardholders also get a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary worth $100 toward travel.
Families who frequently rent cars for travel can come out way ahead with this card, which earns 10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles on all other purchases.
As with other cards that earn Capital One miles, cardholders can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel, use miles to book through the Capital One Travel Portal.
What we love: Airport lounge access at an affordable price, up to $300 annual travel credit
What we don't love: The $300 credit is relatively restrictive and only applies to travel booked through Capital One
Best Travel Credit Card for Travel Insurance
$550
N/A
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 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℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best credit cards for people who buy travel insurance or enjoy adventure trips. This card comes with complimentary benefits for emergency evacuation and medical care, with sky-high coverage limit surpassing most standard policies you can buy.
In addition to providing the best credit card travel insurance for worst-case scenarios, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also protects you financially after mid-sized mishaps such as delayed or lost baggage and canceled or disrupted travel. Simply file a claim and submit all relevant information about the issue, and you'll be reimbursed for eligible incidents.
This card has a $550 annual fee, which is why we no longer recommend this card for everyone. But if you travel often or aggressively enough to consider buying an annual travel insurance policy, this card can be worth its annual fee many times over.
Cardholders also get complimentary airport lounge access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and the Priority Pass™ network of over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide (membership requires enrollment to activate). You'll also get a generous annual credit of up to $300 toward a broad range of travel expenses, from airfare to highway tolls.
Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 10 points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (except on purchases that trigger the $300 travel credit), and 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining. Finally, you'll also receive monthly DoorDash benefits that can save you money on delivery (activation required), including complimentary DashPass membership.
When redeeming points, you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars through Chase Travel℠ at a rate of 1.5 cents per point — a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate. You can also transfer your rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest, and United.
What we love: Annual $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and stellar travel insurance benefits
What we don't love: That jaw-dropping $550 annual fee
Best Travel Credit Card for Single-Card Users
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card isn't as flashy or well-known as some other travel cards, but it's perfect for people who want a single credit card for earning bonus rewards from common household expenses.
Cardholders earn a whopping 10 Citi ThankYou points per dollar on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. They also earn 3 points on air travel and at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
When booking hotels through Citi Travel, cardholders also get an annual credit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more before taxes and fees.
What we love: Strong rewards on everyday expenses, annual hotel credit
What we don't love: Mediocre travel insurance benefits, few travel perks compared to similar rewards cards
Best Travel Card for Foodies
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- 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.
- Terms Apply.
The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal travel card for foodies who both dine out and cook at home. Unfortunately, its annual fee of $325 is quite steep, especially for a card that doesn't offer airport lounge access (rates and fees).
Cardholders earn Amex points very quickly: 4 Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 4 points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
You can come out ahead on the card's annual fee if you can maximize most or all of the Amex Gold Card's annual credits. These include up to $100 a year for Resy restaurants (in $50 bi-annual allotments), plus monthly credits for purchases at select partners including Dunkin' after enrollment.
Cardholders also get up to $120 Uber Cash credit ($10 per month) toward rides and Uber Eats each calendar year when the American Express® Gold Card is added to your Uber account when enrolled. Terms apply.
On the bright side, this card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees so you can bring it along on international trips (rates and fees).
What we love: High rewards on restaurants and groceries, annual credits
What we don't love: High annual fee, many conditions for using said credits, no lounge access
Best Travel Credit Card for Hotel Stays
$95
N/A
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good or Excellent
- Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
- Airline and hotel transfer partners available
- Welcome bonus
- Generous cellphone protection
- Low annual fee
- Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is a true travel credit card, with benefits that rival many of the best travel rewards credit cards currently on the market. This card has a low annual fee on par with that of popular competing credit cards and Wells Fargo's also has a Points Transfer program that allows cardholders to juice maximum value from every point they earn.
Autograph Journey℠ Card- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is best for travelers who value the hotel destination as well as the journey itself, since it earns 5 points per dollar on hotel bookings. Cardholders also earn 4 points per dollar on flights and 3 points per dollar on restaurants and other travel purchases.
This card has a $95 annual fee, inviting direct comparisons to two other cards on this list: the Sapphire Preferred Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Unfortunately, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card isn't as strong as either competitor — yet — when it comes to Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners. But Wells Fargo's transferrable credit card rewards program is relatively new, and may add new airline and hotel partners with time.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card cardholders can redeem rewards at the standard redemption rate of 1 cent per point for cash back, or transfer their rewards to any travel partners above for additional value.
What we love: High bonus rates on hotels and flights
What we don't love: Limited transfer options (for now)
Best Travel Card for Luxury Travelers
$695
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Good to Excellent
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required)
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.
Amex Platinum Card- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- 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.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: 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.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $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.
- 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.
- $695 annual fee.
- 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.
- Terms Apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is arguably the most prestigious card available to most people without a personalized invitation.
This swanky status symbol has a distinctive look and feel, with one of the highest annual fees of any travel card (rates and fees). But it offers far more than appearances, and can be well worth the cost if you can utilize most or all of the card's statement credits each year.
Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights when you book directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), which makes the card a great choice for purchasing airfare. It also earn 5 points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and only earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, so pick a different card for dining rewards, groceries, gas, or online shopping.
The Amex Platinum Card offers more airport lounge access than any other personal travel card. In addition to complimentary Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), you get access to Amex Centurion Lounges, 10 annual visits to Delta Sky Clubs (unlimited visits after spending $75,000 or more in a calendar year), and more. Terms apply.
The card's annual statement credits can also go a long way toward offsetting the high annual fee. Most require prior enrollment to activate their benefits:
- Up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees like checked bags and in-flight purchases
- Up to $100 each year toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases
- Up to $200 in annual Uber credits (including Uber Eats)
- Up to $300 annually in Equinox credits
- Up to $199 a year in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership
- Up to $200 a year in credits toward eligible prepaid hotel bookings
- Up to $240 in annual credits toward eligible digital subscriptions
- A monthly credit for Walmart+ membership
- Up to $300 back when purchasing a SoulCycle At-Home Bike through Equinox+.
What we love: Lots of luxury benefits, including airport lounge access and statement credits with Uber and Saks
What we don't love: This card's $695 annual fee (rates and fees), and minimal bonus categories
One Key™ Card: Best Travel Credit Card for Vacation Home Rentals
The One Key™ Card is ideal for people who frequently book short-term vacation home rentals through Vrbo.
It's also great for travelers who use Hotels.com and Expedia, since it earns 3% in OneKeyCash™ on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo purchases and at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
This card actually comes in two versions: the no-annual fee One Key™ Card, or the $99 One Key+™ Card . You can't go wrong with either card, so you should make your decision based on auxiliary perks.
Both cards earn 3% back in OneKeyCash per dollar spent on bookings at Vrbo, Hotels.com, and Expedia, as well as on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, groceries, and food delivery services. But the One Key™ Card earns just 1.5% back on all other purchases, while the One Key+™ Card earns 2% back on all other purchases.
You can offset the $99 annual fee on the One Key+™ Card with a $100 anniversary credit in OneKeyCash, as well as a statement credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® enrollment fees once every four years.
We recommend the One Key™ Card for casual travelers, and the One Key+™ Card for reward maximizers who don't mind doing a little extra work for travel benefits.
What are Travel Rewards Credit Cards?
Travel credit cards reward their cardholders with bonus points on travel-related expenses, and offer travel-related insurance benefits and purchase protections.
There's a card designed for people seeking free flights, hoping for free hotel stays, or just doing whatever it takes to realize their dreams of relaxing in an overwater bungalow. There are even no-annual-fee travel credit cards that won't cost you anything to maintain.
Choosing the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card
Redeeming points or miles requires more effort than using simple cash back. But the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.
In fact, it's possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you're strategic about how you redeem your rewards, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights.
Why Choose A Travel Rewards Credit Card?
The right travel credit card can help you unlock incredible flights and hotel stays worth thousands of dollars apiece.
In this guide, we've focused mostly on the best travel credit cards that earn transferable points. Transferable points include popular currencies such as:
You can transfer these points to both airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. You can even redeem your points to offset the cash price of your travel at a flat rate.
How Much Are Travel Rewards Worth?
Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations can help you determine what your airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards are worth.
Here's our methodology for assigning valuations to your points and miles.
Best Travel Credit Cards: Maximizing Benefits and Avoiding Fees
Credit card rewards can be exhilarating to earn and redeem, but they're never worth incurring debt.
Pay Off Your Balance in Full Each Month
The first rule of utilizing credit cards is to never carry a balance that incurs interest, because high fees will quickly eliminate any net gains from earning travel rewards.
If you do have to carry a balance, consider getting one of the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR, so you can pay down what you owe without paying a lot of interest.
Track Your Benefits
Many of the best credit cards offer rotating benefits or periodic credits, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express's semi-annual Saks credit (activation required) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s annual travel credit.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Travel Credit Cards
Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel credit cards currently available to new applicants, and narrowed down the list to the best options recommended here based on the following factors:
- Welcome bonus — Do new cardholders get a valuable incentive to sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement?
- Ongoing rewards — How many points or miles do you earn on your purchases?
- Benefits — Beyond rewards, does the card offer valuable perks such as statement credits for travel, primary car rental insurance, and airport lounge access?
- Annual fee — Is there an annual fee, and if so, is it affordable or easy to offset with card perks?
- Overall value — Does the card justify its annual fee by offering useful benefits and valuable rewards, and is it worth it?
Read our guide to how we rate credit cards for a closer look at Business Insider's methodology.
FAQs
Can I use my travel credit card for everyday purchases?
Yes, you can use your travel rewards credit card to earn points or miles on everyday purchases.
Which credit card has the best travel benefits?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a fantastic choice for people who want a single credit card for well-rounded premium benefits, and who don't mind paying a generous annual fee to get it. The card comes with the best complimentary travel insurance available from a credit card, as well as an annual travel credit of up to $300 that can be used on most types of travel.
What are the different types of travel credit cards?
There are two main types of travel credit cards: bank-issued cards that earn points you can transfer to travel partners, and co-branded credit cards issued in partnership with specific airlines and hotels. Transferable reward currencies include Amex points, Capital One miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards earn points or miles within a respective hotel or airline program.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.