Best Credit Cards for Travel
If you like to travel, then you’re sure to love below listed credit cards. Not only they now have the best rewards and perks, but they also have some of the highest online sign-up bonuses we’ve seen in a very long time.
Please Note: Any or all of these limited-time deals may expire anytime without notice, so take advantage of the one that you like the most before it’s gone.
BEST ALL-AROUND TRAVEL REWARDS CARD
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Right now, the card_name is dangling a pretty sweet deal in front of us: snag 75,000 bonus points by spending $4,000 in the first three months after you open your account. Plus, Chase bumps up the value of points used for travel bookings through their Ultimate Rewards by 25%.
This card is a points-earning powerhouse on just about everything:
- Earn 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
- 2x on all other travel expenses,
- 3x on dining out,
- 5x on Lyft rides up until March 31, 2025,
- 3x on certain streaming services and online grocery shopping,
- And 1x on all your other everyday spending.
Feels like you’re racking up bonuses left and right, doesn’t it? Plus, every year on your card anniversary, you get a 10% boost on all the points you’ve earned.
But the Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just about accumulating points; it’s about what you can do with them. You can use them for cash back, travel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or transferring to popular hotel and airline loyalty programs like Hyatt and Southwest— the choice is yours.
Let’s not forget the annual $50 hotel credit you get when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
On top of that, Chase throws in a $200 Partnership Benefit Value. Think free memberships and extra perks just for being a cardholder. Currently, there’s a free DoorDash DashPass subscription, a 6-month Instacart membership, and bonus points on Peloton purchases up for grabs. So, if you were eyeing these subscriptions anyway, the card_name pretty much pays for itself!
BEST FOR NO ANNUAL FEE
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If you want a simple travel rewards card with a flat rewards rate and the flexibility to redeem rewards for bookings on third-party sites, the card_name can be a great fit for you. It’ll also make sense for cardholders who want to avoid annual fees and take advantage of an introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers.
Low spending required to earn sign-up bonus
New VentureOne cardholders who spend at least $500 in the first three months can earn 20,000 miles – worth up to $200 in travel purchases through Capital One Travel. This is a solid offer for a card that carries no annual fee, especially considering the relatively low spending requirement.
0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers
If you have a big trip or other large expenses to finance and want some time to pay down your balance while avoiding interest, this card’s 0% intro APR on new purchases for 15 months (19.99% to 29.99% variable thereafter; for balance transfers, 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR) will be a big plus. Or if you have outstanding debt and need a little more than a year to pay it off, you can take advantage of its matching balance transfer offer to chip away at your principal and fast-track your repayment efforts.
Not only can this make card_name a more attractive option than many dedicated balance transfer cards – which tend to offer long intro APR periods but no ongoing rewards – but it’s also rare to see such offers on travel rewards cards. Intro APR offers tend to pop up more frequently on cash back cards than travel cards.
BEST PREMIUM TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
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The card_name is a top-tier choice for travelers looking for a card that offers premium rewards and travel benefits. When you sign up, you’ll receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months—an estimated value of around $750. Plus, as a thank-you for staying, you’ll receive an annual bonus of 10,000 miles on every card anniversary, which is pretty cool.
Earning miles is straightforward and generous: When you book through Capital One Travel, you get 2x miles on everyday purchases, 5x miles on flights, and an impressive 10x miles on hotels and rental cars. This makes it an incredibly rewarding option for frequent travelers.
Capital One enhances your travel experience with a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, ensuring you always get the best price available. If you book a flight and the fare drops afterward, Capital One’s price guarantee might even snag you a partial refund.
But that’s not all. The card comes with credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to streamline your airport experience, plus travel protection benefits, including lost luggage insurance and cell phone protection.
Another standout feature is the unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and over 100 locations worldwide through their Partner Lounge Network, elevating your airport wait time to a luxury experience. While the annual fee might seem steep at first glance, the wealth of premium perks and the potential for high rewards make card_name a competitive option among premium travel cards.
BEST FOR DINING AT RESTAURANTS
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For folks who love dining out as much as they love earning rewards, the card_name is like hitting the jackpot. This gem rewards you with 4x points not just when you’re dining around the globe but also for your takeout and delivery orders right here in the U.S. It’s a standout card for earning some of the best rewards on your dining experiences.
But the good news doesn’t stop there. You’ll also earn 4x points on supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per year), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, and 1x points on all other purchases. And for a sweet welcome, new cardholders can pocket 90,000 membership rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first six months.
When it’s time to use those points, you’ve got options galore. Whether you’re transferring them to airline and hotel loyalty programs, using them for gift cards, covering past charges, or shopping online, your rewards adapt to your needs. Keep in mind, though, that transferring points to U.S. airlines comes with a tiny fee: $0.00006 per point, capping at $99.
If those perks haven’t already got you reaching for your wallet, how about a yearly $120 Uber credit and a $120 dining credit at select eateries? These credits are doled out in $10 monthly increments, turning every month into a little celebration of freebies.
Just make sure the annual fee of card_name makes sense for your spending habits so that you’re getting more than you give.
BEST FOR LOUNGE ACCESS
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The card_name (See Rates and Fees) really raises the stakes with its welcome offer, statement credits, and a suite of benefits that, quite frankly, leave others in the dust. But let’s address the elephant in the room: that $695 annual fee. It’s a hefty sum, no doubt. However, for the avid card user who knows how to squeeze every bit of value out of their card, this could be a game-changer, especially with a tempting 125,000 membership rewards points on the table.
So, about that annual fee—yes, it’s the highest we’ve seen. But when you start adding up the value you get back from the Platinum Card®, it’s clear this isn’t just any other card.
You’ll hit the ground running with 125,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first six months. Imagine what you can do with those points! From dining to travel, entertainment to shopping, you’ve got over 500 leading brands to play with.
And the perks? They just keep on coming:
- Earn 5x points on flights, either booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, capped at $500,000 a year.
- Nab 5x points on prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com.
- And get 1x points on pretty much everything else you buy.
But wait, there’s more than just points. Check out these extras that add even more bang for your buck:
- $200 a year towards airline fees for those annoying extra charges.
- Another $200 for stays at select prepaid hotels and resorts.
- $15 each month in Uber Cash (and a sweet $20 bonus in December) for both rides and Uber Eats.
- A $20 monthly credit for digital entertainment subscriptions.
- Up to $300 annually for Equinox gym memberships.
- A $155 Walmart+ credit each year.
- $100 to splurge at Saks Fifth Avenue annually.
- And $189 back every year for a CLEAR membership, making airport security a breeze.
When you do the math, these benefits add up to nearly $1,600—way more than you’re paying in fees. Plus, with no charges on foreign transactions, VIP status at various hotel chains, and access to a sprawling Global Lounge Collection, the card_name is in a league of its own.