The travel rewards credit card landscape is competitive, with issuers launching new products and updating existing offerings to stay on top of the market. Picking the best travel credit card for you is going to depend on your priorities: Do you want a card packed with benefits, or one with a lower annual fee? Which benefit will you use more, lounge access or travel insurance? Ultimately the best travel rewards card will depend on your unique situation, but here are some of the top options to include in your travel credit cards comparison, and what makes them stand out in a crowded market.
Methodology
Our team of experts evaluated over 100 travel credit cards, including cards that earn flexible rewards, airline miles and hotel points. We considered various factors including welcome bonuses, rewards, fees, day-of-travel benefits and other travel-related perks. Using a data-based approach, we narrowed down the list to the 10 best credit cards for travel that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
*
Best travel credit card
Key Takeaways
2X
Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases.
2X
Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights.
10X
Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.
5/5
Best for travel spending
Key Takeaways
5X
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
3X
Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
4.8/5
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
*
Best for flexible/easy rewards
Key Takeaways
2X
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
5X
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.
4.6/5
Best for flexible/easy rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for beginners
Key Takeaways
5x
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
2x
Earn 2x on all other travel purchases
4.4/5
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
*
Best no-annual-fee credit card
Key Takeaways
1.25X
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.
5X
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.
3.8/5
Best no-annual-fee credit card
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
*
Best premium hotel card
Key Takeaways
14X
14X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
7X
7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
3X
3X points on other eligible purchases.
4.6/5
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
*
Best no-annual-fee hotel card
Key Takeaways
17X
Earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
3X
3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants.
2X
2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
4.4/5
Best no-annual-fee hotel card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
*
Best premium airline credit card
Reward Rate
4X
Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases.
2X
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and on dining, including eligible delivery services.
1X
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
4.1/5
Best premium airline credit card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
*
Best low-annual-fee airline credit card
Key Takeaways
3X
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
2X
2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2X
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
2X
2X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases.
1X
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
3.6/5
Best low-annual-fee airline credit card
Our picks at a glance
What didn’t make the cut
While this list includes some of the top travel rewards cards in a number of categories, there are plenty more options to consider if you’re looking to pick up another welcome bonus or get perks with a specific airline or hotel:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is a great choice for frequent travelers looking for Marriott-specific benefits without breaking the bank. However, another hotel card (Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
*
The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
) performed better in our rankings. - U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
*
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
*
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
is more of a cash back card than a travel rewards card, but cardholders do enjoy a 50% bonus when redeeming their points for travel bookings and up to $325 in annual statement credits for travel purchases, dining, takeout and food delivery. - American Express® Gold Card: The Amex Gold card is a foodie’s dream, earning 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases] (terms apply). But it didn’t beat out some more travel-oriented cards.
- Citi Premier® Card: While Citi’s ThankYou Rewards transfer partners aren’t quite as strong as some other issuers’, the Citi Premier Card offers a solid welcome bonus and 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels, all for just a $95 annual fee.
Types of travel credit cards
- Cards that earn transferable points. These cards are the most versatile, because they allow you to move your points to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. Not being locked into a single program gives you more flexibility when you’re ready to book award travel. Popular transferable points currencies include Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles.
- Flat-rate rewards: Cards that earn flat-rate rewards might still call them points or miles, but you’ll get a fixed value when you redeem them for travel or other purchases. This simple approach is best for travelers who don’t want to mess with award charts or blackout dates.
- Co-branded airline cards: Most major US airlines and some international carriers offer cards that earn miles or points in their frequent flyer programs (such as Delta SkyMiles or Air Canada Aeroplan). Airline credit cards often come with day-of-travel benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight discounts and even airport lounge access and are ideal if you’re a loyal flyer. But your redemption options are more limited.
- Co-branded hotel cards: Similarly, hotel credit cards are tied to major global chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). These cards usually offer perks when you stay at the brand — think bonus points, elite status, room upgrades and late check-out. Again, you’ll have less flexibility with most of these cards, but if you usually stay with a certain chain, they can make a lot of sense.
How do travel credit cards work?
Travel credit cards fall into a general dichotomy of specific and general: Some offer rewards and perks with a particular airline or hotel, while others offer benefits with broader appeal. Either way, travel credit cards can be a great choice for travelers looking to improve their time on the road or earn points and miles to use on their next vacations.
Transferable points are the most flexible
Let’s say you want to fly from Miami to Paris next year. If you have a co-branded American Airlines credit card, you’ll earn miles that you can use to book flights operated by American Airlines or one of its partner airlines, such as British Airways.
But award seats might not be available on the days you want to travel, forcing you to look at other options. If instead of American Airlines miles you’d collected rewards through a credit card issuer’s rewards program, such as Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards®, you could have more flexibility.
For example, Capital One miles can be transferred to participating airline loyalty programs, not all of which are part of the same airline alliance. An airline alliance is a group of airlines that collaborates to offer travel to more destinations, and travelers can typically redeem rewards they hold with one airline’s loyalty program for flights with any alliance-member airline. As a result, earning transferable rewards such as Capital One miles can increase your redemption options.
Understanding co-branded airline credit cards
Some people are fiercely loyal to a single airline, possibly because it’s the dominant carrier in their home city or because that airline serves the destinations they fly to most often. In these cases, picking up a co-branded airline credit card can be a great choice. If you already earn a lot of miles with a single airline from flying, augmenting that balance with a credit card welcome bonus makes sense. And card perks like free checked bags, airport lounge access and rebates on in-flight Wi-Fi can add up.
Overview of co-branded hotel credit cards
Some business travelers will end up loyal to a specific hotel brand because that’s where their company puts them up, and other travelers might just pick based on personal preference. A co-branded hotel credit card can be a great shortcut to earning elite status in hotel loyalty programs, and getting access to jealousy-inducing perks such as suite upgrades and free breakfasts. Some hotel cards offer elite status simply for holding the card. Many hotel cards also offer free nights, which can offset their annual fees.
Flat-rate rewards cards
Some travel cards earn rewards you can redeem at a fixed rate for travel (often 1 cent per point or mile). These cards, including the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and Discover it® Miles, function more like cash back cards with a travel focus. You can’t get more value out of your points or miles by saving up for an aspirational first-class redemption, but for less frequent travelers these can be a great choice. If you have 19,999 miles in your frequent flyer account and the award you need costs 20,000, your hard-earned rewards aren’t bringing you any value (unless you buy miles or find another way to close the gap). Flat-rate rewards cards can be more straightforward and make it easier to cash out as you go, in smaller chunks.
Pros and cons of travel credit cards
Unsurprisingly, the more you travel, the more value you’ll be able to get out of travel rewards cards. The travel credit card marketplace is full of variety, and you can expect to encounter the following pros and cons as you pick a card:
Pros:
- Many options. Card issuers offer a range of travel cards, from no-annual-fee options to premium cards with high fees and luxury benefits. Diverse offerings allow you to find a card that matches your travel needs, whether you go on one or two trips a year or are regularly on the road.
- Potential to save money on travel. Travel cards earn rewards on spending that you can typically redeem to cover travel expenses. Some cards also offer money-saving perks such as free checked bags on eligible flights and annual statement credits to pay for eligible travel. To actually save money with your card, be sure not to carry a balance, and make sure you’re getting enough value to make up for any annual fee.
- Travel more comfortably. In addition to cost savings, travel cards can offer perks such as airport lounge access and late hotel checkout that enhance your travel experience.
Cons:
- Maximizing rewards can take effort. Some travel cards offer a lot of benefits, and it can take effort to maximize the value you receive.
- May have high interest rates. Many of the best travel credit cards may charge above-average interest rates, making them less suitable for people who carry balances.
- May require higher credit scores for approval. Credit score requirements can vary by card, but you should aim for a credit score in the good range or higher when you apply for a travel credit card.
What is the best travel credit card for you?
Choosing the best travel credit card for you requires drawing a few boundaries. How high of an annual fee are you comfortable paying? Do you travel enough to make use of benefits? What options are available to you based on your credit score? These questions will help guide you to the right corner of the market, whether that’s no-annual-fee cards, premium options or something in the middle.
Other worthwhile questions to ask yourself include: Do you fly with the same airline every time and stay at the same hotel brands? Do you travel internationally? How do you want to use your rewards?
Your choices will also look different depending on why you travel.
Choosing the best credit cards for leisure travel
Leisure travelers have to foot all their own expenses on the road, and savings from benefits such as free checked bags can add up if you use them enough. You should also think about how things like priority boarding and free seat selection might improve your travel experience. Don’t forget to make sure you travel enough to get your money’s worth if you’re paying an annual fee for the card.
Choosing the best credit cards for business travel
Business travelers may want to consider getting co-branded airline and hotel cards that line up with their companies’ travel policies. These cards may help you reach elite status faster in the airline or hotel loyalty program, which can be very welcome for a road warrior. If your company requires you to book travel through a specific platform (vs. letting you book yourself and reimbursing you), this may affect your ability to earn and redeem rewards and benefits.
Choosing the best credit cards for road trips
Even if you’re not a frequent flyer, travel credit cards can be a great option for road trips. Several cards offer bonus rewards for spending at gas stations. Consumers with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can use the card’s annual $300 travel credit to cover road trip expenses like tolls. Depending on how long your trip is and where you plan to sleep at night, a co-branded hotel credit card might be a good complement.
Maximizing your travel credit card benefits
In addition to earning points or miles for your next vacation, many travel credit cards offer some form (or forms) of travel insurance. While the exact terms vary from card to card, this can include trip delay, cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage loss or delay insurance, and even rental car insurance.
Other benefits can include free checked bags on flights, free nights at eligible hotels and a statement credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. These perks can help you feel like the most valued customer even if you’re not a frequent traveler.
Luxury travel perks provided by credit cards
A premium card’s benefits should justify the annual fee it charges. One possible luxury perk is a Priority Pass membership, granting you access to airport lounges around the world.
Depending on the card, you could also get access to travel consultants, special assistance at the airport and exclusive restaurant reservations.
Important considerations for international travelers
If your travels frequently take you out of the US, make sure to consider how your credit card will function abroad. You should check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee, and be aware that American Express and Discover cards are not as commonly accepted as Visa and Mastercard internationally. You should also check whether you need to notify your bank of upcoming travel to avoid fraud alerts on your account, and whether you have benefits like travel insurance to assist if things go wrong.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams compared over 100 credit cards — from cards that earn transferable, flexible points to co-branded airline and hotel cards. From there, we narrowed down our list to pick the best credit card for travel in different categories by giving them a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Welcome bonus (25%)
A big welcome bonus can be a great way to kickstart your travel rewards journey. We gave these bonuses a dollar value based on average points valuations from travel site The Points Guy, with higher rankings going to cards with bigger potential returns.
Rewards (25%)
A good travel credit card should reward travel purchases, and the best also offer bonuses in complementary spending categories, such as dining and gas. We looked at each card to assess their ongoing earning potential. Cards that don’t offer useful bonus categories or have a low base rewards rate for most spending got lower grades than cards with spending categories that align with the travel and everyday spending habits of consumers.
Benefits and annual credits/bonuses (40%)
Travel credit cards aren’t just about earning rewards. The top travel cards also offer lucrative benefits that can help make your travels more comfortable, save you money or give you added protections at home and on the road. We looked at perks such as airport lounge access, elite status, free checked bags and other day-of-travel perks, travel insurance and purchase protections. We also included annual credits, free night certificates and bonuses tied to meeting spending thresholds, and gave higher marks to cards with easy-to-use benefits.
Fees (10%)
Most of the best travel cards charge annual fees, but paying an annual fee can be well worth it if the benefits you receive outweigh the yearly cost. We considered the potential return you can get from each card, especially considering statement credits and perks like free checked bags that can save you a substantial amount of money. Annual fee cards with the best overall value got a boost, but so did cards with no annual fee. Cards that charge foreign transaction fees scored much lower.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Most of the top travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but you should check your credit card’s terms and conditions to confirm. All of the cards on our best travel credit cards list do not add foreign transaction fees.
You should have a credit score in the good range or better when you apply for a travel credit card. Premium products like the Amex Platinum card often require higher credit scores. Card issuers look at a number of factors, including your credit utilization rate and length of credit history, so you should understand the factors contributing to your score to evaluate whether you’re a competitive applicant.
Co-branded credit cards can be a good value for people who are loyal to a single airline or hotel chain, but many people are better off sticking to a more flexible card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you live in a city predominantly served by a single airline, you could get a good value out of a co-branded Delta, United or American Airlines credit card, but otherwise, you may do better keeping your options open.
How many miles you’ll need to book an award flight depends on factors including where you’re traveling, which program you’re using, what class your ticket is (such as economy or first class) and whether you’re flying on peak dates. Some domestic economy awards can start as low as 7,500 miles, while it’s not uncommon for international first and business class awards to cost more than 100,000 miles. If you’re saving up for a specific trip, spend some time searching for award tickets to get an idea of how much that route might cost.
Points and miles are worth different amounts depending on the program and how you redeem them. Two people with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card might get very different values out of their miles if one person is redeeming them as statement credits against travel purchases (at a fixed rate of 1 cent each) and the other is transferring them to partner airlines to book international first class award tickets. You should look at your redemption patterns, comparing the miles you spend to the cash price of the same award, to see how much miles are worth to you.
To view rates and fees for Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card please visit this page.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by CNN Underscored Money: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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