If you’ve been on the hunt for the best travel credit card for your summer adventures, like the best credit card for travel in Europe, or are looking for an overall contender for year-round travels near and far, you’ve come to the right place.
A great travel credit card can be one of the most useful tools at your disposal when planning any adventure. I’ve personally brandished dozens over three years of full-time globetrotting—they’ve gifted me free flights, premium travel perks, and some of the best hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in.
In short, they’ve saved me thousands of dollars and allowed me to travel the world for next to nothing. Fortunately you don’t have to optimize every dollar you spend or sign up for multiple cards to enjoy highly-discounted flights and hotels, just having one good travel card can put you in a position to save big on your future trips.
But not all cards are created equal, and no two travelers are the same, making the tool best fit for purpose all the more important. If you’re a frequent flyer like me, your cards should be covering most, if not all, of your major expenses. But if you’ve got your eye on that one big bucket-list trip, first-class seats and luxury suites might take priority.
Whatever your travel goals, there’s a card that can help you get there while keeping cash in your pocket. To help you on your way, I’ve compiled the best travel cards currently available.
When considering what makes a great travel credit card for beginners and beyond, we considered the value of the welcome bonus, how many points you earn for your ongoing spend, benefits like travel insurance and airport lounge access and a card’s annual fee.
Best travel credit cards for beginners and beyond:
- Best mid-tier card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best card for luxury travel perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- ⭐️ LIMITED-TIME OFFER ⭐️Best card for keeping it simple: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best card for foodies: American Express® Gold Card
- Best card with no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Best premium travel card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- ⭐️ LIMITED-TIME OFFER ⭐️ Best card for business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Best card for families: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best card for everyday earning: Citi Premier® Card
- Best card for beginners: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Best card for gas guzzlers: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- Best card for renters: Bilt Mastercard®
Best card for luxury travel perks: The American Express Platinum Card
Who’s this for? The frequent traveler with an eye on top-tier perks like airport lounge access.
Details: The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with tons of perks and benefits and is a good card for points earning if you’re spending a lot on airfare and hotels. Amex points are transferrable to 20 different airline and hotel partners giving them incredible flexibility and value.
When spending with the card you’ll earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com and 1x Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
The card’s biggest benefit is its unprecedented airport lounge access, giving you access to over 1,300 lounges around the world, including Delta Sky Clubs, Amex’s own Centurion lounges and a Priority Pass membership—making it a top contender for the best credit card for travel in Europe, and internationally in general.
You’ll also earn a ton of credits by being a cardholder which helps offset the card’s large annual fee. Every year you’ll enjoy a number of travel credits, including an up to $200 airline fee statement credit to cover things like baggage and seat selection fees, an up to $189 CLEAR® Plus credit to help get through airport security quicker, an up to $200 hotel credit with Fine Hotels + Resorts® prepaid bookings or prepaid stays of two nights or more with The Hotel Collection when you book through Amex Travel.
To top it off, several lifestyle credits further help offset the annual fee, including an up to $240 digital entertainment credit which covers services like Hulu, Disney+, Audible, The New York Times and more, up to $155 Walmart+ credit, up to $200 Uber Cash for Uber rides and Uber Eats. (to receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States), up to $300 Equinox credit and up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit. Terms apply and enrollment required for select benefits.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
PROS
- The Amex Platinum’s typical intro bonus of 80,000 points is massive in itself. It’s worth $800 when spent directly through Amex’s travel portal on flights and hotels, which is already stellar. But when transferred to a partner, it’s very possible to squeeze over $1,600 or more in value.
- The Platinum has a slew of top-tier benefits, like Priority Pass, which gives the cardholder access to thousands of airport lounges and restaurants around the world, as well as Amex’s own Centurion lounges which are known for the high-quality (and free) food and cocktails. Other perks include up to $200 in Uber credits (to receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express card must be a method of payment in your Uber account, and this Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States), up to $200 in airline fee credits (given in statement credits), up to $240 in digital streaming credits, up to $200 towards hotel bookings (given in statement credits) with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts (2 night minimum stay required), and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- A number of statement credits spanning multiple industries can build even more value into the card, including free stays when applied strategically.
- The Amex concierge is an underutilized benefit that can transform a trip by helping book hard-to-find dinner reservations or show tickets.
CONS
- The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
- Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
- Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Annual Fee: $695 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for keeping it simple: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Who’s this for? The regular or occasional traveler who wants to keep points-earning simple and avoid carrying multiple cards.
Details: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option to consider on your search for the best travel credit card for beginners and beyond. It has a valuable and easy-to-understand rewards earning structure since it earns 2X miles per dollar on all purchases. You’ll also earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
You’ll enjoy plenty of flexibility with the card since its miles can be transferred to more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs in addition to being redeemed for credits to cover travel purchases, gift cards and cash back.
The Venture card also gives cardholders two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges. And for those who want to speed through security, you can receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® when paying the application fee with your card—ideal if you’re looking for the best credit card for travel in Europe, and internationally in general.
Earn up to $1,000 in travel bonuses
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
The Capital One Venture is an excellent go-to card for any traveler, thanks to its easy to navigate 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. With no bonus categories to consider, a reasonable $95 annual fee, and a strong intro offer worth at least $1,000 in travel rewards, Alec Baldwin might be onto something.
PROS
- The Capital One Venture’s current intro bonus is worth $1,000 when spent on Capital One’s (recently revamped) travel portal or you can use your miles to cover your recent purchases. The bonus rises to well over $1,000 when transferred to an airline or hotel partner.
- A steady 2 miles per dollar on all purchases makes earning simple and lucrative. You’ll also grab 5 miles per dollar when booking through Capital One’s travel portal.
- Its $95 annual fee is almost negligible, especially if the intro bonus is achieved.
- Flexible miles allow for a wide array of redemption options.
- You can enjoy two free visits to a Capital One Lounge each year.
- You’ll get up to a $100 credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, which can help make airport security a breeze.
CONS
- Capital One lacks US-based airline and hotel transfer partners.
- Not many major perks beyond its miles value.
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for foodies: American Express® Gold Card
Who’s this for? The traveler with a penchant for eating out, while also spending big on their own groceries.
Details: The American Express® Gold Card is a powerhouse points earner that makes it one of the best travel credit cards for beginners and experts alike, especially for anyone who dines out or grocery shops frequently. The card earns 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 4X Membership Rewards® Points At U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1X point).
Travelers will also benefit from 3X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually, which can be used for Uber rides and even Uber Eats food delivery orders. To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.
You’ll earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases.
Amex points are quite valuable and offer lots of flexibility as they can be transferred to over 17 airline and hotel partners for high-end travel experiences. You can also redeem for travel through the Amex Travel Portal, gift cards and statement credits, albeit at a lesser value.
Foodies benefit from the $10 monthly statement credits towards retailers like Grubhub, Wine.com, select Shake Shack locations and more (enrollment required).
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, receive 20 percent back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
The American Express® Gold Card takes your dining and grocery spending to the next level, offering an impressive 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, and 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
To put this into perspective, if you spend $8,400 annually on dining and groceries, which aligns with the average American’s spending, you could earn enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. Meanwhile, the bonus alone is worth over $1,000, adding significant value to your everyday spending.
PROS
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent 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 U.S. 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.
- Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. each month, totaling up to $120 per year.
- Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin’ locations, totaling up to $84 per year.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year for dining at U.S. Resy restaurants or making other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- 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, totaling up to $120 per year. 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.
CONS
- $325 annual fee
- No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
Annual Fee: $325 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card with no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Who’s this for? The eager traveler hoping to learn the ropes about points and miles.
Details: You won’t have to worry about tracking any bonus categories with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card as you’ll earn an unlimited 1.25X miles per dollar on all purchases. While that’s not as high of a rate as some other cards on this list, the card makes up for it as the miles you earn are transferrable to over 15 airline and hotel partners and the card has no annual fee.
Plus, you’ll earn an unlimited 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. When traveling abroad you don’t have to worry about paying any foreign transaction fees which is a rare feature for a no-annual-fee card, and makes this a solid choice for the best credit card for travel in Europe, as well as internationally.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne is an excellent card for those taking more deliberate steps into the world of travel rewards thanks to its lack of annual fee and flat-rate earning. Cardholders earn 1.25X miles per dollar spent on all purchases, plus 5X miles per dollar on travel purchased through Capital One. Its 20,000-mile welcome bonus is also solid for a no-annual-fee card.
PROS
- Its flat-rate earning system makes the VentureOne an easy option for earning miles on all types of spending. While not as high of a rate as its sister cards, it may be the right option for some lower-spending users.
- No annual fee makes it fairly risk-free for learning how to transfer points to travel partners and maximize the value of your rewards
- The 20,000-mile intro bonus is worth $200 when used directly on the Capital One Portal, and even more when transferred to an airline or hotel partner. With only $500 of spending required to receive the miles, that’s a wonderful 20% return.
- No foreign transaction fees. This is fairly uncommon for a no-annual-fee card.
CONS
- Earning rate isn’t huge
- Big and moderate spenders can earn more points elsewhere
- Cash-back cards may be more lucrative
Annual Fee: $0 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best premium travel card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Who’s this for? Any traveler seeking a premium travel card with maximum flexibility and some perks for good measure
Details: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a solid choice for the best credit cards for beginners, as well as those well-versed in the travel credit cards space. It can earn travelers and foodies a ton of points. With the card, you’ll earn 10X total points on hotels and car rentals and 5X total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel after spending $300 on travel each year. Plus, you’ll earn 3X points on all other travel purchases worldwide, after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases.
Dining out is also highly rewarded as you can earn 10X total points on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Travel when you make prepaid restaurant reservations, order takeout or join our virtual cooking events and 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other valuable and useful perks help offset the card’s hefty annual fee, including a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases made on your card each account anniversary year and a Priority Pass Membership which gives you access to 1,300+ airline lounges worldwide.
The card is also known for strong ancillary benefits like trip delay insurance and primary rental car coverage.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
60,000 Bonus Points
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card that’s accessible to most travelers as it has a number of valuable and easy-to-use benefits. Its annual fee of $550, though still high, is quickly offset thanks to its $300 travel credit, large welcome bonus, strong spending categories, and premium perks like airport lounge access. It’s also great for those who don’t want to deal with transferring their points, as you’ll get big value when redeeming through Chase’s travel portal.
PROS
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel—which is more than the annual fee.
- The $300 travel credit covers anything travel related, whether thats an Airbnb, a taxi, a flight, or hotel, making it almost impossible not to lessen the dent the fee made.
- The points are worth 1.5 cents a piece when used directly on Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Portal, offering a simple but high value use for your points.
- Plenty of excellent transfer partners allow points to be maximized
- Some excellent partnerships with Doordash and Lyft add to its value.
- Priority Pass membership allows access to over 1,300+ airport lounges and restaurants.
CONS
- No complimentary elite hotel status, like that offered by the Amex Platinum.
- You won’t earn points on travel purchases until the $300 credit is used.
- It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $550 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best mid-tier credit card for travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Who’s this for? Both beginner earners who can use it as their primary card and seasoned points pros who can utilize its well-above weight class potential.
Details: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is another one of our top picks for the best credit card for travel in Europe.
It has quite a few ways to earn points, making it easy to rack up rewards. You’ll earn 5X points on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal and 2X points on all other travel purchases. Categories that earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points include restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Plus, 1X Ultimate Rewards points on all other spending.
To top off your points earning, you’ll also get a 10% Ultimate Rewards point bonus annually based on your card spending, earned after you renew and pay your annual fee.
Chase points offer large value— they can be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel partners like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hyatt and Marriott. And if you redeem through Chase Travel, which allows you to book nearly any type of flight, hotel or rental car, your points will get a 25% boost in value.
The card also comes with primary rental car insurance, no foreign transaction fees—great if you’re looking for best credit card for travel in Europe, and for international journeys in general.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus points
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
PROS
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠.
- The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on the Chase Travel Portal already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
- A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
- A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2027).
- Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
- Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
⭐️ LIMITED-TIME OFFER ⭐️Best card for business travelers: Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Who’s this for? The small business owner or freelancer who wants their business spending to pay dividends in their travel.
Details: The Chase Ink Business Preferred allows business owners to earn a ton of rewards in valuable bonus categories: You will earn 3X Ultimate Rewards® points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on shipping purchases, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services, and travel each account anniversary year. Plus 1X Ultimate Rewards® points on all other spending.
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which allows you to book nearly any flight, hotel or car rental. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 towards travel. Points earned with this card are also transferrable to Chase’s partners, boosting their value even further.
It’s a top contender for the best credit card for travel in Europe, and internationally in general, as it comes with primary rental car insurance and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
90,000 bonus points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
The Ink Business Preferred Business Card pulls attention with its big intro bonus, currently sitting at 90,000 points. That’s worth in $900 cash back, $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or even more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways and more. But the card shows its real value with its high-earning bonus-spending categories. Freelancers and business owners alike will earn 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year.
PROS
- Simply put, for small business owners and freelancers it’s one of the best cards for turning business spending into valuable travel. The bonus alone is worth $900 cash back, $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, or potentially more when transferring to Chase’s travel partners like Marriott or Air Canada.
- It also offers some stellar protections including a comprehensive reimbursement on damaged or stolen cell phones, and primary rental car coverage.
- It has a reasonable $95 annual fee.
- If you have another Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, or even a cash back earning Chase card, you can pool your points and make them more valuable.
CONS
- It does lack some of the juicier benefits attached to other business credit cards likes the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. But with the low fee, it’s hard to argue with its value proposition.
- It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for families: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Who’s this for? The traveler with several dependents in tow; both old and young.
Details: The Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card is like the Venture card on steroids, allowing you to earn a whole lot more miles on travel and more widespread access to airport lounges.
You’ll earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2X miles on all other purchases. Plus, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees when swiping the card abroad.
Cardholders get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide—and authorized users get the same access, which makes it a great choice for the best credit card for travel in Europe, and internationally in general.
You can easily offset the $395 annual fee with the card’s $300 annual credits for bookings through Capital One Travel. To top it off, you’ll also get 10,000 bonus miles automatically each account anniversary.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
PROS
- Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
- Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
- The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
- Four authorized users can be added for free.
- The cardholder is entitled to a Priority Pass membership and entry to Capital One Lounges, even the authorized users.
- A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
CONS
- The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
- Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
- Capital one transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
Annual Fee: $395 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for everyday earning: Citi Premier® Card
Who’s this for? The traveler not concerned with premium perks but who wants to know they’re getting good value from all of their purchases.
Details: This card is a powerhouse point earner for popular spending categories. You’ll earn 3X points on restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, air travel and hotels, plus 1X points on all other purchases. The card has no foreign transaction fees.
Citi points offer great value and flexibility as they can be transferred to more than 15 airline and hotel partners, or redeemed for cash back or gift cards.
To compensate for the reasonable $95 annual fee, the card offers $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com, once per calendar year.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
70,000 bonus points
after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening—redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
The Citi Strata Premier Card is an underrated travel credit card that offers both high points-earning potential and simplicity. While the mid-tier card doesn’t come with any premium benefits, its earning on popular spending categories is almost unmatched. Holders earn 3X points on air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants, making it ludicrously easy to accrue points. Throw in the healthy 70,000-point bonus and you’ve got a great haul of rewards on your hands.
PROS
- The 70,000-point intro bonus is worth $700 in gift cards and well over $1,000 when transferred to travel partners, making the $95 dollar annual fee an afterthought. You could ignore the card for a decade, and it would still be worth it.
- Its earning potential is phenomenal: Earning 3X points on categories like gas and supermarkets, which are part of the average American’s biggest expenses, means the Citi Strata Premier will work hard for you on a daily basis.
- Cardholders get a $100 hotel benefit each year on a hotel purchase of $500 or more. Not the greatest perk in the world, but a nice saving on an unexpected hotel stay that wipes out the yearly fee itself.
- As it’s a World Elite Mastercard, cardholders will enjoy varied benefits like Lyft credits, upgrades and breakfast at select hotels, and cell phone protection.
CONS
- Citi’s transfer partners are mainly foreign airlines, so using the points on US-based carriers will require some extra research.
- Other mid-tier cards may offer some more interesting perks.
Best card for beginners: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Who’s this for? The occasional traveler just dipping their toes into the world of travel rewards
Details: This card has a simple earning structure and no bonus categories to keep track of: earn 1.5X points for every $1 spent on purchases.
Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase which can make this card quite rewarding. The card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
25,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is simple. With no annual fee, a flat earning rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent, and an achievable (and useful) intro bonus, it’s the perfect first card for younger earners or those nervous about stepping into the world of points. It’s not glitz and glamour, but it does what it says on the tin.
PROS
- The 25,000 point bonus is redeemable as statement credit on travel purchases. More than enough to cover a domestic round trip. It only takes $1000 of spending in three months to achieve it, offering a realistic and sizeable travel return.
- With 1.5 cents per every dollar spent, users don’t need to worry about bonus categories or strategic use.
- There’s no annual fee, helping make it a risk free and approachable card choice.
- It has a generous introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers.
CONS
- While its simplicity is its greatest strength, seasoned travel card users can find far more lucrative options.
- The bonus can’t be transferred to any partners and can only be redeemed as statement credit. Companies advertise this as being flexible as there are no blackout dates or award flight availability issues, but that’s only because you’re just buying it outright as you normally would.
Annual Fee: $0 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for gas guzzlers: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Who’s this for? The traveler who spends spends more time than average on the road, whether commuting or otherwise, and wants to maximize that spend.
Details: The Altitude Connect card can put a ton of rewards in the pocket of any traveler or commuter. With the card you’ll earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 4x points on travel, at gas stations and EV charging stations; 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services; 1x point on all other eligible purchases.
You’ll also get a $30 annual credit for streaming purchases like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify® and more after making qualifying purchases plus up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse your TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fee once every four years, which makes this card another top contender for the best credit card for travel in Europe, and internationally in general.
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees and you can get up to $600 in reimbursement if your cell phone is stolen or damaged when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
The US Bank Altitude Connect can fit well into the wallet of many Americans. The biggest draw is its 4 points per dollar on travel purchases, including gas stations. There are few cards that offer you as much of a return on your fill-ups — making it strongly worth considering for road warriors.
PROS
- Its 4x points on gas stations and EV charging is industry leading. This also applies to most travel expenses. You’ll also earn 2 points per dollar at supermarkets and streaming services. Because of this, it does make a good case for a single, simple-earning card.
- The $95 dollar annual fee is waived the first first year
- Its 50,000 point intro bonus is worth a direct $500 to be redeemed as travel credit, gift cards, or cash back.
- Up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry can balance out the $95 fee when it kicks in
- A $30 credit for streaming purchases sweetens the pot a bit more
CONS
- The bonus is fixed at $500, and other cards with the same annual fee have far higher offers that can be transferred to travel partners and maximized.
Annual Fee: $95, waived the first year | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for renters: Bilt Mastercard®
Who’s this for? The traveler who wants to be rewarded for their largest monthly expense.
Details: The Bilt Mastercard® can earn you a ton of points because of its unique ability to earn points on rent payments without charging you a transaction fee. With the card you’ll earn 1X points on rent payments, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year—but you must use the card five times each statement period to earn points. You’ll also receive 3X points on dining; 2X points on travel; 1X points on other purchases.
The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Bilt points are some of the most sought-after rewards because of their useful transfer partners like United Airlines, Hyatt, IHG, and more. You can also use your points towards a rent payment, future down payment on a home and more.
Bilt Mastercard®
The no annual fee Bilt Mastercard® is a very unique product that can turn points earned from one of your largest monthly expenses into a heap of travel rewards and other redemption options. It’s the only card that allows you to pay your rent with no transaction fees—you’ll earn 1X points on rent, up to 100,000 points year. Many landlords don’t accept credit cards or they charge a convenience fee to use a credit card to pay rent—making it an intriguing option for renters across the US. Plus, its points can be transferred to valuable airline and hotel partners. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
PROS
- The greatest benefit is obvious: redeeming points earned from rent into travel rewards with no transaction fees attached.
- Bilt has some excellent and unique transfer partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
- Decent points-earning potential in other categories like 2X points on travel, 3X points on dining, and 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and other purchases.
- You can earn interest on Bilt Points when you reach Silver status.
- A few other nice benefits are included, such as Cellular Telephone Protection.
CONS
- No sign-up bonus
- Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. So you can’t use it solely for rent. I’d advise putting some restaurant bills on it, as you’ll grab 3X points on those transactions.
Annual Fee: $0 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
FAQs
How should you use miles and rewards points?
The answer to this question is varied and depends on your situation. Some cards only offer limited ways to redeem miles and points. In this case, it’ll usually be cash back or statement credits. These are excellent ways to offset purchases or beat inflation and don’t require too much thought or planning.
If you have a more specific travel goal in mind, you need to do a little more work. As a rule of thumb, almost every reward system that allows you to transfer points to an airline or hotel partner offers a higher value proposition for your points. The trade-off is that you need to delve into which partner is best for where you want to go and locate the best deals.
The other option is using credit card travel portals. These are simple and function like a traditional travel search engine, like Expedia, and can usually score you good value for your points. But again, compared to transferring to a partner, you could be losing out.
I’ve used all three in different situations, but generally aim to transfer my points where possible.
Are annual fees worth it?
Annual fees can be scary, especially if you’re new to the world of points. Why would you pay almost $700 for a card like the Amex Platinum? The answer, again, varies depending on your situation.
An intimidating fee like the Platinum can be more than worth it if the card is being used to the fullest extent. These cards offer several perks, like statement credits for travel purchases, complimentary hotel elite status, widespread airport lounge access, travel insurance and more. If purchased individually these perks can be worth thousands of dollars.
Just a large intro bonus, if used well, could easily offset the yearly fee. But after that initial year, it might be harder to pull maximum value, especially if you find yourself spending on things you would never purchase. Ask yourself if the benefits a card offers are something you would have paid for anyway. I’ll likely be dropping my Platinum card next year, as I can’t validate the fee anymore, despite loving the perks.
Mid-tier travel cards can bridge that gap easily. Many offer easy-to-use, direct benefits that counter the fee each year, allowing you to accumulate points with no concern for the looming annual charge. Even some premium cards like the Sapphire Reserve and Venture X practically write off the fees with their easy-to-use statement credits.
Should I open a card for the intro bonus?
The simplest answer to this question is: only if you would hit the required minimum spending amount without changing any of your normal spending habits. If you force yourself to eat out more or make big purchases just to hit the threshold, you’re not really saving money.
I have paid for things earlier than I intended to. For example, I paid for three months of Airbnbs well ahead of time to ensure I grabbed the bonus on my Sapphire Preferred. I would have spent the money anyway, and it gifted me with some free travel. But this isn’t always ideal and does run the risk of holding a larger balance and accruing interest if you don’t have the cash available to pay it off on time and in full.
How do I choose the right card?
The best way to choose a card is to pick a travel goal, say a free round-trip flight to Paris. Work out how many points you would need with a few different airlines, and then check which credit cards’ points transfer to those airlines.
Check out the bonus offers, as these are the easiest way to earn a lot of points quickly, and ensure that you can realistically hit that spending goal. If the stars align, and you’re confident you can use the card responsibly, then go for it.
Bottom line
When used correctly, a travel credit card can easily save you thousands of dollars on flights and hotels. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a points geek or want to earn rewards on autopilot.
Just make sure you do your research to pick the best card that maximizes your spending and offers the perks you want and will actually use.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
