Best Travel Credit Cards

Yes, travel credit cards are worth it because they can save you a lot of money. Travel credit cards are best for people who travel multiple times per year and who spend enough for the cards' rewards and supplemental benefits to outweigh any annual fees. People who travel less frequently may also find travel credit cards with no annual fee to be worth it.

In addition, it's worth noting that a travel credit card could be one of multiple cards in your wallet. It's not necessary to choose between travel rewards and cash back, for example.

Most Worth It Travel Credit Cards

6 Tips for How to Decide If a Travel Credit Card Is Worth It

1. Compare expected rewards earnings to the cost of the card. For a travel credit card to be worth it, the card's rewards and benefits should outweigh its fees.
2. Compare the value to other credit card offers. The travel credit card's net value – rewards and benefits, minus fees – should be higher than what other comparable cards offer. A credit card is not truly worth it if getting that card means bypassing a better deal.
3. Take annual fees into account, but don't rule them out. Nearly all of the best travel credit cards charge an annual fee. But there are plenty of benefits that reduce the impact of such a fee. For example, an initial bonus is one factor that can easily make a travel credit card worth getting. The best travel rewards cards offer sizeable bonuses when you meet minimum spending requirements in the first year. Top initial bonus offers cover the cost of their card's annual fee for several years.
4. Make sure the redemption options suit you. Typically, you can redeem a travel card's rewards for travel-focused purchases such as airfare or hotel stays, as well as other options like gift cards, merchandise or cash. The value of those rewards varies by card. But in most cases, you'll get the highest value when you redeem for travel.
5. Consider co-branded travel cards if you have a favorite airline or hotel chain. People who frequent a specific hotel or airline may get the most value from co-branded travel cards that offer enhanced rewards for loyal customers. Common perks on such cards include free checked bags, seat or room upgrades and lounge access. However, you'll lose flexibility when earning and redeeming rewards, relative to a general travel card. Co-branded travel cards tend to give the best rewards at their affiliated airline or hotel, and your rewards are usually tied to that company's loyalty program.
6. Make sure there's no foreign fee if you're spending internationally. The travel credit cards that are most worth it for international travelers and shoppers are ones that come with no foreign transaction fee. Foreign transaction fees can be as costly as 3% of each purchase made with a foreign merchant. But luckily, most travel cards don't have this fee.

It's also important to check your credit score before submitting an application for any travel credit card. The best travel credit cards tend to require at least good credit (a score of 700+), and some even require excellent credit (a score of 750+) for approval.

International credit cards have $0 foreign transaction fees and can be used in more than 200 countries and territories internationally. Using an international credit card abroad can also help you save 7% to 10% on foreign currency conversion. Plus, the best credit cards for international travel have great rewards, travel insurance and other helpful perks (some cards are from WalletHub partners). There are lots of great options available right now, too.

In a sense, any Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card qualifies as an international credit card because you’ll be able to use it in most countries outside the U.S. But not all credit cards that work internationally are equally equipped to save you money and aggravation abroad, due to differences in rewards, card acceptance and more. Keep that in mind as you compare offers in search of the best credit card for international travel.

Below, you can see which cards best meet the needs of international travelers and shoppers of all types, as selected by WalletHub’s editors from 1,500+ offers.

Best Credit Cards for International Travel of 2023

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Capital One issues Visa and Mastercard credit cards, which makes them great for international use, because they're accepted pretty much anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, Capital One does not charge a fee for using your credit card for foreign currency transactions.

A travel card is a type of rewards credit card that provides points or miles and gives high rewards rates on travel-related purchases. Travel cards may also offer travel-oriented benefits such as airport lounge access, luggage insurance, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credits, and no foreign transaction fees.

Plus, the rewards from a travel card are usually worth the most when redeemed for travel costs, such as airfare and hotel stays. Rewards on travel credit cards may have less value for other redemption methods, though, such as cash back or gift cards.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

A few common types of travel cards are airline, hotel, and general-purpose travel rewards cards. Airline and hotel cards are tied to a specific airline or hotel chain, and they tend to offer more rewards and perks when you use the card for purchases at their affiliated brands. On the other hand, general travel cards offer greater flexibility when redeeming rewards, as you're not limited to partner airlines or hotels.

When to Get a Travel Card

If you travel frequently, it makes sense to get a travel card. For help choosing, check out WalletHub's editors' picks for the best travel credit cards on the market today.

One of the best travel credit cards for fair credit is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card gives unlimited 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, it comes with a $0 foreign transaction fee and a low annual fee of $39.

Best Credit Cards for Travel with Fair Credit

Note that the best travel rewards credit cards require at least good credit for approval. But with responsible use, you can build your credit to the point where you'll have high approval odds for better travel rewards cards.

Start by paying your bill on time each month, keeping your spending low and applying for only one credit card at a time. You can track your progress for free on WalletHub and get customized tips.

One of the best travel credit cards for beginners who are new to credit is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Plus, Capital One QuicksilverOne has a $0 foreign transaction fee, which makes it a good option for international travel. The card also has a $39 annual fee, but its rewards can more than cover the cost.

Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners to Credit

The best travel card for you depends on your overall credit standing and what you're looking for in terms of rewards and fees. For more advice, check out WalletHub's tips on how to choose a credit card for the first time.

The best travel credit card signup bonus is 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, offered by the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The card also gives 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. You can easily redeem your points using the Capital One Travel portal.

Capital One Venture has a $95 annual fee. And as with all of the best travel credit cards, Capital One Venture features a $0 foreign transaction fee.

Best Travel Credit Card Signup Bonuses

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Rewards are worth the most when redeemed for travel.

The card has a $95 annual fee. Capital One Venture also requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Points are worth the most when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The card has a $95 annual fee. Chase Sapphire Preferred also requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.

The Citi Premier® Card offers 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Points are worth the most when redeemed for gift cards at thankyou.com or for travel.

The card has a $95 annual fee. Citi Premier requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.

The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 175,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Points are worth the most when redeemed for IHG reservations.

The card has an annual fee of $99. IHG Premier requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.

The JetBlue Plus Card offers 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee. Points are worth the most when redeemed for JetBlue purchases.

The card has an annual fee of $99. The JetBlue Plus Card also requires a credit score of 750, at a minimum. That means you need excellent credit to get approved.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card offers 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Points are worth the most when redeemed for travel and dining, and offers multiple redemption methods. The card has a $95 annual fee. Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card requires a credit score of 750, at a minimum. That means you need excellent credit to get approved.

In general, the best travel cards are those that reward you extra for every travel purchase and have no foreign transaction fees. Add on huge signup bonuses, and there's even more reason to apply if you have the good-to-excellent credit needed for approval. The best travel credit card signup bonuses are generally tied to credit cards with annual fees. But the bonuses you'll get are worth several times more.

A credit score of 700 or higher is needed to get most credit cards with travel rewards. There are travel credit cards available to people of all credit levels, though, including people with limited credit or bad credit.

• Bad credit: Bank of America Custom Cash Secured Card
• Fair credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne
• Good credit: Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Excellent credit: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
• Students with no credit or limited credit: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students

To explore more options, check out our editor's latest picks for the best travel credit cards.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit automatically reimburses cardholders for up to $300 in travel-related expenses each year. The credit applies to flights and hotels, as well as vacation packages and airline fees, among other things.

Some purchases don't qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit, including in-flight goods and services (e.g. Wi-Fi, food), tourist attractions, and merchants within airports. But the $300 yearly travel credit helps offset some of the card's $550 annual fee.

Key Things to Know About the Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit

1. How to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit:

To use the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit, you just make eligible travel purchases with this card. You don't have to activate the benefit, use any codes, or book through special websites. The statement credit is automatically applied to the account the same day qualifying purchases post.

This happens until you hit $300 total for the year. For example, if you make a $100 travel purchase, Chase will apply a $100 credit as soon as the purchase processes. And you will have $200 remaining for other purchases during the year.

On your monthly statement, your transactions will include both the original purchase and an extra item that says, “Travel Credit.” The credit subtracts the purchase amount from your balance.

2. Purchases that qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit:

• Airlines
• Hotels and motels
• Car rental agencies
• Travel agencies
• Timeshares
• Cruise lines
• Discount travel sites
• Parking lots and garages
• Campgrounds
• Operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways

As you can see, the categories for purchases that qualify for Chase Sapphire Reserve's travel credit are very broad compared to other travel credit cards. However, not all travel-related purchases qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit.

3. Purchases that don't qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit:

• Sightseeing activities
• Tourist attractions
• Educational merchants arranging travel
• In-flight goods and services
• Onboard cruise line goods and services
• Real estate agents
• Purchases from gift card merchants
• Excursions
• RV and boat rentals
• Merchants within hotels and airports
• Public campgrounds
• Merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling
• Merchants that sell points or miles

Chase determines whether a purchase is eligible for the travel credit based on a 4-digit code that businesses use to categorize transactions. Anything that is not coded as “travel” doesn't qualify.

4. When the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit resets:

Remember that the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit is available from the first day you open your account and lasts for 12 billing cycles, before resetting. Unused credit does not roll over from year to year. The travel credit will continue to reset every 12 billing cycles, on the first statement date after your account anniversary.

If you're unsure when your credit will reset, you can call customer service at (800) 432-3117 or the number you see on the back of your card. Simply enter your card number and follow the prompts to connect to a live representative.

A travel money card is a prepaid card that can be used to make purchases while traveling abroad. Also called prepaid travel cards and currency cards, travel money cards are usually safer than carrying cash around while traveling. You can order a travel money card online, and load money onto it in any of the foreign currencies offered. There aren't foreign transaction fees associated with using the card abroad, the way there are with some credit cards. Depending on the card you get, though, there may be fees for withdrawing cash from an international ATM.

The most convenient aspect of travel money cards is the ability to load money in different currencies. So if you travel often and don't want to carry around a dozen different types of currency, travel money cards save you the hassle by letting you load multiple currencies on one card. Travel money cards are also safer than carrying around foreign cash, since a PIN is required to make purchases or withdraw cash.

You use a travel money card the same way you'd use a prepaid card or a standard debit card. However, travel money cards aren't connected to a traditional bank account like debit cards. Rather, you load money onto the card whenever you need to. Another difference between travel money cards and typical debit cards is that there's sometimes an initial fee to get a travel money card, either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount you're loading for the first time.

The best travel money card is the Travelex Money Card, which has no overseas ATM fees and consistently offers some of the best currency exchange rates. But you do have to pay an initial fee, either $15 or 1.1% of the initial load amount, whichever is greater. You can purchase a Travelex Money Card online. Other good travel money card options include the NAB Traveler Card and the ANZ Travel Card, both of which can also be purchased online.

If you'd rather use a travel credit card and earn rewards on all of your purchases overseas, you should check out a rewards credit card with no foreign transaction fees.