Best Travel Credit Cards

Why We Like It: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best travel credit card for ongoing rewards, offering roughly twice as much value as the average rewards card on every purchase. You can also earn an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in the first year (limited-time offer) - equal to $1,000 in travel.

What We Don’t Like: There is an annual fee of $95 and a high APR.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit or better and can comfortably spend enough to earn the initial bonus.

Why We Like It: The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the best travel cards for people with good credit. For starters, new cardholders may be eligible to earn as high as 175,000 points for spending $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and, if approved, find out your offer amount and accept the card with your offer, spend $12,000 in 6 months, and receive the points).

The Platinum Card® also gives 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 spent per year), 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Other perks include annual travel credits, access to 1,550+ airport lounges worldwide, a TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry application fee credit, and more.

What We Don’t Like: The Platinum Card® has an annual fee of $895.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit, you want elite travel perks, and you plan to spend enough for the card’s rewards to cover its cost.

Why We Like It: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a ton of value to big-spending frequent travelers with excellent credit. For starters, Venture X offers an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Cardholders also earn 10 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per $1 spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per $1 spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases, as well as 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases.

On top of all that, Venture X currently offers $300 annually to cover bookings made through Capital One Travel. And that’s in addition to other recurring bonuses as well as benefits like airport lounge access (enrollment required).

What We Don’t Like: There is an annual fee of $395, which will prove too costly for many potential applicants.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you’re a big-spender with excellent credit who travels frequently and can take full advantage of all the perks. If you do that, the annual fee can actually be a bargain.

Why We Like It: Discover it® Miles is the best travel credit card with no annual fee. It gives 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases, plus an intro bonus equal to all the rewards you earn the first year as a new cardmember. Discover it® Miles also has a 0% foreign transaction fee to go along with its $0 annual fee. 

What We Don’t Like: The rewards aren’t quite as good after you earn the first-year intro bonus.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit or better and are planning a big year of spending.

Why We Like It: The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards offers 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotels and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5% cash back rewards on eligible travel including flights, dining, and gas purchases, and 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases.

Those rewards provide a lot of savings potential for travelers with good credit, which is needed to get approved for an account. Plus, the card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

What We Don’t Like: The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards has a high regular APR. Fortunately, you can avoid it by paying your bill in full every month. There is also an annual fee of $95.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit and spend a lot on travel, gas, and dining.

Why We Like It: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a great initial bonus and gives you at least double points on travel purchases. For starters, you will earn 75,000 points for spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That bonus is worth $750 when redeemed for cash, gift cards, and travel. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also gives 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on an ongoing basis. Plus, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees when using this card.

What We Don’t Like: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a high APR and a $95 annual fee. In addition, not all flights/hotel purchases are eligible for the highest redemption rate. Only select reservations made through Chase Travel qualify.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit and you don’t mind booking travel through Chase. For a closer look at this offer, check out WalletHub’s complete Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review.

If you're a frequent traveler with significant spending power, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is worth checking out as well. It comes with premium perks and elite benefits, though it does have a $795 annual fee.
 

Why We Like It: The Regions Prestige Visa® Signature Credit Card is the best rewards credit card for traveling by car because it gives 1 - 3 points per $1 spent, with gas, dining, groceries and entertainment purchases earning bonus rewards value. In addition, the Regions Prestige Visa® Signature Credit Card offers an initial bonus of 10,000 points after spending $500 or 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

What We Don’t Like: The card has a high APR, but you can avoid interest charges by paying the bill in full monthly.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit and its bonus rewards suit your spending habits.

Why We Like It: The JetBlue Plus Card is the best airline credit card because it offers an attractive initial bonus and gives 1 - 6 points per $1 spent on purchases. Cardholders also enjoy benefits such as in-flight savings and free checked bags.

What We Don’t Like: This card has a $99 annual fee.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit or better, fly frequently, and will be able to choose JetBlue moving forward.

Why We Like It: The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® offers an initial bonus of 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Those points are redeemable for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. You also get 1 - 10 points per $1 spent on purchases. 

What We Don’t Like: The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® has a $95 annual fee and a high regular APR.
 
Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have good credit or better and Choice properties are your first choice for hotel stays while traveling.

Why We Like It: The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card is one of the best rewards credit cards for people with limited credit. Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to 1.25% back after 6 months of on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after 12 consecutive months of paying on time. The card also has a $0 annual fee and a 0% foreign fee.

What We Don’t Like: The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card has a high regular APR, so carrying a balance from month to month is not advised. 

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you have limited credit or better and you want to earn rewards while traveling. 

Why We Like It: The First Federal Community Bank College Rewards Visa® Credit Card is the best credit card for students with limited credit who want to earn rewards that they can use to pay for travel. It offers an initial bonus of 2,500 points after your first purchase and gives 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.

In addition, the First Federal Community Bank College Rewards Visa® Credit Card offers an introductory APR of 0% for 6 months on purchases and balance transfers. It also has a $0 annual fee.

What We Don’t Like: This card has a high regular APR, charging 17.74% - 27.99% (V), so it’s best not to carry a balance from month to month. It also has a 3% foreign fee and a balance transfer fee of 3% (min $5).

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you are a college student with limited credit who wants to earn rewards on domestic travel. If you're planning a trip abroad, check out our picks for the best student credit cards with no foreign fees.  
 

Why We Like It: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card is one of the best travel rewards credit cards for people with poor credit because it has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with 1 - 6% cash back spent on purchases. Specifically, you will get 6% cash back in a category of your choice during the first year, then 3% cash back, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined quarterly spending across the choice category, grocery stores, and wholesale clubs), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You can choose travel as your 6% rewards category.

What We Don’t Like: You have to place a deposit of at least $200, and the amount you put down becomes your spending limit.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you want to earn rewards while building or rebuilding your credit.

Why We Like It: The U.S. Bank Business Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is the best business credit card for travel rewards in part because it offers an initial bonus of 75,000 points to new cardholders who spend $6,000 in the first 180 days. U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect also gives 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases.

What We Don’t Like: U.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect has a $95 annual fee starting the second year your account is open. Its APR would also make carrying a balance from month to month expensive.

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for this card if you are a small business owner with good credit or better personally who travels often.