Best Travel Credit Cards

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.

Millionaires use credit cards like the Centurion® Card from American Express, the J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express. These high-end credit cards are available only to people who receive an invitation to apply, which millionaires have the best chance of getting. For example, in the case of the Amex Centurion Card – also known as “the Black Card” – you reportedly need to charge at least $100,000 across Amex credit cards every year to even qualify for an invite.

Credit Cards That Millionaires Use

• Centurion® Card from American Express
• J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Citi Chairman Credit Card

When invite-only cards aren't a good option, some millionaires choose premium travel rewards cards such as American Express Platinum card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. People with good-to-excellent credit who are approved for either card can expect lucrative bonuses, generous rewards on purchases, and other perks that will more than offset their hefty annual fees. American Express Platinum card charges $695 a year to own, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve likewise carries a big price tag with its $550 annual fee.

Millionaire business owners may also get good use from a business credit card such as American Express Business Platinum card, a top choice for frequent travelers who don't mind shelling out $695 a year for all the high-end perks the card offers. Chase Ink Preferred is another attractive option for business owners with seven-figure incomes, as the card offers stellar rewards on business-related purchases and a significantly lower annual fee ($95) than American Express Business Platinum card.

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 travelers 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’s partners). Fortunately, there are lots of great options available right now.

The best credit card for international travel is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Capital One Venture is a Visa credit card with a $0 foreign transaction fee and excellent rewards, starting with a bonus of 75,000 miles (worth $750 in travel) for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The Venture card also rewards users with 2 - 5 miles per $1 spent on purchases. And unlike the rewards offered by many other international travel credit cards, Venture miles can be redeemed for statement credits to pay for any travel-related purchases – from airfare to Uber rides.

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 for your needs.

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 2022

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Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth its $550 annual fee for frequent travelers who can spend at least $4,000 in the first 3 months and qualify for the card's initial bonus of 50,000 points. Travelers will also get a lot of value out of Chase Sapphire Reserve because it comes with a $300 annual travel credit and good ongoing rewards.

Key Things That Make Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It

• You earn 1 - 10 points / $1 spent on purchases, including 10 points / $1 spent on select travel expenses.
• You'll have an opportunity to earn an initial bonus of 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards Reserved points are worth 50% more than usual when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards Reserved.
• There are several types of travel insurance, including a $1 million benefit for serious injury or death.
• You get a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership that would usually cost $429 a year.
• You'll receive a $300 travel credit each account anniversary year.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Reserve's attractive features are only worth it if you travel frequently and have the excellent credit needed to get approved. You'll also need to earn enough rewards – or utilize enough of the card's other perks – to make it worth owning.

For example, if you make the most of the Priority Pass membership ($429 annual value), along with the $300 annual travel credit, you'd recoup the entire annual fee. That shouldn't be hard for frequent travelers to do every year. And the more benefits you take advantage of, the less you need to spend to break even.

Finally, in order for Chase Sapphire Reserve to be worth it, it's important to pay the bill in full each month. Otherwise, you'll end up paying a 17.24% - 24.24% (V) interest rate on the unpaid balance, which will decrease the overall value of the card's perks and rewards.

More moderate spenders looking for a travel rewards card without the huge annual fee should check out our editors' picks for the best travel rewards credit cards to help narrow the search.

One of the best travel credit cards for beginners is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card; this is not a travel credit card per se but it rewards cardholders with cash back. It is also one of the best rewards credit cards for people with even limited credit. With Capital One QuicksilverOne you get 1.5 - 5% cash back on all purchases.

Being a beginner when it comes to travel rewards credit cards doesn't always mean you're new to credit, though. A good travel credit card for beginners with established credit scores who are just new to travel rewards is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. It's a great introduction to travel rewards because the rewards program isn't complicated, and all purchases get 1.25 miles / $1 spent. The signup bonus of 20,000 miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months isn't too shabby, either. Plus, there are $0 foreign fees, and the $0 annual fee is a good option for people testing the waters with a travel card.

There are lots of different travel credit cards, however, and the best choice for one person may not be a great choice for another. The best first travel card for you depends on your credit standing and what you're looking for in terms of rewards and fees. But whether you're new to credit or just new to travel credit cards, one of these cards should ease you into the world of rewards for your adventures.

Here are some of the best beginner travel credit cards:

• Best for Limited Credit History: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Good Credit: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best Signup Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for Students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

It's worth noting that the best travel credit cards overall require at least good credit, and some require excellent credit. If you have bad credit or you're not sure what your credit score is, it's a good idea to check your credit score before you choose a travel credit card for the first time.

The best travel credit card signup bonus is 80,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The card also earns 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. You can easily redeem your points using the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal.

Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. And as with all of the best travel credit cards, Chase Sapphire Preferred features a $0 foreign transaction fee.

Best Travel Credit Card Signup Bonuses

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 80,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Points are worth more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. $95 annual fee. Chase Sapphire Preferred requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Rewards are worth more when redeemed for travel. $95 annual fee. Capital One Venture requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.
• Citi Premier® Card: 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. $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.
• IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: 140,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Points are worth more when redeemed for IHG Rewards hotel reservations. 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.
• United Explorer Credit Card: 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 miles after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Points are worth more when redeemed for airline miles. Annual fee of $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after. United Explorer Credit Card requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. That means you need good credit or better to get approved.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Points benefit from a flat redemption rate and multiple redemption methods. $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.

One of the best travel credit cards for fair credit is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card because it 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. Capital One QuicksilverOne also comes with a 0% foreign transaction fee. This card has a $0 annual fee.

Best Credit Cards for Travel with Fair Credit

When you have fair credit, it's difficult to qualify for most travel rewards credit cards, as they tend to require at least a good credit score. 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.

The best military credit cards offer great rewards, 0% introductory interest rates, and fees as low as $0 per year. The best credit cards for military families also have unique military benefits beyond what’s required by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

Best Military Credit Cards

Below, you can find an overview of the best credit cards for the military community, as chosen by our editors. That’s followed by an issuer-by-issuer breakdown of special credit card programs and promotions available to military families.

This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. Please keep in mind that while some offers may come from WalletHub advertising partners, sponsorship status played no role in card selection.

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How many miles you need for a free flight depends on the dollar cost of the flight. On average, a one-way domestic flight will cost between 6,000 miles and 20,000 miles, depending on the airline. A one-way international coach flight will cost 35,000-50,000 miles.

Airline miles and points are generally worth around 1 cent each, but their value can vary. For instance, when redeeming Southwest points for a free flight, each point is worth 1-1.5 cents, depending on the route and date of the flight. United miles are worth between 1 and 2.5 cents each.

How Many Miles You Need for Free Flight by Major Airline:

• American Airlines: 7,500+ miles needed for a free one-way domestic flight.
• United Airlines: 10,000+ miles needed for a free one-way domestic flight.
• Southwest Airlines: 2,372+ miles needed for a free one-way flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (cheapest option).
• Frontier Airlines: 10,000+ miles needed for a free one-way domestic flight.
• JetBlue Airlines: 3,400+ miles needed for a free one-way flight from Long Beach, CA to Las Vegas (cheapest option).

Getting an airline credit card can help you earn miles and free flights faster than a frequent flyer program alone, especially with large signup bonuses. The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, for example, comes with a signup bonus of 50,000 miles for spending $2,500 in the first three months. Since the $99 annual fee is waived the first year, you can get those bonus miles and redeem for free flights before having to pay any annual fee.

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.