Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. Plus, Alaska has joined the oneworld alliance, opening up endless redemption opportunities. Read our full review of the Alaska Airline credit card.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex is a good choice for Delta loyalists who need a little help reaching their elite status goals. This card offers some useful perks including an annual companion pass and your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Read our review of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex card. The Wells Fargo Autograph card packs a punch for a no-annual-fee product, with an array of bonus categories plus solid perks and straightforward redemption options.
Read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph here. With no annual fee and a simple 1. Read our full review of the Captial One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. The Citi Premier is a solid travel card choice with a plethora of travel partners and solid earning rates.
Read our full review of the Citi Premier. The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a great card for frequent travelers looking to add a touch of luxury to their business trips. They include generous annual travel credits, unparalleled lounge access that includes Amex Centurion Lounges and more.
Read our full review on The Business Platinum Card from American Express. The Amex Business Gold card is a solid choice for high-spending small businesses with the flexibility to earn 4 points per dollar in the two categories where you spend the most.
The card is ideal for businesses who value simplicity above all. Read our full review of the American Express Business Gold Card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a great starter card thanks to its no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees when you travel internationally.
Earning and redeeming is effortless, with no confusing bonus categories to keep track of and the ability to redeem your points for all of your travel needs. Read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card. I love that I can earn bonus rewards on travel, dining, streaming and online grocery purchases — all with just one card.
To add more luxury to your travel experience, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Amex Platinum is a stellar premium travel card that can provide amazing redemptions.
Anyone looking for luxury travel benefits will find that the ton of annual statement credits make the annual fee worth it. The lounge access options that come with the Platinum are unrivaled by competitors. I put all of my flights on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent and trip protection insurance.
And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can be a great alternative to the Amex Platinum, with a notably lower annual fee, similar perks and a more rewarding earning rate on everyday purchases.
If you travel frequently with your significant other, family or friends, you can even add some authorized users for no additional cost. This will grant them their own lounge access and the ability to bring up to two guests for no fee , among many other benefits, making this a huge cost-saver for those who travel in groups.
Cardholders enjoy a Priority Pass Select membership. Authorized users — you geta number of them at no cost — also enjoy their own Priority Pass Select membership. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar a 3.
While a few other cards temporarily offer higher return rates on dining, this is the best option for long-term spending, making it one of the best dining cards and best rewards cards. Those looking for a great return on dining and purchases at U.
supermarkets will get a lot of value from this card. For those who dine out a lot and also want additional bonus categories and other valuable perks for a lower annual fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. After all, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel and provides excellent travel protections, including trip delay protection and rental car insurance.
The Alaska Airlines Visa earns 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases; 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and transit including local ride share purchases ; and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
Whether you live on the West Coast or not, the Alaska Airlines Visa is a good cobranded airline card to consider adding to your wallet. The Seattle-based airline is mostly limited to North American routes, but international destinations through Oneworld partners make this card valuable for all travelers.
It provides a free first checked bag, discounts on inflight purchases and priority boarding. My favorite feature, however, is the annual Companion Fare. I get hundreds of dollars in annual value from this perk. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex is a good option for a more frequent Delta flyer.
It comes standard with Delta card perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag for you and eight companions when flying Delta. My family and I do a lot of domestic flying and often plan our vacations far in advance. Having the companion ticket can save my family hundreds of dollars a year in airfare.
Plus, the tickets even qualify for free elite upgrades. If you are a Delta loyalist who wants more Delta perks, including Delta Sky Club access, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card may be a better option for your wallet. The Wells Fargo Autograph is a great no-annual-fee card that offers quality earning categories and travel and shopping protection.
Travel card beginners who are looking to get into points earning should consider the Wells Fargo Autograph, which offers a welcome bonus, 3 points per dollar on a variety of everyday spending categories and cellphone protection.
The no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card see rates and fees has the same redemption options as its sibling card the Venture Rewards card but with a lower rewards rate and fewer perks. The miles earned on the card can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners, a benefit not usually seen with a no-annual-fee card.
The VentureOne is a strong card to have in your arsenal and great if you are budgeting. For a small annual fee, many travelers could benefit from the Capital One Venture Rewards card.
The Citi Premier is a great all-around card that earns 3 points per dollar on multiple categories. Travel credit card users who are getting into the transferable point world but do not want to commit to a high annual fee should consider the Citi Premier card.
Earning 3 points per dollar for gas, groceries and restaurants allows you to rack up points even when you're not on the road. Beyond airport lounge access and automatic hotel elite status, there are a number of statement credits that are specifically targeted to common business expenses.
If you travel for business frequently, this card could help you upgrade your experience in the air and on the ground while saving you money on select business-related services. And the current welcome bonus is just the icing on the cake. By using the benefits with Priority Pass and Amex lounges, the airline incidental credits, plus the statement credits for Clear, our cellphone plan and restocking my home printer with ink and paper from Dell enrollment required , I get more value out of the card than it costs to keep it.
Plus, it earns my favorite points — American Express Membership Rewards — earning 5 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked with Amex Travel. The American Express Business Gold card comes packed with perks and benefits, but its most unique feature is the ability to shift your monthly bonus categories.
The American Express Business Gold card is an excellent choice for business owners who are looking for a premium business card with premium business perks like monthly office supply statement credits, travel and shopping protection and access to The Hotel Collection.
The American Express Business Gold is an excellent choice for small businesses that have changing bonus categories but still want more premium business perks and benefits.
Those looking for elevated earning rates and extensive travel protections should have this card in their wallet. The Bank of America Travel Rewards card operates similarly to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
I use this card for travel purchases where I need to pay in cash, then I can reimburse myself with the points. One of the best ways to maximize your travel credit cards is to earn the welcome bonus.
Most travel credit cards will offer a welcome or sign-up bonus that allows cardmembers to earn points or miles that would otherwise require a very high spend. There is a travel credit card for everyone, but not every travel card is the best fit for your wallet. Consider what type of traveler you are, whether you have any brand loyalty and what perks you are looking for from your next credit card.
If you travel often and in luxury, consider premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Reserve. These cards are loaded with tons of luxury perks like lounge access and automatic elite status. Knowing what your travel style is like will help you determine what type of travel card you need.
Many airlines and hotel chains have loyalty programs that can be used in conjunction with your travel card to unlock added perks when doing business with a specific brand. In addition, many travel credit cards allow you to transfer points from your card to your eligible loyalty programs.
This can open up nearly endless redemption options. Travel rewards credit cards earn points, miles or cash back that are redeemable for travel expenses or are geared toward travel spending.
The cards on this list are some of the best credit cards to book flights , hotels and more with their many perks and rewards. Travel credit cards offer rewards on different purchases that can help you book flights, hotels and more for little to no out-of-pocket expenses.
Some cards also provide valuable perks and benefits that upgrade the overall travel experience — from Global Entry application fee credits to lounge access to complimentary elite status.
If you have the right card or cards in your wallet, the sky is the limit on where your travels can take you — literally. Are you new to travel rewards?
Related: The complete history of credit cards, from antiquity to today. We have researched various types of travel credit cards to help you figure out which one is best for you. Many of our best travel credit cards fall under this category because they are the most valuable type of points you can earn.
Transferable rewards give you the flexibility to redeem your rewards in a way that will be most beneficial to you.
Examples of top transferable rewards cards are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Airline cobranded cards earn a specific type of airline miles.
These cards also generally come with perks specific to that airline. For example, an airline card may offer free checked bags , a certain number of elite-qualifying miles to help you reach status, priority boarding privileges, inflight discounts and more.
Hotel cobranded cards work like airline cards. Hotel cards come with their own benefits, such as complimentary elite status or free award-night stays. This can really amplify the rewards you can earn when you use your hotel card to pay for your booking.
While transferable rewards cards are arguably the best way to earn points and miles for travel, they can also be incredibly confusing. Fixed-value credit cards and cash-back credit cards are good alternatives for beginners who are looking to get into the travel credit card world.
Fixed-value cards earn points or miles that are always redeemed for the same value. For example, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card earns points worth 1 cent each. Fixed-value credit cards are often the best travel credit cards for beginners. As more hotels and airlines move to a dynamic pricing model where award pricing shifts dramatically, fixed-value rewards programs are becoming more popular.
Another great credit card option for casual travelers or credit card beginners is cash-back credit cards. Cash-back cards provide a percentage of cash back on your spending and provide a simple way to save on your upcoming travels.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card see rates and fees is a great option for beginners to travel rewards. Travel credit cards work like other reward credit cards: They help you earn rewards, primarily points and miles, on your purchases.
This section will primarily focus on transferable rewards credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card® from American Express, as they are what are typically considered travel credit cards.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value. Transferable points credit cards earn points or miles when you make a purchase on the cards.
These points and miles can then be transferred to travel partners for rewards like flights, hotel stays and more. All transferable reward credit cards, airline credit cards and hotel credit cards will have their own currency that is redeemable for travel rewards.
Travel cards have varying rates for different purchase categories. For example, the American Express® Gold Card card earns 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants but only 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or Amex Travel.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value. There are many ways to redeem your rewards with travel credit cards.
Many cards feature an online booking portal through which you can use your rewards to book things like flights, hotels and car rentals.
Before booking your flight, you should consider doing a flight portal comparison to ensure you're getting the best redemption. Others allow you to transfer your points or miles to individual loyalty programs. Depending on the redemption, this could unlock even more value.
Related: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles. Some travels are more affordable in cash, but you can always save your points to splurge on a business-class flight to Europe or an overwater bungalow at a luxury resort. In the world of travel credit cards, the four major players are American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi.
These issuers also have their own travel portals which can be used to earn and redeem points for travel. We do not recommend booking hotel travel through card portals as it typically does not honor elite-status benefits or elite-qualifying stay credits.
Keep in mind that this does not apply to all cards. Related: Ultimate guide to the Citi travel portal. Points and miles redemptions will have a fair variance, especially if there are incentives to book through the travel portals. Overall, travel portals can be a great addition to your points redemption journey if properly used.
Always remember to compare the price or redemption value of booking through a portal or directly with an airline. Booking through a portal may make matters complicated if you ever need to change or cancel your flight.
Related: Battle of the credit card travel portals: Which is the best for booking flights? Some travel cards offer automatic elite status with various programs when you sign up and can also accelerate the journey to elite airline status by converting points to air miles.
If you are loyal to a particular hotel brand, status with that brand will be valuable. One of the coveted perks of premium travel credit cards is complimentary airport lounge access. Many premium travel credit cards come with Priority Pass lounge access , a membership that allows access to airport lounges across the world.
These lounges are a great place to relax before your flight or have a snack during a long layover. Amenities will vary between lounges but most lounges provide wifi, private seating and refreshments. Be sure to check the Priority Pass guest policy as many lounges allow you to bring a complimentary guest or guests.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are both expedited screening programs for travelers. TSA PreCheck is reserved for expedited security screening for domestic flights and Global Entry provides expedited customs screening for international travelers when entering the United States.
If you are approved for the program, the membership is valid for 5 years. Many travel credit cards will offer statement credit for the application. Related: 13 things you need to know about Global Entry.
Some travel credit cards come with travel insurance. Coverage will vary between cards but typically will cover trip cancellation and interruption. Many cards offer travel accident insurance which covers a large range of losses like accidental loss of life, hearing and many others.
These credit card perks can help you save hundreds to thousands of dollars next time something comes up on a trip. Travel insurance can cover travel incidents like an overnight hotel stay when your flight is delayed or an illness that renders you incapable of travel.
It does not have to be difficult to determine when you should use rewards or cash for travel. For example, you are considering redeeming points to pay for your upcoming flight.
It would be cheaper to pay for this flight in cash and save your points for another trip. Related: How I decide when to redeem points for a flight or pay cash.
In short, yes, travel credit cards are worth it. Regardless of how frequently you hit the road, travel credit cards are great at helping you meet your vacation goals. They can save you thousands of dollars on airfare and hotel costs, and premium cards feature an array of luxury perks to appeal to the most discerning traveler.
It is also important to travel with a backup credit card as certain international locations may not accept certain card issuers. It all comes down to choosing a card that will help you maximize your spending.
Adding one of these cards to your wallet now could help you save up rewards for a fantastic redemption in the future. Generally speaking, you need at least a very good credit score in order to get many popular travel credit cards. According to FICO, the scoring model used by most lenders, this is a score of at least Points and miles are simply two different ways to describe the same thing: the rewards you earn on a credit card.
As an example, many popular Capital One credit cards earn miles, whereas cards that participate in Chase Ultimate Rewards accrue points. This gets a little more complicated when you begin discussing cash-back credit cards. Some of these show earnings with a dollar amount, while others show cash-back rewards in points.
It depends entirely on your typical travel habits. This includes perks like airport lounge access or statement credits for certain travel purchases. Ultimately, you should look at how much value you expect to get out of a given travel card in one year.
It depends. Generally speaking, you should aim to use your rewards from travel credit cards for travel-related purchases — like flights or hotel rooms. The important thing is to avoid redemptions like gift cards or merchandise, since those typically offer poor value for your points and miles.
Many of the luxury travel cards on this list offer hundreds of dollars in annual travel statement credits. However, not all annual travel statements are created equal. While some cards feature easy redemptions, other cards feature redemptions that come with more restrictions. Out of the various cards that offer annual travel credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has the easiest redemption process for travel credits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve's travel credit covers a broad selection of charges, including flights, hotels, campgrounds and more. Skip to content. Advertiser disclosure. Credit Cards. By Nick Ewen. Nick Ewen Director of Content. Nick Ewen is a director of content and helps readers leverage credit cards he has 23 of them and loyalty programs to travel more for less.
He's been at TPG for over 11 years. and Christina Ly. Christina Ly Credit Cards Writer. Christina Ly is a writer at TPG. She has covered credit cards and personal finance topics since joining the team in Edited by Matt Moffitt.
Matt Moffitt Senior credit cards editor. Matt Moffitt is TPG's senior credit cards editor and an expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points.
He has at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time. Originally from Sydney, he won the green card lottery and has been based in Austin since Reviewed by Stanley Sanford. Stanley Sanford Senior Compliance Associate. Senior compliance associate Stanley Sanford has years of compliance experience in the credit card industry dating back to He's reviewed content for several reputable sites, including CreditCards.
com, Bankrate, CNET. and even thepointsguy. com before leading the compliance team for The Points Guy full time in early Updated Feb. At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending.
Our travel and credit cards experts share their own experiences and give honest analyses to help you make decisions that benefit you the most. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads, and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content , points valuations and card analysis are entirely our own.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for beginner travelers. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for earning miles. The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for lounge access. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for premium travel.
American Express® Gold Card : Best for dining at restaurants. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for maximizing business purchases. Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card : Best for Alaska Airlines miles. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card : Best for Mid-Tier Delta Flyers.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card : Best for no annual fee. Citi Premier® Card : Best for starter travel. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for business travel.
American Express® Business Gold Card : Best for flexible rewards earning. Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for travel credits.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for travel rewards beginners. Browse by card categories Airline. Airport Lounge Access. Global Entry. No Foreign Fee. Best Overall. Best for beginner travelers. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Compare this card. Apply now. at Chase's secure site. Rewards rate 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3x 3x on dining.
Annual Fee. Regular APR. Recommended Credit Open Credit score description Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Why We Chose It The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market.
VIEW MORE. Member FDIC. Best for earning miles. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. at Capital One's secure site. Rewards rate 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. Why We Chose It When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers.
You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories. Cons A couple of partners' transfer ratios are mediocre at a less than ratio. Capital One airline partners do not include any large U.
Best for lounge access. The Platinum Card® from American Express. at American Express's secure site. Why We Chose It The Amex Platinum is unmatched when it comes to travel perks and benefits. Pros The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative.
enrollment required The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Money Articles. Money Calculators. Credit Scores Credit Builder. Understanding your Credit Scores. What is a Good Credit Score? Free Credit Report. Quick Tips for Your Credit Health. Credit History. Free Credit Scores : How to get yours?
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students. Discover it® Chrome. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers — only from Discover. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. Disney® Visa® Card. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
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