Personal Finance Credit Cards

Best Travel Credit Cards: Top Travel Credit Cards of May 2025

Hikers on a summit hike at a volcano mountain in Maui, Hawaii can use the best travel rewards credit cards for complimentary benefits like travel accident insurance.
Business Insider compares the best travel credit cards of May 2025. Maridav/Shutterstock
Updated

There's an ideal travel credit card for every type of traveler, whether you're just dipping your toe into the world of travel rewards or have flown around the world on points.

Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel rewards credit cards from national credit card issuers to identify the best options for new applicants, considering factors such as the welcome bonus, ongoing rewards, perks, and annual fees.

We picked the best travel rewards credit cards by weighing the value of each card's range of benefits against its annual fee to decide if they're worth the cost for you.

Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2025

Best ForCardAnnual Fee
Everyday useChase Sapphire Preferred® Card (rates and fees)$95
No annual feeBilt Mastercard® (rates and fees)$0
BeginnersCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95
0% intro APRCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card$0
FamiliesCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card$395
Travel insuranceChase Sapphire Reserve® (rates and fees)$550
Single-card usersCiti Strata Premier℠ Card $95
FoodiesAmerican Express® Gold Card$325 (rates and fees)
HotelsWells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (rates and fees)$95
Luxury BenefitsThe Platinum Card® from American Express$695 (rates and fees)

Best for Everyday Use

Best travel credit card for everyday use
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply now
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks

Earn 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2 points on all other travel purchases. Earn 1 points on all other purchases.

Annual Fee

$95

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
  • Strong travel coverage
Cons
  • Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Insider’s Take

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

Chase Sapphire Preferred review
Product Details
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
  • 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Member FDIC

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top-choice travel credit card for everyday use because it balances strong benefits and generous earning rates with a moderate $95 annual fee.

This card's most valuable benefit is top-notch travel insurance coverage, comparable to what you'd find from premium travel cards with far higher annual fees. It also comes with an annual credit of up to $50 for eligible hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠.

Right now, new cardholders can earn a welcome bonuses of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This can be worth $1,080 toward travel, according to Business Insider's calculations of what points and miles are worth.


Best for No Annual Fee

Best travel credit card with no annual fee
Bilt Mastercard®
Apply now
On Bilt's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4/5
Perks

Earn 1 point on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year. Earns 3 points on dining. Earn 2 points on travel. Earn 1 point on other purchases. Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points). Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Also earn up to 5 points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card.

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

See Terms

Intro Offer

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • Only credit card to offer rent payments to any landlord
  • Excellent range of airline and hotel transfer partners through the Bilt App
  • World Elite Mastercard benefits and no annual fee
Cons
  • If you’re not a renter, other cards offer better welcome bonuses and rewards
  • Must make 5 transactions per statement period to earn points
Insider’s Take

The Bilt Mastercard® is the first credit card to offer up to 100,000 points in a calendar year rewards for paying rent without the transaction fee — and you can redeem your points for travel, merchandise, and more. While it now offers bonus points on dining and select travel, if you're not a renter, you should consider other no-annual-fee rewards credit cards as well.

Bilt Mastercard® review
Product Details
  • $0 Annual Fee
  • Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
  • Earns 3x points on dining
  • Earn 2x points on travel
  • Earn 1x points on other purchases
  • Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
  • Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
  • Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
  • Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
  • Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

The Bilt Mastercard® is one of the best no annual fee credit cards for travel rewards and benefits. Cardholders earn bonus rewards on food and travel expenses, and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about on international purchases.

Bilt offers many ways to earn points that are unique to this card. Renters can earn 1 point per dollar (earn up to 100,000 points on rent in a calendar year) by paying rent with the Bilt Mastercard® without incurring any transaction fees. However, you must make at least five transactions per statement period to earn points. Cardholders also earn up to 1,000 bonus points on non-rent purchases over Bilt Rent Day, which falls on the first day of every month.

Rewards can be redeemed for eligible travel purchases through the Bilt travel portal or transferred to 19 hotel and airline transfer partners.


Best for Beginners

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the best Capital One credit cards for earning simple rewards that are extremely easy to earn and redeem.

Cardholders earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every other purchase. They also get up to a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit once every four years.

Capital One cardholders can use their miles to pay off eligible travel purchases on their recent card statements at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Alternatively, you can transfer Capital One rewards to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs. Finally, you can also book flights, hotels, and other reservations directly through the Capital One travel portal and use miles to pay at checkout.


Best for 0% Intro APR

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is perfect if you need a zero-interest credit card for paying off travel expenses over time without additional cost.

New cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (intro fee of 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% of the amount of each balance transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), then a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.

The VentureOne Rewards Card earns 1.25 miles per dollar on most purchases with no annual fee, while hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One earn 5 miles per dollar. It doesn't charge annual fees, so it's a good companion for international travel.


Best for Families

Our third Capital One recommendation in the travel credit card category is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

This card is great for families because it comes with premium travel perks for the whole household, including travel insurance protection, which can reimburse you for unexpected expenses if your bags are delayed or lost or your trip is canceled due to illness or severe weather.

Families who frequently travel can rack up rewards quickly with the Capital One Venture X, which earns 10 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles on all other purchases.

This sleek metal credit card offers fantastic value for its $395 annual fee, with complimentary airport lounge access and an annual travel credit of up to $300 on travel booked through Capital One. Cardholders also get a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary worth $100 toward travel.


Best for Travel Insurance

Best for travel insurance
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply now
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks

Earn 5 points on flights and 10 total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual Fee

$550

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
  • Strong travel insurance
  • Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
Cons
  • Very high annual fee
Insider’s Take

If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.

Chase Sapphire Reserve review
Product Details
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Member FDIC

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best credit cards for adventure travelers who need travel insurance while on the road.

This card comes with some of the best credit card travel insurance benefits for emergency evacuation and medical care, with sky-high coverage limits surpassing those of many standard policies you can buy.

This card's $550 annual fee also covers complimentary airport lounge access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and the Priority Pass network of over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide (membership requires enrollment to activate). You'll also get a generous annual credit of up to $300 toward a broad range of travel expenses, from airfare to highway tolls.

Cardholders earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards® on every dollar spent and on bonus categories including dining and travel. Points can also be redeemed for eligible purchases through Chase Travel℠ at a rate of 1.5 cents per point — a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate. You can also transfer your rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest, and United.


Best for Single-Card Users

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is good for travelers who want a single credit card for earning travel rewards from common household expenses such as gas and groceries.

Cardholders earn 10 Citi ThankYou points per dollar on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. They also earn 3 points on air travel and at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

When booking hotels through Citi, cardholders also get an annual credit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more before taxes and fees.

Learn more in our Citi Strata Premier card review.


Best for Foodies

Best travel credit card for foodies
American Express® Gold Card
Apply now
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.3/5
Perks

Earn 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. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US 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.

Annual Fee
See Rates and Fees

$325

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Intro Offer
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
  • Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
Cons
  • Underwhelming welcome bonus
Insider’s Take

Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.

Amex Gold Card review
Product Details
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 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.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US 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.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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. 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.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.

The American Express® Gold Card allows foodies to quickly earn valuable Amex points on eligible food and travel purchases. It also comes with several hundred dollars in annual credits toward select dining expenses, including two semi-annual credits for up to $50 apiece on eligible Resy purchases after enrollment. Terms apply.

The Amex Gold Card's $325 annual fee can be steep, especially for a card that doesn't offer airport lounge access (rates and fees). But this card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so you can bring it along on international trips (rates and fees). Terms apply.


Best for Hotel Stays

Best travel credit card for rewards on hotel stays
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Apply now
On Wells Fargo's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.2/5
Perks

Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.

Annual Fee

$95

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable

Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Recommended Credit

Good or Excellent

Pros
  • Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
  • Airline and hotel transfer partners available
  • Welcome bonus
  • Generous cellphone protection
  • Low annual fee
Cons
  • Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors
Insider’s Take

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is a true travel credit card, with benefits that rival many of the best travel rewards credit cards currently on the market. This card has a low annual fee on par with that of popular competing credit cards and Wells Fargo's also has a Points Transfer program that allows cardholders to juice maximum value from every point they earn.

Autograph Journey℠ Card review
Product Details
  • Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
  • Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
  • $95 annual fee
  • Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
  • Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
  • Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is best for travelers who frequently book hotels since it earns 5 points per dollar on eligible hotel stays. Cardholders also earn 4 points per dollar on flights and 3 points per dollar on restaurants and other travel purchases.

This card has a $95 annual fee, inviting direct comparisons to two other cards on this list: the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Unfortunately, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card isn't as strong as either competitor — yet — when it comes to Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners. But Wells Fargo's transferrable credit card rewards program is relatively new, and may add new airline and hotel partners with time.


Best for Luxury Benefits

Best travel card for luxury benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Apply now
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks

Earn 5 Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. Earn 1 Point on other purchases.

Annual Fee
See Rates and Fees

$695

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Intro Offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
  • Statement credits with Saks and Uber (enrollment required)
Cons
  • Bonus categories leave something to be desired
  • One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
Insider’s Take

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more.

Amex Platinum Card review
Product Details
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
  • A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 per Calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best travel card for people who value luxury benefits, such as airport lounge access to Amex Centurion Lounges. Terms apply.

The card's $695 annual fee (rates and fees) is worth it if you enroll and can use more than $1,000 in annual statement credits for products and services to Saks Fifth Avenue, Walmart+, CLEAR® Plus, Equinox, and more. Terms apply.

Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on flights when they book directly through the airline, and on flights or prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 per calendar year). Terms apply.

This card only earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, so pick a different option for dining rewards, groceries, gas, or online shopping. Terms apply.


What Are Travel Credit Cards?

Travel rewards credit cards reward cardholders with bonus points on expenses related to travel. The best travel credit cards also offer trip insurance benefits and purchase protections.

Redeeming points or miles requires more effort than using simple cash back, but offers much more value compared to cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.

You can get a value of multiple cents per point if you're strategic about how you redeem travel rewards, particularly if you use points to book luxury hotels or premium-class flights worth thousands of dollars apiece.

Choosing the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card

With dozens of travel credit cards on the market, there's at least one good option for any type of traveler. Perhaps you dream of relaxing in an overwater bungalow or flying around the world in first class. There are even no-annual-fee travel credit cards that won't cost you anything to open and keep in your wallet.

Choosing the best travel credit card for you begins with understanding your personal habits. If you're an infrequent traveler, don't spend too much money on a premium credit card you'll only use once or twice a year.

But if you're constantly on the go, you're leaving money on the table if you don't use airport lounges to cut down on travel meal costs or pay out of pocket to check a bag on every flight.

Upgrading or Downgrading A Travel Credit Card

The best travel rewards credit card for your wallet should strike the right balance between benefits and cost. If you're on the fence, you may want to consider card "families" that can be upgraded or downgraded to meet your evolving needs.

Capital One and Chase both offer several travel credit cards that can be scaled up or down to match your travel needs and annual fee budget.

Why You Should Get A Travel Rewards Credit Card

The right travel credit card can help you unlock incredible flights and hotel stays worth thousands of dollars apiece.

In this guide, we've focused mostly on the best travel credit cards that earn transferable points. Transferable points include popular currencies such as:

You can transfer these points to both airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. You can even redeem your points to offset the cash price of your travel at a flat rate.

How Much Are Travel Rewards Worth?

Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations can help you determine what your airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards are worth.

Best Travel Credit Cards: Maximizing Benefits and Avoiding Fees

Credit card rewards can be exhilarating to earn and redeem, but they're never worth incurring debt.

Pay Off Your Balance in Full Each Month

The first rule of utilizing credit cards is to never carry a balance that incurs interest, because high fees will quickly eliminate any net gains from earning travel rewards.

If you do have to carry a balance, consider getting one of the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR, so you can pay down what you owe without paying a lot of interest.

Track Your Benefits

Many of the best credit cards offer rotating benefits or periodic credits, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express's semi-annual Saks credit (enrollment required) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s annual travel credit.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Travel Credit Cards

Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel credit cards currently available to new applicants, and narrowed down the list to the best options recommended here based on the following factors:

  • Welcome bonus — Do new travel rewards credit cardholders get a valuable incentive to sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement?
  • Ongoing rewards — How many points or miles do you earn on your purchases with this travel credit card?
  • Benefits — Beyond rewards, does this travel credit card offer valuable perks such as statement credits for travel, primary car rental insurance, and airport lounge access?
  • Annual fee — Does this travel credit card have an annual fee, and if so, is it affordable or easy to offset with card perks?
  • Overall value — Does this travel rewards credit card justify its annual fee by offering useful benefits and valuable rewards, and is it worth it?

Read our guide to how we rate credit cards for a closer look at Business Insider's methodology.

FAQs

Can I use my travel credit card for everyday purchases?

Yes, you can use your travel rewards credit card to earn points or miles on everyday purchases.

Should I get a travel credit card?

Yes, you may want to get a travel rewards credit card if you travel more than twice a year. There are options with no annual fee like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, as well as travel credit cards with moderate annual fees under $100 like the top-rated Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Which credit card has the best travel benefits?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium choice for people who want a single credit card for well-rounded benefits and don't mind paying a generous annual fee to get it. The card comes with the best complimentary travel insurance available from a credit card, as well as an annual travel credit of up to $300 that can be used on most types of travel.

What are the different types of travel credit cards?

There are two main types of travel credit cards: bank-issued cards that earn points you can transfer to travel partners, and co-branded credit cards issued in partnership with specific airlines and hotels. Transferable reward currencies include Amex points, Capital One miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards earn points or miles within a respective hotel or airline program.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, please click here.

For a guide to the benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, please click here.

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