Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Introduction to the Best Travel Credit Cards
Whether you’re just dipping your toe into the world of rewards credit cards or you’ve already flown thousands of miles on points alone, we can tell you: There’s an ideal travel credit card for everyone.
There’s a card designed for people seeking free flights, hoping for free hotel stays, or just doing whatever it takes to realize their dreams of relaxing in an overwater bungalow. There are even no-annual-fee travel credit cards that won’t cost you anything to maintain.
Let’s take a look at the best choices available for you right now.
Best Travel Credit Cards of July 2024
Compare the Best Credit Cards for Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong travel coverage
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Product Details
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
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.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.55/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
$50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
Product Details
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
3.95/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Intro APR
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)
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Versatile rewards
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories to track
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Lower earning rate than some other no-annual-fee rewards cards
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Limited benefits
Product Details
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best for generous rewards on hotels
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.2/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good or Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Airline and hotel transfer partners available
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Welcome bonus
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Generous cellphone protection
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Low annual fee
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors
Product Details
Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific 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.
Best for travel rewards on everyday spending
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.6/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
21.24% – 29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
$100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No foreign transaction fees
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Has an annual fee
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.1/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Intro APR
0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
Regular APR
17.99% – 27.99% Variable
25,000 online bonus points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Generous welcome bonus for a student credit card
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earns flexible points you can use toward a wide variety of travel purchases
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Other travel rewards cards have higher earning rates
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Few travel-related benefits compared to other travel cards
Product Details
The information related to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases)
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, no expiration on points
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.85/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
High annual fee
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases
Product Details
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
American Express® Gold Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.3/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Underwhelming welcome bonus
Product Details
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
22.49% – 29.49% Variable
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong travel insurance
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Very high annual fee
Product Details
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$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 Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Bonus categories leave something to be desired
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$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®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), 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.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
Best Travel Credit Card Reviews
The best travel rewards credit cards offer valuable rewards, easy-to-use benefits, and helpful features like travel coverage. Our team of credit card experts at Business Insider chose the best options available on the market in 2024, and reviewed each one below.
Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top pick for a well-rounded travel rewards credit card. Even infrequent travelers can benefit from the slew of premium perks on this card, typically found on cards with far higher annual fees.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card stands out for its travel protection benefits. When you pay for travel expenses with this card and meet certain requirements, you can request reimbursement for unexpected expenses that may arise when your flight is delayed or if your baggage is delayed or lost.
You’ll also have primary rental car insurance, meaning you won’t have to file claims through your personal car insurance plan or pay for coverage from the rental car company. This card also offers a 10% anniversary points bonus, and up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel purchases made through the Chase Travel℠ Portal.
The rewards rate on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t shabby either. You’ll earn 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 2 points on all other travel purchases; and 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are some of the easiest points to use in various ways. You can redeem them for travel directly through the Chase Travel Portal for a 25% boost in value, where 1 point will be worth 1.25 cents apiece. You can also transfer your points to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners, which include United Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott, and many other airlines and hotel chains around the world. Cardholders can also use points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Business Insider values Chase points at 1.8 cents each, on average, making this bonus worth around $1,080 in travel value.
What the experts love: High welcome bonus offer, earns bonus points on travel, dining, and online grocery purchases, you can redeem points for 1.25 cents apiece for travel or through Chase for 25% value bonus
What the experts don’t love: Doesn’t offer some of the travel perks you’ll get with competing cards, such as airport lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong travel coverage
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Product Details
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
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.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC
Best for Beginners: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great “set it and forget it” card, in the sense that you don’t have to worry about various bonus categories for earning rewards. You’ll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture and Spark Miles cardholders now have access to a curated list of hotels worldwide and receive benefits that include a $50 hotel experience credit, room upgrades when available, and early check-in/late checkout when available.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers one of the most straightforward ways to redeem travel rewards: You can use your miles to cover recent travel purchases from your card statement at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
You also have the option to transfer Capital One miles*** to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Capital One also added new partners including British Airways and Turkish Airlines, and improved the transfer ratio to 1:1 for most partners.
The selection of transfer partners is best suited to someone who wants to travel internationally and who doesn’t mind spending some time researching the best ways to redeem miles with the different frequent flyer program options. But the upside is that you can always use your miles to cover your travel purchases. You also get up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit.
What the experts love: The ability to use your miles to cover your recent travel expenses; it earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.
What the experts don’t love: Other cards offer higher rewards on certain spending categories such as travel and dining.
Read more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.55/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Earn 75,000 bonus miles, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
$50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
Product Details
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is our top choice for a no-annual-fee travel card (rates and fees), and it’s got many of the same perks as its bigger sibling, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
New cardholders can earn a respectable 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within three months from account opening (worth at least $340 in travel according to Business Insider’s valuations). While the card only earns 1.25 miles per dollar on most purchases (plus 5x on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel), it’s still a compelling choice if an annual fee isn’t for you (rates and fees).
You’ll get the same access to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners as you would with annual-fee cards, and a handful of benefits including car rental insurance***, travel accident insurance***, and purchase assurance***. This is also a solid pick if you’re looking for a zero-interest credit card with a 0% introductory APR offer, because new cardholders receive 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 19.99% – 29.99% Variable APR (rates and fees).
What the experts love: No annual fee, access to transfer partners, generous intro 0% APR offer
What the experts don’t love: Few travel benefits, lower earning rate
Read more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
3.95/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Intro APR
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)
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Versatile rewards
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories to track
Cons
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Lower earning rate than some other no-annual-fee rewards cards
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Limited benefits
Product Details
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best for Boutique Hotels: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card earns one of the highest rates of return on hotel bookings for a credit card that isn’t co-branded with a specific hotel chain.
This card has a $95 annual fee, inviting direct comparisons to two other cards on this list: The Sapphire Preferred Card, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. In exchange, cardholders earn at least 3x on restaurants and travel purchases. Airline purchases earn 4x, and hotel purchases earn 5x.
When launching this card, the card issuer simultaneously announced brand-new Wells Fargo Autograph transfer partners: Choice Privileges, Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, avianca lifemiles, and British Airways Executive Club. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card cardholders can redeem rewards at the standard redemption rate of 1 cent per point for cash back, or transfer their rewards to any travel partners above for additional value.
What the experts love: High bonus rates on hotels and flights
What the experts don’t love: Limited transfer options (for now)
Read more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card review
Best for generous rewards on hotels
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
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4.2/5
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Perks
Regular APR
21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good or Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
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Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Airline and hotel transfer partners available
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Welcome bonus
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Generous cellphone protection
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Low annual fee
Cons
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors
Product Details
Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific 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 Citi Strata Premier℠ Card isn’t as flashy or well-known as some other travel cards, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook it, especially if you spend a lot on its bonus categories. Cardholders earn an impressive 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Along with a solid welcome bonus offer of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening (worth $1,200 based on Business Insider’s valuations), you’ll receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com once per calendar year.
While it isn’t the best for travel protections, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is the only card currently available to new applicants that unlocks the ability to transfer your ThankYou points to Citi’s full list of airline and hotel partners, including JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and Wyndham.
What the experts love: Strong rewards earning in useful everyday categories, access to Citi’s transfer partners
What the experts don’t love: Lack of travel protections like car rental insurance, few travel perks compared to similar rewards cards
Read more: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card review
Best for travel rewards on everyday spending
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
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4.6/5
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Perks
Regular APR
21.24% – 29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
$100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No foreign transaction fees
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
Cons
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Has an annual fee
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Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
Best for Students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a fairly unique offering, as there aren’t many student credit cards specifically geared toward travel. New cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases). That’s a decent offer for a no-annual-fee card, and the earning structure is simple, too — 1.5x points per dollar on every purchase, with no bonus categories to keep track of.
There’s also a 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (then a 17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR) which can be handy if you have big purchases (like textbooks or supplies) you want to pay for over time.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a good choice if you prefer a straightforward card without having to worry about award charts or transfer partners. It’s also a safe bet if you want to use it while traveling internationally — it doesn’t charge pesky foreign transaction fees, so you won’t be on the hook for extra charges if you use it overseas.
However, you won’t find many extras — like travel benefits or purchase protections — with this card. If you’re looking for better benefits, be sure to check out our guide to the best student credit cards for all the top options.
What the experts love: Impressive welcome bonus offer for a student credit card, good flat-rate rewards earning
What the experts don’t love: No flashy extra perks or shopping benefits
Read more: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students review
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.1/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Intro APR
0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
Regular APR
17.99% – 27.99% Variable
25,000 online bonus points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Generous welcome bonus for a student credit card
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Earns flexible points you can use toward a wide variety of travel purchases
Cons
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Other travel rewards cards have higher earning rates
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Few travel-related benefits compared to other travel cards
Product Details
The information related to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases)
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, no expiration on points
No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
Cheapest Airport Lounge Access: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was unveiled in late 2021 and offers a massive welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth at least $1,275 in travel, based on Business Insider’s valuation of Capital One miles.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is loaded with premium benefits that can more than offset the $395 annual fee (rates and fees). For context, this annual fee is significantly lower than that of other premium travel cards which offer airport lounge access.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders also receive $300 per year in credits toward travel booked through Capital One; Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users, for free); a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel); and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.
Through the Capital One Premier Collection, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders can access hundreds of premium hotels and resorts worldwide and receive elite-like benefits such as free breakfast, room upgrades, and on-property credits.
As with other cards that earn Capital One miles, you can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel, or use miles to book through the Capital One Travel Portal.
What the experts love: Between $300 a year in travel credit and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, you can offset the annual fee entirely — and that’s not even considering other benefits like lounge access.
What the experts don’t love: The $300 travel credit is more restrictive than other cards’ — it only applies to travel booked through Capital One.
Read more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
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A five pointed star
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A five pointed star
4.85/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
19.99% – 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
Cons
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High annual fee
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Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases
Product Details
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Best Travel Rewards from Dining and Groceries: American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal travel card for anyone who frequently eats out and/or shops at U.S. supermarkets. You’ll earn 4x Amex Membership Rewards points on these purchases (though note the $25,000 calendar year annual cap for U.S. supermarkets; after that, you’ll earn just 1 point per dollar, but that’s a pretty high cap). The card also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
While the $250 annual fee is on the high side, you can offset it thanks to an annual statement credit. You can get up to $120 in annual dining credits**, but it’s divided into up to $10 in credits each month, and the credit only applies at select restaurants and delivery services, including Grubhub, Seamless, Milk Bar, Wine.com, and Goldbelly, and participating Shake Shack locations.
You’ll also get up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) credit each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added as a method of payment to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
What the experts love: “4x points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) is great — usually, a card favors one or the other,” says Rathner. Plus, the card offers monthly dining credits.
What the experts don’t love: Wilson notes that other cards offer similar benefits for a lower annual fee, and Rathner notes that the card’s travel and dining credits come with some important limitations — so read the fine print.
Read more: American Express® Gold Card review
American Express® Gold Card
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
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A five pointed star
A five pointed star
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4.3/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
Cons
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Underwhelming welcome bonus
Product Details
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.
Best for Premium Travel Insurance: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee, which means it’s not for everybody, but if you’re serious about maximizing your rewards and you travel frequently, it could be worth it. It offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Not only do you get up to $300 in statement credits toward travel each year (and Chase has a very generous definition of travel — including everything from airfare to highway tolls), but you also earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $300 travel credit) and 3x points on all other travel and dining. You also get airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network, which has more than 1,300 locations worldwide.
The Priority Pass membership that comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers the most comprehensive version of Priority Pass access to lounges and restaurants worldwide, compared to that of the Amex Platinum Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
New benefits also include access to Chase Sapphire lounges in JFK, LaGuardia, Boston, and Hong Kong, as well as the Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin Airport. You’ll also receive benefits with DoorDash and Instacart that can save you money on delivery (activation required).
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering cardholders two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (valued at $199 per year) for member-exclusive pricing, priority pickup, and more (activation required).
When it comes to redeeming points, you can book travel through Chase and get 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate), or you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, British Airways, and United.
Plus, like the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best credit card travel insurance around. This includes primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation protection, and lost baggage insurance.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card was previously our pick for the best travel card overall, before the annual fee increased from $450 to $550. While the Reserve did add some additional benefits, the Reserve no longer makes as much sense for casual travelers. As a result, we now recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as the best travel credit card for most people.
What the experts love: Earns 3x points on travel and dining purchases made outside of Chase Travel Portal, annual $300 travel credit, points are worth 1.5 cents apiece for travel booked through Chase
What the experts don’t love: You have to squeeze every drop of value out of this card to make that jaw-dropping $550 annual fee worth your while.
Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve® review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
22.49% – 29.49% Variable
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong travel insurance
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
Cons
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Very high annual fee
Product Details
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$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 Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Member FDIC
Best Luxury Travel and Airport Lounge Access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express has one of the highest rewards card annual fees — $695 — but it can still be well worth it if you can put all of its statement credits and generous welcome bonus offer to use.
You’ll earn 5x points on flights when you book directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), which makes the card a great choice for purchasing airfare. The card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, plus some of the best purchase protection, so it’s a good option for buying expensive items (and don’t forget to see if you can take advantage of an Amex Offer** for bonus points or cash back).
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more airport lounge access than any other personal travel card — in addition to Priority Pass membership**, you get access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when you’re flying Delta), and more.
The card’s annual statement credits can go a long way toward offsetting the high annual fee. You get up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees** like checked bags and inflight purchases; up to $100 each year in credit toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases**; and up to $200 in annual Uber credits (including Uber Eats)**.
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a range of valuable benefits, including up to $300 annually in Equinox credits**, $189 per year in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership**, up to $200 per year in credits toward eligible prepaid hotel bookings, up to $240 in annual credits toward eligible digital subscriptions**, a monthly credit for Walmart+ membership**, and up to $300 back for purchasing a SoulCycle At-Home Bike through Equinox+.
Just keep in mind that you’re limited to one designated airline you choose each year in your Amex account for the airline incidental fee credit, and both the Saks and Uber credits are divided into portions. You’ll get up to $50 in statement credits toward Saks purchases from January to June, and another credit of up to $50 for Saks purchases from July to December.
With the Uber credit, you get up to $15 each month, and a $20 bonus in December for a total of $35 that month.
What the experts love: Lots of luxury benefits, including airport lounge access and statement credits with Uber and Saks
What the experts don’t love: This card’s $695 annual fee, and minimal bonus categories
Read more: The Platinum Card® from American Express review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Insider’s Rating
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
4.4/5
Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp
It indicates a confirmed selection.
Perks
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
Cons
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Bonus categories leave something to be desired
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One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$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®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), 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.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card
While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.
In fact, it’s possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you’re strategic about how you redeem your rewards, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights.
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.
Read Business Insider’s guide to points and miles valuations to find out what your airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards are worth. Here’s our methodology for assigning a cash value to your points and miles.
Best Travel Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
If you want a single credit card that does it all and don’t mind paying a generous annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great choice. It comes with the best travel insurance available on the market, as well as a $300 travel credit each year that can be used on most types of travel.
The best travel credit card overall is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but the best card for your particular situation will depend on what benefits you care about the most, as well as how you feel about paying a high annual fee.
We’d recommend opening a travel card that earns Amex or Chase points, because these are among the easiest rewards to redeem and you have various travel partners to utilize. But if you’ve investigated your options and are confident that you can get value out of their rewards, credit cards that earn Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou points can make sense as well.
There are two main types of travel credit cards: Cards that earn transferable points, and airline/hotel co-branded credit cards. Transferable points currencies include Amex Membership Rewards 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; you don’t have the option to redeem your rewards with a wide variety of travel partners (or if you do, the transfer ratio usually isn’t great).
To pick the right travel credit card for you, you’ll want to evaluate its welcome bonus offer, ease of use, benefits, and annual fee. The best one for you will ideally have a combination of an attractive sign-up bonus, lots of options for earning and redeeming rewards, benefits that save you money, and a low or no annual fee.
Travel credit cards with annual fees are worth it if you’re able to get significant value out of their benefits and rewards. Before you apply for a card, make sure you’ll actually use all the features that contribute to the card’s annual fee. For example, if a card offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 toward travel but you can’t use it, you’re probably not getting what you pay for.
Travel credit cards work by earning you points (or miles) on every purchase you make, with the goal of helping you earn enough rewards to book free travel. The best travel cards earn points that you can transfer to various airline and hotel partners — like Amex, Chase, or Citi points.
A great way to work toward getting a free flight is by applying for a travel credit card and earning its welcome bonus offer. Domestic award flights in economy class typically require about 25,000 points, so depending on the welcome bonus offer, you could have enough rewards for a flight right out of the gate.
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 based on the following factors:
Welcome bonus offer— Do new 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?Benefits — Beyond rewards, does the card offer valuable perks such as statement credits for travel, primary car rental insurance, and airport lounge access?Annual fee — Is there an annual fee, and if so, is it affordable or easy to offset with card perks?Overall value — Does the 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 our methodology.
Angela Fung
Marketing Compliance Manager
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