The 9 Best Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Planning a trip? The best travel credit cards offer consumers rewards points or miles toward purchases like airfare, hotels and rental cars. Though some carry steep fees, the right card not only saves you money on foreign transaction fees but also offers rewards and perks that enhance your travel experience. And they might also come with unique perks like travel insurance, free baggage check and late check-out at hotels.

But with confusing terminology like points vs. miles and an oversaturated market full of general travel cards, airline cards and hotel cards, how can you determine which card offers the right mix of rewards and perks at the right annual fee for you? To help, we’ve compiled a list of the best travel credit cards currently available.

Best Travel Credit Cards:

• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit
• Discover it® Miles card

What Is a Travel Credit Card?

A travel credit card earns rewards that cardholders can apply toward travel purchases, like hotels and airfare. These rewards usually come in the form of points, miles or cash back. The best travel credit cards offer competitive rewards and, usually, a welcome bonus equivalent to several tens of thousands of bonus points.

Though many of the best travel credit cards come with an annual fee (the highest on our list is nearly $700), they can easily pay for themselves if you are a frequent traveler who knows how to take advantage of the perks. In addition to rewards, travel cards typically offer trip insurance. Co-branded travel cards, like airline credit cards and hotel credit cards, may even offer additional perks like lounge access, free checked bags, concierge services, free breakfast and early check-in and late checkout.

What to Look for in a Travel Credit Card

When choosing a travel-friendly credit card, it’s important to look for features that make traveling easier and more rewarding. Here are the key elements to consider:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Many credit cards charge a 3% fee on every purchase made outside the U.S. A travel-friendly card should waive these fees, saving you money on international transactions.
• Travel Rewards: Look for a card that offers points, miles, or cashback for travel-related purchases such as flights, hotels, and rental cars. Some cards even offer bonus rewards for dining, which can come in handy while you’re abroad.
• Global Acceptance: Make sure the card is widely accepted in the countries you plan to visit. Visa and Mastercard are more commonly accepted worldwide compared to American Express and Discover, though acceptance can vary by region.
• Travel Perks: Many travel credit cards offer additional perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and concierge services. These extras can elevate your travel experience and provide added peace of mind.

Choosing a card that aligns with your travel habits will ensure that you get the most value from it, both during your trip and when you return home.

Comparing Travel-Friendly Credit Cards

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the most popular travel-friendly credit cards:

1. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Best first travel card

If you like to travel but don’t need a premium travel rewards card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers great benefits for occasional travelers. With no annual fee and straightforward rewards, this card makes it easy to earn miles on every purchase.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• No Annual Fee: You get travel rewards without the hassle of an annual fee.
• Unlimited Miles: Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars when booked through Capital One Travel.
• Long Intro APR: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% – 29.74% variable APR after that, and balance transfer fee applies.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Lower Everyday Rewards Rate: The 1.25 miles per dollar earned on regular purchases isn’t as high as other travel cards.
• Limited Travel Perks: This card lacks some of the premium travel-specific perks found in higher-tier cards.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a casual traveler looking for a no-fee card that still offers solid rewards and flexibility, the VentureOne is a fantastic option.

Explore the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a favorite among frequent travelers for its straightforward rewards structure and ability to earn 2X miles on every purchase. Plus, it comes with valuable travel perks like Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credits and no blackout dates.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Unlimited Miles: Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
• Big Sign-Up Bonus: Get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months—worth $750 toward travel.
• Transfer to Travel Partners: Move your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs to maximize value.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Annual Fee: There’s a $95 annual fee, which might be a drawback for occasional travelers.
• Transfer Ratios: When transferring miles to partners, you might not always get a 1:1 ratio, so more miles may be needed to get full value.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a frequent traveler who wants a simple, flat-rate rewards structure without worrying about rotating categories, this card is a great choice.

Explore the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

3. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Best for pairing with Chase Cards

While not a traditional travel card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers versatile rewards that can be redeemed for travel through Chase Travel. With no annual fee and generous cash back on everyday spending, this card is a great option for those looking to combine cash back and travel rewards.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Versatile Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Long Intro APR: Take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (19.99% – 28.74% after intro period).
• No Annual Fee: All these perks without any annual fee. (See Rates & Fees)

Things to Keep in Mind:

• High Ongoing APR: After the intro period, the APR can be high, so it’s best to pay off your balance before the 15 months are up.
• No Traditional Travel Perks: This card doesn’t come with airline lounge access or travel credits like premium travel cards.

Real-Life Scenario: If you want a card that offers flexible rewards for both travel and everyday purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a versatile option that doesn’t charge an annual fee.

Explore the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card

4. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for luxury travel

Frequent flyers who appreciate a touch of luxury will love The Platinum Card® from American Express. Packed with premium travel perks like airport lounge access, hotel credits, and travel protections, this card caters to those who want to travel in style (terms apply).

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Premium Travel Perks: Enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, $200 airline fee credit, and $200 hotel credits annually when booked through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card® (the Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay).
• Big Rewards on Travel: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on flights and hotels booked through American Express Travel.
• Exclusive Credits: Take advantage of credits for Uber, digital entertainment, Walmart+, and more.
• Global Entry and TSA PreCheck: Receive either a $120 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Membership Rewards: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards(R) Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• High Annual Fee: The $695 annual fee is steep, but the value of perks and credits can easily offset the cost. (See Rates & Fees)
• Limited Bonus Categories: The bonus points only apply to flights and prepaid hotels, so everyday purchases earn 1X points.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a frequent traveler who loves luxury perks and can take full advantage of the card’s many credits, The Platinum Card® delivers premium value.

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

Explore The Platinum Card® from American Express

5. American Express® Gold Card

Best for restaurants

The American Express® Gold Card shines when it comes to rewards for dining out and grocery shopping, making it a great fit for foodies and frequent travelers alike. With 4X points on dining and 3X points on flights, this card makes everyday spending feel rewarding (terms apply).

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Top Dining Rewards: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants (up to $50,000 in purchases) and on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per year). Then earn 1X the rewards for the rest of the year.
• Travel Flexibility: Get 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
• Dining Credit: Enjoy up to $120 in dining credits annually, or $10 in credit per month, at select food delivery services and restaurants.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Annual Fee: The $325 annual fee may feel steep unless you maximize the card’s dining credits and rewards. (See Rates & Fees)
• Limited Redemption Value: You get the best value when redeeming points for flights or transferring to airline partners.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re someone who enjoys dining out as much as traveling, the American Express® Gold Card offers top-tier rewards on both, making it a fantastic everyday and travel companion.

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

Explore the American Express® Gold Card

6. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best for annual credits

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is packed with premium travel perks without the steep annual fee of other high-end cards. With unlimited miles, lounge access, and credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, this card is perfect for the frequent traveler looking for value.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Unlimited Miles: Earn 2X miles on every purchase and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• Generous Credits: Enjoy a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles on your card anniversary.
• Lounge Access: Get unlimited complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges for you and two guests.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• High Spending Threshold: You’ll need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the 75,000 bonus miles.
• Annual Fee: There’s a $395 annual fee, but it’s reasonable compared to other premium travel cards.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a frequent traveler looking for a premium card with valuable travel perks and a lower annual fee than other luxury cards, the Venture X is a perfect fit.

Explore the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

7. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Best for diverse spending categories

If you’re someone who spends across a variety of categories like dining, travel, gas, and streaming services, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a fantastic option. With no annual fee and 3X points on many popular categories, it’s designed to reward everyday spending.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Generous Points on Common Purchases: Earn 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans, making it a versatile rewards card.
• No Annual Fee: You can enjoy all the perks of the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card without worrying about an annual fee. (See Rates & Fees)
• Intro APR Offer: Take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable after that).

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Limited Travel Perks: While it’s great for earning points on travel purchases, the card doesn’t offer premium travel perks like lounge access or travel credits.
• High Balance Transfer Fee: The balance transfer fee is based on your creditworthiness, so it may be higher compared to other cards.

Real-Life Scenario: If your spending is spread across multiple categories, from dining out to streaming your favorite shows, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card helps you rack up rewards without an annual fee.

Explore the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

8. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Best for travel rewards without an annual fee

If you’re a traveler who prefers a simple rewards structure, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card gives you unlimited points on all purchases without the hassle of an annual fee. It’s a straightforward way to earn rewards whether you’re at home or abroad.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Unlimited Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, making it an easy way to accumulate travel rewards on everyday spending.
• No Annual Fee: Keep all the points you earn without paying an annual fee. (See Rates & Fees)
• Intro APR Offer: Enjoy 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases (19.24% – 29.24% variable after that).

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Limited Travel Perks: While the card offers great rewards, it lacks premium travel perks like lounge access or TSA PreCheck credits.
• Balance Transfer Fee: The card has a 3% intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days, so it’s something to consider if you’re planning a transfer.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a traveler who prefers simplicity, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card lets you earn points on everything without an annual fee, making it an ideal choice for straightforward rewards.

Explore the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

9. Discover it® Miles

Best for travelers who want flexible rewards

The Discover it® Miles card is perfect for those who want straightforward travel rewards without paying an annual fee. With 1.5x miles on every purchase and the flexibility to redeem them for travel or cash, it’s a great card for the casual traveler.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Unlimited Miles: Earn 1.5x miles on every dollar you spend, with no caps or restrictions.
• No Annual Fee: Enjoy all the benefits without the cost of an annual fee.
• Intro APR Offer: Get 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, perfect for managing big expenses (18.24% – 28.24% variable after that).

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Limited Premium Travel Perks: This card doesn’t offer premium perks like airport lounge access or travel credits.
• Balance Transfer Fee: If you’re planning to transfer a balance, there’s a 3% balance transfer fee.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re looking for a flexible rewards card that offers straightforward miles on every purchase, the Discover it® Miles card lets you earn without worrying about an annual fee or complicated redemption options.

Explore the Discover it® Miles Card

Each card has different strengths, so the best choice depends on whether you prioritize rewards, perks, or no foreign transaction fees.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

Broadly, there are two types of travel cards: general travel credit cards and co-branded travel cards. Co-branded cards include airline credit cards and hotel credit cards.

General Travel Credit Cards

General travel credit card issuers include banks like Capital One, Chase and Citi. Such cards offer rewards that you can redeem more broadly for travel expenses, like a flight, rental car or hotel stay. Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards, on the other hand, require you to redeem your points or miles specifically with their brand.

Because you can more widely use the points accrued on a general travel card, the rewards might not be as competitive as they are with co-branded cards. You may also miss out on brand-specific perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades, that co-branded cards sometimes offer.

General travel cards often come with huge welcome bonuses (also called sign-up bonuses) if you spend a certain amount of money within a set timeframe from account opening. These cards can run the gamut; travel cards with no annual fees typically offer basic travel rewards while those with steeper fees offer higher reward amounts and may come with additional perks.

You can usually redeem these travel credit card points when booking through the card issuer’s website or platform. Alternatively, you can book a flight or hotel directly (or via another third-party application), then use your points as a statement credit after the purchase has gone through.

Some travel card issuers allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programs — but this transfer may lower the value of each point. Similarly, you might be able to claim your rewards points as general cash back, but the value of each point will typically be lower when redeemed this way.

Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards are a type of co-branded travel credit card. Airlines like Delta, United and American Airlines partner with credit card issuers like American Express to offer these travel cards, which let you earn miles for every dollar spent. Airline credit cards make sense if you are loyal to a specific airline.

Once you’ve accrued enough miles, you can redeem them for future travel with that airline (or other airlines in the same airline alliance). Higher-tier airline credit cards, which fetch a higher annual fee, may come with perks like free baggage check, lounge access, priority boarding and TSA Precheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement.

Delta, United and American all have credit cards, but you can also find credit cards from smaller airlines like JetBlue and Southwest.

Hotel Credit Cards

Hotel credit cards are another form of co-branded travel credit card that instead allow you to earn points toward free nights at a specific hotel chain. That makes these cards most attractive to travelers who are loyal to a specific chain.

In addition to rewards points toward the hotel chain, a hotel credit card might include perks like early check-in and late checkout, free breakfast or even a free night every year. Three of the largest hotel chains to consider are Marriott, Hilton and Wyndham.

Additional Perks for International Travelers

Beyond rewards and no foreign transaction fees, travel-friendly credit cards offer several perks that can enhance your travel experience:

• Travel Insurance: Many travel credit cards provide insurance coverage for trip cancellations, delays, or lost luggage. This can help protect you from unexpected travel mishaps.
• Airport Lounge Access: Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer access to airport lounges, giving you a quiet place to relax before your flight.
• Concierge Services: Some cards come with concierge services to help with tasks like booking reservations or securing event tickets while you’re traveling.
• Global Assistance: Many travel cards provide 24/7 customer service for emergencies, such as lost luggage or medical issues, while you’re abroad.

These benefits can add significant value to your travel experiences and provide peace of mind during your trips.

Pros and Cons of Travel Credit Cards

If you have a strong enough credit score to qualify and travel enough to justify the annual fee, a travel card carries a number of advantages. But these cards can have their downsides, too. Weigh the pros and cons before signing on the dotted line:

How to Choose the Right Credit Card for Your Travel Needs

Selecting the right travel credit card depends on your personal travel habits and financial goals. Here are a few things to consider:

• Spending Habits: If you spend heavily on dining and travel, a card like the American Express® Gold Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® will help you maximize rewards in those categories.
• Preferred Rewards: If you prefer earning miles that you can transfer to airline loyalty programs, the Capital One Venture Rewards Card is a solid option. If you value flexible points, cards that offer rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Amex Membership Rewards® may be better.
• Travel Frequency: Frequent travelers may benefit more from premium cards with lounge access and travel credits, while occasional travelers might prioritize cards with no foreign transaction fees and lower annual fees.

Evaluate your current credit card to see if it meets your travel needs. If not, consider switching to a travel-friendly card that can help you save money and earn rewards on your next trip.

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