Our Favorite Travel Credit Cards (2024)

It’s no secret these days that a travel credit card is a vital tool for frequent travelers, and researching the best rewards credit cards for travel is essential. If you are tired of missing out on free offers and rewards for your travels, we’re here to help. It’s time to upgrade from cash or debit cards and use a travel credit card. You will earn rewards for your travels and enjoy purchase protection when purchasing in foreign countries and sweet perks like lounge access.

With so many market options, finding the right travel credit card for your needs can be challenging. To help narrow down your options, we’ve compiled a list of our top recommendations for travel credit cards. Based on years of travel experience and extensive research, these cards we’ve personally used or currently have and find to be the most valuable.

Disclaimer: The World Pursuit has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products and to bring you these best rewards credit cards for travel. The World Pursuit and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any entities.

Hey Friends!

Have you ever encountered individuals discussing how they could travel the world for free with points? Using a travel credit card helps you build a strong credit history and score and earn travel rewards while paying for your everyday expenses.

In this guide of best rewards credit cards for travel, we have compiled information to assist you in choosing a travel rewards credit card that suits your needs. Whether you are a business owner, saving for your first significant trip, or frequently traveling internationally.

Find The Best Rewards Credit Card for Travel for you!

Many credit cards offer outstanding benefits, but it can be challenging to determine which is best for you. We have gathered our top travel reward credit cards and listed them here with their benefits.

You can browse through our favorite cards and their perks below or use the icons to navigate to a specific category.

Best For

Before you choose, read about why you NEED a travel credit card

Best Rewards Credit Cards for Travel

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You can’t go wrong with the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you want a travel credit card with excellent rewards and flexibility. We’ve had this card for years, and it’s been a staple in our travel rewards arsenal.

One of the biggest draws of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its generous signup bonus of 80,000 points. These points can be redeemed in various ways, including credit for previous travel purchases, travel booked through the Chase portal, or transfer points to their many partners. The Chase Sapphire Preferred also has a lucrative point structure, making earning points on everyday purchases easy. Most importantly, the manageable $95 annual fee is attractive.

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Benefits

5x on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
3x on dining
2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Ability to transfer points
Redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1.25x multiplier for travel.
No foreign transaction fees
Primary CDW on Rental Cars
Discounts on DoorDash with a free DashPass subscription
Trip interruption and baggage delay insurance
Extended Warranty Protection

Sign Up Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

2 x Points per $1 on Travel
2 x Points per $1 on Dining
Point Transfer to Partners
Redeem points on Chase Ultimate rewards, and you get 25% more on travel redemption.
Primary insurance coverage on car rentals

Cons

$95 Annual Fee
No Loyalty Perks Like Hotel or Airline Cards

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The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking rewards on their travel purchases. One of the standout features of this card is the generous rewards program, which allows cardholders to earn 2x miles on every purchase, every day. These miles can be redeemed for travel-related purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses such as cruises and tours.

In addition to the rewards program, the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card offers several other benefits that make it a good choice for travelers. These benefits include no foreign transaction fees, $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, a concierge service to assist with travel-related needs, and travel accident insurance. Capital One has a wide range of points transfer partners, which makes it a winning travel credit card. We love the 2 x miles on all purchases, making this a great all-around card.

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Benefits

2 x Miles on all purchases
5x Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
$100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
No foreign transaction fees
Enjoy two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges yearly.
Ability to transfer miles
Extended warranty
Travel accident insurance

Early Spend Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Great early spend bonus after account opening.
2x Miles On Every Purchase
Easy Reward Redemption. Cardholders can redeem miles to be reimbursed on previous travel purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Great Customer Support

Cons

Not Many Brand Perks
Annual Fee

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Capital One’s Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent premium travel credit card with several terrific benefits. One of the standout features of this card is the generous rewards program, which allows cardholders to earn 2x miles on every purchase, every day. However, when booked through Capital One Travel, cardholders get 5x miles on airfare and 10x miles on hotels and rental cards.

These miles can be redeemed for travel-related purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses such as cruises and tours. Cardholders also receive a $300 year in statement credit for bookings through the travel portal and a 10,000-mile annual bonus. Cardholders also receive a Priority Pass and access to the Capital One Lounges, which makes flying much more enjoyable, with easy lounge access around the globe. Capital One currently only operates a lovely lounge in DFW, with plans to open two more in IAD and DEN.

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Benefits

2 x Miles On All Purchases
10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary.
$100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
No foreign transaction fees
Unlimited lounge access to the Capital One Lounge and all Priority Pass Lounges worldwide
10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
Ability to transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
Extended warranty
Travel accident insurance

Early Spend Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Excellent spending bonus.
Unlimited lounge access to the Capital One Lounge and all Priority Pass Lounges worldwide.
10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary.
Easy Reward Redemption. Cardholders can redeem miles to be reimbursed on previous travel purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Great Customer Support

Cons

To Make The Most of The Card Must Book Through Capital One Travel. This may not work for those who like to book travel directly.
High Annual Fee

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The American Express Gold Card is a top-rated rewards credit card that offers numerous benefits for travelers and non-travelers. One of the standout features of this card is its generous signup bonus, 60,00 points. These points can be used to book travel, purchase gift cards, and even cover gas expenses, making it a flexible and versatile rewards program.

Additional benefits include no foreign transaction fees, which can save cardholders a significant amount on international trips. Cardholders also earn 4x reward points per dollar spent at restaurants and US supermarkets, making it an excellent choice for those who frequently dine out or shop for groceries.

Other benefits of the American Express Gold Card include exclusive discounts and offers through the Amex Offers program and a range of insurance benefits, including travel accident insurance and lost luggage reimbursem*nt. The American Express Gold Card is highly recommended for travelers and non-travelers.

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Benefits

4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide and US Supermarkets
No Foreign Transaction Fees
$120 Uber Cash
$120 Dining Credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory,Goldbelly,Wine.com, Milk Bar, and selectShake Shack locations

Early Spend Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Great Welcome Bonus
Simplicity
4x Points at restaurants and 4x points at supermarkets is excellent
AMEX Points transfer
Easy to redeem
No Foreign Transaction Fees

Cons

High Annual Fee
Not Travel Specific Card

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a popular premium travel credit card with many benefits. One of the main reasons to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is its generous rewards program, which allows cardholders to earn 3x points on travel and dining purchases and 1x on all other purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel-related purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners for even more flexibility.

In addition to the rewards program, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers several other benefits that make it a good choice for travelers. These benefits include a $300 annual travel credit, which can be used to offset travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, and car rentals. Cardholders also receive a Priority Pass which makes flying much more enjoyable, with easy lounge access around the globe.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with standard benefits such as travel insurance (trip delay & cancellation), lost luggage reimbursem*nt, and travel accident insurance. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an excellent choice for travelers seeking rewards on their travel purchases and taking advantage of various travel-related benefits.

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Benefits

3 x Points per dollar on travel (excludes $300 annual travel credit)
3 x Points per dollar on dining
$300 Annual Travel Credit
Complimentary Priority Pass giving worldwide lounge access
Complimentary year of Lyft Pink
Ability to transfer points
Redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards® at 1.25x multiplier for travel.
No foreign transaction fees
Trip interruption and baggage delay insurance

Sign Up Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

3x miles per $1 on travel worldwide
Priority Pass Lounge Network
Redeem points on Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and you get 20% off travel
Primary insurance coverage on car rentals

Cons

$550 annual fee not waived the first year

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is a hotel credit card with an attractive signup bonus offer at one of our favorite hotel companies. After Marriott and Starwood merged, they gained many properties, from business hotels to luxury resorts worldwide. We know something about the hotel brand as Titanium loyalty members.

Marriott is one of our favorite hotel networks to stay at after years of travel. Not only does the credit card offer the opportunity to earn rewards points that can be redeemed for stays at Marriott properties, but it also comes with several benefits such as automatic Gold Elite status, extra bed nights towards higher status, an annual free award, and bonus points on hotel spend. Overall, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is an excellent choice for travelers looking for a global hotel chain to remain loyal.

Benefits

6 x points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy Hotels
2 x points per dollar on all other purchases
Annual free night stay, valued up to 35,000 points (each account anniversary)
15 Elite Night credits towards Marriott Bonvoy status
No foreign transaction fees

Sign Up Bonus

100,000 point signup bonus after $3,000 on purchases in the first three months

Annual Fee

Pros

Excellent signup bonus
Great way to start a hotel loyalty program
Extensive hotel network
Annual Free Night Award

Cons

Limited to perks with Marriott Bonvoy
Not great for general travel

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Delta is our favorite major airline in North America, so we love any card that scores us extra points. The Gold Delta SkyMiles Business has a great sign-up bonus that’s easy to earn when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Earning points is also easy, as you earn double the points when flights are booked directly with Delta. It also comes with priority boarding and status that will put you on track for free upgrades.

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Benefits

Priority boarding,
No foreign transaction fees,
2x points on purchases made with Delta
Free Checked Bag
Sky Club Lounge Discount
Inflight purchase discount
Travel accident insurance
Roadside assistance
Extended warranty

Early Spend Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

No foreign transaction fees
Brand perks
Roadside assistance

Cons

Limited redemption options, as with most airline-branded cards

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Chase Freedom Unlimited is a credit card that offers a great rewards program for users who want a simple cashback card on everyday purchases. It helps that the card doesn’t require excellent credit, so it’s a great starting point for those new to rewards cards. One of the main benefits of this card is that users can earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which can be redeemed for various rewards.

In addition to the cash-back program, Chase Freedom Unlimited allows users to earn 1.5 Chase Rewards points for every dollar spent. These points can be redeemed for cash or statement credits, gift cards, or even transferred to other loyalty programs. However, it’s worth noting that this card does charge a 3% fee on foreign transactions, which may not be ideal for those who frequently travel internationally.

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Benefits

1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards for every dollar spent
5% cash back on travel booked through Chase
Purchase protection
No minimum to redeem points

Early Spend Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Simplicity
High rewards rate and no minimum redemption
Points transfer
No annual fee
Easy to redeem
No annual fee

Cons

No brand perks
No bonus categories for earning points
Foreign Transaction Fees!

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If you’re looking for the best premium travel credit card, it’s hard to do better than The Platinum Card® from American Express. We love the card for its added benefits, such as up to $200 annual airline fee credit, up to $200 in Uber credits, $200 in Statement Credits Each Year For Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection Bookings, and an array of lounge access options. It has so many benefits it’s tough to list everything.

On top of all this comes 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. It’s one of the most impressive travel cards to date without considering the 80,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months. The one downside to this card is the $695 annual fee. Due to this, we recommend it to frequent travelers or those who will be able to make use of the annual credits.

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Benefits

5 x Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel
5 X Membership Rewards® Points On Prepaid Hotels With American Express Travel
Up to $200 annual airline fee rebate
$200 Uber Cash Annually and Uber VIP
$200 in Statement Credits Each Year For Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection Bookings
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Up to $20 back each month on eligible subscriptions like SiriusXM or Disney+
No foreign transaction fees
Roadside Assistance

Welcome Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Extensive lounge network that includes Centurion Lounge
All those credits
Perks at hotels
Concierge service
Fantastic Welcome Bonus

Cons

Hefty Annual Fee
1 x point per dollar on all other purchases

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The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Card is a step down from the Capital One Venture Card. This is the perfect entry-level card for those just dabbling in travel reward credit cards. There is no annual fee with this card and no foreign transaction fees. While it’s not as good as the Venture card, the signup bonus is still lucrative enough to entice travelers.

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Benefits

No foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles do not expire
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Sign Up Bonus

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Annual Fee

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Pros

Great for those new to travel credit cards.
No annual fee
No foreign transactions fees
Great easy card to use.

Cons

Low rewards sign up

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What to Know About Travel Credit Cards

It’s all about finding the best rewards credit cards for travel. There is no one-size-fits-all travel credit card that will work for everyone. People have different goals, lifestyles, financial situations, and credit scores, so finding a card that works for you is essential. In general, we recommend sticking with low annual fee credit cards, as the premium travel cards with annual fees of $400+ tend to be most beneficial for frequent flyers and travelers.

When looking for a travel credit card, there are a few key things to consider: the welcome offer or signup bonus, category spending bonuses, special perks, and reward redemption options.

Welcome Offer

We love earning a welcome offer or signup bonus when we get a new travel rewards credit card. These introductory offers often provide a considerable mileage or points bonus once you meet a specific minimum spending requirement. This can often mean free flights, hotels, or even cash back.

To receive a signup bonus or welcome offer, you must make a single purchase or meet a spending threshold within a specific timeframe, varying from $500 to $6,000 in the first 90 days. The most common minimum spending requirement is around $3,000 for premium travel rewards credit cards. Remember that welcome offers often change, so verifying before submitting your card application is always a good idea.

Category Spending Bonus

Many credit cards offer one point for every dollar spent, but our favorite cards often provide a category spending bonus on particular purchase categories, retailers, airlines, or hotel chains. This is particularly useful with branded cards such as airline or hotel rewards credit cards.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3x points per dollar on travel, and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless gives 6x points per dollar at participating Marriott hotels. If you use a particular company regularly, getting a branded card to earn more points is a good idea.

Special Perks

Travel credit cards often have great perks, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access, hotel room upgrades, and more. These perks can add a lot of value to your travels, so it’s worth considering which ones are most important when choosing a travel credit card.

Reward Redemption Options

It’s also important to consider a travel credit card’s reward redemption options. Some cards allow you to redeem points directly for travel purchases, book through their portal, or transfer points to other loyalty programs. Look for a card with flexible redemption options that align with your travel goals.

When choosing a travel credit card, consider your needs and financial situation. Look for a card with a good welcome offer, category spending bonuses that align with your spending habits, special perks that add value to your travels, and flexible redemption options. You can find the perfect travel credit card with some research and careful planning.

If this post helped you pick out a travel credit card, we would be forever grateful if you applied through one of our links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our website running so we can provide free information.

Disclaimer: The World Pursuit has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The World Pursuit and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any entities.