Top 10 General Travel Credit Cards
General travel credit cards are versatile financial tools designed for travelers. They offer rewards in the form of points or miles that can be redeemed for various travel-related expenses like flights, hotel stays, and car rentals. These cards often come with additional perks such as travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
Advertisement
In-depth, these cards typically grant users a certain number of points or miles for every dollar spent, with higher earnings for travel-related purchases. Many also provide sign-up bonuses, which can be substantial enough to cover significant travel costs after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. Besides earning rewards, cardholders often benefit from travel protections such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency assistance services. Some premium travel credit cards offer access to exclusive airport lounges, expedited security screening, and concierge services. These features make general travel credit cards a valuable asset for frequent travelers seeking to maximize their travel experiences while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
Chase Sapphire PreferredView AllChase Sapphire Preferred - Travel rewards card with valuable points and benefits.
American Express Gold CardView AllAmerican Express Gold Card - Premium rewards card with dining, travel perks, and points.
Capital One Venture RewardsView AllCapital One Venture Rewards - Travel rewards card with flexible redemption options.
Citi Premier CardView AllCiti Premier Card - Travel rewards card with points on everyday spending.
Bank of America Travel RewardsView AllBank of America Travel Rewards - No-fee card; unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases.
Discover it MilesView AllDiscover it Miles - Travel rewards card with unlimited 1.5x miles on purchases.
Wells Fargo Propel American ExpressView AllWells Fargo Propel American Express - No-annual-fee card with cash back on multiple categories.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite CardView AllU.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card - Premium travel rewards card with high-value points and perks.
HSBC Premier World Elite MastercardView AllHSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard - Premium travel rewards card with extensive perks and benefits.
Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite MastercardView AllBarclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard - Travel rewards credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Top 10 General Travel Credit Cards
1.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards credit card known for its valuable points system and flexible redemption options. Cardholders earn 2X points on travel and dining, and 1X on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for travel, gift cards, or statement credits, often at an enhanced value. The card offers a generous sign-up bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and various travel protections, making it ideal for frequent travelers.
Pros
Generous sign-up bonus- 2x points on dining/travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Flexible rewards redemption.
Cons
$95 annual fee- Requires good/excellent credit
- Limited lounge access
- No 0% intro APR
- Higher points value with Chase portal only.
2.
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is a premium charge card offering robust rewards and benefits. Cardholders earn high points on dining, groceries, and select travel, making it ideal for foodies and frequent travelers. It features no preset spending limit, flexible payment options, and valuable perks like dining credits and travel protections. With an annual fee, it's best suited for those who can maximize its rewards and benefits. Membership includes access to exclusive events and personalized services.
Pros
- High rewards rate
- dining benefits
- travel perks
- flexible points
- strong customer service
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited acceptance
- complex rewards structure
- foreign transaction fee
- spending requirements for bonuses
3.
Capital One Venture Rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a straightforward and flexible rewards program, ideal for frequent travelers. Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, with no caps or expiration. New users can benefit from a substantial sign-up bonus if they meet the spending requirement. Miles can be redeemed for travel expenses, including flights and hotels, or transferred to partner loyalty programs, providing valuable options for maximizing rewards. The card also includes travel benefits and no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- Flexible rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Easy redemption options
- High earning rate
- Sign-up bonus
Cons
- Annual fee
- Limited transfer partners
- No intro APR
- Potential for overspending
- Requires good credit
4.
Citi Premier Card
The Citi Premier® Card is a versatile rewards credit card offering 3X points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 1X on all other purchases. It features a generous sign-up bonus and an annual $100 hotel savings benefit through Citi's ThankYou® Travel Center. Ideal for frequent travelers and everyday spenders, the card comes with an annual fee but provides valuable perks and extensive point redemption options, including travel, gift cards, and more.
Pros
- high rewards rate on travel and dining
- flexible ThankYou points
- no foreign transaction fees
- annual hotel savings benefit
- worldwide acceptance.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- no intro APR offer
- limited travel protections
- no lounge access
- high balance transfer fee.
5.
Bank of America Travel Rewards
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers a straightforward rewards program, earning 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases without any annual fee. Points can be redeemed for travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more. The card also features no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travelers. New cardholders can benefit from a generous sign-up bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement, enhancing its appeal for frequent travelers.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Unlimited 1.5 points per dollar
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible redemption options
- Introductory APR offer.
Cons
- No travel partners
- Limited travel perks
- High APR after intro period
- Requires good credit
- Limited bonus categories.
6.
Discover it Miles
The Discover it® Miles credit card is a travel rewards card that offers unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar spent on purchases. Ideal for frequent travelers, the card features no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and an easy-to-use rewards system. New cardholders benefit from an introductory offer where Discover matches all miles earned in the first year. Additional perks include flexible redemption options and access to FICO® credit scores for better financial management.
Pros
- Unlimited 1.5x miles
- No annual fee
- First-year miles match
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- Flexible redemption options.
Cons
- Limited travel perks
- No airport lounge access
- Limited transfer partners
- No introductory APR on purchases
- Requires good credit.
7.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card is a no-annual-fee rewards credit card offering significant value through its points system. Cardholders earn 3x points on a wide range of categories including dining, travel, gas stations, and streaming services, and 1x points on all other purchases. Additionally, it provides a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. The card also includes benefits like cell phone protection and no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Generous rewards on multiple categories
- Cell phone protection
- Travel benefits
- Intro APR on purchases.
Cons
- Limited acceptance of American Express
- High credit score requirement
- Foreign transaction fee
- Potentially high APR after intro period
- Limited premium perks.
8.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offering significant perks for frequent travelers. It features a generous rewards rate, particularly on travel and mobile wallet purchases, and provides an annual $325 travel credit. Cardholders enjoy complimentary airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credits, and various travel protections. The card carries a $400 annual fee but offers substantial value through its comprehensive benefits and rewards structure.
Pros
- High rewards on travel and mobile wallet purchases
- $325 annual travel credit
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Priority Pass access
- comprehensive travel insurance.
Cons
- High annual fee
- limited bonus categories
- requires excellent credit
- no introductory APR offer
- fewer transfer partners.
9.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
The HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard is a premium credit card designed for HSBC Premier clients, offering a suite of exclusive benefits and rewards. Cardholders enjoy luxury travel perks, including airport lounge access, travel insurance, and concierge services, along with accelerated reward points on purchases. Additional benefits include no foreign transaction fees and various lifestyle privileges. This card caters to affluent individuals seeking superior service and global recognition.
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Travel benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lounge access
- Concierge service.
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires HSBC Premier account
- Complicated rewards structure
- Limited domestic perks
- High spending requirement for benefits.
10.
Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
The Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is a travel rewards credit card offering 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, with miles redeemable for travel statement credits. It features a generous sign-up bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers. Cardholders also receive a 5% miles rebate on redemptions, enhancing travel rewards. Ideal for frequent travelers, the card includes World Elite Mastercard benefits such as travel insurance and concierge services.
Pros
- 2x miles on all purchases
- no foreign transaction fees
- chip and PIN capability
- generous sign-up bonus
- flexible redemption options.
Cons
- annual fee after first year
- limited airline transfer partners
- high credit score requirement
- no introductory APR
- complex reward redemption.