Top 10 Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Travel rewards credit cards are financial products designed to offer benefits and perks to frequent travelers. These cards typically provide points or miles for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses.
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The main appeal of travel rewards credit cards lies in their ability to help users save on travel costs while also enjoying various perks. Cardholders often receive generous sign-up bonuses, which can be enough to cover a significant portion of a trip right from the start. Additionally, many travel rewards cards offer benefits such as airport lounge access, travel insurance, priority boarding, and fee waivers for foreign transactions. These perks can enhance the overall travel experience by providing comfort and convenience. However, it's important to note that travel rewards cards often come with annual fees and higher interest rates, so they are best suited for individuals who pay off their balances in full each month and travel frequently enough to justify the costs.
Chase Sapphire PreferredView AllChase Sapphire Preferred - Travel rewards card with valuable points and benefits.
American Express PlatinumView AllAmerican Express Platinum - Luxury credit card with premium rewards and exclusive benefits.
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.
Discover it MilesView AllDiscover it Miles - Travel rewards card with unlimited 1.5x miles on purchases.
Bank of America Travel RewardsView AllBank of America Travel Rewards - No-fee card; unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases.
Wells Fargo Propel American ExpressView AllWells Fargo Propel American Express - No-annual-fee card with cash back on multiple categories.
Barclaycard Arrival PlusView AllBarclaycard Arrival Plus - A travel rewards credit card with flexible redemption options.
United Explorer CardView AllUnited Explorer Card - Travel rewards card with United Airlines perks and benefits.
Hilton Honors American Express SurpassView AllHilton Honors American Express Surpass - Hilton Honors rewards with travel perks and bonus points.
Top 10 Travel Rewards 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 Platinum
The American Express Platinum Card is a premium charge card known for its extensive travel and lifestyle benefits. It offers perks such as access to exclusive airport lounges, substantial travel credits, and elite status with various hotel and rental car partners. Cardholders also enjoy comprehensive travel insurance, concierge services, and rewards points on purchases. Designed for high spenders, it comes with a significant annual fee, but its extensive array of benefits often justifies the cost for frequent travelers.
Pros
- Extensive travel rewards
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel elite status
- Concierge service
- Annual travel credits
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited acceptance
- Complicated rewards program
- No intro APR
- High spending requirement
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.
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.
6.
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.
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.
Barclaycard Arrival Plus
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus is a travel rewards credit card that offers 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. It features a generous sign-up bonus, flexible redemption options, and no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive 5% miles back when redeeming for travel. The card includes benefits like travel insurance and purchase protections, making it a strong option for frequent travelers. An annual fee may apply, but it can be offset by the rewards earned.
Pros
- Flexible rewards
- travel benefits
- no foreign transaction fees
- chip and PIN capability
- sign-up bonus.
Cons
- Annual fee
- limited transfer partners
- no domestic airline partners
- no intro APR
- high redemption threshold.
9.
United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card is a travel rewards credit card tailored for frequent United Airlines flyers. It offers perks like 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Cardholders enjoy benefits such as a free first checked bag, priority boarding, two United Club passes annually, and no foreign transaction fees. The card also provides travel protections and has an annual fee, waived the first year.
Pros
- Free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- Travel credits
- Two United Club passes
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee
- Limited lounge access
- Airline-specific rewards
- High APR
- Limited non-travel benefits
10.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a rewards credit card designed for frequent travelers. It offers generous Hilton Honors points on hotel stays, dining, and eligible purchases. Cardholders enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, priority pass for airport lounges, and a free weekend night reward after spending a specified amount annually. With no foreign transaction fees and a competitive annual fee, it's ideal for those looking to maximize their Hilton hotel stays and travel benefits.
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Complimentary Gold status
- Free weekend night
- Priority pass
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee
- Limited airline transfer partners
- High APR
- Limited point redemption options
- Restrictions on free night use