Top 10 Travel Credit Cards for Rewards
By Jordan Patel | Published: 2024-08-15 | Category: Travel Credit Cards
About Travel Credit Cards
Travel credit cards offer points, miles, or cash back rewards, often with enhanced earning rates on travel and dining purchases. They frequently include travel-specific benefits like airport lounge access, travel insurance, and statement credits for travel expenses.
How We Evaluated
Cards were evaluated based on their rewards earning potential, redemption flexibility and value, annual fees, welcome bonus offers, and included travel perks and protections. Scores reflect a balance of these factors relative to the card's target user.
Rating Criteria
- → Rewards Rate
- → Annual Fee Impact
- → Welcome Bonus Value
- → Travel Perks
- → Redemption Flexibility
The Best Travel Credit Cards
Discover it® Miles
Visit Website →A no-annual-fee travel card offering unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase, with a unique Miles match feature for the first year.
Target Audience
Beginners to travel rewards, Users seeking simplicity, Those maximizing first-year value
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar spent on all purchases.
- Unlimited 1.5x Miles per dollar on all purchases
First-Year Bonus
Discover automatically matches all the Miles earned at the end of the first year.
- Unlimited Bonus: Only Discover will automatically match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Scorecard (Overall: 6.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + No annual fee
- + Simple 1.5x rewards structure
- + Excellent first-year value with Miles match
- + No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- - Lower ongoing rewards rate compared to some competitors
- - Miles cannot be transferred to airline/hotel partners
- - Very few travel-specific perks
- - Lower acceptance internationally compared to Visa/Mastercard
Verdict
"A straightforward, no-fee travel card whose main draw is the incredible first-year value from the Miles match feature. Good for simple cash-equivalent travel redemptions."
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Visit Website →A no-annual-fee card offering broad 3x points categories including travel, gas, transit, dining, and streaming.
Target Audience
Budget travelers, Commuters, Users seeking broad rewards categories with no fee
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn unlimited 3x points across several popular spending categories.
- 3x points on restaurants
- 3x points on travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises)
- 3x points on gas stations
- 3x points on transit
- 3x points on popular streaming services
- 3x points on phone plans
- 1x point on other purchases
Perks
Includes cell phone protection.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to $25 deductible)
Scorecard (Overall: 6.6 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + No annual fee
- + Broad 3x bonus categories cover common expenses
- + No foreign transaction fees
- + Cell phone protection perk
Cons
- - Points typically worth 1 cent each, less potential value than transferable points
- - Limited travel-specific benefits beyond points earning
- - Wells Fargo Rewards program lacks major airline transfer partners currently
Verdict
"An excellent no-annual-fee option offering strong rewards across a wide array of categories, making it valuable for everyday spending and travel without the cost."
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Citi Premier® Card
Visit Website →A mid-tier travel card offering strong rewards across a wide range of categories including gas, supermarkets, dining, and travel.
Target Audience
Everyday spenders, Commuters, Travelers using ThankYou points
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn Citi ThankYou® Points with generous bonus categories.
- 3x points at restaurants
- 3x points at supermarkets
- 3x points at gas stations
- 3x points on air travel and hotels
- 1x point on all other purchases
Travel Perks
Includes annual hotel savings benefit and access to transfer partners.
- Annual $100 hotel savings benefit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com
- Transfer points to participating airline loyalty programs
Scorecard (Overall: 7.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$95.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + Strong earning rates across multiple common spending categories
- + Valuable ThankYou points with transfer options
- + Hotel savings benefit can offset annual fee
Cons
- - $95 annual fee
- - $100 hotel benefit requires specific booking conditions
- - Lacks extensive travel insurance compared to Chase cards
Verdict
"A strong contender for those whose spending aligns with its broad bonus categories, offering good value through ThankYou points."
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Visit Website →A no-annual-fee travel card with a simple points structure, offering bonus rewards for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members.
Target Audience
Beginners to travel rewards, Bank of America customers, Budget-conscious travelers
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn unlimited flat-rate points on all purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
- Points redeemable as statement credit for travel and dining purchases
Preferred Rewards Bonus
Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase.
- Potential to earn up to 2.62 points per $1 spent (with Platinum Honors status)
Scorecard (Overall: 6.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + No annual fee
- + No foreign transaction fees
- + Simple rewards structure
- + Potentially high rewards rate for Preferred Rewards members
Cons
- - Lower base rewards rate than some competitors
- - Limited travel perks
- - No points transfer options
Verdict
"A great no-fee option, especially compelling for Bank of America customers enrolled in Preferred Rewards who can earn boosted points."
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Visit Website →A straightforward travel card offering unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and flexible redemption options.
Target Audience
Travelers seeking simplicity, Everyday spenders wanting travel rewards
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn a flat rate of miles on all purchases.
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Travel Perks
Includes Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and access to transfer partners.
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Transfer miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs
- Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$95.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + Simple, easy-to-understand 2x miles on everything
- + Miles are flexible for covering travel or transferring
- + Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- + Moderate annual fee
Cons
- - Lacks extensive travel insurance benefits of competitors
- - Fewer bonus categories compared to Sapphire Preferred
Verdict
"A solid choice for those who prefer a simple flat-rate rewards structure for all spending and value flexible travel redemptions."
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
Visit Website →An ultra-premium card focused on delivering extensive travel perks, statement credits, and elite statuses rather than high everyday spending rewards.
Target Audience
Luxury travelers, Benefit maximizers, Airport lounge aficionados
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn Membership Rewards® points, primarily focused on travel bookings.
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel (up to $500k/year)
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel
- 1x point on other purchases
Luxury Travel Perks
Unmatched lounge access, hotel elite statuses, extensive statement credits, and premium travel services.
- Access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Priority Pass Select, Plaza Premium, and more
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
- Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Up to $200 Hotel Credit (select bookings)
- Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit (select airline)
- Up to $200 Uber Cash annually
- Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit annually
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Various other credits (digital entertainment, Equinox, CLEAR Plus)
Scorecard (Overall: 7.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$695.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + Best-in-class airport lounge access
- + Extensive statement credits can offset fee if fully utilized
- + Complimentary hotel elite statuses
- + Premium travel benefits and protections
Cons
- - Extremely high $695 annual fee
- - Low rewards rate on general spending
- - Credits can be specific and require tracking/enrollment
Verdict
"The ultimate card for luxury travelers prioritizing perks, lounge access, and elite status over rewards on everyday spend. Justifies its cost only if you heavily use the offered benefits."
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Visit Website →A premium travel rewards card with extensive travel benefits, lounge access, and high point redemption value through Chase.
Target Audience
Luxury travelers, Frequent travelers maximizing Chase points, Airport lounge users
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn bonus points on travel and dining, with enhanced rates for Chase Travel℠ portal bookings.
- 10x total points on hotels & car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5x total points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on other travel worldwide
- 3x points on dining
- 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠
Travel Perks
Includes significant annual travel credit, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and premium travel protections.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit (applied automatically to travel purchases)
- Priority Pass™ Select membership (lounge access)
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
- Premium travel insurance coverages
Scorecard (Overall: 7.6 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$550.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0 Foreign Transaction Fees
Pros
- + High point value (1.5 cents) via Chase Travel℠ portal
- + $300 easy-to-use travel credit
- + Comprehensive travel benefits and insurance
- + Priority Pass lounge access
Cons
- - Very high $550 annual fee
- - Requires significant travel/spending to justify cost over Preferred
Verdict
"A top-tier card for frequent travelers who spend heavily on travel and dining and can fully utilize the $300 travel credit and premium benefits."
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American Express® Gold Card
Visit Website →A rewards card focused heavily on dining and U.S. supermarket spending, with points transferable to travel partners.
Target Audience
Foodies, Frequent diners, U.S. grocery shoppers, Travelers using Amex points
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn Membership Rewards® points with high rates on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1x point on other purchases
Statement Credits
Offers monthly credits for dining and Uber usage.
- Up to $10 monthly statement credit for select dining partners (enrollment required)
- Up to $10 in monthly Uber Cash for U.S. rides or eats (add card to Uber account)
Scorecard (Overall: 7.2 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$250.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + Excellent earning rates for dining and U.S. supermarkets
- + Valuable Membership Rewards points with transfer partners
- + Statement credits can help offset the annual fee
Cons
- - $250 annual fee
- - Supermarket bonus capped and limited to the U.S.
- - Fewer travel-specific perks compared to dedicated travel cards
Verdict
"Ideal for those who spend heavily on dining and groceries and can leverage Amex points for travel, especially if they utilize the monthly credits."
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Visit Website →A premium travel card offering simple rewards, extensive travel credits, and airport lounge access.
Target Audience
Frequent travelers, Airport lounge users, Those seeking simple rewards
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn unlimited miles on every purchase, with boosted rates for travel booked through Capital One Travel.
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights booked via Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Travel Perks
Features annual travel credit, anniversary bonus miles, lounge access, and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles annually starting on first anniversary
- Unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and partner lounges (Priority Pass, Plaza Premium)
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$395.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
Pros
- + Annual credits largely offset the annual fee
- + Generous lounge access benefits
- + Simple flat-rate earning on everyday purchases
- + Access to transfer partners
Cons
- - High annual fee
- - Travel credit requires booking through Capital One portal
Verdict
"Excellent value for frequent travelers who can utilize the travel credits and lounge access, effectively minimizing the high annual fee."
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Visit Website →A popular mid-tier travel card offering strong rewards on travel and dining, plus flexible redemption options through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Target Audience
Frequent travelers, Points enthusiasts, Diners
Service Offerings
Rewards Program
Earn points on travel purchased through Chase, dining, online groceries, select streaming services, and all other purchases.
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining, online groceries & select streaming services
- 2x points on other travel purchases
- 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Points worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠
Travel Perks
Includes annual hotel credit, travel protections, and access to transfer partners.
- $50 Annual Hotel Credit on stays purchased through Chase Travel℠
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Baggage Delay Insurance
- 1:1 point transfer to airline and hotel partners
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Annual Fee
$95.00 / Annually
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0 Foreign Transaction Fees
Pros
- + Excellent point value through portal and transfers
- + Strong bonus categories for travel and dining
- + Robust travel insurance benefits
- + Moderate annual fee
Cons
- - $95 annual fee may not suit infrequent travelers
- - Lacks airport lounge access
Verdict
"An outstanding choice for travelers seeking high-value rewards and flexibility without a premium annual fee."
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Final Recommendation
The best travel credit card depends on individual spending habits, travel frequency, and desired perks. Premium cards like the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer extensive benefits that can justify their high fees for frequent travelers, while mid-tier options like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® provide a strong balance of rewards and value. No-fee cards like the BofA Travel Rewards and Wells Fargo Autograph℠ are excellent starting points or choices for budget-conscious users.
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