The best travel credit card earns points or miles on every purchase, bringing your next trip closer. Enjoy flexible rewards, or exclusive perks with airline and hotel cards!
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1x-5x points
Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
Earn 2x points on all other travel purchases.
Earn 1x points on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Pros:
You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not booked through Chase; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Points are worth 25% more — 1.25 cents apiece — when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen airline and hotel programs.
Cons:
Chase’s no-annual-fee cash back cards now offer competitive rewards on dining and some travel when compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. However, those cards don’t offer the enhanced redemption value and point-transfer options of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and they also charge foreign transaction fees.
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 2x-5x miles
Intro Offer: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, every day.
Card Details:
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options.
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel.
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.
Pros:
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps travel rewards simple with unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel — all for a modest $95 annual fee. Plus, its hefty sign-up bonus — Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel — gives your mileage balance a huge early boost.
Cons:
Unlike some competitors, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card doesn’t offer bonus rewards on common spending categories like dining or gas — it’s a flat 2x miles on everything outside of Capital One Travel bookings. And it lacks the premium travel perks — think lounge access beyond two visits or annual credits — you’d get with higher-fee cards.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $395
Rewards Rate: 2x-10x miles
Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel.
Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
Redeem your miles for any travel purchase or book through Capital One Travel.
Enjoy unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network.
Pros:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card maximizes travel portal benefits with 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus a $300 annual travel credit that offsets its $395 annual fee. Add in unlimited lounge access for you and two guests at 1,300+ locations and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth $100 in travel), and it’s a premium card that delivers serious value.
Cons:
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card’s $395 annual fee might feel steep if you don’t maximize its travel credits or lounge access, especially compared to lower-fee options. And its rewards rate drops to just 2x miles on everyday purchases outside the travel portal, trailing cards with richer bonus categories.
4. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1.5% – 5% cash back
Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.49% – 28.24%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card.
Pros:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® combines valuable everyday bonus categories with a unique sign-up bonus for new cardholders: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back! Beyond the sign-up bonus period, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases, plus higher rates in several popular spending categories — including 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases — all with no annual fee.
Cons:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card’s rewards lose some of their value unless paired with a premium Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which allow you to transfer your cash-back points to valuable airline and hotel partners. And it charges a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not great for use overseas.
5. American Express® Gold Card
Rating: 5.0 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
Rewards Rate: 1x-4x points
Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer Ends 11/6/2024.
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on Restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer Ends 11/6/2024.
Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on dining at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: Get $10 monthly to use on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: Get up to $7 monthly credits towards Dunkin’ purchases when you enroll and pay with your Gold Card.
Pros:
The American Express® Gold Card delivers big rewards on everyday spending with 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x), plus 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. Those points, plus up to $344 in annual credits — including $120 for dining, $120 for Uber Cash and $84 for Dunkin’ — can easily offset the card’s $325 annual fee if you use them.
Cons:
The American Express® Gold Card’s $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) can sting if you don’t max out its dining and travel credits or spend heavily in its bonus categories. And it offers no airport lounge access or premium travel protections, which you might expect at this price point.
6. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards Rate: 1x-5x points
Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip!
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels.
Earn 4X points on airlines.
Earn 3X points on other travel and restaurants.
Earn 1X points on other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip!
Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
Get up to $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
Redeem points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits.
$95 annual fee.
Pros:
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out among general-purpose travel cards because it pays its highest rewards rates on travel bookings made directly with airlines and hotels, rather than requiring you to go through the issuer’s travel agency, where prices might not be competitive. The points are flexible, you get a good bonus offer, and the card comes with a few other nice perks.
Cons:
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card doesn’t offer lounge access or some of the more deluxe travel perks — like annual credits beyond the $50 for airlines — that you’d get with higher-fee premium travel cards. And its rewards rate on non-travel, non-dining spending is just 1x points, which lags behind flat-rate competitors.
7. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rating: 4.5 NerdWallet rating
Annual Fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
Rewards Rate: 1x-5x points
Intro Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Breakdown:
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Card Details:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection®: Unlock access to 1,400+ airport lounges across 140+ countries, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass™, and more (enrollment required for select benefits).
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
Pros:
The Platinum Card® from American Express screams VIP travel with access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide via the Global Lounge Collection®, plus up to $200 in annual airline fee credits and a $200 hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings. Add 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year on flights), and its perks can far outweigh the $695 annual fee for frequent travelers.
Cons:
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a sky-high $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), which can be hard to justify if you don’t travel enough to use its luxury perks or credits. And its rewards rate drops to just 1x points on everyday purchases outside of travel, trailing cards with broader bonus categories.
