The best travel credit card comes with a variety of perks and upgrades. These upgrades can transform your next trip from inexpensive to opulent without spending additional money. These benefits go beyond great cash-back, points, or miles incentives. The best credit card for travelers can offer a variety of benefits that can elevate your travels to a new level. Also, in addition to earning points or miles for use on subsequent trips.
You can learn more about the top travel credit card for 2023 in this article.
Best Travel Credit Cards
No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance, and various travel credits are among the features of travel cards that are available. By providing lounge access and credits for accelerated airport security, more premium credit cards take things to the next level.
If you’re paying a high annual fee, think carefully before applying for a new card about how you’ll use it. Also, think about how to maximize the points to get the most out of the rewards program.
As a result of the high-interest rates associated with many of these cards, it’s also crucial to make sure you can pay off your balance in full and on time each month.
#1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one the best all-around travel credit card due to its adaptability. It has the advantage of not charging foreign transaction fees, which makes it a great option for travelers from abroad.
Earn miles at a flat rate for every purchase, with no cap on how many miles you can accumulate.
However, the value of miles used with specific travel partners is lower. The amount of spending necessary to reach the sign-up bonus threshold can be pricey.
You will receive a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of the account opening. This is equal to $750 in travel.
#2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Given all the benefits this well-liked travel card offers, it ought to be simple to make back the $95 fee. Its rewards program is among the best, allowing you to exchange your points for travel through the Ultimate Rewards website. You can also transfer them to the airline or hotel loyalty programs.
The card advertises substantial long-term advantages such as anniversary bonus points and travel credits. As well as travel safety features like trip cancellation insurance and a car rental collision damage waiver.
After making $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, earn 60,000 bonus points. Using Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you can redeem that for $750. On the other hand, doesn’t offer advantages unique to airlines or hotels, like free checked bags, or free nights.
#3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
This is one of the least expensive premium travel cards available, despite having a high annual fee. Free access to the lounge, bonus rewards categories with high earning potential, etc., all help frequent travelers easily recoup dues.
When you make purchases totaling $4,000 in the first three months after opening your account, equalling $750 in travel, you’ll earn 75,000 bonus miles.
Get up to $300 in annual statement credits for Capital One Travel reservations. Some benefits are absent from other premium travel cards, like airline which can earn you perks like room upgrades.
#4. American Express Gold Card
Due to its generous rewards rates, the American Express® Gold Card is a wise decision for customers who enjoy dining out and traveling. Although there is a $250 annual fee for the card, there are several luxury rewards that help it make up.
Regarding dining rewards, this card has one of the highest market rates currently available. The card boasts an impressive array of travel benefits and protections, including hotel upgrades. However, when compared to other credit cards, the $250 annual fee is somewhat expensive. Only direct airline bookings or those made on AmexTravel.com qualify for 3X rewards on flights.
#5. The Chase Sapphire Reserve
Along with other benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a generous point system and offers a $300 annual travel credit. If cardholders strategically use the card, make sufficient purchases in the reward categories, and take advantage of the supplemental benefits, the $550 annual fee is well spent. Chase Ultimate Rewards offers a 50% bonus on points that are redeemed through their program.
The $300 annual statement credit can be used to partially defray the cost of the annual fee. However, some first-time cardholders may be put off by the high annual fee. This card doesn’t offer as many luxury travel benefits as some of its rival luxury cards.
After making purchases totaling $4,000 within the first three months of account opening, you will receive 60,000 bonus points.
#6. Platinum Card from America Express
The abundance of travel benefits offered by The Platinum Card from American Express will appeal to luxury travelers and heavy consumers. Just be sure to account for the value of the numerous benefits and the high rewards rates when calculating the $695 annual fee.
After making $6,000 in purchases with your new Card during the first six months of card membership, earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points. Receive up to $200 in statement credits for baggage fees and other airline fees at one particular qualifying airline each calendar year.
Earn up to $500,000 in Membership Rewards® Points annually for flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. Hotel reservations made in advance through American Express Travel will earn you 5X Membership Rewards® Points.
#7. Citi Premier Card
The Citi Premier Card has a lot going for it, including the ability to earn bonus rewards on purchases other than just travel. This is a good travel card for regular shoppers who want to pay a low annual fee because it comes with a sizable sign-up bonus. Numerous travel companies partner with Citi.
For travelers who don’t travel often, the card’s ability to earn points on regular purchases makes it a good choice, but it does not include travel protections like travel insurance. Customers with strict spending restrictions might object to the annual fee.
If you make purchases totaling $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account, you will receive ThankYou® Points. Get three points for every dollar spent at restaurants and supermarkets, as well as three points for every dollar spent at gas stations, airports, and hotels.
#8. Wells Fargo Autograph Card
For households that are always on the move and only travel occasionally but still want to earn rewards on their everyday purchases without paying an annual fee, the Wells Fargo Autograph card is a great choice. It’s one of the few entry-level travel cards that offer substantial bonus rewards for dining out as well as the majority of your travel expenses, such as gas stations, public transportation, air travel, and hotels.
This credit card has one of the highest welcome bonuses for a credit card that doesn’t charge annual fees. You are unable to transfer your points to airlines or hotels as you could with conventional travel cards. Your final variable APR after the introductory purchase APR period could be high, depending on your creditworthiness.
Earn unlimited 3X points on purchases that add up the most, such as those made at restaurants, on trips, at gas stations, on public transportation, at popular streaming services, and on phone plans.
#9. Ink Business Preferred
The sign-up bonus for the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is one of the best ones we’ve seen from Chase. Earn points in addition to the most well-liked by businesses travel, shipping, advertising, and telecommunications providers.
The card offers travel and shopping protections, as well as primary coverage for car rentals made for business purposes by you and your employees. One of the largest sign-up bonuses we’ve seen: is 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 in the first three months after receiving the card.
Affordable annual fee of $95. Benefits include trip cancellation/interruption insurance, extended warranty, trip delay reimbursement, and subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule on card applications.
#10. Discover It Miles
This Discover card is an additional choice for those looking for a low-cost travel credit card. It combines strong flat-rate rewards with benevolent terms for customers, like no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. As part of a generous welcome offer, after your first year, all miles accrued will be matched.
When miles are redeemed for cash back, they retain their value. However, you will be without fairly common travel benefits like travel insurance and car rental damage protection.
The rewards program’s structure is rigid; you can’t transfer your miles or use them to make travel arrangements.
At the end of your first year, Discover is the only credit card that will match all of your Miles in an unlimited amount. With no yearly fee, you can automatically earn 1.5 times as many miles on every dollar spent.
#11. Chase Freedom Unlimited
To be eligible to apply for Chase Freedom Unlimited, you must have good to excellent credit, which means your FICO credit score must be at least 670. Consumers who are wary of fees and want to earn rewards for specific purchases may find this card to be a good choice. However, customers who want a more straightforward rewards program or who carry a balance each month ought to look into their other options. provides a decent sign-up bonus.
Cash-back redemption has no minimum. The majority of U.S. checking and savings accounts allow for direct deposit or statement credits. While your account is active, Cash Back rewards are still valid. Enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchases made through Ultimate Rewards® after your first year or $20,000 in spending. Additionally, you’ll receive an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases in addition to 3% cash back on purchases from pharmacies and dining out, including delivery services that qualify.
#12. US Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
If you plan to spend a lot of money traveling or use your credit card to buy groceries and streaming services, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card may be a wise choice. This card offers rewards for other purchases in addition to earning four points for every dollar spent on travel and gas. Additionally, new users who fulfill the card’s spending requirement have the opportunity to receive a $500 welcome bonus.
The first year’s payment is zero dollars, followed by 95 dollars. Additionally, the card has a fairly high-interest rate, so to maximize its benefits, you must pay the balance in full each month.
If you make $2,000 in qualifying purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account, you’ll receive 50,000 bonus points, worth $500.
Points have no time limit. If your mobile phone is damaged or stolen, you could receive up to $600 in compensation when you pay your monthly phone bill with the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card.
#13. Capital One Venture One Reward Credit Card
You won’t need to keep track of numerous bonus categories when you can earn rewards on every purchase thanks to the simple 1.25 miles per dollar rate and no annual fee! You can use your rewards in addition to the 40,000-mile sign-up bonus to pay for travel, transfer them to Capital One’s loyalty partners, and more.
After spending $1,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account, you’ll receive a bonus of 40,000 miles.
Use your miles to reserve or pay for travel at a 1-cent rate, or transfer your miles to loyalty programs to get rewards that could be worth even more. For your typical purchase categories, other credit cards might reward you more.
There are no major American airlines among the Capital One airline transfer partners. Additionally, there aren’t any annual or international transaction fees. You can earn as many miles as you want, and they are good for the entire time that your account is open.
#14. Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students
Students who intend to study abroad or travel during breaks should consider the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students. Cardholders earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on all purchases as part of the rewards program, which is focused on travel.
This card is perfect for students who are studying abroad because there are no foreign transaction fees. Although we advise paying off your balance promptly and in full each month, the full year of no interest is a fantastic way for you to make payments on new purchases over time without being charged interest.
To be eligible for this card, you must be at least 18 years old and enrolled in school (college, a trade school, or both).
#15. Delta Sky Miles Reserve American Express Card
For frequent Delta flyers, just having access to Sky Club alone makes the annual fee worthwhile. Then, there’s the free first-checked bag when flying Delta, priority boarding, bonus MQM miles toward Elite status, plus the annual companion certificate for eligible domestic flights (plus taxes and fees).
However, the card’s general appeal is diminished by its subpar mileage earning rates. Both first-class and economy classes can use the annual companion certificate, but the regular APR is high.
Companion Certificate is only good for domestic flights, and one guest is allowed free access to the Sky Club. Earn 3X Miles when you buy from Delta. With this travel card, you can earn 1X miles on all other eligible purchases and pay no foreign transaction fees.
#16. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
For frequent travelers who stay at the biggest hotel chain in the world for a few nights or more each year, this card offers excellent long-term value.
There are many opportunities to make up for the $95 annual fee, such as a free night every year following the anniversary of your account (up to 35,000 points), a high rewards rate in the well-liked, useful bonus categories of travel, groceries, gas, and dining purchases, as well as a flat rate of 2X points on all other eligible purchases. Only Marriott hotels are eligible to accept your rewards.
Therefore, if you don’t frequently use the brand, you’ll benefit more from a different hotel credit card or a general-purpose travel rewards card, which gives you more options for using your rewards.
#17. Bilt MasterCard
This card features a remarkably robust travel rewards program — especially for a card with no annual fee — in addition to assisting you in avoiding transaction fees and earning rewards when you use it to pay rent. It’s the only card that enables you to avoid the costs usually related to using a credit card to pay for rent.
Thanks to the issuer’s extensive network of transfer partners, Bilt receives some of the most valuable travel rewards available. Rewards can only be used for travel and shopping, paying rent, or as a down payment for a future home.
A welcome bonus is absent. Even those without an annual fee, the majority of competing travel cards provide at least a $200 bonus. Gain up to 50,000 points annually by earning up to 1x points on rent payments made without a transaction fee.
#18. Credit One Wander Card
This card is not only accessible to those with only fair credit, but it also has a generous rewards program with high rewards rates in several important travel categories, such as hotels, airfare, and gas.
If you want to earn travel rewards while improving your credit score, this is one of the few travel rewards cards that are available. The card’s 10,000-point sign-up bonus, which is earned after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, is sufficient to cover the annual fee for the first year in full.
If building credit is more important to you than earning rewards, this card might not be the best option because its annual fee is higher than that of other cards you can get with fair credit.
It might be worthwhile to work on your credit with a less expensive card before you concentrate on earning rewards because other travel cards might offer better benefits and value at this price point.
#19. Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
Due to its lack of an annual fee and lack of foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card makes a fantastic first card. There are no complicated bonus categories to remember and no restrictions on how you can use your points; earning and using points is simple.
As opposed to other banks like American Express, Chase, or Capital One, Bank of America does not charge an annual fee and does not charge fees for international transactions. Protections for purchases and travel are absent.
Gain an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases, without paying an annual fee or any fees for international transactions, and your points never expire.
Cardholders who frequently travel and desire a simple, high-value rewards card should consider this credit card. Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program offers more points for customers who have banking or investment accounts with the company. earns these rewards rates:
To receive this $500 welcome bonus, you must spend $3,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account. According to our opinion, this is one of the best sign-up bonuses due to its value and a low required spending amount.
The card has a broad range of protections that can be useful if anything goes wrong with your travel plans or any purchases you make. Travel insurance offers coverage for things like trip interruptions, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and delayed baggage. Insurance against damage or theft and extended warranty coverage are examples of purchase safeguards.
#21. Hilton Honors Aspire Card From America Express
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is the company’s flagship card and comes with premium benefits and a price to match. It’s best for high-spending customers who visit Hilton properties frequently enough to benefit from the extensive benefits package that comes with free Diamond status.
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after making $4,000 in card-related purchases during the first three months of card membership. On additional qualifying purchases, earn 3X the normal bonus Hilton Honors points.
Priority Pass is free. Upon enrollment, you can receive up to $600 in statement credits and instant Hilton Diamond status, which comes with a wealth of benefits.
Is It Better to Use a Travel Card or a Credit Card?
Some travel cards allow you to load multiple currencies onto a single card, which is different from debit or credit cards.
Which Credit Card Do Billionaires Use?
The American Express Centurion® Card, also known as the Amex Black Card, is the credit card that billionaires are most likely to use because it has special benefits and is only available to high-net-worth people.
What Is the Credit Card Limit for a $200000 Salary?
A credit limit over $10,000 is possible if you have a FICO score of 820 and a $200,000 yearly income. You might be eligible for a starter credit card with a $300 limit if your credit score is 660 and you have a part-time job.
Conclusion
Credit cards for travel are made to make it easier for you to accumulate points, miles, or cash back on all of your travel-related purchases, including flights, lodging, rental cars, train tickets, and more.
However, only the best travel credit cards will award you with points and rewards when you make regular purchases like gas, dining, and streaming services. You should use one of the best travel credit cards if you frequently travel or if you simply want to start accruing points for travel with regular purchases.
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