Earn 2x points when traveling and dining – even airfare – using this card with no annual fee and an attractive welcome bonus. Ideal for beginners looking to establish credit while earning rewards simultaneously.
Credit cards often offer attractive perks for travelers such as airline and hotel lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry statement credits and rental car insurance coverage. Before applying, it’s essential to consider these features carefully in relation to your travel habits and if they would make sense for your journeys.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an ideal option for travelers who want to earn travel rewards that may exceed its $95 annual fee. It currently features an elevated welcome bonus of 75,000 points that could equal $938 in travel rewards – one of the best offers currently available. Furthermore, this card boasts secure transfer partners and works seamlessly with other Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.
This card provides an ideal starting point for people wanting to start earning travel rewards, and also has become popular with veteran miles and points enthusiasts. Benefits of the card include no foreign transaction fees, $300 annual travel credit and access to Priority Pass Select lounges as well as Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits.
2. American Express Gold
American Express Gold Cards provide substantial rewards at restaurants and supermarkets as well as travel perks to offset its $250 annual fee (see rates and fees). Each Membership Rewards point earned on this card can be redeemed for airfare through American Express Travel or transferred to partners at approximately one cent each.
The Gold Card also comes with an attractive welcome offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first six months. While not as high-value as Sapphire Preferred cards, this still packs quite an incentive when considering annual fee costs. Be sure to ensure there’s enough redemption value from card benefits to justify annual fees before choosing this option!
3. Capital One Venture
Capital One Venture stands out as an all-around card, earning two miles for every dollar spent and offering valuable travel perks such as its elevated welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within three months, worth at least $700 in travel value.
The Venture Rewards card’s simplicity and value make it an excellent option for travelers who don’t want to deal with tracking credit card bonus categories, plus redemption of rewards through Capital One for paid travel or transfer to airline partners for increased value. In addition, its premium sibling, Venture X offers additional features at a higher annual fee.
4. Capital One Venture Rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards credit card and Spark Miles for Business are popular among people who value ease and flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming rewards. Both cards offer two miles for every dollar spent – worth approximately 1.85 cents according to TPG valuations – plus you can transfer earned miles directly to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty program partners.
Capital One Travel card offers numerous advantages to those who book travel through its portal, with no foreign transaction fees, two lounge passes annually and reimbursement of Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees every four years. Plus, its sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within three months equals approximately $750 worth of travel redemptions!
5. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey cardholders can expect a generous welcome bonus and points multipliers across travel categories – with 5X hotel points and 4X airline miles being awarded as rewards, surpassing even established cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Strata Premier and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card in terms of value proposition.
Its benefits also don’t require booking travel through its issuer’s portal to earn bonuses – which is an added perk; however, its current list of transfer partners remains rather limited.
As such, its overall value may not match that of some of its competitors; nonetheless it remains an ideal option for people who spend frequently in its bonus categories and is now the first branded card from Wells Fargo that allows users to move rewards between airlines and hotels loyalty programs.
