Travel credit cards often offer attractive rewards rates on spending related to travel, with additional perks such as lounge access and trip protections available as added features.
Airline travel cards typically offer frequent flyer miles that are redeemable with just one airline, while hotel credit cards often include additional perks and services.
American Express’ Platinum Card comes with an astronomical annual fee, but its many perks may make it well worth your while for frequent travelers.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the most versatile travel rewards cards on the market, providing great value through Ultimate Rewards travel portal and 1:1 point transfers to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Furthermore, this card comes equipped with useful travel benefits like $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credits and trip cancellation/interruption coverage for added peace of mind when traveling abroad.
However, this card might not be appropriate for everyone due to its $95 annual fee. To minimize costs further and protect yourself more fully from card expenses, look into premium travel cards with robust perks and protections such as Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa Credit Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card instead.
2. American Express Platinum
American Express’ Platinum Card boasts superior rewards rates and luxury benefits like airport lounge access and hotel elite status; plus it provides annual statement credits that many people find worth paying for if they travel only occasionally. Unfortunately, however, its high annual fee may make this card unsuitable for most users who travel only occasionally.
To maximize its benefits, the Platinum Card requires both excellent credit and plenty of points-earning opportunities – such as pairing it with other Amex point-earning cards to maximize value in categories like dining, transit and supermarket purchases where its bonus categories don’t provide optimal values. You must also consider what value will come from its various perks and protections such as purchase protection and travel insurance.
3. Capital One Quicksilver
Capital One Quicksilver card provides a straightforward rewards system designed for anyone who finds tracking bonus categories complicated or cumbersome. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases without restrictions such as categories or spending limits; additionally you will also get an additional 5% rebate when booking through Capital One Travel for hotels and rental cars booked through them – not only that, there are no annual fee or foreign transaction fees charged which makes this card ideal if traveling is part of your routine.
This card comes with an attractive introductory APR period and provides you with a $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 within three months of opening an account. Redeem your rewards for cash statement credits, merchandise or travel.
4. Discover It
Discover is an ideal card for less-frequent travelers with strong to excellent credit (typically 670 FICO score or higher). This no-annual-fee rewards card earns unlimited 1.5 miles for every dollar spent, and matches them all back at the end of your first year, making this one of the most lucrative welcome offers available on a non-transferable travel credit card. Miles earned can also be redeemed at equal redemption rates toward cash back or statement credits toward travel expenses.
Discover cards are known for having some of the lowest rates and fees you’ll find among credit cards, with no annual fee, foreign transaction fees waived and no penalty APR for late payments (up to $41). Unfortunately, other travel cards offer additional features, like trip cancellation insurance or purchase protection that Discover doesn’t offer.
5. American Express Gold
American Express Gold is a premium travel card designed for frequent travelers with excellent credit. This card provides generous welcome bonuses and ongoing rewards as well as dining and travel credits – perfect for frequent flyers looking to maximize their points by transferring them onto airline and hotel partners.
Foodies and travelers who regularly make purchases in bonus categories could find that this card is well worth its $250 annual fee, as it offers one of the highest reward rates for restaurant, U.S. supermarket purchases and airfare purchases, along with rich dining-focused statement credits and five-star rewards value for airfare purchases. Alternatively, other cards like Capital One Venture Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred may provide more travel protection features with lower annual fees – options which could include Capital One Venture card and Chase Sapphire Preferred.
