Credit cards offering travel rewards can get you closer to planning the vacation of a lifetime with every purchase, but only if they offer a competitive earn rate and strong value redemption options.
Travel credit cards often offer attractive sign-up bonuses and waive the first year’s annual fee, while providing access to lounges, airport assistance services, or fees credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications of up to $100.
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for travelers who prefer straightforward rewards collection and redemption. Earn 2x miles with all purchases, as well as 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel, for a one-time welcome bonus of 75,000 miles that covers its $95 annual fee and can be redeemed up to $750 worth of travel rewards. Plus you get complimentary airport lounge access as well as travel protection benefits!
Capital One Venture rewards can be used for travel booking at any time and any place with no minimum redemption amounts required, and no minimum transfer amounts. You can even transfer them at a 1:1 ratio with over 15 travel loyalty partners! Plus 24-hour travel assistance and no foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees for more details). However, for this card to be approved requires good to excellent credit ratings.
2. American Express Platinum Card
American Express offers many credit cards to provide travel rewards, but their Platinum card stands out with its comprehensive collection of premium features such as lounge access and hotel status upgrades. Furthermore, this card also provides airline credits, rideshare benefits and travel protections that go above and beyond standard benefits.
Before applying for an American Express Platinum Card, always review your credit rating before applying. This card requires an excellent credit score and has a high annual fee – though its travel-focused benefits could offset its higher costs.
With the Platinum Card, you can earn five Membership Rewards points per dollar on airfare purchased directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in purchases each calendar year) and four points on hotel stays booked through Amex FHR. In addition, this card provides complimentary Priority Pass Select membership as well as annual fee credits for TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership and comes equipped with premium concierge service to assist with travel planning needs.
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can provide invaluable value to those looking to reduce vacation costs, with its 1-cent-per-point redemption value and 1:1 points transfer opportunities with several hotel loyalty programs such as United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Chase offers generous earning rates for airline miles and hotel stays; earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase’s travel portal, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target or wholesale clubs) plus 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases – not forgetting an annual $50 hotel credit as well as travel protections and airport lounge access!
4. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offering an expansive suite of benefits and high-end redemption potential, such as an annual travel credit, airport lounge access and top-tier travel insurance coverages. In addition, this card boasts competitive earning rates on dining and travel purchases as well as access to an expansive list of transfer partners.
This card comes with an annual fee of $550, but you could quickly recoup half that expense annually through its convenient travel credits and other features. These include a sizzling sign-up bonus, premium travel perks and travel credits worth hundreds each year – not to mention earning 5x points when booking flights through Chase Travel and 10x points when making hotel, car rental or restaurant reservations through its travel portal or service – not forgetting up to $300 reimbursement each year in statement credits as reimbursement of qualifying travel expenses!
