Travel credit cards provide rewards such as miles and points on purchases that can be redeemed for free flights, seat upgrades and more. They also come equipped with money-saving features like free checked bags and priority boarding as well as valuable purchase and travel insurance policies to save even more.
Card benefits and perks vary, with premium options typically offering airline and hotel transfer partners, best-in-market travel insurance policies, as well as access to global entry or TSA PreCheck programs.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out among travel rewards credit cards with its generous welcome bonus, high earning rates and numerous travel perks. In addition, this card boasts multiple redemption options that provide high redemption values.
This includes redeeming points for travel credit valued up to 1.25 cents per point and transferring them 1:1 airline and hotel partners. In addition, no foreign transaction fees exist so that international purchases could save an average of 3 percent or more!
As this is a premium credit card, a solid FICO score and credit history will help to get approved.
2. American Express Platinum
For frequent travelers looking to elevate their luxury travel experience, the Platinum Card is a fantastic choice. This premium rewards credit card provides valuable airline and hotel credits, an additional $20 digital entertainment credit per month (not carried over), primary rental car insurance coverage benefits and much more.
Eligible new cardholders who spend $6,000 within six months can qualify for a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth $800 towards flights when redeemed through American Express Travel; additionally, points transfer easily between multiple frequent flyer programs and loyalty hotels; travel protections are included as well as premium concierge service – making the card’s annual fee seem worthwhile compared with others on the market.
3. Barclaycard Arrival Plus
Barclaycard Arrival Plus is an approachable card with unique benefits not found elsewhere. As an incentive for opening and using it within 90 days of spending $5,000 within that time, this card offers a generous sign-up bonus of 70,000 Arrival miles worth $700 in travel statement credits when spending that sum within that timeframe.
This card rewards you with two miles for every dollar spent, unlike competing travel cards that offer limited bonus categories or require you to use specific categories. Your rewards redemptions are returned as statement credits that erase expenses you paid with this card.
Barclaycard also waives foreign transaction fees, making this card especially appealing to travelers. Furthermore, its rewards don’t expire, enabling you to build up an abundance of rewards without fear that they will slowly diminish over time.
4. Capital One Venture Rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards stands out from co-branded cards by offering more flexible travel solutions, with no restrictions to airlines or hotel brands when redeeming miles for travel. Furthermore, foreign transaction fees are waived and valuable travel protection such as trip cancellation/delay coverage is included as standard with this card.
Sign-up bonuses of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within three months is equivalent to around $1,388 worth of travel according to TPG valuations, while annual fees may be slightly higher than other premium travel cards – they come with additional features that more than offset this cost.
Frequent travelers looking for ease in earning and redeeming rewards should consider this card, while smart travelers could pair it with cards that offer Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou points to augment their portfolios.
5. Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Card stands out among no-annual-fee travel credit cards with its outstanding earning potential and comprehensive travel protections, offering a sign-up bonus and 3x rewards on common spending categories like restaurants, travel and transit, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations and popular streaming services like popular streaming services as well as cell phone plans.
Foreign transaction fees should be standard with any travel credit card; this card doesn’t. Unfortunately, though, this card doesn’t offer transfer partners or premium travel perks such as airport lounge access or free checked bags that typically come with more costly travel cards; those looking for something more rewarding might want to consider the Citi Double Cash or Capital One Savor Rewards instead.
