Travel credit cards provide rewards in the form of points or miles that can be redeemed for airfare, hotel stays and rental cars. When selecting a card to suit your travel needs, consider its upfront bonus, rewards rate and any added perks such as insurance policies.
Look for a card without foreign transaction fees – which typically cost about 3% of every purchase made outside of the U.S. Additionally, check if any premium benefits like airport lounge access come with the card.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has earned a stellar reputation among travel credit cards for offering generous welcome offers such as the generous welcome offer of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within three months of card membership, which could potentially translate to around $1,200 of travel through Chase Travel Portal or transfer partners.
This card comes equipped with premium features, such as $200 airline fee credit, access to airport lounges worldwide and up to $100 reimbursement of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees annually – benefits which WalletHub notes may help offset its $95 annual fee.
There are also other cards with similar earning rates in bonus categories like dining, travel and streaming services; however, many carry higher annual fees.
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve is the ideal travel credit card for travelers who seek luxurious amenities, including airport lounge access and credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. In addition, this card provides excellent rewards rates on dining and streaming service purchases as well as exceptional redemption values through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal. Furthermore, its high annual fee is offset by an annual $300 travel credit which can cover flight, hotel or rental car fees (and even some ride-share expenses).
Pay Yourself Back option allows you to redeem points with an increased 50% boost or transfer them directly to loyalty program partners for massive bonus values. Plus, this card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and provides excellent consumer protection such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance and primary auto rental coverage – not forgetting no foreign transaction fees either!
3. American Express Sapphire Reserve
American Express’ Platinum Card(r) can provide valuable rewards and luxurious travel benefits – however it comes with a high annual fee. With a healthy welcome bonus and three times points on travel and dining purchases such as Lyft rides and Uber ride purchases or reservations made through Chase Dining; plus access to top-tier lounge access and elite status status benefits – its rewards make this top-tier premium travel credit card an attractive proposition.
Recently, American Express increased their premium travel card with trip delay and interruption coverage; however, round-trip bookings must occur for it to activate (terms apply). When choosing the ideal premium travel card for you and your needs, consider which features and perks matter most in terms of costs, spending habits and desired perks.
4. United MileagePlus Explorer
The United(sm) Explorer Card provides a robust selection of travel perks and competitive earning rates for airline miles, making it a valuable travel rewards credit card option for frequent flyers of United Airlines(sm). Even with its $95 annual fee (waived the first year), its value lies in helping save money and enjoy extra benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding and annual United Club passes.
MileagePlus Explorer’s 2X miles on dining and hotel purchases makes it an attractive option for travelers who enjoy dining out frequently, while earning Premier Qualifying Points can help qualify you for Elite status faster. Furthermore, this card comes equipped with many travel protection benefits such as trip cancellation/interruption coverage as well as primary rental car collision coverage – making this card ideal for dining-out enthusiasts!
5. American Express Platinum
American Express Platinum stands out as a highly prestigious credit card on the market due to its luxurious travel benefits and generous annual travel credits. Cardholders can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 over six months, which could equal about $1.600 worth of travel with transfer partners.
Amex Travel Card provides up to $200 of annual airline fee statement credit as well as five points for airfare and hotels booked through Amex Travel, plus access to airport lounges as well as elite status with Delta, Hertz and Hilton.
However, its $695 annual fee is one of the highest in the industry and its unique benefits may not apply to most people’s traveling habits and budget. Carefully consider whether this card would make sense for you before signing up.
