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Best travel credit cards of March 2024

Updated March 14, 2024

Travel credit cards help you earn valuable points and miles on your purchases. For maximum value, some cards earn rewards not only on travel, but also everyday purchases like dining, groceries and gas. You can redeem these rewards for free or discounted flights, hotel stays or to cover other travel-related expenses.

The best travel cards also come with additional features. Even no-annual-fee travel cards are likely to offer perks like sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and travel insurance. But for top-of-the-line benefits like airport lounge access, elite status and travel credits, expect to pay an annual fee.

Best for intro APR
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$250

Offer valuation

Info

1.5X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best starter travel card
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1200

Offer valuation

Info

1x - 5x

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for luxury travel
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
4.8
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1600

Offer valuation

Info

5X - 5X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
Best for foodies
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1200

Offer valuation

Info

3X - 4X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for flat-rate rewards
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1275

Offer valuation

Info

2 Miles - 5 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Best for no annual fee
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$340

Offer valuation

Info

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for everyday spending
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Info
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$960

Offer valuation

Info

1X - 3X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
Best for practical perks
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Excellent (740 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1275

Offer valuation

Info

2 Miles - 10 Miles

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST FOR PAIRING
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

Info

1.5% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Best for first-year value
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

Info

1.5X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Best for gas
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$200

Offer valuation

Info

1X - 3X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST STARTER AIRLINE CARD
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$750

Offer valuation

Info

1X - 2X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
BEST FOR FAIR CREDIT
Rating: 3.3 stars out of 5
3.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Credit One Bank's secure site
Fair to Good (580 – 740)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

N/A

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

Info

1X - 10X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
BEST FOR COMPANION TICKETS
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
4.7
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1080

Offer valuation

Info

1X - 3X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST NO-ANNUAL-FEE HOTEL CARD
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$600

Offer valuation

Info

3X - 7X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
BEST FOR TRANSFER PARTNERS
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

N/A

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Offer valuation

Info

1X Points - 3X Points

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

BEST LUXURY HOTEL CARD
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

Intro offer

Info

$1295

Offer valuation

Info

2X - 6X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for expedited security screening
Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Info
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$600

Offer valuation

Info

1.5X - 2X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
Best for point values
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Excellent (740 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1200

Offer valuation

Info

1x - 10x

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit AmericanExpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex assurance company.


The information about the American Express® Green Card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuers.

Compare Bankrate's best travel credit cards of 2024

Card name Rewards highlights Welcome offer
Annual fee
Bankrate review score

1.5X points on all purchases (1.87X to 2.62X points, if a Preferred Rewards member)

 
Intro Offer: 25,000 points
Info
$0

4.1 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
 

3X points on dining and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)

2X points on other travel purchases

25% more value per point toward Ultimate Rewards travel redemption

 
Intro Offer: 60,000 bonus points
Info
$95

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year), and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
Intro Offer: Earn 80,000 points
Info
$695

4.8 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats and other eligible U.S. delivery services) and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X points)

3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via the American Express Travel portal

 
Intro Offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Info
$250

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 

2X miles on other purchases

Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 miles
Info
$95

4.9 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Earn 5X miles on on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
 
1.25X miles on other purchases
Intro Offer: 20,000 miles
Info
$0

4.1 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

3X points on restaurant, supermarkets, gas station, air travel and hotel purchases

10X total points on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) through the Citi Travel℠ portal (through June 30, 2024)

 
Intro Offer: 60,000 points
Info
$95

4.7 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.

2X miles on other purchases

Intro Offer: 75,000 miles
Info
$395

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and Chase Travel
 
3% cash back on drugstores and dining at restaurants
 
1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Intro Offer: Up to $300 cash back
Info
$0

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

1.5X miles on all purchases

Intro Offer: Discover Match®
Info
$0

4.1 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
3X points on purchases at restaurants, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, as well on travel, transit, select streaming services and phone plans
Intro Offer: 20,000 bonus points
Info
$0

4.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

2X points on Southwest purchases, local transit and commuting (including ride-shares) and internet, cable, phone and select streaming services

Intro Offer: Earn 50,000 points
Info
$69

4.3 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

10X points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel site 

5X points on eligible travel including flights, dining, and gas purchases

 
Intro Offer: N/A
$95

3.3 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Credit One Bank's secure site

3X miles on Delta flights and transactions made directly with hotels;

2X miles at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants

 
Intro Offer: Earn 90,000 miles
Info
$350

4.7 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

7X points on direct Hilton hotel and resort bookings

5X points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants

3X points on all other purchases

 
Intro Offer: Earn 100,000 points
Info
$0

4.4 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

3X points on dining

2X points on travel

1X points on rent payments (up to a maximum 100,000 points per year)

(Must make five posted transactions each statement to earn points)

 
Intro Offer: N/A
None

4.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site

6X points for eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties (up to 21X points through the Bonvoy loyalty program with Platinum Elite status)

3X points at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines 

2X points on all other purchases

 
Intro Offer: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
Info
$650

4.5 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

2X points on travel and dining (2.5X to 3.5X points, if a Preferred Rewards member)

1.5X points on all other purchases (1.87X to 2.62X points, if a Preferred Rewards member)

 
Intro Offer: 60,000 points
Info
$95

4.2 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site

10X total points on hotel, car rental and Chase Dining bookings through Chase Travel℠.

5X total points on air travel through Chase Travel℠.

3X points on other travel and dining.

50% more value per point toward Chase Travel℠ redemption.

 
Intro Offer: 60,000 bonus points
Info
$550

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Image of American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card
3X points on eligible dining, transit and travel purchases (including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, vacation rentals and travel purchases through third-party travel websites and the American Express Travel portal)
Intro Offer: Earn 40,000 points
Info
$150

A closer look at Bankrate's top travel credit cards

Image of Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

BEST FOR INTRO APR

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Unlike some travel rewards cards, this card lets you redeem rewards for more than just typical travel costs like airfare and hotels. You can also redeem points for statement credits to cover purchases at zoos, art galleries, aquariums, travel agencies and more.

Occasional travelers looking for a no-annual-fee travel card that offers a simple flat rate for all purchases.

Points don’t expire as long as your account remains open and you can redeem for bookings with any airline or hotel anytime without blackout dates. You can also redeem points for statement credits to pay for travel or dining purchases.

The Bilt Mastercard is another solid no-annual-fee travel card, but it stands out by earning points on rent payments and helping you avoid processing fees typically associated with paying rent with a credit card. You’ll also earn bonus points for dining and travel and, unlike many no-annual-fee cards, you can transfer your points to high-value airline and hotel partners.

Image of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

BEST STARTER TRAVEL CARD

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On top of an outstanding sign-up bonus, you get travel and purchase protections and a rewards program that earns points on both travel and everyday purchases, like online groceries and streaming services.

This is a great travel card for people with 2023 travel plans, as Chase recently updated its sign-up bonus to 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. If you redeem these points for travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards, they're worth 1.25 cents each, making the whole bonus worth up to $750 in travel.

You’ll get up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase and your points are worth 25 percent more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through the Chase travel portal. 

The Citi Premier® Card not only has a comparable sign-up bonus and the same annual fee as the Sapphire Preferred, but also covers even more everyday categories, including  supermarkets and gas stations, potentially making it a better fit as a standalone rewards card. 

Image of The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for luxury travel

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If you can take advantage of all the high-value benefits packed in this card, it could be one of the most lucrative on the market. You’ll have a chance at a huge welcome offer, annual statement credits worth over $1,000 and access to Priority Pass Select lounges, Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for Delta flights only).

Frequent travelers who enjoy luxury travel benefits and elite status.

Along with comprehensive lounge access, you can take advantage of an up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash (benefit renews annually), an up to $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit and several other benefits.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a taste of luxury at a much lower cost than the Amex Platinum. For a $395 annual fee, travelers unlock a generous travel rewards rate, a higher rewards rate on general purchases, complimentary access to popular airport lounge memberships and valuable annual travel credits and anniversary miles (See Rates & Fees).

Image of American Express® Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card

BEST FOR FOODIES

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It offers high rewards rates and a ton of valuable perks for foodies and frequent travelers alike, including hundreds in annual dining, hotel and rideshare credits. These benefits make the card’s annual fee more than worth it.

Foodies and frequent travelers looking to earn rewards on everyday spending.

Receive up to $240 in annual credits combined between Uber Cash and dining credits as well as a boosted 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel Portal.

If the Amex Gold Card’s annual fee sounds high, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It carries key travel perks, high travel and dining rewards rates, and a much lower annual fee.

Image of Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

BEST FOR FLAT-RATE REWARDS

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It offers an easy way to earn travel rewards, comes with a generous sign-up bonus and has several travel and purchase protections for a modest annual fee of $95. (See Rates & Fees)

Travelers who want to earn rewards at a flat rate on all purchases and enjoy flexibility in how they redeem their miles.

Get a credit worth up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and transfer your miles to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty programs, often for a higher redemption value.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a higher rewards rate in some everyday spending categories and potentially more valuable points. Your points are worth 1.25 cents each if you redeem for travel through Chase, versus the 1 cent per mile value you’d get with the Venture.

Image of Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

BEST FOR NO ANNUAL FEE

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This entry-level travel rewards card comes with a decent sign-up bonus, the chance to earn flat-rate miles on all purchases and the option to transfer miles to travel partners without owing an annual fee. (See Rates & Fees)

Occasional travelers looking to earn flexible travel rewards without paying an annual fee.

You can transfer your miles to over 15 loyalty programs, redeem them for travel through the Capital One Travel portal or use them to cover outside travel purchases — a unique level of redemption flexibility for a no-annual-fee travel card.
A general-purpose flat-rate credit card that offers 2X points or 2 percent cash back on all purchases may bring more value if you don’t travel often and aren’t ready to upgrade to a travel rewards credit card with an annual fee.
Image of Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card

BEST FOR EVERYDAY SPENDING

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This mid-level travel card earns rewards at a high rate on both travel and everyday spending, making it a great standalone rewards option. It also comes with an annual hotel credit that can offset the card’s annual fee on its own.

Occasional travelers who want to earn travel rewards on everyday purchases like groceries, gas and dining.

 You’ll earn a $100 statement credit when you book a single hotel stay of $500 or more through Citi. The card also carries no foreign transaction fees.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred boasts fewer everyday bonus categories, but it may offer more valuable rewards. Chase points are worth 25 percent more than Citi points when you redeem for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

Image of Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

BEST FOR PRACTICAL PERKS

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This card offers a great mix of practical, valuable perks, including complimentary lounge access and a high rewards rate for both travel and non-travel purchases. It also comes with a relatively low annual fee compared to other luxury travel cards (See Rates & Fees). 

Travelers looking to sample luxury benefits without paying over $400 in annual fees.

You’ll get $300 in annual credits for travel bookings made through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles each year on your account anniversary and access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

If a higher annual fee is no issue, consider the Platinum Card from American Express. It’s a top choice for frequent travelers thanks to its impressive welcome offer and luxury perks like annual travel credits, lounge access and hotel elite status.

Image of Discover it® Miles

Discover it® Miles

BEST FOR FIRST-YEAR VALUE

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Discover will match every mile you earn at the end of your first year. Depending on how much you spend, this could give you a chance at a higher bonus value than you’d get with any other no-annual-fee rewards card.

Travelers who value simplicity will appreciate this card’s straightforward rewards rate and flexible redemption.

While this card is light on perks, it’s one of the few no-annual-fee travel cards that lets you redeem miles for cash back, travel and more without worrying about redemption values. Many cards require you to sacrifice rewards value if you opt for cash back instead of travel.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card carries a more straightforward and still easy-to-reach welcome bonus. The VentureOne card also gives you the option of transferring miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, which could increase the redemption value of your rewards.

Image of Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

BEST FOR GAS

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It earns a solid rewards rate for purchases in popular categories like gas stations, restaurants, travel and transit. And while some issuers only reward travel purchases made directly with airlines or through issuer portals, this card lets you shop around for the best deal on third-party travel sites and still earn extra rewards.
This card is a good choice if you’re new to travel rewards or just want a low-cost card with a simple rewards program that covers your dining and travel purchases.

This card does not charge foreign transaction fees and comes with valuable perks like rental car collision damage waiver coverage, roadside assistance and Visa Signature® Concierge benefits, which opens the door to additional features like access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection.

If you’re looking for ways to maximize the value of your rewards, you should consider a travel card that lets you transfer your points to airlines or hotels, like the Bilt Mastercard® or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Image of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

BEST STARTER AIRLINE CARD

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The card’s biggest perk — 3,000 bonus points each year after your cardmember account anniversary — could hold enough value to offset a big part of the card’s annual fee.

Southwest frequent flyers looking for a low-maintenance airline rewards card. 

Along with the anniversary bonus points, you’ll enjoy decent travel perks like 25 percent back on eligible in-flight purchases, two EarlyBird Check-In® boarding upgrades per year, lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card could offer better value overall, despite its $149 annual fee. It carries an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary — more than enough value to justify the higher fee.

Image of Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Best for fair credit

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You’ll earn rewards at an impressive rate in practical everyday categories like travel, dining and gas, which is rare for a card available with only fair credit.

Despite the $95 annual fee and limited perks, this card is a good fit for credit-builders looking for a hard-to-find travel card for fair credit.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus you can redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards or for travel.

If you don’t mind putting down a refundable security deposit, consider a no-annual-fee secured card like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card*. It’s a unique secured card that lets you work on your credit score while earning rewards in a category of your choice (with travel just one of many popular options) as well as grocery stores and wholesale clubs.

Read our full Credit One Wander Card review or jump back to offer details.
Image of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

BEST FOR COMPANION TICKETS

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You can easily justify this card’s annual fee given the value of the annual companion certificate perk (taxes and fees apply). The card also earns rewards on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases — two practical, popular categories — not just airfare.

Frequent travelers looking for a way to earn Delta SkyMiles and unlock a solid roster of Delta perks.

Along with the companion ticket, you can get up to $100 in statement credits to cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee and trip delay insurance. 

The Amex Green card could be a great alternative since it charges a lower annual fee ($150), lets you earn and redeem rewards on travel with any eligible airline (not just Delta) and offers credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus. You can even transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

Image of Hilton Honors American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

BEST NO-ANNUAL-FEE HOTEL CARD

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This card earns rewards not only on Hilton bookings, but also in several popular everyday spending categories. This makes it a solid standalone option for earning Hilton points even if you don’t spend a ton on travel.

Occasional travelers who prefer to stay at Hilton hotels and would rather earn rewards with a single no-annual-fee card than juggle multiple rewards cards.

As you might expect since it carries no annual fee, this card's perks are underwhelming, but it does come with automatic Hilton Honors Silver elite status, which unlocks benefits like a fifth night free on award stays and two free bottles of water per stay.

The American Express® Green Card could be more flexible since it earns rewards on a much wider variety of travel purchases, including airfare and bookings with any hotel, not just Hilton. You can also redeem points to cover bookings with multiple airlines and hotels or even transfer points to outside loyalty programs, including Hilton Honors.

Image of Bilt Mastercard®

Bilt Mastercard®

Best for transfer partners

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This card is a terrific choice for renters since it earns rewards and waives transaction fees when you use it to pay rent. It’s also a solid pick for beginner travelers since it offers high-value travel and dining points. Plus, it’s one of the few no-annual-fee cards to provide airline and hotel transfer partners — including American Airlines.

Long-term renters who want to earn travel rewards and minimize fees. It’s also a good fit for travelers who don’t like paying annual fees and can plan ahead. Since you earn double points on the first of every month for travel, dining and general purchases, you can earn outsized rewards not often found with other general-purpose travel cards. 

Along with stellar airline transfer partners, the Bilt card offers a solid collection of travel perks for a no-annual-fee card, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement and other high-level travel protections.

If you like the Bilt card’s travel rewards program but don’t see yourself renting long term, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It earns generously on both travel and dining and also boasts high-value points and a long list of airline and hotel partners.
Image of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

BEST LUXURY HOTEL CARD

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It comes with a slew of valuable perks that can help offset the annual fee and make travel more enjoyable, including complimentary Priority Pass lounge access and annual credits for eligible restaurant purchases.

Frequent travelers who prefer to stay at Marriott hotels and don’t mind paying a high annual fee to unlock luxury perks and Marriott elite status.
Along with airport lounge access, you’ll enjoy perks like a $100 annual luxury property credit, a free night award every year after your card renewal month and an up to $100 credit to cover a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee.
If you’re looking for top-tier travel perks but want the flexibility to earn and redeem rewards for stays at any hotel chain, consider the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, which both come with generous travel benefits and let you transfer points to Marriott.
Image of Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

BEST FOR EXPEDITED SECURITY SCREENING

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The one-time sign-up bonus and an annual chance to earn up to $100 in travel statement credits enhance the value of this simple travel rewards credit card.

Frequent travelers who are Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can make the most of this card since you can boost your rewards rate by 25 to 75 percent depending on your savings.

Receive up to $100 in annual statement credits on airline incidentals like seat upgrades and baggage fees, plus up to $100 in statement credits to cover the cost of a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee every four years.

The Capital One Venture Rewards card might be a safer bet. The bigger sign-up bonus, higher flat rewards rate, and supersized hotel and rental car bonus categories come packed in a card with great travel benefits and flexible redemption options.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

BEST FOR POINT VALUES

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The card comes loaded with short- and long-term value, including one of the most valuable sign-up bonuses on the market and a slew of perks, including annual travel credits and complimentary airport lounge access.

Frequent travelers who can take advantage of its top-of-the-line perks.

Points are worth 50 percent more when you redeem for travel with Chase and you can transfer 1:1 to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs. You’ll also unlock up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide and up to $100 in statement credits every four years to cover the cost of Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck.

The Capital One Venture X card offers some of the same key perks as the Sapphire Reserve at a much lower cost. Along with a generous rewards rate on both Capital One Travel and general purchases, the card boasts valuable, practical benefits like competitive airport lounge access, up to $300 in annual Capital One Travel credits and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary. 

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American Express® Green Card

Best for everyday travel + transit

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This card offers terrific first-year value via its unique welcome offer, allowing you to earn even more rewards on travel and transit spending. 

Anyone looking for a taste of luxury travel at a reasonable cost.

The card’s Loungebuddy and CLEAR Plus credits should be handy even if you only fly occasionally.

If you don’t care about lounge access, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may offer similar value at a lower cost. The Sapphire Preferred may also be a better pairing partner since you can pool its rewards with those of no-annual-fee Ultimate Rewards cards and redeem for travel at a 1.25-cent-per-point value (Amex points are only worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel with the issuer).

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

What are travel credit cards?

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight — travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance, annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards.

Tips on choosing the best travel credit card for you

The right travel credit card for you will carry features and benefits that give you the best value. To help you narrow down your choices, here are the steps to choosing the best travel card.

Co-branded travel cards vs. general travel cards

Experts typically divide travel credit cards into two categories: co-branded travel cards and general travel cards. Co-branded cards are linked to a particular airline or hotel, while general travel cards offer more flexible reward opportunities. Here’s why and when you might want one or the other.

Co-branded travel cards tend to offer higher rewards rates on eligible travel purchases in exchange for limiting your reward redemption options to just one airline or hotel program. These cards may also feature more specific perks associated with the respective hotel or airline, such as free award nights, complimentary airline elite status or priority boarding — which general-purpose travel cards don’t often carry).

However, you won’t be able to use your rewards with a wide variety of different hotels and airlines like general-purpose cards allow. Plus, despite co-branded travel cards’ typically higher rewards rates, many brand-specific rewards tend to be worth less than the potential value of general-purpose cards’ points and miles.

When to get a co-branded travel card: When you often fly or stay with a specific airline or hotel and want to maximize your benefits with that brand.

General travel cards earn rewards on various travel categories and aren’t limited to a particular airline or hotel. Such cards may lack some of the dedicated perks you’ll find on a co-branded travel card, such as in-flight discounts, but make up for it with rewards flexibility and broader perks like general travel credits, expedited security screening and wider airport lounge access. 

The top travel cards even let you transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 rate. Redeeming with some airlines and hotels can even make your rewards more valuable than they would be if you redeemed with the card issuer.

When to get a general travel card: When you have no preferred airline or hotel and want the additional flexibility a general travel card offers. 

Who should get a travel credit card?

A travel credit card is almost always worth it for frequent travelers or anyone who wants to earn rewards toward their next vacation.

If you can save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to significant travel savings. However, the right travel card for you will depend on your travel habits.

Still unsure if a travel credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Travel credit card perks

Travel benefits may differ from card to card, but some of the most popular travel cards available often feature a few key perks. 

How do credit card points and miles work?

Credit card points and miles are two of the key types of credit card rewards, along with cash back. You’ll earn points and miles by making purchases with your credit card, but you can typically redeem these rewards for travel, gift cards and more — not just statement credits.

Points and miles tend to be more flexible than cash back, but since their value depends on how you redeem them — and, in the case of travel redemptions, where you’re going, when you book, your fare class and more — it may take a bit more effort to make the most of them.

What are your points and miles worth?

Since many airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that continually optimize airfare and room prices, it can be hard to know exactly how much your rewards are worth without doing a little math.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a travel hacker to get a sense of this idea. Before you redeem, you can check your reward redemption value by dividing the cost of a plane or hotel booking in cash by its cost in points or miles. This calculation will result in the cash value of your points or miles.

You can also compare this value to Bankrate’s latest points and miles valuations to determine if you’re getting a good deal on your redemptions. Bankrate collected data on hundreds of bookings across dozens of airline, hotel and credit card rewards programs and estimated how much each program’s rewards are worth on average.

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The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated reward redemption value for a variety of popular airline loyalty programs. You’ll notice how widely the value varies between airlines, with some offering close to 3 cents per point in average redemption value and others struggling to meet a 1-cent-per-point value.

Keep in mind, however, that these values are averages based on a variety of fare classes, destinations, booking periods and more. For example, while Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles carry an average redemption value of around 1.2 cents per mile, they could be worth more or less depending on the details of your booking. 

Rewards program Bankrate value* Estimated value of 50,000 points/miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 2.9 cents $1,490
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 2.6 cents $1,300
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer 1.6 cents $796
Emirates Skywards 1.2 cents $600
Etihad Guest Miles 0.9 cents $450
Qatar Airways (Avios) 1.4 cents $700
Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles 1.4 cents $700
Southwest Rapid Rewards 1.5 cents $750
JetBlue TrueBlue 1.3 cents $650
Air France (FlyingBlue) 1.5 cents $750
Delta SkyMiles 1.2 cents $600
Flying Blue (average) 1.3 cents $650
Frontier Miles 1.3 cents $650
Aer Lingus (Avios) 1.8 cents $900
Air Canada Aeroplan 1.6 cents $800
Avios (average) 1.1 cents $555
Finnair Plus 1.2 cents $600
KLM (FlyingBlue) 1.1 cents $550
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan 1.1 cents $550
United Airlines MileagePlus 0.9 cents $450
American Airlines AAdvantage 1.0 cents $500
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles 0.7 cents $350
Iberia Airlines (Avios) 0.9 cents $450
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit 1.0 cents $500
Avianca Airlines LifeMiles 0.9 cents $450
Malaysia Airlines Enrich Miles 0.6 cents $300
British Airways (Avios) 0.7 cents $350
Aeromexico Club Premier 0.8 cents $400
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles 1.0 cents $500

*Based on weighted average of median point/mile values across economy and first/business class fares.

Like airline miles, hotel points fluctuate in value. The table below shows Bankrate’s estimated point values for some of the most popular hotel brands. 

As you can see, hotel points tend to be worth less than airline and credit card rewards on average, often carrying less than 1 cent per point in redemption value. That said, hotel loyalty programs sometimes offer more favorable exchange rates when you transfer rewards from a credit card rewards program. For example, you may be able to turn 1,000 credit card points into 2,000 hotel points (a 2:1 transfer ratio). 

Rewards program Bankrate value* Estimated value of 50,000 points/miles
World of Hyatt 2.3 cents $1,150
Wyndham Rewards 0.9 cents $450
IHG One Rewards 0.7 cents $350
Marriott Bonvoy 0.7 cents $350
Best Western Rewards 0.6 cents $300
Hilton Honors 0.6 cents $300
Radisson Rewards Americas 0.4 cents $200

*Based on median point values across budget, mid-tier and luxury hotel bookings.

Unlike hotel and airline rewards programs, credit card reward programs typically earn points or miles that offer a consistent redemption value when you use them with the issuer. Though the redemption value of your rewards may vary based on how you redeem, each redemption method should offer a consistent baseline value. 

Some credit card rewards programs may also allow you to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, which could boost their value considerably. For each major credit card rewards program, we estimate a baseline redemption value (assuming you book for travel with the issuer) and a Bankrate’s Value, which averages the program’s best-value transfer partners.

Rewards program Baseline value Bankrate value* Estimated value of 50,000 points/miles
Bilt Rewards 1.25 cents 2.1 cents $1,060
American Express Membership Rewards 1 cent 2.0 cents $1,000
Capital One Miles 1 cent 1.7 cents $850
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card) 1.25 cents 2.0 cents $1,000
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Reserve) 1.5 cents 2.0 cents $1,000
Citi ThankYou Points (Citi Premier® Card) 1 cent 1.6 cents $800
U.S Bank FlexPerks 1.5 cents 1.5 cents $750
Bank of America Travel Rewards 1 cent 1.0 cents $500
Chase Ultimate Rewards (other Ultimate Rewards cards) 1 cent 1.0 cents $500
Citi ThankYou Points (basic ThankYou points) 1 cent 1.0 cents $500
Discover miles 1 cent 1.0 cents $500
Wells Fargo Rewards 1 cent 1.0 cents $500

*Based on an average of the issuer’s five highest-value transfer partners (if available).

Bankrate experts share their advice on using travel credit cards

It’s important to know how to maximize your rewards and perks. Otherwise, a travel card could end up being a money pit. Here are a few pointers from our experts for making the most of your travel card: 

In the news: Save points and miles for spring and summer travel

Now that the holiday season has passed, and with it, the holiday spending, many people could be sitting on a gold mine of rewards. If you have an arsenal of earnings, you could use them to your advantage for some of the most popular travel times of the year: spring break and summer vacation. You could take the value of your points and miles even further if you transfer with the right travel partner.

Now could also be an ideal time to consider applying for a new travel card with a competitive sign-up bonus. Applying now could give you the time you need to earn the bonus before booking spring break and summer travel.

If you earned a significant amount of travel rewards during the holiday season, consider saving those points and miles for future use. And the extra rewards you could earn from a lucrative welcome offer could be the extra icing on the cake and help you save money for your next vacation.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
 

How we assess the best travel credit cards

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150+
cards rated
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50+
rewards programs valued
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1800
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews
40+
perks evaluated

When evaluating the best travel cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points. 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best travel cards.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

More information on travel credit cards

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Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards

Ask the experts: Is it a good idea to have multiple travel credit cards?


Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whether you should have multiple travel credit cards depends on several factors, including your brand affinity, frequency of travel and ability to pay off your cards in full each month. As a credit counselor, I see many people carrying credit card debt at high interest rates while continuing to make charges to the account for the sake of earning rewards. They lose far more than they earn each month. Having more than one travel credit card could make sense for you if you’re able to maximize your earnings by strategizing spending across each card. Just take into account annual fees and actual interest paid.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you’re up for managing multiple cards and their benefits, then there are definitely big reward payouts to be had. But if the thought of multiple cards is overwhelming, it’s also a good strategy to have one or two more flexible cards and focus on maximizing your earnings and redemptions until it becomes second nature.

Contributor, Credit Cards

Definitely! I currently have two travel credit cards. In addition to the Chase card that I use for my United Airlines purchases, I have the Capital One Venture card for all other airlines. I earn a solid amount of miles on everything I buy with it, so it's an easy go-to for non-travel related expenses.