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Author: Madison Blancaflor
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In this article:
Bankrate’s guide to the top travel credit cards of 2019
Both beginner travelers and seasoned road warriors can benefit from the rewards and perks that come with a travel credit card. If you play your cards right, you can easily use your points and miles to fund your next getaway.
What is a travel rewards card?
Travel rewards cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on travel-related purchases. Typically, these cards also offer rewards for other purchase categories as well. Those rewards can then be redeemed for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards or more.
Most travel cards also come with perks that help upgrade your travel experience. Trip insurance, annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common perks. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty customers.
The best travel rewards cards offer generous rewards across multiple spending categories, flexible redemption options and an array of ancillary benefits.
How do points work on travel credit cards?
Miles work the same way as credit card points. When you use miles to book travel directly through an airline or travel portal, the airline or issuer will assign a set number of award miles to each ticket. Some airlines have established award charts that give you insight into what each flight would cost in miles, but many have switched to a dynamic pricing model that bases award pricing on multiple factors, including seasonality and route popularity. When you are redeeming miles as a statement credit, they are assigned a monetary value (typically 1 cent per point, though that isn’t the case with all issuers). For example, Barclaycard values each Arrival Plus mile at 1 cent, which means its 70,000-mile sign-up bonus is worth $700 when you redeem as a statement credit for travel. Just remember you’ll have to hit the $5,000 in the first 90 days.
How we compare & review travel credit cards
Finding the right travel credit card can be complicated because there are so many different types of travel rewards cards to choose from. From points and miles to co-branded airline or hotel cards, we cut through the noise to give you the information you will need to make an informed choice. The travel cards industry is home to some of the most lucrative and expensive rewards cards. At Bankrate, we score each card out of 5 against our matrix, which was devised to take into account various card attributes, such as the card’s annual fee, rewards value, sign-up bonus, and any extras or discounts. However, everyone is unique: Just because a card has a lucrative welcome offer doesn’t mean it is the right card for your regular spending habits. Wherever possible, we have identified where we think a card will suit a particular type of spender or traveler. When looking at multiple travel credit cards to find the right one for you, there are three main factors you should consider:
- Rewards structure. You want a card that will allow you to earn the most rewards for your specific spending habits. If you spend a lot of money on dining and an array of travel purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 2x points on dining and travel might be best for you.
- Welcome bonus. Welcome bonuses are a large factor in determining the first-year value of a travel credit card. Take a look at the bonus, the minimum spend required and the redemption value of the bonus.
- Additional perks. Some cards offer an impressive lineup of trip insurances while others are more focused on luxury lounge access and airline credits. Know the type of traveler you are and which perks you will use the most.
Let’s look at two popular travel credits cards: The Capital One Venture and Amex Platinum. The Venture is a mid-tier card, and the Amex Platinum is a luxury card. Assuming you spend an average of $2,000 each month ($1,500 on regular expenses and $500 on travel), here is the value each card brings to the table when you also factor in welcome bonuses and any account credits.
|
Annual Fee |
Approx. first-year value |
Approx. second-year value |
| Capital One Venture |
$95, waived the first year |
$1,080 |
$480 |
| Amex Platinum |
$550 |
$1,680 |
$980 |
*Editor’s note: These valuations are calculated by the Bankrate staff and not the individual issuers. The first- and second-year value calculations do not factor in the annual fee or ancillary perks that do not have a set monetary value.
The Amex Platinum also gives you access to luxury hotel perks and exclusive lounge access — the values of both are hard to exactly quantify. While it’s obvious that the Amex Platinum offers more value on paper, you also have to consider the $550 annual fee. If you are using the card to book a considerable amount of travel through the Amex portal and taking full advantage of its luxury perks, the annual fee is definitely worth it. However, if you don’t travel a lot, the Capital One Venture (with its significantly lower annual fee) might be a better choice.
Comparison: 2019’s Top travel rewards offers
Who should get a travel rewards credit card?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a jet setter to reap the benefits of a travel credit card — there is a travel credit card out there for every kind of traveler.
Beginner travelers
Simple yet flexible rewards are the name of the game for beginner travelers. If you’re just getting into points and miles, the last thing you need is a complicated rewards structure and redemption process. Cards like the Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® and the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card are great options. You’ll earn 2x miles on every purchase, and both cards come with a competitive sign-up bonus and waived annual fee the first year. If you’re just starting out, a luxury card might not be the best for your current situation. The Platinum® Card from American Express, for example, charges a hefty annual fee and only earns significant rewards on travel-related purchases.
Brand loyalists
Some people like to fly with the same airline whenever possible or stay at the same hotel brand wherever they go. If you are the same way, a brand-specific card will probably provide you with the best value. Most of the time, brand-specific cards have brand-related purchases as a bonus category and other perks for loyal customers. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, for example, earns unlimited 3 miles for every dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and offers a companion fare™ starting at $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) each year. While you’ll still get value out of a more general travel card, you can really maximize your rewards by sticking to a card that is brand-focused. You can also redeem miles with no blackout dates on any of Alaska’s 1,200 daily flights or choose from over 900+ destinations with more than a dozen global airline partners.
Business travelers
Some of the most valuable travel credit cards are actually business cards. Whether you are a freelancer who travels a lot to meet new clients or the CEO of a Fortune 500, the right travel credit card can help you reap the rewards of everyday business purchases while helping you keep your personal and business expenses organized. For example, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers 12x points at Hilton hotels and resorts, 6x points on select travel and business purchases and 3x points on everything else. The card comes with a competitive welcome offer and a low annual fee. Plus, Hilton has an impressive partner list. You can earn points with your Hilton card and then transfer them to your favorite airline to redeem. In order to keep business and personal expenses separate, you should think twice before getting a consumer card to use for your business travel purchases. It makes it harder to organize your receipts during tax season.
Luxury travelers
If you’re interested in upgrading your travel experience, there are many great choices. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a fan favorite, offering a well-rounded selection of perks and a 50% redemption bonus when you book award travel through the Chase portal. Another popular choice is The Platinum Card® from American Express, which comes with access to Centurion Lounges. While top-tier cards also come with higher annual fees, the costs are outweighed when you take full advantage of the trip insurance, travel credits and other perks. While the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred are both great all-around cards, they lack some of the luxury perks that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum. If you’re really looking for a luxury travel experience, you need a top-tier travel card.
Summer travel can be hard on your wallet
Think a 2019 summer vacation is too far out of reach financially? You aren’t alone. In a recent study, we found that only 52% of Americans are definitely taking a vacation this year. Unsurprisingly, most people who aren’t planning a summer vacation cited affordability as the number one reason.
Specifically, day-to-day bills and paying down debt were the most common financial roadblocks to affording a getaway. Considering, Americans expect to spend an average of $1,979 on a summer vacation, it’s no wonder many are worried about a trip busting their budgets.
With the right travel cards in your wallet, you can help minimize the costs of your trip while you upgrade your overall experience.
Check out a deeper analysis of our 2019 Summer Vacation survey results here.
How to use your travel credit card during your 2019 summer vacation
A travel rewards credit card can help you mitigate the costs of summer travel while also upgrading your overall experience.
Family vacations
Simple rewards can be a game changer for busy families. Cards like the Capital One Venture that offer rewards on every purchase take the guesswork out of earning rewards. The sign-up bonus and Hotels.com partnership add even more value for families looking to cash in miles on this year’s vacation.
Honeymoon trips
If you’re getting married this summer, the right credit card can help you fund an amazing honeymoon. If you’re planning a luxury vacation to celebrate your nuptials, a card like the Amex Platinum is a great choice. You’ll have access to exclusive lounges across the world (for some added privacy and relaxation during your layover), and booking your travel directly with airlines or through amextravel.com with the card can help you easily hit the minimum spend for the introductory bonus — all while earning 5x points.
Editor’s notes on our picks for the best travel credit cards
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
What we love:
- Earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels booked and paid for on hotels.com/venture (through Jan. 2020)
- $95 annual fee is waived your first year
- 50,000-mile bonus offer when you spend $3,000 in three months
- Up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Credit
- Purchase Eraser® feature allows you to redeem your miles for an account credit that covers the cost of a past travel purchase made with your Venture card
- No foreign transaction fees
Partner this card with: The Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card. Use the Savor for dining and entertainment purchases and the Venture for everything else. Use the cash back you earn from the Savor to cover travel expenses that your Venture rewards doesn’t cover.
Read the review and apply on Capital One’s secure website.
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
What we love:
- Earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels booked and paid for on hotels.com/venture (through Jan. 2020)
- 20,000-mile bonus when you spend $1,000 in your first three months
- Transfer your miles to 10+ travel partners, including Aeromexico and Air Canada Aeroplan
- No foreign transaction fees
Partner this card with: The Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card. This is essentially the same matchup as the Venture/Savor, but without the annual fees. You’ll still earn some impressive rewards, just not at the same rate. If you one day decide the annual fees are worth it, you can always call Capital One to request these cards be upgraded to their big sisters.
Read the review and apply on Capital One’s secure website.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
What we love:
- 60,000-point bonus when you spend $4,000 in your first three months
- Chase offers a competitive list of 12 transfer partners
- Top-notch travel coverage like trip cancellation insurance and trip delay reimbursement
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
Partner this card with: The Chase Freedom Unlimited. This is an all-star combination for beginner travelers, especially in the first year. You can earn 3% cash back on your first $20,000 spent with the Freedom Unlimited in the first year (then 1.5%) for a total of up to $600 cash back (equivalent to 60,000 points). Then transfer those points to your Chase Sapphire Preferred for maximum value when you redeem. If you hit the minimum spend for the Sapphire Preferred (earning 60,000 points) and the $20,000 cap for the Chase Freedom Unlimited (earning $600 cash back which is equivalent to 60,000 points), you’ll earn 120,000 points (worth $1,500 when you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal).
Read the review and apply on Chase’s secure website.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
What we love:
- Preferred Rewards members can earn 25% to 75% more points on top of the 1.5X base points you’ll earn with each purchase
- Earn 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 90 days
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Partner this card with: The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card. You can choose one category to earn 3% cash back in, plus earn 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined bonus rewards quarterly). You’ll earn the same Preferred Rewards bonus with both cards.
Read the review and apply on Bank of America’s secure website.
Discover it® Miles
What we love:
- Unlimited Bonus: Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. That’s $700 towards travel.
- No blackout dates. Simply pay for travel purchases like airlines, hotels, rental cars, and more with your Discover it® Miles card
- 14-month 0% introductory APR on purchases (14.24% – 25.24% variable APR thereafter)
- Easily redeem Miles as a statement credit for travel purchases, or get cash.
- No annual fee
Partner this card with: The Discover it® Cash Back. The Discover it® Cash Back offers 5% cash back on rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1%; enrollment required). You can maximize rewards across every purchase category when you pair these cards strategically.
Read the review and apply on Discover’s secure website.
†The information on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, the Wells Fargo Signature Visa, and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been provided or reviewed by the respective card issuers.
