Best travel credit cards of March 2023

Pros

• Zero foreign transaction fees make this an excellent choice for international travelers.
• Earn miles at a flat rate for all purchases, with no limit on the number of miles you can earn.

Cons

• Miles are worth less when redeemed with certain travel partners
• Spending requirements for reaching the sign-up bonus can be pricey.

Pros

• Several popular travel and everyday categories come with boosted reward rates
• Comes with one of the highest welcome bonuses for a no-annual-fee travel card

Cons

• Unlike with traditional travel cards, you cannot transfer your points to airlines or hotels
• Depending on your creditworthiness, you could end up with a high variable APR after the intro purchase APR period.

Pros

• Offers anniversary bonus miles and a chance to earn credits worth hundreds of dollars starting at your first account anniversary.
• Comes with complimentary lounge access at over 1,300 lounges for you and two guests per visit.

Cons

• To earn the anniversary credit, travel must be booked through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s not as flexible as some other cards, which offer credits that cover any travel purchases, regardless of how you book.
• Lacks some perks found on other premium travel cards like airline or hotel elite status, which can get you benefits like free checked bags or room upgrades.

Pros

• You earn Ultimate Rewards points with this card — some of the most valuable and flexible rewards around.
• The card touts significant long-term benefits like anniversary bonus points and travel credits, as well as travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and a car rental collision damage waiver.

Cons

• Doesn’t offer airline- or hotel-specific perks like free checked bags, elite status or free night stays.
• Comes with a penalty APR of 29.99 percent if you make a late payment, which you could be stuck with indefinitely.

Pros

• Comes with a generous welcome offer and a longer time period to earn it compared to most rewards cards.
• A robust line-up of airline and hotel partners make this card truly valuable for travelers.

Cons

• The $695 annual fee is steep; it may deter certain cardholders from applying for this card.
• Redeeming and maximizing the card’s credit and benefits requires some legwork and can be a bit confusing.

Pros

• This card features one of the best rewards return rate on dining currently on the market.
• The card touts a formidable collection of travel protections and perks, like hotel upgrades (when available for onsite credit on qualifying activities).

Cons

• The $250 annual fee is on the pricey side when compared to similar cards.
• Flights are only rewarded at 3X when booked with airlines directly or on AmexTravel.com.

Pros

• The welcome offer is generous for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
• There’s no minimum you’ll need to meet to start redeeming miles.

Cons

• Redeeming for non-travel purchases waters down your miles.
• Capital One has no major U.S. carrier in its line-up of travel partners.

Pros

• The $95 annual fee is relatively affordable for this card category.
• Rewards never expire and there’s no cap on earnings.

Cons

• Attaining the highest rewards rate is not an easy feat, since you’ll need to hold significant funds in Bank of America accounts.
• This card does not offer premium travel perks like lounge access

Pros

• As part of a generous welcome offer, all miles earned in your first year will receive a match at the end of that year
• Miles don’t lose value when they’re redeemed for cash back.

Cons

• You’ll miss out on pretty standard travel perks like travel insurance, and car rental damage protection.
• The rewards structure lacks flexibility; you won’t be able to transfer your miles or use them to book travel.