Best cash back credit cards for travel

Once you’ve got the travel itch, you know it’s time to plan your next getaway. But if you only travel occasionally, a travel credit card might not be the right fit for you. Sure, travel cards often come with incredible welcome bonuses, higher rewards rates, annual statement credits, airport lounge access and other major perks, but they also tend to come with high annual fees, which can be hard to recoup if you don’t use enough card benefits each year.

In that case, it might make more sense to use a cash back credit card to help fund your next vacation. Many cash back cards offer rewards on both everyday spending and travel spending, and you can redeem your rewards for statement credits to cover travel-related expenses. Plus, some cash back cards also come with access to an issuer’s travel portal, no foreign transaction fees and other travel benefits.

Below, we’ll go over some of the best cash back credit cards for travel, along with some tips and considerations.

Chase Freedom Flex: Best for rotating bonus categories

The Chase Freedom Flex℠* offers 5 percent cash back on activated, rotating bonus category purchases each quarter (on up to $1,500, then 1 percent back). These bonus categories change each quarter, but the annual calendar often includes gas stations or other travel-related categories.

This card also earns 5 percent cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases; 5 percent cash back on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025); 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases; and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. This card also comes with no annual fee, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services and the ability to redeem rewards for travel through Chase.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best for higher rewards on everyday spending

With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you’ll earn 6 percent cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent back); 6 percent cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3 percent cash back on transit and at U.S. gas station; and 1 percent cash back on everything else. Also, note that you’ll get a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, after which an annual fee of $95 applies.

With this card, you can save up your cash back earnings and redeem them for a statement credit to cover travel purchases like hotels or flights. Plus, this card also comes with access to Amex Offers, allowing you to earn more rewards on qualifying purchases with select brands (including travel brands like hotels), along with access to the American Express Travel portal.

Citi Double Cash Card: Best for flat cash back

If you’d prefer a simpler rewards strategy, the Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the best flat-rate cards on the market. This card comes with no annual fee, and you’ll earn up to 2 percent cash back on all purchases — 1 percent back as you make purchases and 1 percent back as you pay for purchases. That’s $20 in rewards for every $1,000 you spend on your card. Over time, you can earn enough rewards to cover a flight or hotel (in the form of a statement credit to your account).

This card also allows you to redeem your rewards for travel through the Citi travel portal, though it’s important to note that you won’t be able to transfer your rewards to Citi travel partners since this card only earns basic Citi ThankYou points.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for entertainment and international travel

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is, by far, one of the best cash back credit cards for international travel. It comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, along with impressive rewards rates on entertainment and select travel purchases. You’ll earn 10 percent cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases (through Nov. 14, 2024); 8 percent cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3 percent cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming subscriptions and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

This card also comes with travel-related benefits like travel accident insurance, 24-hour travel assistance services and complimentary concierge services, which can help you with any travel, dining and entertainment plans. Plus, cash back rewards can be redeemed for Capital One Travel reservations (not including taxes and fees).

How to use cash back credit cards for travel

Look for cards that offer cash back on everyday expenses and travel

Numerous cash back cards offer rewards on both everyday expenses and travel purchases, so look for a card with bonus categories that fit well with your everyday and travel spending. And don’t forget: If you have a cash back card that offers rewards on dining and gas, for example, you’ll still earn rewards on dining and gas purchases when you travel. However, with some cards, you’ll only earn rewards on U.S. category purchases, so be sure to check the fine print of your credit card agreement for any terms or limitations.

Redeem cash back as a statement credit to cover travel expenses

With a cash back credit card, you can redeem your cash back to cover a wide variety of travel-related expenses. For instance, you could save up your rewards until you reach $100 to $200 in cash back. Then, you could redeem your rewards for a statement credit to cover hotel bookings, flights, rideshares, dining out or any other travel-related expenses you have.

Check your issuer’s limited-time offers program for travel deals

Most credit cards come with access to an issuer’s limited-time offers program, which allows you to earn more rewards when you make eligible purchases with participating merchants. For example, you might find offers on hotel bookings with a specific chain (such as 10 percent back on a booking or $100 off a booking when you spend $300 or more) or offers for purchases made with travel-booking sites or rideshare companies.

See if you have access to your issuer’s travel portal

In order to stay competitive, many cash back credit cards now offer access to issuer travel portals. These portals may offer exclusive deals on travel or other benefits. For example, some cash back cards offer boosted rewards rates for select purchases made through a travel portal, while others allow you to redeem your rewards for travel purchases through the travel portal.

If you travel abroad, look for a card with no foreign transaction fees

Many cash back credit cards include a foreign transaction fee (usually 3 percent) on any purchases you make outside of the United States. If you travel abroad frequently, it would be worth getting a card with no foreign transaction fee so you don’t cancel out the rewards you’ll earn with your card. For instance, all Discover and Capital One credit cards come with no foreign transaction fees.

Is a cash back card for travel right for you?

While you can use the rewards you earn from a cash back credit card to help fund your vacation, make sure that you’re truly better off with a cash back card rather than a points or miles credit card.

For instance, if you travel two or more times per year, or if you plan to travel more frequently in the near future, it would be worth looking at some of the top travel credit cards available. Travel credit cards frequently come with perks like high welcome bonuses, travel protections, annual statement credits for travel-related purchases or airport lounge access. Just make sure that you’re able to recoup the cost of membership through card spending or benefits if you pick a card with an annual fee.

If you’re just starting to travel more frequently — or if you’re not sure if a travel card is right for you — there are a number of entry-level travel cards with low annual fees or no annual fees. That way, you can test out the travel card space to see if it’s right for you before committing to a card with a higher annual fee.

The bottom line

If you don’t travel that frequently, getting a travel credit card doesn’t make sense. Instead, you might find more value in strategically using a cash back credit card to cover travel-related purchases. With the right cash back card, you might even get some travel-related card perks such as bonus rewards on travel purchases, no foreign transaction fees, access to the issuer’s travel portal and limited-time offers on select travel purchases.

*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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.