One of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck when traveling is to utilize credit card benefits and rewards. Credit cards designed specifically for travel can provide excellent benefits, save money, and remove some of the stress of traveling.
Keep reading to discover our top picks for the best travel credit cards. These cards cover foreign transaction fees, trip insurance for cancellations or long delays, baggage insurance, and rental car collision insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
With a $50 annual hotel statement every year and 60,000 in bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months, it’s easy to see why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel credit cards. This card offers 5x points on travel spending in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points for dining and grocery, 2x for any other travel-related purchases, and 1x for everything else.
Another great benefit is that when you redeem your points for travel within the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, your points are worth 25% more. This means the signup bonus of 60,000 points equals $750 when you redeem the points for travel, which definitely makes up for the card’s $95 annual fee!
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers the same 60,000-point signup bonus as its sibling. However, when redeeming points for travel using the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, points are worth 50% more instead of just 25% from the Preferred card. That means the signup bonus is worth $900 when redeemed for travel!
Some other unique benefits of this card include a $300 annual travel credit, a DoorDash DashPass, and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which will save you time going through security at airports. You also get a PriorityPass membership, giving you access to several airport lounges worldwide that may include food, drink, WiFi, and other perks. Other perks include 10x points on Lyft and rental cars, hotels, and prepaid restaurant reservations within the Chase portal, 5x on flights purchased through Chase, and 3x points on dining and travel.
Capital One Venture Rewards
One of the best travel credit cards from Capital One is the Venture Rewards card. For a $95 annual fee, you get a signup bonus of 75,000 points, worth $750 in travel, when you make $4,000 in purchases in the first three months.
This card grants you unlimited 2x points on every purchase, and the points never expire. You will also get 5x points for hotels and rental cars booked within the Capital One Travel portal. Also included is a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or partner lounges.
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Capital One’s Venture X Rewards card is a step up from the Venture Rewards card. The card has an annual fee of $395; however, you get a $300 annual credit for travel purchases and an annual bonus of 10,000 points, equal to $100.
This card offers a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to skip airport lines. In addition, you’ll get unlimited entries for you and two guests to Capital One’s lounges and partner lounges at airports, 10x points on travel booked through the Capital One travel portal, and unlimited 2x points on every other purchase. The Capital One Venture X Rewards card’s fantastic rewards easily make it worth the annual fee!
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Don’t want to have to deal with annual fees or do the math on what card is best for you? One of the best travel credit card options is the Chase Freedom Unlimited. You get 1.5% back on every purchase, 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and 5% on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
As a signup bonus, you earn an extra 1.5% back in each category for your first year, up to $300 in rewards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is an excellent option for everyone and still gives you several great travel rewards.
