Best Travel Credit Cards
Aug 27, 2022 By Triston Martin

Introduction

As a highly competitive market segment, travel cards have emerged as a major player in recent years. Therefore, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and upgrade programmes are practically industry standards. Looking past these surface characteristics is where things get exciting and murky. Consider how you will use the best travel credit card and maximise the points to get the most out of the rewards programme before signing up for a new card, especially if the annual fee is high. Many of these cards also have high-interest rates, so you must make sure you can pay off your balance on time and in full every month.

Best Travel Rewards Cards

Capital One Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is not only our best travel card but also one of the best cards available, period. It's not hard to rack up points and cash them in for rewards, and the card's many perks and tax credits can more than offset the annual fee cost. To avoid disappointment, prioritise using your rewards for vacations. Spend $4,000 in the first three months after opening an account and receive 75,000 bonus miles. The annual fee may put you off, but the card comes with perks like a $300 yearly travel credit for purchases made through the Capital One Portal and a 10,000-point anniversary bonus good for $100 toward travel purchases. The benefits of a Priority Pass membership are substantial as well.

The Platinum Card from American Express

This is the most acceptable travel credit card introductory offer because:

  • Presently, Amex Platinum's sign-up bonus is worth $2,000, but that's just the beginning.
  • As of this writing, new cardholders can get 100,000 extra points after spending $6,000 in the first six months.
  • Get five points for every dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through the airline's official website.
  • The sign-up bonus of 100,000 points isn't enough to put this card among the best in its class.

It also has several other perks that make it worthwhile, in addition to the over $1,400 in annual credits and a variety of lounge access choices.

American Express Gold Card: Best For Travel Rewards On Dining

We like several ways to make up for the $250 annual charge on the American Express Gold Card. High-earning bonus categories and annual credits will reward your spending across multiple categories, such as restaurants, grocery stores in the United States, and airline tickets. This card is ideal for hungry travellers who want to rack up points at restaurants and takeout orders. In the United States, diners may quickly rack up many points thanks to the hefty rewards rate offered by restaurants like Uber Eats. Benefits for travel include 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel Portal and up to $240 in annual credits between Uber Cash and dining credits. If you cannot afford the annual cost of the American Express Gold Card, you may want to look into the Chase Sapphire Preferred as an alternative. It's a terrific substitute since you can raise substantial rewards for airfare, hotels, and restaurants without losing as much each year.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

What makes this card so great for vacations: A different approach to travel rewards is provided with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you reach the yearly $300 travel credit, you'll earn three points for each dollar spent on travel. You get three points for every dollar spent on food and transportation and one point for everything else. The value of your points doubles when you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The ratio of points transferred to a travel companion is 1 to 1. Read the entire review here.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

What makes this card so great for vacations: You can earn double the miles at restaurants worldwide with the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card. Generally, you get one mile for every dollar spent on other qualifying transactions. Suppose you use your Delta credit card to buy snacks, drinks, and headphones while in the air; you'll receive a 20% discount. You can earn 10,000 bonus miles after purchasing $500 during the first three months of opening your account, and there are no international transaction fees or annual fees associated with this card. Check out the whole thing in our review.

Conclusion

Free points for airfare, hotel stays, or even cash can be earned with the right travel credit card. Credit card issuers compete for new clients by teaming up with famous travel firms to provide cards with enticing perks like a welcome bonus, redeemable points for free travel, and other deals. You benefit from their obsession with acquiring you as a customer. Knowing how to work the system can rack up thousands of dollars in free travel expenses.