Last Updated on August 29, 2023 by Paige
Want to make your travel spending go further? The best travel credit cards bring you closer to your next trip with every swipe. With so many cards offering miles and points, it can be hard to choose from among credit cards with travel rewards.
Here are five credit cards that every traveler should consider:
5 Best Credit Cards for Earning Travel Rewards
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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
This card arguably boasts the best all-around value when it comes to travel rewards. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. That adds up to $750 that you can redeem and put towards travel, whether it be for car rentals, airfare, hotels, cruises, or more. Additionally, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card members also get two times the points on travel costs and dining—even internationally. Overall, the rewards stack up fairly quickly with this card, making it a great option for the average traveler.
Renting a car? Among many outstanding perks, this card provides primary collision (CDW) insurance. Most credit cards offer secondary coverage, meaning that it kicks in only after your personal auto insurance coverage has been depleted. The beauty of primary coverage is that if you damage your rental car, you won’t have to file a claim with your auto insurance.
Capital One Venture X Card
This premium card has a fairly steep $395 annual fee, but there are lots of ways to earn that back and then some. Cardholders can earn up to a $300 credit annually for bookings made on Capital One Travel. You get 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (equal to $100 towards travel). This card also pushes travel rewards by offering 10x the points earned when you use it to book hotel rooms. There are countless ways to redeem your points, from rental cars to airlines, hotels and more. Travelers get up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, as well as unlimited access to Capital One airport lounges and also to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges internationally, plus two guest passes. Finally, for international travel, there are no foreign transaction fees. It all adds up.
The Platinum Card from American Express
This is another travel-focused credit card that offers great overall value. To begin with, you’ll earn 60,000 membership rewards points if you rack up $5,000 worth of purchases within the first three months. Flights booked directly through American Express or directly through the airlines also earn five times the rewards. This card also features some benefits that other cards don’t have. For instance, members receive cash rewards to put towards Uber each month, as well as statement credits for airline fees and hotels. Looking to travel in style? You’ll also receive access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across the world.
Renting a car? This card provides secondary car rental insurance for collision and damages up to $75,000.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
This card is often cited as the best credit card around when it comes to travel purchases and perks. You’ll score three times the points for travel and dining expenses. You’ll receive up to $300 in statement credits each year as a reimbursement for travel purchases. And you’ll get 50 percent more value when redeeming points for car rentals, airfare, hotels, cruises, and other travel expenses. Given that there are no travel restrictions and members have access to car rental insurance, airport lounges, and around the clock direct access to a travel concierge, this card may be hard to walk away from. When comparing this card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll have to weigh this card’s heftier annual fee against the faster accrual of points.
Renting a car? Like its sister Preferred card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card offers primary car rental insurance.
Capital One Venture Card
The Capital One Venture Card allows members to earn two times the miles per dollar on every purchase for an unlimited number of miles. This card also pushes travel rewards by offering ten times the miles earned when you use it to book hotel rooms. Looking for flexibility in your travel options? Miles can be redeemed for rental cars from a vast range of companies, as well as any airline, hotel, and more. Lastly, international travelers can receive up to a $100 credit for certain expedited security screening programs at airports.
Renting a car? This card includes secondary Visa Signature collision and damage insurance.
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This card is offering 25,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months and 25,000 additional points when you spend $6,000 total within the first 6 months. Beyond that, this card.offers a slew of ways to rack up points, from catching a flight and staying at Hyatt hotels to dining out. You’ll earn 4x points for every dollar spent on Hyatt stays, 2x points for every dollar spent on airline tickets, dining out and local transit, including taxi cabs, mass transit, tolls and ride-share services, and one point per dollar spent on everything else.
Renting a car? This credit card includes secondary car rental insurance for collision damage and theft, as well as a host of other travel insurance protections including trip cancellation/trip interruption, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.
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