10 Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

The best travel credit card is the Chase Freedom Unlimited because it has no annual fee but also offers outstanding rewards.

Today’s airline accessibility has made it possible to visit just about anywhere globally. Instead of sitting at home looking at travel magazines, you can travel, to see and experience it all. And when you use one of the best travel credit cards, your accommodations can cost nothing out of pocket. Learn how to maximize your travel rewards with the leading credit cards that make seeing the world affordable.

Quick Look: The Best Travel Credit Cards

• Best for No Annual Fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Best for Lucrative Travel Intro Offer: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Airline Credit Card: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
• Best for Travel Credits You Can Use Anywhere: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
• Best for Flat Rate Rewards: Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Large Gas Station/Travel Rewards: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
• Best for Generous Hotel Reward Program: Choice Privileges Mastercard
• Best for Statement Credits for Eligible Purchases: The Platinum Card from American Express
• Best for Lucrative Intro Offer with Low Spending Requirement: Citi Strata Premier Card
• Best for Points for Everyday Expenses: American Express Gold Card

The 10 Best Travel Credit Cards

The best travel rewards credit cards help you visit all the places on your bucket list while paying minimal expenses out of pocket or earning large percentages back in rewards for every dollar you spend. Here’s a look at the best options to fund your passion for seeing the world.

1. Best for No Annual Fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Many travel credit cards have an annual fee of just $100. But with Chase Freedom Unlimited, you won’t pay to play, which helps you maximize the returns on the card, especially if you aren’t a big spender.

During the first year, you can earn an extra 1.5% cash back on everything, up to $20,000. That can translate to as much as $300 in extra cash if you save up for a big trip.

You’ll also earn 5% cashback on all travel purchases through Chase Travel. When you dine out, takeout or order eligible delivery food, you’ll enjoy 3% cash back. Drugstores also offer 3% cash back. Everything else earns 1.5%. 

Redeem cashback when it is convenient for you. There are no minimums. Choose between direct deposit or a statement credit. 

Chase has a top-rated mobile app that provides credit updates and alerts to help you stay informed about your financial health.

Why We Love It: This travel card stands out because of its no-annual-fee policy. It also offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, slightly higher than the standard 1% cashback.

2. Best for Lucrative Travel Intro Offer: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

During your first three months, if you spend $4,000 on the card, you can earn 75,000 miles in travel points, making it one of the better intro offers for these cards.

You’ll also get up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Earn 2X miles on every dollar you spend, no matter the category. And on hotels and rental cars, you can earn 5X the miles when you book your reservations through Capital One Travel. 

Miles have no expiration date, giving you the freedom to save up for the trip of your dreams and pay minimal out-of-pocket to book your travel. Use your reward miles to reimburse travel purchases or book travel through Capital One Travel to use your miles directly.

The annual fee for all those perks is $95 per year. But if you spend enough and maximize your travel rewards, it can pay for itself.

One Redditor said they like the Capital One Venture card because it offers 2X miles on all spending, plus travel statement credits.

Why We Love It: While you’ll need to pay the upfront $95 annual fee, 2X miles back on every dollar you spend can pay that off quickly and you’ll enjoy a host of other travel perks that make the card well worth it.

3. Best for Airline Credit Card: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card

You won’t pay an annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card and can earn impressive rewards at restaurants and on Delta purchases with 2X the miles. And when you pay with miles when you book flights on delta.com, you can earn up to an additional $50 off your flight.

Enjoy food and beverages while cruising at 35,000 feet. You can earn a 20% statement credit on those purchases.

If traveling abroad is your goal, this card has no foreign transaction fees. 

Why We Love It: Whether dining down the street from your home or enjoying international cuisine while on the road, you’ll earn 2X the miles. Plus, if Delta is your airline of choice, you’ll get statement credits for your in-flight food and beverage purchases.

4. Best for Travel Credits You Can Use Anywhere: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

If booking travel through a portal your credit card company offers isn’t your preference, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is best for you. This card offers unlimited 5X reward points on hotels, 4X on airlines and 3X on restaurants and other travel expenses. Everything else earns you one point per dollar spent.

The card does have a $95 annual fee, but you can get that back in perks if you use it to its full advantage. When you book your travel and rental car using a credit card, you'll enjoy travel and collision damage insurance.

Booking airfare using the card also has its perks. If you book at least $50 worth of airfare on the card that year, you can earn a $50 statement credit each year.

Enjoy up to $1,000 of cellphone protection from theft and damage with a small $25 deductible to replace your phone.

Why We Love It: You can use your credit card reward points however you want without booking through a specific portal to maximize rewards. With at least one airline purchase, you’ll get more than half of the annual fee back in a statement credit.

5. Best for Flat Rate Rewards: Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

Keeping track of where you can earn the greatest reward points through rotating categories can be complex. Keep it simple with a flat-rate reward credit card. The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and offers 1.5X points back on every purchase, no matter the category. 

Plus, while traveling abroad you can enjoy no foreign transaction fees. Your points never expire so long as you have the credit card.

Spend at least $1,000 on the card in the first 90 days of opening the account and earn 25,000 bonus points. Use your points how and where you want to without any requirements to book through certain portals or brands. That way, you can travel however you want to without being locked into flying with specific airlines.

Bank of America Preferred Rewards members enjoy extra points on every purchase. 

Why We Love It: No annual fee and the option to book travel where and how you want without using a special portal make this card attractive. Plus, you won’t have to worry about keeping track of bonus reward categories or opting into them quarterly, which can make earning rewards easier.

6. Best for Large Gas Stations/Travel Rewards: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, but it’s a great card with excellent rewards for those who qualify. Notably, you’ll earn 4X the rewards on gas stations, EV charging stations and travel. Booking your hotels and rental cars through the Altitude Rewards Center will earn 5X the rewards on those purchases.

If you have various streaming services you pay for, those can also pay off with 2X the rewards and a $30 credit toward streaming services with options for both shows and music. Grocery store and dining purchases earn 2X rewards to help you work toward your next trip. The points never expire, allowing you to save up for your dream vacation.

You’ll pay no annual fee for the first year, and then it’s $95 after that. If you spend $2,000 on the card in the first 120 days of opening the account, you’ll earn 50,000 bonus points, equivalent to $500. 

Why We Love It: Strong rewards on everyday purchases and the $30 credit toward streaming service purchases make this an attractive card for those with excellent credit. The intro offer is quite lucrative if you make the qualifying purchases within the first 120 days.

7. Best for Generous Hotel Reward Program: Choice Privileges Mastercard

With no annual fee and generous hotel reward points, your Choice Privileges Mastercard will earn you big points when you stay at hotels frequently. You’ll get 5X the points when you stay at Choice Hotels properties, which include many great chains readily available throughout the country.

You’ll also earn 3X the points on gas stations, home improvement stores, phone plans and groceries. The card comes with $800 in phone protection for theft and damage. You’ll just pay a $25 deductible if you replace your phone.

The card has no annual fee and offers an intro bonus of 40,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. That translates to five nights at some of Choice’s properties.

Why We Love It: The large rewards on hotel stays combined with solid rewards on everyday purchase categories make this an attractive card for frequent travelers.

8. Best for Statement Credits for Eligible Purchases: The Platinum Card from American Express

To maximize this credit card, you’ll need to review its benefits carefully to ensure they align with your spending because the annual fee is $695. As long as you maximize the benefits, you can save that $695 with ease thanks to the many statement credits, ranging from Walmart+ to eligible streaming services. This can help pay for your subscriptions entirely.

Enjoy travel perks like a $200 hotel credit each year on Fine Hotels + Resorts if you book your travel in advance and pay with your Platinum Card. The card also features a $200 airline fee credit when airlines charge incidental fees. When you meet the eligibility requirements, you can get $200 in credits for Uber.

The card comes with a nice intro offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards Points if you spend $8,000 in the first six months. Earn 5X points for airfare and hotels and one point per dollar on everything else.

Why We Love It: The many statement credits more than pay for the card’s $695 annual fee as long as your spending aligns with the categories. You’ll also earn rewards points with every dollar you spend to help you fund future travel.

9. Best for Lucrative Intro Offer with Low Spending Requirement: Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Strata Premier Card features rewards ranging from one point per dollar to 10 points. To get 10 points per dollar, you must book hotels, rental cars and attractions through CitiTravel.com. Travel purchases made elsewhere still earn three points per dollar as do restaurants, gas and charging stations.

If you spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months, you’ll earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou Points. That translates to $700 in gift cards or travel rewards. Each year, you’ll get an instant $100 hotel benefit as long as you spend $500 or more on hotel stays through CitiTravel.com.

The card has a $95 annual fee, so you’ll need to monitor it closely to ensure you get the full benefit of the card.

Why We Love It: 10 points per dollar spent through CitiTravel.com makes this an attractive card for travelers. Plus, the intro offer of up to $700 is attractive for only having to spend $4,000 in eligible purchases.

10. Best for Points for Everyday Expenses: American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card requires a $250 annual fee, meaning you’ll need to evaluate it carefully to maximize its benefits. But as long as you can, you’ll earn large rewards from the card. If you regularly use Uber and Uber Eats, you can earn up to $120 in Uber Cash. Those who dine can also experience great savings using the $10 dining credit monthly when you dine at eligible restaurants. 

Travelers enjoy no foreign transaction fees and can earn a $100 credit for booking a stay of two nights or more using the Hotel Collection on American Express Travel. You’ll also earn 3X the rewards points for flights when you book them through amextravel.com. Restaurants and takeout orders, as do supermarkets, earn you 4X the rewards.

Why We Love It: So long as your spending and lifestyle habits align with the rewards categories, the $250 annual fee is well worth it to earn reward points on everyday spending categories and travel.

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

A travel credit card delivers rewards and cashback when you make purchases, with larger rewards on travel-related expenses. The rewards might be in the form of miles, which you redeem for airfare. Others are points that translate to gift cards, hotel stays, or other travel-related benefits. 

You’ll earn rewards, points or cashback on all purchases, but most travel cards ensure greater rewards on travel categories. Some cards are specific to brands, such as those tied to airlines or hotels. Others require that you book travel through the credit card issuer’s specific portal to gain the greatest rewards. 

Travel credit cards come in three broad categories. 

• General travel credit cards: When you don’t want to be locked in with a specific brand, you can get a general travel credit card that allows you to book your travel how and when you want to. You’ll earn points on various categories, including food, groceries and gas. You can redeem your points for travel-related expenses or other categories to use the card how it best suits you.
• Airline credit cards offer miles or rewards with specific airlines, such as United or Southwest. You can also gain unique perks like free checked luggage or vouchers for in-flight purchases, such as entertainment, food, or beverages.
• Hotel credit cards: When you have a hotel credit card, you’ll gain points toward hotel stays. Some hotels also offer cardholders automatic status as elite members with perks like room upgrades or credits toward purchases during your stay, like food or beverages.

How to Choose a Travel Credit Card

You have dozens of options for travel credit cards. As you evaluate your options, consider these factors to determine whether the card is best for you.

• Earning potential: Consider how easy it is to earn and redeem the rewards you’ll earn. If there are many limitations, it likely isn’t the card for you. 
• Consider flexibility: The more general the reward points, the simpler it will be to spend them. Look for a card with flexible earnings and spending.
• Ask yourself what companies you like to travel with: Some people select their airfare and hotels based on price and location. Others choose them based on the brand because they are extremely brand loyal. Evaluate which of these you are. If you have a favorite brand, a credit card from that brand might offer the best rewards for you.
• Look at the welcome bonus: a welcome bonus can add many points to your account, helping you travel to your goal destination sooner. It’s money you don’t want to leave on the table. Welcome bonuses are one-time rewards, so make sure you’re also weighing the card's other benefits.
• Evaluate reward categories in light of what you buy: Just because a credit card offers five or 10 times rewards in some categories doesn’t mean it is right for you. For those rewards to be worthwhile, you must spend on those categories.

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards

When comparing travel credit cards, you should consider several factors for your leading options.

• APR: While you might not plan to acquire credit card debt, you should still evaluate the APR you can expect from the card to ensure if you ever find yourself in a financial bind, you have the best interest rates possible.
• Rewards: These can be complex to compare because various credit cards handle them differently. Some use cashback, others points and still others miles. Consider the financial value of a point or mile to see what offers the greatest value.
• Intro offer: Kickstart your rewards with the best intro offer. Make sure your spending aligns with the requirements to earn the offer.
• Foreign transaction fees: If you plan to travel internationally, check that the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
• Redemption options: Check where you can redeem your rewards to ensure it is with brands you like. Having the option for a statement credit is also good for offsetting large expenses when needed.
• Usability: Look for a widely accepted card. Visa and Mastercard are the best options for that.
• Annual fee: Paying an annual fee can reduce the total benefits you see from a credit card. Factor that in when comparing the value of each card.
• Credit requirements: some travel credit cards require that you have excellent credit. Ensure you qualify before deciding what cards to apply for.

Pros and Cons of Travel Credit Cards

Before applying for one of the best travel cards available, consider the pros and cons as you weigh the best credit card type based on your spending and habits.

Pros

• No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge additional fees when you travel abroad, but travel cards often do not since they are specifically designed for use both domestically and internationally.
• Travel insurance: Many cards come with good travel insurance to help protect your investment no matter what might happen.
• Travel credits: Use your credit card rewards toward travel purchases to stretch them farther with travel credits. You might also see these as a statement credit when you make qualifying purchases.
• Airport lounge access: Some cards get you into airport lounges without extra fees or memberships.
• TSA PreCheck: Many cards also cover the cost of TSA PreCheck to make your travels hassle-free.

Cons

• Annual fees: Many travel credit cards involve high annual fees that offset the rewards you can experience.
• Requires lots of travel: For the average traveler, the benefits don’t pay off and you’ll find having a generic rewards credit card better.
• Credit score requirements: These credit cards often have lofty credit score requirements. Some require that you have excellent credit while others will accept good credit.
• Reward values can change: 1,000 points could earn you a free hotel stay when you sign up, but a few months later, it could take 1,500 points for a free stay. The changing rewards can make it hard to plan.
• Higher interest rates: If you don’t pay off the card monthly, you could have higher interest rates than other cards.

How to Make the Most of Travel Rewards Cards

Once you have a travel rewards card, you’ll want to maximize your rewards. Here are some tips for doing so.

• Pick your card carefully: The right card can make all the difference. Make sure your card aligns well with your spending habits and interests. You can only maximize your rewards if they are smart for you.
• Use the card for all expenses: Although travel is normally the most rewarding category, you can still earn rewards by using the card for groceries, gas and dining.
• Take advantage of bonus earnings: Some cards have bonus earning categories. If your card does, take full advantage of these, such as working on home improvement projects when those are on bonus or testing out that new restaurant you’ve been interested in when restaurants are on the bonus.
• Redeem rewards wisely: Most travel reward cards give you more value for your rewards when you redeem them for travel. If your card works like that, you should try to redeem it for travel-related expenses and use the card’s portal to book if that further maximizes rewards.
• Avoid third-party travel bookings: When you use third party sites to book travel, such as Booking.com or Kayak, you might not get the same travel rewards. Make sure to read the terms and eligibility to maximize rewards.
• Learn where terms apply: Some reward categories might have caveats or max out at some point. It’s smart to read the terms for bonuses and reward categories before you start using the card.

Alternatives to Travel Credit Cards

If you don’t want to be locked in to redeeming your rewards for travel and want more flexibility, these alternatives to travel credit cards might be right for you.

• Cashback credit cards: These cards let you earn cashback on everything, which you can use for a statement credit or gift cards to popular retailers.
• Flat rewards cards: Sometimes it’s too much to keep track of special categories or bonuses and you just want to know that you’ll earn specific rewards per dollar you spend on the card.
• Rewards credit cards: You’ll find various options for rewards credit cards that allow for various credit scores, making them a great move for those who have fair or good credit and don’t yet qualify for a travel card.

Everyday Purchases Could Get You Closer to Your Dream Trip

If you love to travel and want to fund your dream trip, a travel rewards credit card could be the answer. Review your options, apply for the best one based on your spending and start maximizing your rewards to work toward your bucket list trips. 

Frequently Asked Questions