Travel reward credit cards represent a broad category of rewards cards. They encompass everything from airline miles cards to more generic rewards cards. Some cards offer miles, others use points. As a result, picking the best travel rewards card can be a challenge. Here are our top picks for 2023.
Types of Travel Reward Credit Cards
To narrow down the list, I divide travel cards into three categories:
1 All-purpose travel cards: These cards aren't part of an airline or hotel brand. Instead, they offer miles or points that can be used with any travel. As you'll see below, the top cards in this category offer at least 2% in rewards. The “catch,” if you will, is that these rewards must be used for travel to maximize their value.
2 Airline miles cards: Offered from every major airline, these cards can offer the highest value in rewards. The key is to understand your travel patterns. These cards are ideal for those who fly frequently with the same airline.
3 Hotel rewards cards: As with airline miles, these cards can offer good rewards for those who stay with the same hotel brand.
We've covered each of these types of cards below.
Best Travel Reward Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Preferred
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $550
American Express® Gold Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $250
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $395
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Wells Fargo AutographSM Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $695
Airline Miles Cards
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $99
See also: Southwest Credit Cards: Which One Is Right for You?
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Hotel Rewards Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $125
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points + a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $95
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Rewards:
Welcome Bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Annual Fee: $0
How to Choose the Best Travel Rewards Card
How Often Do You Travel?
If you travel frequently, do you travel more by plane or do you drive? If you usually drive, then you might choose a card that rewards you for gas and hotel stays instead of air travel.
If you only travel once or twice a year, a travel card might not be worth having. Instead, you might consider one of our best cash back credit cards.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The best travel cards don't have foreign transaction fees. This fee is an added cost for using your card outside of the United States. It's usually about 3% of each foreign transaction you make. That fee can add up quickly. That's why carrying a card with zero foreign transaction fees is a must when you travel internationally.
Do You Prefer a Specific Hotel or Airline?
Consider whether you want a co-branded card or a general travel card. Co-branded cards let you earn points with a specific hotel or airline. When you earn enough points, you can redeem them for free stays or free flights.
If you prefer a specific airline or hotel, a co-branded card might work for you, but if you don't have a preference, go with a general travel card. General travel cards (usually) earn fewer points but offer greater flexibility.
Don't Pay for Benefits You Won't Use
Premium cards can come with high annual fees but offer more travel perks and benefits. Some travel perks include free checked bags, travel insurance, airport lounge access, and 24/7 concierge.
Some cards may also offer a credit for TSA Pre-check to get you through an airport with a minimum amount of stress. But if you won’t use the benefits, or don’t care about the benefits, then the annual fee isn’t worth the cost. Do some math to figure out if the fee is worth it for you.
Can You Easily Earn the Welcome Bonus?
Many travel cards offer attractive welcome bonuses, but most of them also require you to spend a certain amount within a timeframe (often three months). If you don't regularly spend that amount of money anyway, then the welcome bonus might not be worth it.
For example, if you need to spend $3000 on the card in the first three months, do you have $1,000 of monthly expenses that you can put on the card in the first three months? More importantly, can you pay off that $1,000 in expenses each month? You don't want to put yourself in debt to earn the welcome bonus.
Keep in mind you can only get a welcome bonus once, so the benefits of the card might take a dive after the first year. And if you have to change your spending habits to get the bonus, it’s not worth it.
Who Are Travel Cards Best For?
Keep in mind that there's an aspirational carrot attached to travel cards: the idea that you will travel more once you have a card with a big bonus or valuable rewards. However, if you don't already travel quite a bit, you might be better off with a card that rewards you for dining, gas, or groceries. If you do travel often then travel rewards cards can be a valuable addition to your wallet.
If you mostly travel for business, a business card might offer rewards and perks better suited to your travel needs.
FAQs
What's the best way to redeem travel rewards?
Travel rewards are usually variable, meaning they can be worth more or less depending on how you redeem them. Most travel credit cards partner with various airlines or hotels and offer the best bang for your travel points when you transfer the points to a partner loyalty program. You'll get the highest value using your rewards for travel, although it does require some research. Usually, the least valuable way to redeem your points is to take them as a statement credit.
How many points or miles do I need to get a free flight?
Some airlines have straightforward reward charts, and some either don't publish them at all, or they're incredibly complicated. In general, the number of points or miles you need will depend on factors like destination, airline, travel dates, and credit card. You'll need less points for a short, domestic coach flight and more points for longer flights and to fly first class.
What's the best credit card for traveling abroad?
Look for a card with no foreign transaction fees. After that, you'll need to do some research to find the best card for you. Weigh the benefits against the annual fee, and consider how much you'll use those benefits. If you only travel abroad once or twice a year, consider whether you need a travel card at all, and if you might do better with a cash back credit card instead.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line here is that the best travel card is the one that fits your needs. Think about how you travel and what card would offer you the best benefits and rewards that you would actually use. Happy traveling!
