Whether you’re looking to save on baggage fees, access premium lounges or earn free flights, our guide to the best travel cards on the market can help you find one that matches your lifestyle and financial goals.
Best for premium rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Here’s why: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the most valuable rewards cards out there, offering extensive perks like a generous travel credit and access to airport lounges around the world.
This card’s annual travel credit of up to $300 can be used for a wide range of travel expenses, including taxi fares, campground fees and bridge tolls. The credit is automatically applied when you make eligible travel-related purchases.
The card has a $550 annual fee, so make sure you’ll get enough value from the perks and rewards before applying.
Best for luxury perks: Platinum Card® from American Express
Here’s why: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wealth of travel and lifestyle benefits that make it a great choice for travelers seeking extra comfort.
The $695 annual fee is hefty, but will get you access to some of the best airport lounges around the world, including The Centurion® Lounge network. You’ll also be pampered at certain hotels with room upgrades, noon check-in, late check-out, and credits for spa treatments, resort activities and dining (when available).
Best for entry-level travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Here’s why: If you’re looking to boost your travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card delivers excellent benefits for a modest annual fee of $95.
You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases during the first 3 months after you open your account. When you redeem through Chase Travel℠, that welcome bonus is worth $750.
But what really sets the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card apart is the ability to transfer your points to a handful of Chase’s hotel and airline partners, where that bonus could be worth more.
Best for simple rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: With its straightforward rewards program and annual fee of $95, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card helps travelers get great value without a lot of extra effort.
You’ll earn two miles for every $1 you spend on purchases, plus five miles per $1 spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Best for budget travel: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Here’s why: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card credit card is a good option for frequent travelers looking to get their money’s worth out of a travel card.
You’ll earn two points for every $1 you spend on travel and dining and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
If you’re on a budget, keep in mind that the card comes with a $95 annual fee — but it’s offset each year by the $100 airline incidental statement credit that you can use to pay for things like seat upgrades, lounge access, baggage fees and in-flight purchases.
Best for hotels: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Here’s why: The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great way to earn Hilton rewards with a $0 annual fee.
The card offers a sizable welcome bonus: 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points, plus a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 on purchases during the first 6 months from account opening.
You’ll also earn seven points for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases at Hilton, five points for every $1 spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets and three points per $1 on all other purchases.
Best for no annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Here’s why: Few flexible travel cards offer as much value for a $0 annual fee as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.
The card offers 25,000 online bonus points (worth $250 in statement credit toward travel or dining purchases) after spending $1,000 on purchases during the first 90 days after account opening.
You’ll also earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases. You can redeem points for a range of travel-related purchases or for a statement credit to cover the cost of those purchases.
Best for airlines: United℠ Explorer Card
Here’s why: The United℠ Explorer Card offers useful perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and two United Club℠ lounge passes per year.
You can also earn two miles for every $1 spent on purchases with United Airlines and on hotels and dining as well as one mile for $1 spent on all other purchases.
The card has an annual fee of $0 intro, then $95 after first year.