Summer vacation is coming. You may have selected the destination of your dreams and evaluated flight costs. Hold off before booking it — and not because you may score a better deal closer to your scheduled take-off (it’s often the opposite). You’ll want to ensure you have one of the best credit cards for travel. These cards boast generous travel rewards, helping you earn cash back you can pour into souvenirs and nights on the town. Some offer other bonuses, like insurance, exclusive access to lounges way more than the standard airport gate, special hotel perks, and waived foreign transaction fees.
Road tripping? Some also offer perks for dining out and transit expenses such as tolls and parking.
Travel can feel overwhelming. You may not want to add getting a new credit card with travel rewards to your itinerary. We did the legwork (and perhaps helped you score more legroom in first class in the process). These are the best credit cards for travel rewards.
Best credit cards for travel
These slim credit cards won’t take up much room in your wallet, but their rewards may allow it to remain thicker than usual. Consider it a good problem to have.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
This credit card has a low annual fee ($95) and a significant upside. Benefits include:
- Primary rental car insurance
- Extra points for travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and dining-related expenses, such as eligible takeout and delivery services
- Redeem points for travel purchases and they’re worth 25% more
- Travel insurance for trip delays, cancellations, and delayed baggage
The biggest drawback is the card won’t get you Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check fee credit, so you’ll have to fork that over (or wait in line).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Card
This card is ideal for frequent travelers who prioritize comfort and plan to rent a car at their destination.
Highlights include:
- 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100) annually
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- Priority Pass Select membership grants cardholders access to more than 1,300 airport lounges globally
- $100 credit toward Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check
- Hertz President’s Circle status
- Primary rental car insurance
The $325 annual fee is lower than some competitors but still significantly higher than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It has travel insurance, but not for baggage delays, travel accidents, or emergency evacuations. Foodies also come up empty because there are no dining perks.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Wells Fargo’s Autograph is a unicorn in that it doesn’t have an annual fee, but it also offers other perks, including:
- 3x points on restaurant, gas, transit, and travel purchases (including airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises)
- Cell phone protection plan
- Foreign transaction fees waived
- Secondary rental car insurance
The card doesn’t have any airline or hotel transfer partners, so you won’t get those nice-to-have perks like lounge access. Keep in mind this drawback is likely the result of the no annual fee — you can’t always have your cake and eat it in a massage chair, too. You also won’t receive streaming bonuses for Hulu and Netflix. If you can entertain yourself with airline movies and naps and plan to explore when you land, this “con” likely won’t affect you much.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card
Like the Sapphire, this card has a relatively low $95 annual fee and plenty of benefits, such as:
- 2x the points for travel and dining purchases
- $100 annual credit for incidental airline fees such as baggage and in-flight services
- Primary rental car insurance
- Up to $100 credit toward Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check
- Travel insurance for trip delays, cancellations, and lost or delayed baggage
Similar to Wells Fargo’s card, the Bank of America Premium Credit Card lacks airline and hotel partners — no lounge access comes with these cards. It won’t be an issue if you typically drive, take rail, or can handle sitting at a gate.
American Express Green Card
This card comes with an annual fee of $150, which isn’t too hefty considering it includes:
- 3x the points on travel purchases including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and campgrounds
- 3x the points for transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subway
- 3x the points for restaurant, takeout, or deliver purchases
- $189 annual credit toward a Clear Plus membership
- $100 annual credit annually toward airport lounge access purchases through LoungeBuddy
The card doesn’t have as extensive trip insurance coverage as some others—you’ll get trip delay insurance but nothing to cover lost or delayed baggage—but is a good choice if racking up points is one of the benefits you’re looking for.
Pro tips when evaluating the best credit cards for travel rewards
The landscape of credit cards can change monthly or quarterly. Some will offer gas rewards in, say, November or December when people are driving to see family for the holidays. They may provide flight rewards during the summer. You can often see which ones offer cash benefits and when before signing up for the card (though they can change). Take a look, and see if it matches up with your typical travel schedule.
The truth of the matter is the best credit cards for travel rewards can be highly personal, based on your unique lifestyle and plans.When choosing a travel credit card, ensure you’re honest with yourself about the benefits. Is it something you’ll use? Do you actually plan to travel, or are you simply wanderlusting via Instagram?
And always be sure to read the fine print. Some cards may offer more extensive benefits, but a high annual fee is a caveat. Assess your budget to evaluate whether it’s worth it based on your travel schedule. The goal is to earn benefits, not add expenses to your travels. Others may have broader insurance policies. Dig into that, too, particularly if you plan to travel somewhere during poor weather seasons (Florida in September and Michigan in December, for instance). You’ll appreciate the extra work if Mother Nature rains (or snows) on your vacation plans.
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