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Our globetrotting experts researched stacks of travel cards. From Casablanca to Kyoto (literally), we've tested where the best travel credit cards can take you. If you're a frequent traveler with good credit, there are a lot of great options right now.
Note that we don't simply list credit cards that we're paid to list. The cards you find here are travel cards that we use ourselves and recommend to our family and friends.
We pride ourselves on being able to confidently say that these credit cards are chosen by personal finance experts that operate independently of our Partnerships team, meaning the picks on this page are not and never have been influenced by advertising deals.
The Motley Fool Ascent:
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Unlimited rewards
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
This is one of our top travel credit cards overall, because of its highly lucrative, yet dead simple rewards program. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and use them to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or to book a trip through Capital One Travel. TSA Pre✓® credit and the opportunity to earn a massive 75,000 Miles sign-up bonus (worth $750 in travel) make this credit card one of the best travel companions. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: It has a fantastic base rewards rate of 2 miles per $1 on purchases, double what most travel cards earn. (See rates and fees.) There are plenty of ways to use miles, including transferring them to travel partners for maximum value or covering travel purchases for quick and easy redemptions.
What to watch out for: This card is light on bonus categories, so while it can work for a one-card wallet, you may want to also carry another card that earns more bonus rewards.
Great for: Cash back
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
A cash back card that has it all with unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates and an excellent 0% intro APR offer. There's also an innovative sign-up bonus worth up to $300 cash back. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the bonus, you’ll still earn the regular cash back rates on every purchase. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: This card has a solid base rate of 1.5% and bonus categories that work well for travelers, including 3% on dining and 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel. There's also a $0 annual fee, and you can pool the rewards you earn if you also have one of Chase's travel credit cards.
What to watch out for: You won't want to use this credit card abroad because it charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Airlines
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer 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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth $750), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s one of the only low annual fee cards we’ve seen offer those protections. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: This Chase card is loaded with benefits, but the highlight is its Chase Ultimate Rewards program, The Ascent's pick for the best credit card rewards program. You can get incredible value with it -- as a personal example, I've been able to pay with Chase points for what would've been a $5,634 hotel stay, and I've also used them to save over $4,000 on business-class airfare.
What to watch for: It's not the best for everyday spending, as non-bonus purchases earn just 1 point per $1.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: International travel
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: This is the rare premium travel card that doesn't cost a fortune and makes it easy to get your money's worth (see rates and fees). The high rewards rate, welcome offer, and bonus miles each account anniversary help you earn rewards quickly, and you can transfer miles to a large roster of airline partners.
What to watch for: It doesn't have any everyday spending categories where it earns bonus miles. Instead, you earn 2 miles per $1 across the board and bonus miles solely on certain types of Capital One Travel bookings.
I got this card as soon as it launched, and it saves me over $1,000 each year on travel. It's the card I use most often, by far, since it earns 2x miles in every spending category. Along with the rewards rate, I also love the airport lounge access. Whether you're taking a short trip or going abroad, it's so much more enjoyable to kick back in a comfy lounge before your flight.
-Lyle Daly, writer at The Motley Fool Ascent
Great for: No annual fee
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: With bonus rewards on airfare, hotels, cruises, gas, and much more, it's well-suited for all kinds of travel. Gas and EV-charging bonuses, in particular, aren't common among travel cards, making this one a good fit if you like to go on road trips.
What to watch out for: The welcome offer is on the low side for a travel card, although the travel cards that offer more have annual fees. While Wells Fargo has been improving its redemption options, there still aren't as many ways to use points as there are with other travel rewards programs.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Lounge access
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Why we picked it: It's arguably the most feature-rich travel card, offering over $1,500 in annual spending credits and the best airport lounge access we've seen (terms apply). Luxury travelers who take advantage of the benefits could get quite a bit of value from this card.
What to watch for: Many of the benefits could be hard to use, which is frustrating when you're trying to get your money's worth on the $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). With its assortment of monthly, yearly, and semi-annual spending credits, this card can feel like a coupon book.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Great for: Hotel rewards
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
Annual Fee N/A
$99
Welcome Offer Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 165,000 bonus points
This card has a very lucrative bonus you can earn after opening an account, and allows you to rack up tons of point on hotel stays.
Why we picked it: A free night at a hotel every account anniversary year, spectacular bonus rewards on IHG spending, and automatic Platinum Elite status make this card super valuable for IHG fans.
What to watch out for: Hotel credit cards are normally only worthwhile if you stay at the hotel chain often, and this one is no exception.
Capital One Spark 2X Miles
Great for: Business travel
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
26.24%, variable
Rewards
2x miles
Annual Fee $0 intro fee for first year; $95 after that
$0 intro fee
Welcome Offer Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
50,000 miles
One of the best cards for businesses looking to capitalize on a travel reward for their everyday purchases. With a big sign up bonus, 2x miles, and low fees, it is a great choice for jet-setting small businesses.
Why we picked it: You'll earn miles quickly with this card's base rate -- an unlimited 2x miles per $1. Miles are easy to redeem for travel spending, making it ideal for business owners who want a high-value card with straightforward benefits.
What to watch for: While it has a few extra travel perks, it's not exactly feature-packed. The main draw is right there in the name -- double miles on purchases.
A good first step is to decide if you'd like a cobranded travel card or a more general travel card. A cobranded card is one that's tied to an airline or hotel. This works well if you're loyal to that company.
For most people, it's better to go with a general travel card with more flexible rewards. You'll have more ways to use your points for travel and won't be limited to booking with a specific travel provider.
Figure out which features are your must-haves so you can narrow down your options. Here are some examples of popular travel card perks:
There are travel rewards cards that have all these features. Cards with more perks tend to cost more, though. Even if you want a premium travel card that's loaded with benefits, it's still smart to have an idea of which perks are most important to you.
Now that you have some options, you can choose the best credit card for your needs. Look at the benefits and the annual fees for all the cards on your list. Consider how easy it will be to use each card's perks, and which card you think will improve your travel experience the most.
Pro tip: You can line cards up side by side with The Ascent's tool to compare credit card offers. Choose the cards you're interested in for a detailed comparison of each one.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited rewards |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Cash back |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Airlines |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: International travel |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: No annual fee |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Lounge access |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Hotel rewards |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Business travel |
If you go on at least two or three trips per year, a travel points credit card should work well for you. The more you travel, the more value you'll get. Here are a few more situations when it makes sense to go with one of the best travel card offers:
Occasional travelers won't get as much value out of travel credit cards. Here are a couple of other signs that you're better off with other rewards credit cards:
Points and miles are two ways of referring to travel rewards. The term that's used depends on the credit card issuer, and neither has a set definition.
In general, credit card points is the more common term. Credit card miles is a term used primarily by airlines. However, neither is set in stone. There are other types of travel cards that refer to their rewards as miles, and there are airlines that refer to their rewards as points. Southwest and its Rapid Rewards points are one example.
There are a lot of different loyalty programs, and they all have their own travel rewards. The tricky part is figuring out how these travel rewards compare to each other. For example, are miles with Delta and Southwest worth the same amount, or is one more valuable?
Although airline and hotel rewards don't have a fixed value, we've calculated approximate values based on what they're usually worth. You may get more or less depending on how you redeem them, but these are the usual values with the major airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Airline | Value per mile |
---|---|
Alaska Airlines | $0.016 |
American Airlines | $0.014 |
Delta Air Lines | $0.014 |
Frontier Airlines | $0.010 |
JetBlue Airways | $0.014 |
Southwest Airlines | $0.014 |
Spirit Airlines | $0.011 |
United Airlines | $0.013 |
Hotel | Value per point |
---|---|
Best Western | $0.007 |
Choice Hotels | $0.006 |
Hilton | $0.005 |
Hyatt | $0.016 |
IHG | $0.006 |
Marriott | $0.007 |
Radisson | $0.004 |
Wyndham | $0.009 |
There are four types of travel rewards credit cards. You'll find a description of each type below.
An airline credit card is tied to an airline loyalty program, also known as a frequent flyer program. When you use the best credit card for frequent flyers, it earns miles in that program. You can redeem your miles for award airfare. Instead of paying $250 for a ticket, you may be able to buy it for 25,000 miles. The best credit card for airline miles often include additional perks with the airline, such as free checked luggage or airport lounge access.
A hotel credit card is tied to a hotel loyalty program. When you use a hotel credit card, it earns rewards points in that program. You can redeem your points for award hotel stays, such as paying 30,000 points per night instead of $150 per night. Hotel credit cards also frequently offer extra perks with the hotel chain. These could include a complimentary late checkout, elite status in the hotel's loyalty program, or a free night award every year.
A travel credit card with fixed-rate rewards lets you redeem your rewards for cash travel purchases. Rewards are always worth the same amount toward travel this way. For example, if your card offers $0.01 per point, then 10,000 points will always be worth $100 in travel. Depending on the card, you can either use your rewards as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases, use them in the card issuer's travel portal to book travel, or both.
A travel credit card with transferable rewards lets you send your rewards to other loyalty programs. For example, if your travel card has rewards you can transfer to Hyatt Hotels, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, then you could send your points to any of those programs. You would then be able to book travel through that loyalty program using your points.
They're great if you don't have any specific airlines or hotels you like more than the rest. Specifically, look for travel cards in a major credit card rewards program:
Since these card issuers have large rosters of airline and hotel partners, they offer the best international travel credit cards.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate travel credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes rewards systems and bonus categories, rewards redemption flexibility, and sign-up bonuses.
Our highest-rated travel credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
The first thing you should do is figure out which card's rewards program will work best for your travel habits. When in doubt, get a travel card with transferable rewards. These give you the most ways to book travel, so they're great if you don't have any specific airlines or hotels you like more than the rest.
If possible, it's great to get a card with a high rewards rate and a large sign-up bonus. Even if you can't get that, any card you're considering should offer at least one of the two. The more reward points you earn, the more money you'll save on travel.
Take advantage of as many benefits as possible. Go through your travel card's features to make sure you don't forget to use any of them. If it has airport lounge access, see which lounges you can get into and if there's a registration process required first. If your card has travel protections, such as trip delay or lost luggage reimbursement, learn how they work in case you ever need to use them.
Andrew O. Coggins, Jr., Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Management Department, at Lubin School of Business, Pace University
Dr. Coggins is a internationally renowned cruise industry analyst. His insights have been featured in The New York Times, MSNBC, and NPR. He serves as a clinical professor at Pace University's Lubin School of Business.
Who should sign up for a travel credit card?
It depends on how often you travel with that particular company. If you travel a lot, the card might make sense.
What should one consider when selecting a travel credit card?
Two major points are the interest rate and the benefits, i.e. priority check-in, upgrades, club membership, fee waiver, etc. Other considerations are: Can you earn points on non-travel spending? How often do you fly or stay with that brand? In the end, it comes down to what’s important to you. In my case, most of my air travel is through hub connections, so club membership is a big plus.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
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