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Having a travel credit card makes it a lot easier to do just that – travel. With a travel credit card, you can earn rewards on your everyday expenses, which you can put toward free travel. Some cards even help you earn free stays at budget-friendly or luxurious hotels across the globe. If you’re shopping for a travel credit card, then you’re in luck. Our rundown of the best travel credit cards for 2018 showcases some of the best options available. Learn more about these cards and apply online in minutes.
The makes it easy to convert everyday expenses into travel rewards. That’s unlimited 2X miles per dollar you spend at grocery stores, gas pumps, utilities, and more. So, if you’re on the fence about a travel credit card, this might just be a great one to start.
If you want to earn even more for your travels, you might consider the . This card comes with a similar rewards rate (2X points on travel and dining worldwide). Plus, you can earn 25% more value when you redeem those points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This card also offers a larger signup bonus worth $625 toward travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
If you’re on the fence about a travel credit card, you’ll love the straightforward . The signup bonus alone (worth $500 in travel) is enough to ensure even the most frugal cardholders can earn a free trip. That’s on top of the 2X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases.
Back to topIf you’re someone who prefers flexibility in their credit cards, the might just fit the bill. There are no foreign transaction fees to worry about and no travel restrictions or blackout dates when redeeming your points for travel. On top of all that, there’s a massive signup bonus worth $625 toward your next travel booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Bear in mind that the does come with an annual fee of $95 (waived for the first year). While this amount more or less falls in line with standard annual fees, it’s something to consider. Make sure that your everyday spending habits fall in line with the incredible rewards potential of this card. If you can get the most out of this card, then it more than makes up for the annual fee.
You travel to get away from the hassles and complications of everyday life, and you deserve a card that helps make this possible. The is the quintessential travel companion for anyone looking to see the world. Get this card and enjoy the ease of redeeming your reward points while saving on transportation and lodging wherever your journey takes you.
Back to topIf you prefer your travel credit cards uncomplicated, then perhaps you will appreciate the . This card features unlimited, flat-rate rewards on every purchase made. There are no special or rotating categories to keep track of and no need to deviate from your regular spending habits. Additionally, there are also no annual fees to deal with.
If you’re willing to pay an annual fee, you could earn higher-rate rewards with another card. The is very similar, with the exception of a higher rewards rate (unlimited 2X miles per dollar) and a signup bonus that’s worth much more.
The could be a good fit if you’re on a budget and looking to earn flexible rewards toward a free trip. With no annual fee and unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase — not to mention the signup bonus — you’ll be on vacation before you know it.
Back to topIf you’re someone who tends to shy away from annual fees and punishing late fees, it’s time to discover the benefits of the card. With this card, you won’t suffer late fees on the first late payment, and there’s no annual fee. There are also no foreign transaction fees, making this a great card to travel abroad with. The fact that rewards are redeemable for travel statement credit gives you the freedom to use that credit to book through discount sites like Priceline, without having your plans restricted by blackout dates or holidays. And if you like to take the long view with accumulating miles, consider the end-of-year miles match. Basically, if you have 5,000 miles by the end of your first year, it’ll double to 10,000.
A year is a long time to have to wait for those year-end bonus miles. If you’re not in a rush to earn miles, then this might be the card for you. However, if you’d prefer to start with a huge signup bonus right off the bat, consider picking up the . Its signup bonus is worth $625 toward travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The is a sensible, uncomplicated way of saving up miles without an annual fee. Those with a lot of patience will also appreciate the fact that their miles will be matched at the end of the first year.
Back to topNot surprisingly, the is ideal for both Bank of America account holders and those looking to earn free travel. With this card, Bank of America® account holders can get an additional 10% customer points on every purchase. There’s also a sizable 20,000-point signup bonus (if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening) along with the ease and flexibility of redeeming your points for air travel, hotel stays, car rentals and more. Because the points you’ll earn with this card are redeemable for a travel statement credit, you can book through the travel website or service of your choosing. This allows you to shop travel sales to make your rewards points stretch even further. And with no blackout dates, you’ll still have access to your travel rewards as well as special discounts and promotions regardless of major holidays.
This card is most beneficial to those who have an active Bank of America savings or checking account. If the 10% customer bonus points aren’t incentive enough for you to open an account, you might consider an alternative like the for 2X miles per dollar and a 5% points bonus at redemption.
The ease of earning points and flexible redemption make the all the more appealing. Add to that the 10% bonus customer points when you pair this with a Bank of America account, and you’ve got a card that makes earning — and redeeming — points a snap.
Back to topIf you’re a Bank of America customer and Preferred Rewards client, the should be your first and last travel card option. Travel insurance protections against delays, cancellations and lost luggage will help you feel secure. And 50,000 bonus points ($500 value) after $3,000 spent in the first 90 days for new account holders is among the most generous sign-up bonuses out there.
The will obviously benefit Bank of America® Preferred Rewards clients the most. And while there are plenty of points to be had, you are unable to transfer them.
This card offers a high points earning rate and flexible redemption options. 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and 1.5 points per $1 spent on everything else can open the floodgates if you use the card regularly. Unlimited points and no expiration date, coupled with a $0 foreign transaction fee gives you a lot of bang for your buck. If you’re a Preferred Rewards customer on the go, both domestically and internationally, this card is well worth the low annual fee.
Back to top| Best for... | Credit Card | |
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| Frequent Travelers |
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| Great For Flexible Travel Rewards |
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| Flat-Rate Travel Rewards On A Budget |
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| No Annual Fee Travel Card | ||
| Bank Of America Customers |
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| Earning Points And Redemption Flexibility |
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That depends on how frequently you travel. Your ability to pay off the balance on a monthly basis and whether you can afford to charge your trip to qualify for the rewards are also key factors. Using your travel rewards card to facilitate the bulk of your purchases helps you earn miles quicker. Some cards also grant a bonus when you redeem those rewards for travel.
Some travel credit cards might come with foreign transaction fees. This means that if you were to use one of these cards, you could get hit with a fee on any souvenirs you purchase abroad. However, some travel credit cards – , for example – waive this fee. It’s wise to contact your travel credit card provider before you go and make any purchases abroad. The last thing you want to do is sample the local cuisine only to have a foreign transaction fee spoil the mood.
For the most part, travel credit cards can make a welcome addition to any business travelers wallet. Take the as a prime example. When you use this card for your professional expenses, you can earn 2 miles per every dollar spent. Since business expenses can be pretty high, you could actually earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first 3 months of opening an account. You can then put those miles toward booking a business trip.
In a nutshell, travel credit cards allow you to earn points, rewards, or miles on your travel-related expenses. Some credit cards – like the – fall into the fixed value category where each mile is worth 1 cent toward travel. Other cards feature a transferrable pool of points where you can use them in a partner program.
If you travel frequently, you aren’t brand-loyal (or like to keep your options open), and you can pay off travel-related expenses in full and on time each month, then one of the best travel credit cards could help you save money and earn rewards on your next trip!
The science of mastering rewards with your travel credit card is more of a journey than a destination, and even the savviest cardholder still has things to learn along the way.
In addition to rewards, many credit cards also provide travel insurance to help you protect yourself as you ramble around the globe.
The following section offers useful information to help you maximize the benefits of your travel credit card — not just the rewards points, but also insurance and other features that can improve your travel experience.
Although it’s easy to brush off travel insurance as an unnecessary expense, you should always give it a second look. With all the upheavals that can unravel your travel plans, not to mention your own personal health, you might be wise to purchase a simple travel insurance plan — or at least pay for your trip with a credit card that offers this benefit for free. Your best option might be a combination: buying a travel insurance policy that supplements the coverage provided by your credit card and fills in the gaps.
If you’re looking for a travel credit card with the best rewards on the market, a great place to start is our in-depth rundown. However, there are lots of options to consider and, at the end of the day, it all boils down to what you want. What are you looking for? Free travel? Free hotel stays? Easy signup bonus requirements? In addition to our reviews, we have also put together this handy travel credit cards directory to help you find the best card for your needs.
Ultimately, this is a matter of opinion as well as your own personal preference. In general, the most ideal travel credit card for earning miles would be the one that best complements your spending habits. For example, if you’re the type of person who uses their credit card on everything, you’d want a travel card that rewards all of that spending. In this case, I’d tell you that the was a great place to start.
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card offers 2x miles for every dollar you spend. That can add up quickly if you’re using the card for groceries, gas, etc. Furthermore, it has a signup bonus of 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months. Again, not a terribly difficult threshold to hit if you use your travel credit card for everyday purchases.
Below is a directory of the most popular travel credit cards. I used this directory as a starting point for my research and analysis on travel cards. The directory is updated weekly to reflect any new changes, to add new cards, and to remove expired cards.
The travel credit cards directory is a sub-directory of rewards credit cards. This directory highlights the most important features specific to travel cards and displays all important information about each card.
The travel rewards credit card directory lists every travel credit card and high level information for each of the cards, so you can make quick comparisons. In order to rank and value each of these cards, certain features were weighted accordingly based on overall importance to the prospective cardholder.
Sort, filter, or search for what matters most to find the best travel credit card for you.
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