Our picks, your power: Here's why you can trust us
billion casino royal:The Motley Fool Ascent:
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.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
billion casino royal✱:Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Unlimited rewardsOn Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
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 milesAnnual Fee
$95Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 MilesThis 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. billion casino royal: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 .) Thereꦆ 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 ear𒈔ns more bonus rewards.
On Chase's Secure Website.
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
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 backAnnual Fee N/A
$0Welcome 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 backThis card would be highly-rated based on its unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates & 0% Intro APR offer alone. But the innovative sign-up bonus (worth up to $300 cash back) makes it particularly good if this would be your primary credit card. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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. billion casino royal: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 th🌳is credit card abroad because it charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in ღU.S. dollars.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
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
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 pointsAnnual Fee N/A
$0Welcome 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 pointsThis 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. billion casino royal: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 fee♚s. 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.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Great for: Hotel rewardsGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
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 & ResortsAnnual Fee N/A
$99Welcome Offer Earn 165,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 165,000 bonus pointsWhy we picked it: A free night at a hotel every account anniversary year, spectacular bonus rewards on IHG🔥 spending, and au🌳tomatic Platinum Elite status make this card super valuable for IHG fans.
What to watch out for: Hotel credit cards a༺re normally only worthwhile if you 🐲stay at the hotel chain often, and this one is no exception.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
billion casino royal:Capital 🌸One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Great for: International travelOn Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
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 milesAnnual Fee
$395Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 MilesOur 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. billion casino royal: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 ). 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 airlin𓄧e partners.
What to watch for: I♚t doesn't have any everyday spending categories where it earns bo෴nus 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 AscentCapital One Spark 2X Miles
Great for: Business travelExcellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
26.24%, variable
Rewards
2x milesAnnual Fee $0 intro fee for first year; $95 after that
$0 intro feeWelcome 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 milesWhy we picked it: You'll earn miles quickly with this card's base𒈔 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.
On Chase's Secure Website.
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
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 purchasesAnnual Fee N/A
$95Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
75,000 bonus pointsThe enormous welcome bonus (worth over $900), 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. billion casino royal: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 pic꧟k 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.
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms applybillion casino royal:The Platinum Card® from American Expres♑s
Great for: Lounge accessOn American Express' Secure Website.
Terms applyOn American Express' Secure Website.
Terms applyGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
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® PointsAnnual Fee
$695Welcome 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® PointsThis 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. billion casino royal: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 (). Luxury travelers who take advantage of the benefits could get quite a bi💦t 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 ). With its assortment of monthly, yearly, and semi-annual spending credits, this card can feel like a ဣcoupon book.
You can line them up side by side with The Ascent's tool to billion casino royal:compare credit card offers. From here, you can choose the billion casino royal:best credit card for your needs.
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 | |
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, 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, 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 | |
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 | |
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: Lounge access |
The more that you travel, the better a travel points credit card will work for you. If you go on two or three trips per year, you should be able to make the most of the benefits that the best travel card offers. If you're traveling even more frequently than that, then the best travel rewards card will likely be extremely valuable to you. If you don't travel that much, other billion casino royal:rewards credit cards would be a better option.
In general, billion casino royal:credit card points is the more common term. billion casino royal: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 credit cards with airline mile♑s that refer to their rewards as points.
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 |
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. bilꦏlion casino royal:The best credit card🌊 for airline miles often include ad🥀ditional 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. billion casino royal:Hotel credit cards also frequently offer extra perks with the hotel chain. These could include a complimentary late checkout, elite status in t🌳he hotel's loyalty program, or a fꦬree night award every year.
Since these card issuers have large rosters of airline and hotel partners, they offer the bil♛lion casino r✨oyal:best international travel credit cards.
A cash back credit card earns rewards on purchases. The difference is that instead of rewards you can use for travel, it earns cash rewards. You can typically redeem your cash back as a statement credit on your credit card bill, a deposit to your bank account, or a check. billion casino royal:Cash back cards are great for consumers who want to earn credit card rewards but aren't big travelers. The reward can also be much e💃asier to use, and many cash back credit cards don't have annual fees.
A credit card for bad credit is one that you can get even if you have a low billion casino royal:credit score or no credit history. In that situation, it's unlikely you'll qualify for a travel card. The better route is to get one of these billion casino royal:credit cards for bad credit, use it to build your credit, and apply for a trave💞l card once you have a higher credit score.
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 billion casino royal꧅:hoܫw The Ascent rates credit cards.
Andrew O. Coggins, Jr., Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Management Department, at Lubin School of Business, Pace UniversityDr. 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 billion casino royal:publishing standards and editorial integrity while ♔maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley 𝔍Fool brands.