10 Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024
If you’re going to be off globetrotting, why not get rewarded while you travel? Travel credit cards are the perfect way to pay for your travel today while getting paid to travel tomorrow. Make your money work for you and reap the benefits of strategic, affordable travel with any of the credit cards listed below.
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10 best travel credit cards for 2024 and beyond
1. Best travel credit card with a variety of perks: American Express Platinum
The Platinum American Express Card offers a life of luxury and convenience with its various rewards and benefits. With the Platinum AMEX Card, you’ll gain access to some of the most exclusive airport lounges in the world. You’ll also earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in your first six months. Plus, you get credits for digital entertainment, Walmart, Uber, and Equinox.
Annual Fee: $695
Reward rates & perks: 5x points on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel, 1x points on other purchases
Pros: You can apply with no impact on your credit score, $200 annual hotel credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, $155 Walmart+ credit, $200 Uber credit, $300 Equinox credit, $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
Cons: $695 Annual Fee, minimal rewards for non-travel spending
2. Best travel credit card with a low annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is everything you need in a travel credit card. From airfare points to rideshare rewards, this credit card allows you to earn more with every aspect of your travel. After you spend $4,000 in the first three months, you earn 60,000 bonus points, which translate to $750 towards flights, hotels, or $600 in cash.
Annual Fee: $95
Reward rates & perks: 5x points on travel purchases through the rewards portal, 5x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on certain streaming services and online groceries
Pros: 6 months of complementary Instacart+, complimentary access to DoorDash’s DashPass for a year, trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Cons: No airport lounge access
3. Best credit card with no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards
For our more frugal cardholders, this is for you. With a $0 annual fee, you get all of Capital One’s amazing rewards for free. New card members get 20,000 bonus miles once they spend $500, which means you’re only a few Target trips away from planning your dream getaway. You also get unlimited rewards.
Annual Fee: $0
Reward rates & perks: 5x miles for every dollar you spend on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, 1.25x miles per dollar you spend on everyday purchases
Pros: No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, low intro APR
Cons: Lower reward rates for everyday purchases, not advantageous for big spenders
4. Best airline credit card: United Club Infinite Card
If you weren’t flying United before, you might want to start. Make your travel easier and more affordable with two free checked bags and priority check-in with the United Club Infinite Card. You can also make your trip a little more fun with twenty-five percent back on United inflight and club premium purchases. By becoming a member, you also become a part of the MileagePlus program, allowing you to use your points with any of the twenty-six Star Alliance member airlines.
Annual Fee: $525
Rewards rates & perks: 4x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on all other travel, 2x miles on dining, 1x miles on all other purchases
Pros: 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months, United Club membership, two free checked bags, and one-year complimentary DoorDash DashPass.
Cons: Higher annual fee
5. Best travel credit card for foodies: American Express Gold
Get ready to eat because this card is every foodie’s dream. With 4x points on restaurants worldwide and groceries in the U.S., you’re basically getting paid to eat. As a new member, you also earn 60,000 membership rewards points after you spend $4,000 within the first six months. You can also use American Express Access to snag some of the most popular Broadway tickets. Dinner and a show, anyone?
Annual Fee: $250
Rewards rates & perks: 4x points at restaurants, 4x points on groceries, 3x points on flights, 1x points on eligible purchases
Pros: Lower annual fee for AMEX, $120 Dining Credit, $120 Uber Cash to Dine or Ride
Cons: No Global Lounge Access and no Priority Pass Select
6. Best travel credit card for hotels: Hilton Honors American Express
Start getting rewarded to enjoy the luxury that Hilton hotels offer. With the Hilton Honors Card, you can earn 7x points when you spend money at any participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. You also get to be a Silver Status member once you have this credit card, earning you a fifth night’s stay for free. If you spend $1,000 within the first three months of having your card, you earn 80,000 bonus points.
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards rates & perks: 7x points at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations within the U.S.
Pros: No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, Global Assist Hotline, complimentary silver status.
Cons: You’ll earn points slower compared to other Hilton cards, no milestone bonuses
7. Best travel credit card with unlimited rewards: Venture Rewards with Capital One
If you know you’re about to drop some money (in the name of self-care), this card is perfect for you. With unlimited 2x rewards, the more you spend, the more you earn. If only everything worked like that. Capital One also has a new cardmember offer that gives you 75,000 bonus miles.
Annual Fee: $95
Reward rates & perks: 5x miles on hotels and rentals ordered through Capital One Travel, unlimited 2x miles on every purchase
Pros: Unlimited rewards, new cardmember offer, no foreign transaction fees, two free lounge visits per year
Cons: Lacks US airline partners for those who want to use points to fly domestically
8. Best credit card for business travel: American Express Business Platinum
The Business Platinum card from AMEX doesn’t just give you travel rewards, it gives you credits that will help you build your business. With credits for Dell, Indeed, and Adobe, you can start using your everyday spending to help you pay off the systems you use to scale your business. This card comes in sleek silver, so it’ll shine every time you spend.
Annual Fee: $695
Reward rates & perks: 5x Membership Reward Points on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, access to the Global Lounge Collection in over 500 airports around the world, up to $200 airline fee Credit with a qualifying airline
Pros: $400 Dell credit annually, $360 Indeed credit annually, $150 Adobe Credit.
Cons: Hefty annual fee, rewards can become less useful if you’re not traveling often
9. Best OneWorld credit card: Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select
If you frequently travel on American Airlines, this card is for you. With the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard, you earn 50,000 American Airlines bonus miles after spending 2,500 within the first three months. You also get a free checked bag on domestic flights.
Annual Fee: $99
Rewards rates & perks: 2x miles at gas stations, restaurants, and American Airline purchases
Pros: First checked bag free, no foreign transaction fees, annual fee waived for the first year, can use AA points to book with luxury airlines like Qatar Airways.
Cons: Low points multiplier
10. Best credit card for occasional business travel: Capital One Spark Miles for Business
This card is perfect for less-than-frequent business travel. With the Capital One Spark Miles Card, you get unlimited 2x points on each business purchase and 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One. You also get a 50,000-mile bonus if you spend $4,500 within the first three months of the account opening. This card allows you to separate your business expenses while earning points that you use later for business or pleasure.
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards rates & perks: 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2x points on each business purchase
Pros: $100 travel credit, $0 annual fee for the first year
Cons: Minimal benefits and perks
Travel Credit Cards — Common FAQs
How do travel credit cards work?
Travel credit cards work similarly to most credit cards with rewards. You have to spend money to earn the rewards. Then you can redeem the rewards for flights and hotel stays.
What credit score is needed for a travel credit card?
A good or excellent credit score is usually needed to qualify for a travel credit card. So you want 690 or higher. The more exclusive credit cards will require higher credit scores. It’s not uncommon for premium travel cards, like an American Express Platinum, to require excellent credit before they approve you.
What kind of travel credit cards are there?
There are a variety of travel credit cards out there, so you have plenty of options to choose from. There are travel credit cards for specific airlines and hotels, so if you have a favorite place to stay or an airline to fly, start there. Some travel credit cards also come with airline lounge access, giving you the chance to pack some luxury into your trip (even if you’re flying coach).