Best Travel Credit Cards for February 2024: Top-tier travel credit cards open doors to a realm of complimentary and discounted travel opportunities. For avid travelers, acquiring one of these cards could prove highly advantageous. Your ideal choice might hinge on your travel preferences and objectives, whether it’s a card with no annual fee, lavish premium rewards, or an abundance of points per purchase. Explore the finest travel rewards cards below for a detailed overview, enabling you to traverse the globe at a significantly reduced expense.
Best travel credit cards compared 2024
Card Name | Best for | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Suggested minimum credit | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Beginners | 5x on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3x on dining, online grocery; purchases, and select streaming services; 2x on other travel purchases | 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 Ultimate Rewards®. | Excellent, Good | $95 |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Premium Travel | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all purchases, plus earn 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Excellent | $395 |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | No annual fee | 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1.25x miles per dollar on all purchases | 20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Excellent, Good | $0 |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Intro bonus offer | 5x miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases | Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Excellent, Good | $95 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Airport lounge access | 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; 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | Good, Excellent | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Business | 3x per dollar on travel and select business categories up to $150,000 in combined annual purchases, 1x everywhere else | New Cardmember Offer! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Excellent, Good | $95 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Insurance coverage | 10x on dining, hotels, and rental cars booked through Chase, 5x on flights booked through Chase, 3x per dollar on travel and restaurants, 1x everywhere else | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® | Excellent | $550 |
United℠ Explorer Card | Airline credit card | 2x miles per dollar spent with United and on dining, restaurant delivery, and hotels and 1x everywhere else | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Excellent, Good | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 |
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Hotel credit card | Up to 17x points for Marriott purchases, 3x on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2x everywhere else | 100,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three mon |
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Our recommendations for the best travel credit card
The optimal travel credit card depends on your individual travel preferences. If you have loyalty to a particular airline or hotel, their branded credit card might be a suitable choice. On the other hand, for travelers seeking maximum value across a broader spectrum of redemption options, a general miles or points rewards card could be the most advantageous selection.
1.Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The top choice for a general travel rewards credit card for beginners is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It effectively combines a robust rewards program with a reasonable annual fee, making it an excellent option. Whether you’re new to travel rewards cards or seeking a versatile card with an annual fee below $100, this card deserves consideration.
New cardholders who spend at least $4,000 within the first three months receive a bonus of 60,000 points, equating to $750 when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The card offers five points per dollar on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, three points for dining, eligible delivery services, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. Additionally, you earn two points for other travel and one point on all other purchases. The points are transferable to various airline and hotel partners, such as United, Southwest, and Marriott.
The card includes additional perks, such as travel and purchase protections, along with a $50 statement credit each year for hotels booked through Chase. Despite a $95 annual fee, the card’s regular use easily justifies this cost, providing substantial benefits and savings throughout the year.
2.Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, a relatively recent addition to premium travel cards, boasts an extensive array of travel perks. These include access to Capital One lounges, as well as more than 1,300 additional lounges through Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. Despite its steep $395 annual fee, the card offers exceptional value, easily justifying the cost. Users benefit from a $300 annual statement credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and an additional $100 statement credit when booking specific hotels through Capital One.
New users of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card start with 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the initial three months, and they receive an annual bonus of 10,000 miles on their account anniversary. In terms of purchases, users earn 10 times the miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 times the miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 times the miles on all other expenditures. Capital One miles are redeemable through Capital One and a variety of transfer partners.
Additional benefits encompass premium experiences and museum access through complimentary memberships to PRIOR and The Cultivist, along with a $300 credit toward a Gravity Hauss membership. Furthermore, if you book a flight based on Capital One Travel’s recommendation and the price drops within 10 days, you can receive up to a $50 credit back.
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3.Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
If you’re hesitant to spend $100 annually for a travel rewards card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card could be an excellent alternative. This card allows users to accumulate five miles for every dollar spent on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel, along with a consistent 1.25 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
New cardholders have the opportunity to earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the initial three months. The card stands out with no foreign transaction fees, and its noteworthy travel insurance and purchase coverage are particularly impressive given the absence of an annual fee.
Additionally, the VentureOne card provides a 0% introductory rate on purchases for 15 months and a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for 15 months for new users. This feature makes it a compelling choice for those looking to consolidate and pay off other cards or make significant purchases without incurring interest charges. If you prioritize a no-annual-fee option with favorable introductory rates, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card may be the ideal choice for your needs.
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4.The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express stands as an ultra-luxury credit card offering an extensive array of benefits. These include expedited airport processes, lounge access, gold status at Marriott and Hilton hotels, and approximately $1,500 worth of travel, membership, and purchase credits. New users can earn 80,000 membership rewards points after spending $6,000 within the initial three months.
While the card comes with a substantial $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees), the value it provides is evident when fully utilizing its benefits throughout the year. Additional users can obtain free Amex Gold cards or up to three extra Platinum cards at $175 per year, with additional users beyond that incurring a $175 fee each.
Notable benefits encompass a hotel credit of up to $200 for prepaid bookings with American Express Travel for Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, a $189 annual statement credit for a Clear membership, a credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and up to $20 per month for select entertainment purchases. Users also enjoy up to $300 per year in statement credits for Equinox memberships, $12.95 per month in statement credits for a Walmart+ membership, and $50 in statement credits twice per year when shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue. Additionally, it includes $15 monthly in Uber Cash ($20 in December) and Uber VIP status, along with Gold-level status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs.
However, the rewards may not be the most impressive aspect. Users earn five points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and hotels booked on Amex Travel, with one point for all other purchases. Points are redeemable through Amex and transferable to a selection of airline and hotel partners. Despite the steep annual fee, the card proves valuable for frequent travelers, particularly when considering the substantial travel benefits it offers.
5.Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card if you are a business owner, even if it’s a side venture. The card offers an impressive 100,000-point bonus after spending $15,000 within the initial three months, equivalent to $1,250 in travel when redeemed through Chase, or potentially more when transferred to travel partners.
This card provides 3 times the points per dollar on various business-related expenses, including shipping purchases, advertising purchases on social media sites and search engines, internet, cable, and phone services, as well as travel.
Additionally, the card offers a comprehensive set of travel and purchase protections, including cell phone insurance when you use the card to pay your monthly bill. As expected from premium travel cards, there are no foreign transaction fees. Despite the substantial starting bonus and excellent benefits, it does come with a $95 annual fee.
6.Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands as a high-end travel card offering a wealth of valuable benefits. Despite the substantial $550 annual fee, the card provides a $300 reimbursement on travel purchases, up to $100 in statement credits every four years for TSA’s trusted traveler programs, and a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to over 1,300 lounges.
New users can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the initial three months. In terms of purchases, users receive 10 times the points per dollar spent with Chase Dining or when booking hotels or rental cars through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5 times for flights booked through Chase, 3 times for travel and dining purchases, including restaurant delivery, and 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else.
The card’s package of travel and purchase insurance adds substantial value. It encompasses trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and emergency evacuation insurance. For purchases, it offers purchase protection for new purchases for up to 120 days, return protection, and up to an additional year of warranty coverage.
7.United℠ Explorer Card
If you’re in search of an airline-specific credit card, the United℠ Explorer Card by Chase is a standout choice. This card offers a range of benefits tailored for United travelers, including bonus miles, complimentary checked bags, and various perks. New users have the opportunity to earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 with the card in the initial three months.
For purchases with United, dining, restaurant delivery, and hotels booked directly through the hotel company, you earn 2 times the miles per dollar. Additionally, the card provides 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
When traveling with United, the cardholder and a companion enjoy their first checked bag free, valued at up to $140 per roundtrip. The card also presents an opportunity to earn Premier qualifying points, contributing towards elite United status. Users benefit from a one-year complimentary DashPass subscription, offering discounts with DoorDash. The card includes robust travel insurance benefits, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and access to the complimentary Visa Signature Concierge service.
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