- Best Credit Cards
- Best Travel Credit Cards
20 Top Travel Credit Cards of 2023 (With No Annual Fee Options)
Want discounted prices, luxury travel, and free trips? This list of cards can get you there.

I’m 6’8” and a homebody. I had no interest in cramming myself into a tin can with wings to see scenery I could likely experience in the good ol’ US of A.
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That was until my recent trip to Europe. The flight was excellent (I splurged for some extra legroom—totally worth it), the people and sights were fantastic—and I can’t wait to return. Me being me, this quickly resulted in an in-depth Excel spreadsheet of 70+ credit cards—
Similar articles:
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- 10+ Second Chance Credit Cards With No Security Deposit
- 22 Best Cashback Credit Cards in 2023 (6% Back on Groceries)
- Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit 2023
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Life And My Finances has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Life And My Finances and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Best Credit Cards For Travel in 2023
Now you can benefit from my extreme nerd-out. Here’s a complete review of the top 10 travel credit cards (and ten more cards that might suit your specific interests).
Top 10 Travel Credit Cards
- Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card—Best travel credit card overall
- Wells Fargo AutographSM Card—Best travel credit card with no annual fee
- United QuestSM Card—Best credit card for airline miles
- Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card—Best travel points credit card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card—Best credit card for international travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card—Best travel credit card for beginners
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express—Best business travel credit card
- Capital One® SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card—Best travel credit card for students
- Credit One Bank Wander® Card—Best travel credit card for fair credit
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card—Best travel credit card for bad credit
The Best Travel Credit Card Overall—Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card | Best overall | 4.2/5 | $395 | 2x–10x | 75,000 miles | Learn more |
Why we like it
In case you were asking yourself, “What is the best credit card for travel?” This is it. Yes, the annual fee seems steep at $395—but when you look through the benefits, you’ll quickly see why it’s well worth the yearly cost:
- 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
- 10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on your first anniversary).
- $300 annual travel credits for bookings through Capital One Travel.
The initial bonus offer is worth a minimum of $750—but even without it, the 10,000 annual bonus points and the $300 travel credit will pay for the annual fee. All you need to do is travel somewhere. This card also has impressive rewards on your purchases:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2x miles on all other purchases.
Pros
- Unlimited access to Capital One airport lounges for you and two guests per visit.
- Get Hertz President’s Circle® status—skip the counter and head straight to your car at select locations. (You may also be eligible for free upgrades.)
Cons
- You’ll need to spend $4,000 on the card in 3 months to earn the bonus offer. (That may be a stretch for many people.)
- This card is most valuable when booking through Capital One Travel. (You may want to look elsewhere if you prefer to book directly with airlines or hotels.)
Best Travel Credit Card With No Annual Fee—Wells Fargo AutographSM Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Wells Fargo AutographSM Card | No annual fee | 4.6/5 | $0 | 1x–3x | 30,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
Want to earn 3x points on restaurants, airfare, hotels, car rentals, gas, EV charge stations, subways, parking, tolls, streaming services—and your cell phone plan? Of course, you do—and you can with the Wells Fargo AutographSM card. (Plus, earn 1x points on all other purchases.) For a limited time, you’ll also earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first three months—that’s a $300 cash redemption value.
Pros
- 0% intro APR for 12 months.
- No limit to points earned on purchases (regardless of category).
Cons
- Higher variable APR at 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24%.
- Points do not transfer to airlines or hotels.
Best Credit Card For Airline Miles—United QuestSM Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
United QuestSM Card | Airline miles | 4.0/5 | $250 | 1x–3x | 80,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
Do you sometimes feel like George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air—spending too much of your life in airports? If so, it makes sense to put an airline credit card in your pocket. And the best one (according to our recent review) is the United QuestSM Card. Why? First, you can earn 80,000 bonus miles if you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Other perks:
- $125 annual United purchase credit (as a reimbursement for a United flight).
- Starting at your first anniversary, earn 5,000 miles if you take a United® operated flight booked with your miles (up to two times every anniversary year).
- 3x miles on United Airlines purchases.
- 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services.
- 1x on everything else.
Pros
- Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation (savings of up to $320 per roundtrip).
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Get a one-year complimentary DashPass for unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees.
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- 20.24%–27.24% APR
Best Travel Points Credit Card—Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Capital One® Venture X® Rewards Credit Card | Travel points | 4.2/5 | $395 | 2x–10x | 75,000 miles | Learn more |
Why we like it
Think you’re seeing double here? No need to book an eye exam—this is for real. The Capital One® Venture X® Rewards credit card is the best rewards credit card for travel for many reasons—but mainly because of the fantastic travel points it offers—
- 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary.
- $300 annual travel credits for bookings through Capital One Travel.
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2x miles on all other purchases.
And they’ll likely yield double the value when you transfer these points to a Capital One airline partner—so those 5x miles are like getting 10% back on your spending. That’s an incredible cashback rate.
Pros
- 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
- Unlimited access to Capital One airport lounges for you and two guests per visit.
Cons
- $395 annual fee—not worth it unless you fly often.
- This card is most valuable when booking through Capital One Travel. (You may want to look elsewhere if you prefer to book directly with airlines or hotels.)
The Best Credit Card For International Travel—Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card | International travel | 3.8/5 | $550 | 1x–10x | 60,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
Looking for the best credit cards for traveling abroad? This may not be what you were looking for when you came to this party—but it might just be who you leave with. The $550 fee is an initial turnoff—I get it. But take a look at what the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card has to offer:
- 60,000 bonus points (worth $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards).
- $300 annual travel credit.
- 10x points on hotels and car rentals (when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards).
- 5x points on flights (when booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards).
- 3x points on other dining restaurants (and other worldwide travel).
- 1x points on all other purchases.
Check out the pros below, and you’ll see why we rated it as the best credit card for international travel (including Europe).
Pros
- 50% more redemption value when you redeem travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Complimentary airport lounge access.
- $100 fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Excellent credit recommended.
- High variable APR of 21.24% to 28.24%.
- Need to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to receive high rewards points. (If you’re not going to, it’s likely not worth the hefty annual fee.)
The Best Travel Card For Beginners—Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Beginners | 4.2/5 | $95 | 1x–5x | 60,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
This is Chase Sapphire Reserve’s more sensible sister. (Not quite as costly, but still comes with benefits.) The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card is just $95, but has quite a few perks:
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months (that’s $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards).
- $50 in statement credits each year for hotel stays bought through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 5x points on travel bought through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs).
- 2x points on other travel purchases.
- 1x points on everything else.
This card has excellent bonuses without the enormous annual cost—so it’s perfect for beginners.
Pros
- Can qualify with a “good” credit score (700-749).
- Get 25% more value when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Cons
- No intro APR offer.
- Best travel earning rates are only through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
The Best Business Travel Credit Card—The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Business travel | 3.8/5 | $695 | 1x–5x | 100,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
Say, you’re a businessperson—constantly on the go, traveling from one side of the country to the other. You’ll want to consider The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
With this card, you’ll get:
- Upwards of 100,000 rewards points when you spend $15,000 in the first three months (worth over $2,000 if redeemed through one of their transfer partners).
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
- 1.5x points on construction supplies, electronics, software, and more (there’s a cap on this value).
- 1.5x points on purchases over $5,000 (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year).
- 1x points on all other purchases.
(Terms apply.)
Pros
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection® with more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries (more lounge locations than any other credit card on the market).
- $200 airline fee credit.
- $189 credit on CLEAR® (a method of breezing through security at 45+ airports nationwide).
Cons
- $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Limited high bonus categories outside of flights and hotels.
The Best Travel Credit Card For Students—Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Students | 4.4/5 | $0 | 1%–10% | $50 | Learn more |
Why we like it
If you’re a student with minimal credit history, you’re probably wondering if there’s any hope of getting a credit card specifically for travel points. Your odds are about as good as Lloyd’s from Dumb and Dumber—about one in a million. (“So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” No, Lloyd, let’s not go there.) That’s not to say you don’t have a great option—case in point—The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. Where most student cards barely sport any rewards at all, these are actually quite good:
- 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
- 1% back on everything else.
Pros
- $0 annual fee.
- One-time $50 cash bonus when you spend $100 in the first three months.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No flight rewards offered on this card.
Best Travel Credit Card For Fair Credit—Credit One Bank Wander® Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Credit One Bank Wander® Card | Fair credit | 3.6/5 | $95 | 1x–10x | 10,000 points | Learn more |
Why we like it
Like to wander, but have just average credit? We found a travel credit card so you can score rewards benefits too! The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is for those with a credit score of about 650 to 699. If you’re wondering if the benefits are worth it—have a look for yourself:
- 10,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days (worth $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel).
- Earn 10x on eligible hotels and car rentals when booking through the Credit One Bank travel partner.
- 5x points on travel (flights, dining, and gas purchases).
- 1x points on all other purchases.
Pros
- One of the few travel rewards credit cards for fair credit.
Cons
- $95 annual fee.
- High variable APR of 27.74%.
Best Credit Card For Bad Credit—Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Credit card | Category | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Bad credit | 3.8/5 | $0 | 1%–2% | Cashback match | Learn more |
Why we like it
What if you don’t even have average credit—but have bad credit instead? Then what do you do for a travel credit card? Not going to lie to you—your options are limited. Based on our research, the best travel credit card for bad credit is the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It’s a secured card, so you’ll need to load it with funds (at least $200) before you can start swiping—but it does come with benefits and rewards!
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter).
- 1% unlimited cash back on everything else.
Pros
- $0 annual fee.
- First-year Cashback Match (whatever bonus you earn, Discover will double it with a match of their own).
Cons
- Limited perks vs. unsecured cards.
- No flight or hotel rewards.
- You need a secured deposit to get started.
Other Notable Travel Credit Cards
Perhaps your travel interests are more specific—you’re more interested in free flights, an excellent airport experience, or swanky hotel stays. These cards might have what you’re looking for—
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card—Best vacation credit card
- American Express® Gold Card—Best credit card for Europe travel and work travel
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®—Best credit card for free flights and travel hacking
- The Platinum Card® from American Express—Best luxury travel credit card with lounge access
- Citi Premier® Card—Best travel credit card with no foreign transaction fee and with a sign-up bonus
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card—Best credit card for hotels
Methodology
How did we choose the top 10 best travel credit cards? (And how did we come up with other top credit cards above?) We love nerding out over credit cards (and the savings they can provide). We especially enjoy figuring out the best travel hacks and the associated credit cards that can help you save a bunch of extra money on travel.
For this piece, we compared the best-of-the-best travel cards (72 of them, to be exact). All the above options came out on top. We laid out the following stats: annual fee, regular interest rate, introductory APR, introductory offer, standard cash back, high-end cash back, transfer fee, foreign transaction fee, and the recommended credit score. Then we set them all against each other.
To score each card, we analyzed and graded them on these specific categories:
- Annual fee
- Regular interest
- Introductory offer
- Standard cash back rate
- High-end cash back rate
No card got a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 (apparently we have high standards). If a card got a score of 4.5—that’s considered very good.
What Is a Travel Credit Card?
It’s pretty obvious—travel credit cards are for everything related to travel. They often come with trip insurance, priority boarding, and lounge access—but they also likely earn points when you make travel purchases (flights, hotels, rental cars, and the like).
How do travel credit cards work?
Travel credit cards work just like regular credit cards—but they come with better rewards if used for travel (vs. going to the grocery store). Let’s say you’re going to take a trip that includes a flight and a hotel stay.
If you had a travel credit card, you’d likely want to book your trip through your credit card travel portal, which—if you were using the Capital One® Venture® Rewards credit card—would reward you with 5x points per $1 spent. The goal is to compile points so you can later redeem them for gift cards, statement credits, or future purchases (like travel).
Read more:
- How Do Credit Cards Work? A Guide for Absolute Beginners
- How to Get a Credit Card: What to Look For and How to Apply
- How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? The Good and the Bad of Owning Multiple Cards
What is the difference between points and miles, and how do they work?
Some credit cards offer miles rewards—others have points. Is there any difference? Not a ton. They work the same way, but you’ll likely get a better redemption rate on travel-related items if you have a credit card that awards miles. (You can often still redeem your miles for non-travel-related items, but they won’t be worth as much.)
Case in point—I have a Capital One Venture card that awards miles. If I want to redeem my 10,000 miles on a flight, it’s worth $100 (at least). If I want to use those points for a gift card—I’ll only get $80. Credit cards that issue points are often more flexible and have more options.
Co-Branded Travel Cards vs. General Travel Cards
What does it mean for a travel card to be co-branded? Let's look at an example— Chase usually partners with Visa for their credit cards—Chase is the issuer, and Visa is the network. Without any other branding, it would be a general travel credit card.
Occasionally, you might have an airline, a hotel, or a restaurant that wants to offer their own travel card (say, United). They do it through a network and issuer, but now they also put their brand on the card. This creates a co-branded Chase United card through the Visa network.
Types of Travel Credit Cards
Not all travel credit cards are alike. What types are there?
Transferable rewards credit cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good example of a transferable rewards card. Chase obviously isn’t an airline or a hotel, but points can be redeemed through their rewards portal for free flights, hotel stays, and more. (The points can transfer.)
Airline credit cards
Airline co-branded cards earn miles for that specific airline. They often offer good rewards, but if you don’t like the airline—or if you don’t fly that often—then an airline credit card isn’t the best option. However, if you’re in love with Delta and won’t fly through any other airline, their airline card likely makes a ton of sense!
Hotel credit cards
The same is true for hotels. Certain hotel chains may offer their own co-branded credit cards with monster rewards if you’re loyal to their brand—but if you want to experience other hotels or vacation rentals while traveling, then a hotel credit card won’t do much for you.
Fixed-value credit cards
When credit cards offer miles or points, the actual value of the rewards is unclear. As I mentioned before with my Capital One Venture card, points used for travel will buy me more than if I tried to use my points toward gift cards or statement credits. It gets confusing.
A fixed-value credit card has the same redemption value across the board. Whether you want to use your points for travel or to reduce your credit card bill, the value of those points is fixed.
Business credit cards for travel
Credit cards like the Business Platinum Card® from American Express were explicitly created for on-the-go business owners. These cards offer maximum points for spending on airfare, hotels, rental cars, and restaurants. They may also offer rewards on large spend items or purchases from certain categories of vendors.
Travel Points Valuations
I have a job for you and your friend. I agree to pay you each 100 dollars. You sweat, you toil—and you complete the task. I hand you 100 Hong Kong dollars, and give your bestie 100 United States dollars. Same thing, right? Not quite. Your 100 Hong Kong dollars are worth about $13 US dollars. Oops. Points are like this. They’re all worth different amounts depending on the card.
So, when you see a card that offers 12x points vs. another that only offers 5x points—it doesn’t necessarily make it better. The first may transfer at 0.5 cents per point, and the second might transfer at 2 cents (so the lower point offer is actually more valuable). Confused? No worries, the tables below should clear things up—
Point values by credit card
If you’re looking to travel hack, keep your eyes on the far right column. A higher total with travel partners will give you more money back when you transfer your points on your trips.
Credit card program | Base mile/point value estimate | Mile/point with top transfer partners |
American Express Membership Rewards | 1 cent | 2.1 cents |
Capital One Miles | 1 cent | 2 cents |
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred®) | 1.25 cents | 2 cents |
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Sapphire Reserve) | 1.5 cents | 2 cents |
Chase Ultimate Rewards (other Ultimate Rewards cards) | 1 cent | 1 cent |
Citi ThankYou Points (Citi Premier® Card) | 1 cent | 1.9 cents |
Citi ThankYou Points (basic ThankYou points) | 1 cent | 1 cent |
Discover miles | 1 cent | 1 cent |
U.S Bank FlexPerks | 1.5 cents | 1.5 cents |
Wells Fargo Rewards | 1 cent | 1 cent |
Point values for airline credit cards
Here’s the points estimate for each major airline credit card. (There are some slight differences, but nothing earth-shattering).
Airline | Mile/point value estimate |
Alaska airlines | 1.1 cents |
Delta | 1.3 cents |
Frontier | 1.3 cents |
JetBlue | 1.4 cents |
Southwest | 1.5 cents |
Spirit | 1 cent |
United | 1.1 cents |
Point values by hotel
When getting a hotel credit card, please check the table below. You might think you’re getting huge rewards with, say, Radisson—but since each point is only worth 0.4 cents, it likely doesn’t add up to as much as you think. On the flip side, the World of Hyatt offers 2.1 cents per point—more than five times that of Radisson! Do the math—and choose the most valuable card for you.
Hotel | Mile/point value estimate |
Best Western Rewards | 0.6 cents |
Hilton Honors | 0.6 cents |
World of Hyatt | 2.1 cents |
IHG One Rewards | 0.7 cents |
Marriott Bonvoy | 0.7 cents |
Radisson Rewards Americas | 0.4 cents |
Wyndham Rewards | 0.9 cents |
How to Compare Travel Credit Cards
When we compared and ranked the top travel cards, we considered:
- Annual fees
- Interest rates
- Introductory offers
- Cashback rates (both the low and high sides)
We also noted the introductory interest rates, transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees.
Annual fees
Many people think a $0 annual fee makes for a great card. Not necessarily. Take a look at the table below— Which card makes the most sense financially: A or B?
Card | Fee | Annual earnings |
Card A | $0 | $200 |
Card B | $95 | $500 |
- With Card A, you pay no annual fee and earn $200. Net earnings are $200.
- With Card B, you make $500 and have a $95 fee. Net earnings are $405.
What would you rather have? $405 or $200? Don’t get stuck on only the “no annual fee” credit cards—consider the complete picture instead.
Interest rates
No one intends to have a balance on their credit card—and yet the average credit card balance is $5,221. So let’s consider the interest rates when getting a credit card:
- An APR% under 16.99% is excellent.
- 17% to 24.99% is average.
- Over 25% is a high interest rate. (Try to avoid rates this high.)
Introductory offers
Introductory offers are a one-time thing. Don’t start your decision-making process with this—but if it’s between two or three cards, choosing the card with the best introductory offer might make sense. Some points to consider:
- Be sure the offer is attainable without any extra spending on your part.
- If the reward is in points, be sure to calculate what those points are worth.
- Consider when you’ll receive the bonus. (Is it immediate? Or do you need to wait a year?)
Cashback rates
The introductory rate is like a college fling—it’s great and all, but it’s not going to last. The cashback rate, on the other hand, is marriage material—it’s not changing, and you better be okay with it for life. When we scored the best travel credit cards, we considered the low and high cashback rates:
- The cashback rate on everything should be no lower than 1%. (That’s average.)
- If your minimum cashback rate is 1.5%, that’s very good.
- The high-end of the cashback rate should be 2% or more. (The best cards have a 5%–10% cash back for travel.)
Transfer fees
Some cards offer balance transfers at no cost—but at a standard APR. Other cards have transfer fees (typically between 3% and 5%)—but, they may also have an introductory APR of 0% for a year or more.
Introductory rates
If you’re looking to save money on interest by transferring your balance from one card to another, then the introductory rate matters—along with the transfer fee. Often, the best deal you’ll find is a 0% introductory rate and a 3% transfer fee.
Aside from transferring money, the introductory rate shouldn’t mean much to you. (After all, we’re not looking to rack up new credit card debt here. That’s never the goal.)
Foreign transaction fees
If you like to travel abroad, you’d better make sure your card doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. For cards with fees, they typically charge 1%–5% per transaction. (It’s best to avoid this wherever possible.)
Here’s a quick summary of foreign transaction fees by credit card issuer (to help you make a more informed decision on your next travel credit card):
- American Express—between 0% and 2.7% (depending on the card).
- Capital One—no foreign transaction fees.
- Chase—between 0% and 3% (depending on the card).
- Citi—between 0% and 3% (depending on the card).
- Discover—no foreign transaction fees.
Should You Get a Travel Card? Pros and Cons
Do you need a travel card or not? Let’s see the pros and cons to decide if a travel credit card is right for you.
Pros
- Free or discounted travel.
- Elite perks and benefits—lounge access, hotel elite status, and credits for travel-related programs.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- The best cash back, discounts, and perks are travel-related—if you don’t travel, the rewards are limited.
- You’ll find the best value by redeeming points with the card’s travel partners—specific airlines. (You won't get as much cashback value if you don’t fly with the card’s partnered carrier.)
Our rule of thumb is that if you travel more than twice a year, it’s likely worth it to own a travel credit card.
Note:
Life And My Finances has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Life And My Finances and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please see the table of rates & fees.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please see the table of rates & fees.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please see the table of rates & fees.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, please see the table of rates & fees.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
FAQ
What credit score do I need to get a travel rewards credit card?
For most travel credit cards you need a good credit score (690+).
Are travel cards with annual fees worth it?
Absolutely—the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card has a $395 fee, but the value of the rewards is double the standard travel credit card. (If you travel often, this card makes sense.)
What are the easiest airline credit cards to get?
You’ll also need a good credit score (690+) for most airline credit cards. We have found none to be easier to get than others.
What are the easiest travel credit cards to get approved for?
The easiest travel credit card to get approved for is The Credit One Bank Wander® Card, which is specifically for fair credit. (Most other travel cards are for good or excellent credit and will be more challenging to get.)
What is the best travel credit card for a 700 credit score?
The best travel card for a 700 credit score is our best overall pick—the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card.
What is the best credit card with travel insurance?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is best for travel insurance coverage. They offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance, and more.
What are the best credit cards for first-class travel?
The top travel rewards credit cards are the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. They come with a $395 and a $550 annual price tag, respectively—but they’ll earn points the fastest with their 5x rewards on travel and 10x rewards on hotels and rental cars. (And more points mean more first-class tickets earned.)
What are the best credit cards for domestic travel?
The best domestic travel card is the. It comes with a $95 fee but with solid rewards for domestic travel.
Editorial team
Meet the team
Personal Finance Expert
Derek has a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's in Business. As a finance manager in the corporate world, he regularly identified and solved problems at the C-suite level. Today, Derek isn't interested in helping big companies. Instead, he's helping individuals win financially—one email, one article, one person at a time.

Editor
Editor, copywriter, and multilingual translator with expertise in producing tailored content for global online brands. When not editing articles for LifeAndMyFinances.com, he enjoys rummaging through paper dictionaries, walking in nature, and making travel plans.

Finance Writer
Content writing and marketing professional with 4+ years of experience in the B2B and B2C sectors. Deepti has written about several subjects, including finance, project management, human resources, and more.

Feb, 27
Need a second chance with credit cards? You can probably find one with these cards.

Feb, 27
How Long Does It Take To Get A Credit Card?

Feb, 08
Credit cards used to offer 1% cash back. The new standard is becoming 2% or higher.