10 best travel credit cards of 2023

To determine our top travel card picks for 2023, we spend more than 400 hours each month comparing and reviewing travel cards. We weighed factors such as reward opportunities, quality and monetary value of travel perks, and the ability to earn rewards on more than just travel. Unlike our competitors, Finder’s experts provide unbiased, trustworthy evaluations of all travel credit cards and providers, not just those we partner with on the site.

The best travel credit cards of 2023

Finder reviewed more than 100 travel cards and picked the best of the best to help you easily choose the card that best suits your financial needs. Check out our breakdown of the big winners of 2023 below.

Quick look at the best travel credit cards

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Finder Rating: 3.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

A simple travel rewards card that offers great perks and charges you nothing to own the card. The VentureOne Rewards card charges cardholders a $0 annual fee and still offers a host of other benefits, including paying $0 in foreign transaction fees. This card is a gem in the rough among other credit cards whose members could pay an annual fee of anywhere from $95 up to $500 or more for card ownership.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees. You will incur a 0% fee on every transaction converted to US dollars.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel
  Estimated welcome offer value	$400 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 1.25x miles

Welcome Offer	40,000 miles
Rewards	Up to 1.25x miles
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Best for lounge access

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

This card offers 2x miles on every purchase, which is the highest flat-rate travel card you can find. Similar cards typically offer 1.5x miles. But what sweetens the pot for this card is the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit, which you typically only find on premium travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Reward miles. Earn unlimited 2x miles on all purchases. Also earn 5x miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, or still earn miles after you spend in your first. This is up to a $750 value if you earn the full bonus.
  • TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fee credit. Get up to $100 statement credit once every four years when you use your card to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. You'll pay a $95 annual fee for this card.
  • No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers or purchases with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$95
  Purchase APR	20.24% to 28.24% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  Estimated welcome offer value	$750 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 5x miles

Welcome Offer	75,000 miles
Rewards	Up to 5x miles
Annual fee	$95
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Easiest luxury card to max out

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Capital One's Venture X is the provider's first luxury travel card and it comes out of the gate with a terrific spread of perks and rewards. Aside from the excellent welcome offer worth around $750 according to our recent valuations, it's incredibly easy to negate the annual fee of this card and start generating value with the Venture X — even more so than the Chase and Amex luxury offerings.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Welcome offer. Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening.
  • Earn miles. Earn a 10x miles on hotel and car rental purchases made through Capital One travel, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases. You can redeem these miles through Capital One and even transfer them to travel partners.
  • Numerous credits. You'll receive $300 in travel credits you can book through Capital One Travel each year and 10,000 miles each card account anniversary. These two perks alone pay for the cost of the card.

  Cons

  • Not all travel partners transfer at 1:1 ratios. Most, but not all, of Capital One's travel partners allow for 1:1 transferring of your miles.
  • No intro APR. You won't find an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers with this luxury card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$395
  Purchase APR	21.24% - 28.24% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
  Estimated welcome offer value	$750 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 10x miles

Welcome Offer	75,000 miles
Rewards	Up to 10x miles
Annual fee	$395
Minimum credit score	740

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Best for large welcome offer

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5★★★★★

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees

With a welcome offer worth up to $1,600 in redemption value based on our valuation, The Platinum offers one of the largest welcome offers on the market. Another way of looking at this welcome offer: if you manage to earn it and squeeze the most value out of it, it can pay the card's annual fee for nearly 3 years, letting you enjoy those travel perks without feeling pressured to make up for the card's annual fee.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Earn points. Earn 5x points on flights booked directly or through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. You can use your points toward gift cards, travel rewards, statement credit and more. Your 5x points on flights are capped on up to $500,000 annually, reverting to 1x points after. On other eligible purchases, you'll earn 1x points.
  • Welcome offer. Earn 80,000 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
  • Travel fee credit. Select a qualifying airline and earn up to a $200 airline fee statement credit each year on incidental charges, such as checked bags or in-flight purchases. Also earn up to $200 in statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings (two-night stay minimum).

  Cons

  • Annual fee. As a luxury card, the Amex Platinum Card requires a $695 annual fee for use.
  • Narrow reward categories. This card is only particularly strong at earning rewards on travel.
  • Potentially limited acceptance abroad. American Express cards are not as widely accepted worldwide as Visa or Mastercard.

• More details

  Annual fee	$695
  Purchase APR	See Pay Over Time APR
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	80,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$1,600 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 5x points

Partner terms and conditions

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Welcome Offer	80,000 points
Rewards	Up to 5x points
Annual fee	$695
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for groceries

American Express® Gold Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees Read review

While you could find a card that earns higher rewards on groceries, the same card can't stand up to the suite of travel perks and benefits offered by the Amex Gold Card. If you're frequently traveling within the U.S., the value you'd earn on the card's monthly statement credits and Uber credits make for a perfect on-the-go everyday travel card.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Reward points. Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, and 1x points after that. Earn 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 3x points on flights booked directly or via Amex Travel. Other eligible purchases earn 1x points.
  • Welcome offer. Earn a 60,000 points welcome offer after you spend $4,000 within your first 6 months following your account opening.
  • Travel and dining credits. Earn up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations, after enrollment. Get up to $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. Pay $250 annually to own the card.
  • No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers or purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$250
  Purchase APR	See Pay Over Time APR
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	60,000 points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$600 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 4x points

Partner terms and conditions

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Welcome Offer	60,000 points
Rewards	Up to 4x points
Annual fee	$250
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees Read review

Best for travel credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees Read review

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual travel credit with no airline or hotel restrictions. This is higher than competitor premium cards that offer either $200 or $250 in credit, or restrict your credit to travel fees only, like the American Express Platinum. Combined with a strong suite of perks, including Priority Pass access and the ability to transfer your points, and this is a must-have pick in the Chase ecosystem.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Annual travel credit. Get $300 in statement credit as reimbursement for your travel purchases every year on your card account anniversary.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months when you open your account. This is worth $900 if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
  • Rewards points. Earn 5x points on flights booked through Chase, 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, 3x points on Chase Dining, 3x points on all other travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases. These points are worth 50% more when redeemed through the Chase travel portal.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. You'll pay $550 annual fee for the card.
  • No intro APR period. Like many other travel cards, you won't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both.
  • Excellent credit score required. Being a premium card, your chances of approval greatly increase with a credit score of 740 or higher.

• More details

  Annual fee	$550
  Purchase APR	21.49% to 28.49% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  Estimated welcome offer value	$900 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 10x points

Welcome Offer	60,000 points
Rewards	Up to 10x points
Annual fee	$550
Minimum credit score	740

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees Read review

Best for everyday spending

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review Terms apply, see rates & fees

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers 5% cash back on purchases made through the Chase travel portal. This is the same rewards rate you earn with premium travel cards. But unlike the $500 annual fee you pay with these cards, the Freedom Flex has a $0 annual fee. With the additions of rewards categories on dining, travel and drugstore purchases combined with the lack of annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a monster of a rewards card that exceeds the earnings of even the Chase Sapphire Preferred, a higher-tier card offering.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back in select rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, then 1%. You'll also earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening, then 19.49% to 28.24% variable.

  Cons

  • You'll need to keep track of rotating categories. You won't get the 5% cashback rate on the same categories each quarter. Also, you'll need to activate your cashback categories, or you won't receive the bonus rate.
  • Categories not always known. Often, Chase won't reveal the whole year's rotating categories until they're close to launching.
  • Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on transactions made abroad.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.49% to 28.24% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	3% of the transaction value
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$200 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	Up to 5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Read Review Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for hotels

IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The IHG® Rewards Premier offers up to 26x points on IHG purchases, which comes at around 15% back. You also get a free night on your card anniversary each year and fourth free night when you book with points. Most hotel cards get you between 5% and 10% back on hotel purchases and rarely give out free reward nights. Plus, the signup bonus offers a huge 175,000 point bonus, easily worth several free nights, and is one of the highest welcome offers you'll find on a hotel card.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Rewards points. Earn 26x total points on IHG purchases, 5x points on travel, gas stations and restaurants, and 3x points on all other purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 175,000 points once you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of card membership. Combined with the fourth-night-free perk, the signup bonus can easily get you 20 or more rewards nights.
  • Free nights. Get your fourth night free every time you redeem your points for four or more nights. Plus, every card anniversary, you'll get one free rewards night.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. The card comes with an $99 annual fee. But the card easily pays off as long as you stay at IHG hotels at least few times a year.
  • No intro APR period. You won't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers, but this is standard with this type of card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$99
  Purchase APR	20.49% to 27.49% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Earn 175,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  Estimated welcome offer value	$840 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	26x points

Welcome Offer	175,000 points
Rewards	26x points
Annual fee	$99
Minimum credit score	670

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for gas

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Finder Rating: 3.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

Offering a terrific 4% back on gas for the first $7,000 spent each year, the Costco Anywhere Visa offers one of the highest sustained cashback rates on gas in the market. And while your rewards are only earned toward a coupon for Costco purchases, the breadth of purchasing options at Costco make this an excellent addition to your everyday shopping. Only the Sam's Club Mastercard comes close in terms of this warehouse value.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Annual fee. None with your paid Costco membership.
  • Rewards. Great cash back for several categories. Earn 4% cash back on your first $7,000 in eligible gas purchases (then 1%), 3% back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases, 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases and 1% back on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees. Use this card freely online with foreign merchants or abroad and you won't pay any foreign transaction fees.

  Cons

  • Limited reward redemption. You can only redeem your rewards once every year.
  • No intro APR period. There's no 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfer, or a 0% deferred interest on Costco purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	19.74% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	4% cash back

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	4% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	740

Read Review

Best for miles match after first year

Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card

Finder Rating: 3.7 / 5★★★★★

Where most credit cards offer a simple signup bonus, the Discover it® Miles offers something better: a cashback match. In other words, Discover matches all the miles you earn during the year, without limits. This kind of welcome offer is exclusive to Discover cards and can result in serious value at the end of your first year. But to make the most of this offer, you'll need to focus your spending around this card.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Rewards. A flat rate for all purchases. Earn 1.5x miles on everything you buy. Redeem miles for statement credit.
  • Intro APR. 0% for 15 months following your account opening on purchases. After that, your purchase APR will be 16.49% to 27.49% variable. This is an above-average intro APR when compared to its competitors.
  • Mile match. Discover will match all the miles you have earned at the end of your first year.

  Cons

  • No 0% APR on balance transfers. You only get 0% intro APR on purchases, but not on balance transfers.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 16.49% to 27.49% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Discover will match miles earned at the end of your first card year
  Rewards	Up to 1.5x miles

Welcome Offer	Other
Rewards	Up to 1.5x miles
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Should you get a travel card or a general rewards card?

Travel cards and general rewards cards are both valid choices if you’re looking for strong returns on your spending. Which type of reward card you choose ultimately comes down to your financial needs as well as your desired features. Here are a few quick examples.

• Travel cards offer travel perks. Just about every travel card will offer some form of travel perk, such as free checked bags or room upgrades. You’re less likely to find these perks on a general rewards card.
• Rewards card earn points on a wider variety of categories. Many travel cards in just a few categories, usually travel or dining. Rewards cards often cover a wider range of spending, such as groceries or entertainment.
• Travel card rewards more complex. Since travel miles are tied to the shifting prices and valuations of travel programs, travel cards can prove a little trickier to use effectively compared to rewards cards.

Of course, you could ultimately choose to have both these types of cards in your wallet and use them for relevant purchases.

5 ways to maximize your travel card value

Travel cards are chock-full of valuable features that you’ll want to take full advantage of if you want to make up for the cost of your card and start generating value. Here are some quick tips for squeezing the most out of your card.

1. Use all of your statement credits. Travel cards often come with annual statement credits you can use on select travel or other travel services. Using these statement credits are one of the most important things you should do with your travel card and can wipe out much of a card’s annual fee on its own.
2. Enroll in complimentary status or memberships. Many travel cards offer complimentary membership or elite status bumps for certain travel programs. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers a year of Lyft Pink with enrollment and many travel cards offer Priority Pass membership. These memberships and status bumps are often worth hundreds of dollars on their own.
3. Redeem your rewards on travel. Though many cards offer several redemption options, your biggest value play is in travel redemptions. Points redeemed on merchandise or gift cards are typically worth much less than if you use them on flights or hotel stays.
4. Jot down your miscellaneous card perks. Some higher end travel cards come with valuable perks that require more effort to use than a statement credit. A card may, for example, offer a certain number of free breakfasts, but only at select eligible hotels. You can often review a full list of card perks by logging into your card account online and looking for a benefits section.
5. Transfer your points or miles. Though a more advanced and time consuming technique, transferring your points to partner airlines can more than double the value of those points depending on when and where you transfer them.

Bottom line

The best travel credit card for you depends on your spending and travel habits, as well as your credit score. If none of these feel like the right fit, compare more travel credit cards.