To determine our top travel card picks for 2024, 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.
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 2024 below.
Quick look at the best travel credit cards
Best for no annual fee
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
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
- Intro APR period. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening, then 19.99% to 29.99% variable. You’ll pay a 3% fee for balances transferred in the first 15 months.
- Unlimited 1.25x miles. You'll earn 1.25x miles on all purchases.
- Rewards. You'll also earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Cons
- Capital One Travel. If you book your travel outside of Capital One Travel, you'll earn 1.25x miles instead of the accelerated 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
-
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.99% - 29.99% variable) |
|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel |
|---|
| Estimated welcome offer value | $200 based on Finder's valuation |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 5x miles |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 20,000 miles |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 5x miles |
|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Minimum credit score | 670 |
|---|
Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Best for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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
- 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 or Global Entry fee credit. Get up to $100 statement credit when you use your card to pay for your 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.
-
| Annual fee | $95 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 19.99% - 29.99% 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
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Easiest luxury card to use
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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, 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
- Welcome offer. Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn miles. Earn 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 up to $300 back in statement credits each year when you book through Capital One Travel and 10,000 miles each card account anniversary starting on your first 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.
-
| Annual fee | $395 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 19.99% - 29.99% 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
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Best for large welcome offer
The Platinum Card® from American Express
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
- 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 $8,000 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 (Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay).
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.
-
| Annual fee | $695 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in your first 6 months |
|---|
| Estimated welcome offer value | $1,600 based on Finder's valuation |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 5x points |
|---|
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
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Best for groceries
American Express® Gold Card
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
- 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 $6,000 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.
-
| Annual fee | $250 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months |
|---|
| Estimated welcome offer value | $600 based on Finder's valuation |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 4x points |
|---|
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
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Best for travel credits
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
- 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.
-
| Annual fee | $550 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 22.49% to 29.49% 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 |
|---|
Read review
Best for everyday spending
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
- 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 20.49% to 29.24% 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.
-
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 20.49% to 29.24% 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 |
|---|
The information about Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
| Welcome Offer | $200 |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 5% cash back |
|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Minimum credit score | 670 |
|---|
Read review
Best for hotels
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG® One 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 140,000 point bonus, easily worth several free nights, and is one of the highest welcome offers you'll find on a hotel card.
-
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.
- Limited time offer. Earn 140,000 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.
-
| Annual fee | $99 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.49% to 28.49% variable |
|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | Earn 140,000 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 | Up to 26x points |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 140,000 points |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 26x points |
|---|
| Annual fee | $99 |
|---|
| Minimum credit score | 670 |
|---|
Best for gas
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
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
- 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.
-
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 20.24% variable |
|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | N/A |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 4% cash back |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | n/a |
|---|
| Rewards | Up to 4% cash back |
|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Minimum credit score | 740 |
|---|
Best for miles match after first year
Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card
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
- 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 16.99% to 27.99% 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.
-
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 16.99% to 27.99% 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 |
|---|
Compare all travel credit cards
To get a better sense of which travel card best suits your travel and financial needs, you’ll want to compare all of your options. Check out our full travel card comparison guide for advice and a breakdown of how travel credit cards work.
In addition to the basics like APR, there are a few additional major factors to look at when choosing a travel credit card:
- Loyalty program. If you spend heavily with a certain airline or hotel chain, consider a cobranded card. Otherwise, pick a flexible-rewards card so you can earn rewards regardless of which airline or hotel you use.
- Annual fee. While annual fees can run high on travel cards and you might not like paying for them, annual-fee cards tend to have better signup bonuses and more features.
- Earn rate. If you find you spend more on everyday purchases such as groceries and gas, look for a card that has a high earning rate in those categories.
- Signup bonus and rewards. Many travel credit cards offer a sizable signup bonus and great that you can use for flights or hotel stays after earning them.
- Foreign transaction fees. If you often travel abroad, you’ll want to make sure you don’t rack up fees when using your card overseas.
- Travel perks. While both general travel cards and cobranded travel cards come with perks, cobranded cards are typically tailored to the cobranded business.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
Learn the details of our methodology and scoring.
