Travel credit cards

The best travel credit cards of 2021

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 2021 below.

Quick look at the best travel credit cards

Best for large welcome offer

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Finder rating 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Apply now on American Express's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

With a welcome offer worth up to $7,000 in redemption value when maxed out, based on our valuation, no other card can match this. Even if you don't max out the welcome offer, you get at least double the value compared to similar premium travel cards offer. 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 years, letting you enjoy those travel perks without feeling pressured to make up for the card's annual fee.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Welcome offer. Earn 100,000 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, earn 10x points at restaurants and US Shop Small retailers on up to $25,000 in combined purchases for the first 6 months. That's up to $7,000 worth of rewards when transferred to travel partners.
  • Reward points. Starting January 2021, earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked directly through Amex Travel on up to $500,000 annually, reverting to 1x points after. Earn 5x points to prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, but without a limit. All other purchases earn 1x points.
  • Travel fee credits. Select a qualifying airline and receive a $200 airline fee credit each year to cover incidental charges, such as checked bags or in-flight purchases. Also receive up to $200 back on prepaid Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. Expect to pay $695 for the card. This may seem like a lot, but if you travel often, you can easily offset the fee.
  • Can't always carry your balance. Most credit cards let you carry your balance by paying interest. This card, however, lets you carry your balance on some purchases, but not on all of them.
  • 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	100,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the US on up to $25,000 in combined eligible purchases in the same timeframe
  Estimated welcome offer value	$7,000 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	10x points

Disclaimer

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Welcome Offer	100,000 points
Rewards	10x points
Annual Fee	$695
Minimum Credit Score	670

Apply now on American Express's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for gas

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Finder rating 3.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Apply now on Citi's secure site

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

  • Cash back. Earn 4% cash back on gas for the first $7,000 spent annually, 1% after that. Earn 3% cash back on restaurants and travel, 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com. Earn 1% cash back on everything else.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to own the card.
  • Acts as a Costco membership card. Use your Costco credit card to enter Costco.

  Cons

  • Costco membership required. You need to have a Costco membership to apply for the card.
  • Limited redemption options. You can only redeem your Costco rewards once a year.
  • No intro APR period. Most cashback cards offer 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. But with this card, you don't get to enjoy this perk.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	15.24% 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

Apply now on Citi's secure site

Best for groceries

American Express® Gold Card

Finder rating 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

Apply now on American Express's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

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 US, 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 US supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, and 1x points after that. Earn 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery such as Uber Eats, and 3x points on flights booked directly or via Amex Travel. All other purchases earn 1x points.
  • Welcome offer. Earn 60,000 points welcome offer after you spend $4,000 within your first 6 months of account opening.
  • Dining and Uber credits. Earn up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shacks. There's also a $10 monthly Uber cash credit, up to $120 annually, which you can use for Uber rides or Uber Eats. Plus get a $100 hotel credit.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. Pay $250 annually to own the card.
  • Can't always carry your balance. This card lets you carry your balance on some purchases but not on all of them.
  • No intro APR period. You won'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 in the first 6 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$600 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	4x points

Disclaimer

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Welcome Offer	60,000 points
Rewards	4x points
Annual Fee	$250
Minimum Credit Score	670

Apply now on American Express's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for no annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Finder rating 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

See offeron Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the most rewarding no-annual-fee credit cards you can get on the market. Not only does it earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, Chase recently granted the card several additional reward categories that can earn even more. Now with up to 5% cash back on select categories on top of the original cashback rate, it's hard to find a better alternative.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on Chase Travel Portal purchases and 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2022. Earn 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery, and 5% back on drugstore purchases. On everything else, earn 1.5% back.
  • Signup bonus. Get a $200 bonus when you spend $500 in your first 3 months of account opening. You can also earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
  • Intro APR on purchases. Enjoy a 15 months 0% intro APR period on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies.

  Cons

  • Foreign transaction fee. Purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.
  • No intro balance transfer. You won't find an intro period on balance transfers with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	3% of the transaction value
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores (not including Target® or Walmart®) on up to $12,000 in the first year
  Estimated welcome offer value	$800 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	5% cash back
Annual Fee	$0
Minimum Credit Score	670

See offeron Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for travel credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Finder rating 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

See offer on Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

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 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months when you open your account. This is worth $750 if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
  • Rewards points. Earn 5x points on flights booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, 10x points on Chase Dining, 3x points on all other travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases. You also earn 5x points on Lyft purchases until March 2022.

  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	16.99% to 23.99% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  Estimated welcome offer value	$750 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	10x points

Welcome Offer	50,000 points
Rewards	10x points
Annual Fee	$550
Minimum Credit Score	740

See offer on Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for everyday spending

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Finder rating 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

See offeron Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms 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

  • Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back when you spend $500 in your first 3 months of account opening. You can also earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
  • Earn rewards points. Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending in rotating categories each quarter. Earn 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2022 and 5% back on purchases made through the Chase Travel Portal. Dining purchases, including takeout and delivery, and drugstore purchases earn 3% back, and all other purchases 1% back.
  • Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months, reverting to 14.99% to 23.74% variable.

  Cons

  • You must activate rotating categories. If you don't activate on time, you won't earn 5% cash back on these categories.
  • Rotating categories hidden. You won't know what the 5% cash back rotating categories are until the quarter draws near.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	3% of the transaction value
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores (not including Target® or Walmart®) on up to $12,000 in the first year
  Estimated welcome offer value	$200 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	5% cash back
Annual Fee	$0
Minimum Credit Score	670

See offeron Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for hotels

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

Finder rating 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

See offer on Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

The IHG® Rewards Club Premier offers up to 25x 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 150,000 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

  • Reward points. Earn 25x points on IHG stays, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants and 1x points on everything else you buy.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 150,000 bonus points once you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. This is worth about $900 according to our July 2021 valuations.
  • Fourth reward night free. Redeem your points for four or more reward nights and get an additional reward night.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. To use the card and its perks, you'll pay $89 annually starting the second year.
  • No intro APR period. You won't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers or purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($89 thereafter)
  Purchase APR	15.99% to 22.99% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	150,000 points plus a Reward Night after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$900 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	25x points

Welcome Offer	150,000 points
Rewards	25x points
Annual Fee	$89 ongoing
Minimum Credit Score	670

See offer on Creditcards.com's secure siteTerms apply, see rates & fees

Best for lounge access

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Finder rating 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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 an unlimited 2x miles on all purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, or still earn miles after you spend in your first .
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. Get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit up to $100. You get this credit once every four years.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. Pay an annual fee of $95 each year.
  • No intro APR period. You won't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers.

• More details

  Annual fee	$95
  Purchase APR	15.99% to 23.99% variable
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
  Rewards	2x miles

Welcome Offer	60,000 miles
Rewards	2x miles
Annual Fee	$95
Minimum Credit Score	670

Read review

Best for miles match after first year

Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card

Finder rating 3.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Read review

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

  • Miles match. Discover will match your miles earned at the end of your first year without any restrictions. This means if you earn 30,000 miles during your first year, Discover will match it with another 30,000 miles.
  • Reward miles. Earn a flat 1.5x miles on your purchases.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to own the card.

  Cons

  • No 0% intro APR period on balance transfers. This card offers a 10.99% intro APR period on balance transfers for your first 14 months, reverting to 11.99% to 22.99% variable APR.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 14 months (then 11.99% to 22.99% variable)
  Foreign transaction fee	None
  Welcome Offer	Discover will match miles earned at the end of your first card year
  Rewards	1.5x miles

Welcome Offer	Other
Rewards	1.5x miles
Annual Fee	$0
Minimum Credit Score	670

Read review

3 types of travel credit cards

While “travel credit card” is a catch-all term for any kind of credit card that earns rewards on travel, there are generally three major types of travel cards. Here’s a quick breakdown of how they differ and who should get each type of card.

1. Airline credit cards for frequent flyers

An airline credit card typically earns additional miles on purchases for a specific airline rewards program. Depending on the card and annual fee, you can also expect airline-specific perks as well, including priority boarding or free checked bags.

Get an airline credit card if:

• You have a preferred airline.
• You like the card’s perks.
• You only plan on redeeming your card rewards back into travel with that airline.

2. Hotel credit cards for those dedicated to a particular hotel brand

A hotel credit card typically earns additional points on purchases for a dedicated hotel rewards program. Like an airline card, it also offers additional hotel-related perks depending on the card, such as anniversary points, free fourth nights, or early check-in and late checkout.

Get a hotel credit card if:

• You have a preferred hotel brand you enjoy.
• You plan on mostly redeeming your credit card rewards on hotel stays.
• You want the card’s additional hotel perks.

3. General travel cards for travel perks and more

General travel cards aren’t tied to a specific airline or hotel. Instead, they may earn points on any type of travel purchase. You can redeem the points you earn on any redemption option offered through the card, though your points might be worth more when redeemed on travel. These cards usually earn fewer points compared to a hotel or airline card but make up for that in earning and redeeming flexibility. General travel cards are also more likely to come with more general travel perks, such as airline lounge access or travel insurance.

Get a general travel card if:

• You tend to travel with a variety of airlines and hotels.
• You don’t always want to redeem on travel.
• You enjoy more general travel perks.

Travel cards vs. general rewards cards

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 narrow down your travel card options

You want to look at the nitty-gritty features of two or more credit cards when comparing which one best fits your needs. Here are a few perks you can compare and what you can look for.

• Annual fee. Generally speaking, the more you pay for a travel card each year, the more features or benefits it offers. But to make that annual fee worth it, you need to make sure the included benefits are something you will use.
• Earning rates and reward program value. The more points you earn per dollar spent, the better. But reward programs can value those points differently, so you’ll want to research each card’s rewards program closely before you make your decision.
• Travel credits. Does one of the two cards come with a larger travel credit than the other? Is one card’s travel credits easier to use? Or does it have fewer restrictions?
• Travel insurance. Travel card travel insurance coverage tends to vary wildly from one card to the next. See which of the cards you’re comparing offers wider coverage or covers a larger amount.
• Companion passes. An airline companion pass allows you to bring a partner with you on a scheduled flight for little to no cost. These are insanely valuable and can easily sway a decision between two cards.

Travel credit cards pros and cons

It’s a good time to open a travel credit card

After COVID hit in 2020 most of us withheld from traveling for most of the year. But now that we have vaccines and the pandemic is contained a bit more, 2021 is looking like a better-than-average year for travel credit cards. Airlines, in particular, are eager for cardholders to get back to the skies, and many travel cards are sporting big incentives for new cardholders to do just that. These include big new signup bonuses to get you in the air even faster or additional reward categories to help you build even more miles. Depending on the airline, you may even find the costs of award flights lower than average as well. It’s tough to say if this bigger value will continue into 2022, so now is a perfect time to pick up a travel card if you’ve been on the fence.

Alex Miller, founder & CEO of UpgradedPoints.com agrees. “Right now, travel credit card bonuses are at quite a high, in an attempt to woo travelers back into the industry and to fly with a particular airline or stay with a particular hotel brand,” says Miller. “The travel industry is recovering quickly, and while COVID still lingers, most schools of thought currently don’t see a need for further lockdowns, so travel is likely to pick up and continue on an upward trajectory, making for increased usefulness for travel credit cards.”

Jeffrey Zhou, CEO of Fig Loans, tells Finder that right now is the perfect time to get a travel credit card. “Credit card rewards take a while to accrue and it is reasonable to assume that by the time you will have saved up the required points to take a trip there will be plenty of places to travel without having to worry about the pandemic.”

Compare credit cards by credit score and card type

Compare travel credit cards for fair credit

The best airline and travel credit cards for bad credit

Best Airline Credit Cards of 2021

Best hotel credit cards of 2021

Common perks of travel credit cards

Going on a trip? See guides on using a credit card abroad.

Ask the experts

• Dorothy Harpool
• Director of Student and Community Initiatives and Senior Marketing Lecture
• Wichita State University

When are travel rewards cards worth it?
Travel reward cards are worth it for a small percentage of consumers who prioritize travel when making financial decisions. The problem with a pure travel reward card is its single payout. The outcome of using the card will only allow the card holder to receive travel-related products such as flights and hotels. If a consumer does not prioritize travel due to whatever reason, that consumer receives no return on the use of the card.

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• Lexi Hutto
• Associate Professor of Marketing
• Millersville University of Pennsylvania

How much are miles generally worth?
While the value of each mile ranges from just over a penny to as much as 10 or 15 cents, there is a lot of variation in the value when you redeem miles. Most airlines restrict how many seats can be redeemed with rewards miles, have black-out dates, and charge more miles for more desirable dates and destinations. You may need to plan with a long lead time to visit your preferred destination—or pay with more miles and/or fees. It’s not uncommon to book 11 months in advance for a desirable port of call such as Athens, Greece in the summertime if you want to pay with fewer air miles.

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• Eliot Buchanan
• Co-Founder and CEO
• Plastiq.com

When is it worth it to pay an annual fee on a travel card?
Paying an annual fee on a travel card is worth it only if you can reasonably make back the fee through its benefits and rewards or if it provides desirable optionality for redemption. Statement credits, discounts at retailers, and other card benefits can get you back to par. But the most important consideration is whether the card affords you the option to redeem for rewards that you can use.

Before applying, count how many ways you can redeem your miles or points with the airline or the credit card issuer itself. And pay attention to the quantity and quality of travel partners that are a part of the redemption network.

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• Lee Huffman
• Budget Travel Blog
• BaldThoughts.com

Generally, how early do you have to open a travel credit card if you’re planning on using the welcome bonus to book a vacation?
Because most airlines and hotels allow you book approximately one year in advance of travel, I recommend applying for rewards cards approximately 18-24 months ahead of your vacation. This will give you enough time to receive the card, receive the bonus, and earn additional rewards through daily purchases.

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• Richard McGrath
• Professor of Economics
• Georgia Southern University

Should I pay off one credit card or reduce the balances on all debt?
Make minimum payments for cards with lower interest rates and pay as much as possible against the card with the highest interest rate until that balance is gone. Then move on to the card with the next highest interest rate. Put new purchases on a card with a zero balance and pay it off every month, or put purchases on the card with the lowest interest rate and pay down high-interest cards faster.

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• Alexa Fox
• Assistant Professor of Marketing
• The University of Akron

When is a travel rewards card better than a cashback card?

As part of their consideration of various rewards programs, consumers should think about how often they engage in particular activities and the types of products/services they are consuming on a regular basis. For example, someone who travels frequently may be able to earn more from a travel rewards card than a card that offers cash back on all purchases, even if the travel rewards card does not offer a higher percentage than the cashback card each time it is used.

However, even a frequent traveler should think about factors such as transportation to and from their destination as well as during their stay, accommodations, and other related expenses that are directly related to travel, in addition to how many people they tend to travel with. If many of the typical service providers, vendors, and retailers are not covered by the travel rewards card, a cashback card may make more sense. Regardless of the options they are choosing among, consumers should be sure to read all details related to benefits, criteria, and rules—including any fine print—before making a final decision.

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• Joseph R. Stasio Jr.
• Associate Professor
• Merrimack College

Do credit card rewards encourage consumers to spend more than they would otherwise?
Research confirms that credit cards encourage greater spending than if cash were used The average households with credit cards has $8,398 of credit card debt. Often times this is out of necessity due to illness or emergencies. But more often it allows individuals to concede rational choice to satisfy the need for instant gratification. Our economy has $50 trillion of credit versus $3 trillion of cash, so it is partly a function of our system. It encourages credit card usage. But the choices are still ours to make.

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Bottom line

If you consider yourself a jet-setter, you could get a lot from a travel card. There are a variety of options for whatever you’re looking for.

Before you start your search, consider whether you want to pay an annual fee, what you typically spend on and which travel benefits you’re looking for. Take your time to compare different credit cards, and you’ll likely find a card that’s perfect for you.