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10 best travel credit cards of 2024

We compared more than 100 travel credit cards to find the best.

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.

The best travel credit cards of 2024

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

Credit cardsBest for…Learn more
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardNo annual fee
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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardEasiest luxury card to use
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The Platinum Card® from American ExpressLarge welcome offer
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American Express® Gold CardGroceries at U.S. supermarkets
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®Travel credits
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Chase Freedom Flex℠Everyday spending
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardHotels
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by CitiGas
Discover it® Miles Travel Credit CardMiles match after the first year

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

3.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer20,000 miles
RewardsUp to 5x miles
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer75,000 miles
RewardsUp to 5x miles
Annual fee$95
Minimum credit score670

Easiest luxury card to use

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer75,000 miles
RewardsUp to 10x miles
Annual fee$395
Minimum credit score740

Best for large welcome offer

The Platinum Card® from American Express

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Welcome Offer80,000 points
RewardsUp to 5x points
Annual fee$695
Minimum credit score670
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Best for groceries

American Express® Gold Card

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer60,000 points
RewardsUp to 4x points
Annual fee$325
Minimum credit score670
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Best for travel credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offer60,000 points
RewardsUp to 10x points
Annual fee$550
Minimum credit score740

Best for everyday spending

Chase Freedom Flex℠

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
The information about Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Best for hotels

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer140,000 points
RewardsUp to 26x points
Annual fee$99
Minimum credit score670

Best for gas

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

3.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offern/a
RewardsUp to 4% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score740

Best for miles match after first year

Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card

3.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome OfferOther
RewardsUp to 1.5x miles
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

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.

How to choose the best travel credit card

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.

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.

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.

Kevin Joey Chen's headshot
Writer

Kevin Chen is a personal finance expert and a former writer at Finder. His expertise has been featured in CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com, among other top media. See full bio

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