Why You Should Invest in Travel Credit Cards
Traveling is a passion for many, but it can often come with a hefty price tag. However, with the right travel credit card, you can unlock a world of benefits and rewards that can make your adventures more affordable. We paid for our flights to Split completely with points, so we only had to pay for a ferry to get from Boston, USA to Korčula, Croatia. In this review, we will explore some of the best travel credit cards currently available in the market. These cards offer enticing rewards, such as bonus points, statement credits, and access to exclusive perks. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or an occasional explorer, these credit cards can help you maximize your travel experiences while saving money. Let’s dive into the details and discover the perfect travel companion for your next journey.
Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Capital One Venture X
If you’re in search of the best travel credit card that offers exceptional rewards and a host of travel benefits, look no further than the Venture X from Capital One. With the Venture X card, you can earn miles on every purchase, enjoy exclusive travel benefits, and save money on your adventures. This travel credit card may have a hefty annual fee, but it almost immediately pays for itself. Here are the Capital One Venture X benefits:
Bonuses:
- Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months for a remarkable 75,000 miles
- Redeem these miles for flights, hotels, and travel expenses
- Annual 10,000 miles anniversary bonus for ongoing rewards
Travel Credits Advantage:
- $300 annual travel credit for flights, hotels, and car rentals via Capital One Travel
- Additional $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, saving time at airports
- Price Drop Protection that refunds you the difference if flight prices drop
Lounge Access:
- Access to airport lounges through Capital One partner lounge network
- Enjoy Capital One, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium Lounges
Other Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees for international spending
- Coverage for cell phone damage/theft when paying monthly bill with the card
- Part of the Visa Infinite collection, and therefore provides benefits only available to select Visa cardholders. You can learn more here.
- Hertz President’s Circle Status
- Free 6-month subscription to Vinous, a digital publication for wine reviews
Reward Earning:
- Double miles earned on ALL purchases
- 10,000 miles gifted every year
Annual Fee:
- $395 Annual Fee, but with the $300 travel credit and $100 credit towards Global Entry, it pays for itself
Click here to learn more about the Venture X card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a top-tier travel rewards credit card that caters to frequent travelers and dining enthusiasts alike. With its impressive lineup of benefits and rewards, this card is a must-have for those looking to maximize their travel experiences. This is an amazing first travel credit card for those looking to dip their toes in the points and miles game. From a generous sign-up bonus to valuable points earning potential, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a wealth of perks that make it a standout choice. Here are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card benefits:
Sign-Up Bonus:
- Spend $4,000 in the first 3 months for an impressive 60,000 bonus points (as of August 2023)
- Redeem points for $750 towards travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Substantial savings on future travel adventures
Earning Points:
- Earn 5x total points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x points on dining, eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
Point Transfer Flexibility:
- Transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to TONS of airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Maximize points’ value by using them for partner brand flights and hotel stays
Travel Benefits:
- 25% more value when redeeming points for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Statement credits for hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards
- Additional perks and discounts through partner benefits
Fees and International Use:
- $95 annual fee, balanced by benefits and rewards for frequent travelers
- No foreign transaction fees for international usage
Travel and Purchase Coverage:
- Comprehensive travel coverage, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Baggage delay insurance for added peace of mind
- Extended warranty and purchase protection for secure shopping
Customer Service:
- 24/7 customer service availability for cardholders
- Quick resolution of inquiries and concerns
- Priority placed on ensuring customer satisfaction
Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card
American Express Gold Card
If you’re a frequent diner and traveler, the Amex Gold Card is a credit card that offers an array of benefits and rewards tailored to your lifestyle. With its focus on dining and travel, this card is designed to enhance your experiences while providing valuable perks and rewards. Here are the American Express Gold Card benefits:
Earning Membership Rewards Points:
- Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide
- Accumulate 4x points at U.S. supermarkets for grocery shopping
- Gain 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines
Dining and Uber Statement Credits:
- Up to $120 in dining credits annually at participating restaurants and food delivery services
- Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash each year for rides and Uber Eats orders
- Statement credits offset part of the annual fee, enhancing card value
Fees and Justification:
- $250 annual fee
- Points on various categories, dining and Uber credits, airport lounge access enhance card value
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Outstanding customer service and support as with all American Express cards
- Travel and purchase protection for added security
- Access to exclusive events for a premium experience
Apply Now for the American Express Gold Card
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
While Delta SkyMiles have been slowly devalued over the years, there are still some great perks. The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is a great way to rack up some SkyMiles for your next vacation! This is an Amex card, so many places outside the US may not accept it. However, as most Amex cards are, they are great for getting points/miles when shopping for groceries and restaurants!
Sign Up Bonus:
- 70,000 bonus miles (40,000 after 3/27/24) bonus miles after spending more than $3,000 in the first 6 months.
Earning Miles:
- Miles never expire
- 15% off when using miles to book award travel on delta (unfortunately not for partners).
- 2x miles on groceries and restaurants and delta, 1x on every other purchase.
- For every 5000 miles that you redeem, you get $50 off the cost of your flight not covered by miles.
Annual Fees:
- $0 for the first year, then $99/year after
Flight Perks on Delta Airlines:
- Free checked bag and early boarding (main cabin 1) for up to 8 people under the same reservation
- 20% off food and beverage on board
Other Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Transfer partners: Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, ITA Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and more!
Apply Now for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
Citi Premier Card
The standard Citi Premier card is a great introductory card for those new to travel credit cards. The savings and points you get on travel booked through the Citi Travel portal are amazing. While their transfer partners may seem to be lacking, these partners are also in larger alliances. If there aren’t any transfer restrictions to these partners, this can be an elite way to pay with points and miles instead of dollars!
Sign Up Bonus:
- 60,000 point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Earning Points:
- 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels.
- 1x points on all other purchases.
- Points don’t expire.
- 60,000 points = $600.
- 10x points on travel booked through Citi Travel portal.
- Points are not only redeemable on travel, but also gift cards.
Other Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $100 credit when booking a single hotel stay over $500.
- Points transfer partners include Jet Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Annual Fee:
- $95 annual fee, which pays for itself if you have plans to book a $500+ hotel stay.
Apply Now for the Citi Premier Credit Card
World of Hyatt Card
The standard World of Hyatt credit card can be a great way to get status with Hyatt and its subsidiaries. View Hyatt’s subsidiaries here. This is a great travel credit card for luxury travelers who frequent Hyatt hotels and its subsidiaries. In addition, it is one of the best travel credit cards for points return on local transit and fitness/gym memberships. While we don’t have this credit card now, we certainly will in the future!
Sign Up Bonus:
- 35,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
- 2x points per $1 spent up to $15,000, so you can get up to 30,000 points if you spend $15,000 in the first 6 months.
Earning Points:
- 4x bonus points on Hyatt hotels and resorts (including experiences booked through them here.
- 2x points on restaurants, local transit, restaurants, fitness/gym memberships, and airline tickets booked directly through the airline.
Hotel Benefits:
- 1 free night per year at a Hyatt hotel or subsidiaries.
- 1 free night if you spend more than $15,000 per year.
- 5 tier qualifying night credits per year (these are equivalent to staying a night), and these qualify you for higher status which can get you all sorts of perks like room upgrades, late check out, and free breakfast.
Annual Fee:
- $95 annual fee.
- We think this is worth it if you can commit to routinely staying at Hyatt hotels and its subsidiaries.
Apply Now for the World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a credit card that offers a range of benefits and rewards for Hilton enthusiasts. With its attractive earning potential and valuable perks, this card is a great choice for those who frequently stay at Hilton hotels and want to maximize their rewards. However, it is important to keep in mind that Hilton Honors Bonus points are worth about half of the other points/miles mentioned in this post. Here are the benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Card:
Generous Earning Potential:
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at participating Hilton hotels or resorts
- 5X points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 3X points for all other eligible purchases, ensuring continuous rewards accumulation
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status for cardholders
- Silver status perks: late checkout, exclusive promotions, and more
- No foreign transaction fees, perfect for international travelers
- Car rental loss and damage insurance for added travel security
- Access to exclusive events and entertainment via American Express Experiences
Annual Fee:
- No annual fee for the Hilton Honors Amex Card, so no reason not to apply!
Apply Now for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
In Summary….The Best Travel Credit Cards
These top travel credit cards offer a wealth of benefits and rewards for avid travelers and dining enthusiasts.
- The Venture X from Capital One provides generous miles bonuses, an annual travel credit, and a range of travel perks.
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card stands out with its impressive sign-up bonus, valuable points earning potential, and extremely flexible redemption options.
- The American Express Gold Card caters to frequent diners and travelers, offering rewards on dining and supermarket purchases as well as statement credits for dining and Uber expenses.
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is a great way to rack up Delta SkyMiles and spend them on Delta and transfer partner’s flights!
- The Citi Premier Card is great for those who may not always want to redeem points on travel, but want the option to
- The World of Hyatt Card is great for luxury travelers who can commit to staying at Hyatt Hotels, and want all the perks that come with high status!
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great choice for Hilton enthusiasts, providing a significant earning potential and valuable benefits, all without an annual fee.
These credit cards offer a variety of features and rewards that can enhance your travel experiences while saving money. Whether you’re looking for miles, points, statement credits, or exclusive perks, these top travel credit cards have you covered. Choose the one that aligns with your travel preferences and start exploring the world with a little extra in your pocket. What are your favorite travel credit cards? Let us know in the comments!
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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Travel Credit Card FAQs
Are travel credit cards worth it?
If you travel more than two times a year, absolutely! You get access to tons of benefits for spending money you were already going to spend. (You should never spend money on credit cards that you can’t pay off.)
What card is the best for travelling?
The best credit card for travelling is the Capital One Venture X due to its generous travel credit, sign up bonus, and numerous rewards.
