Here you’ll find the five best travel cards to take on the road, and some tips on how best to use them. In addition to its travel credits, it also offers a wide variety of travel protections to ensure that you, your family, and your luggage make it safely to your destination. It also provides Global Lounge membership, which gives cardholders access to the largest selection of airport lounges of any credit card. Here are a few of the many credits and protections the card offers:
Travel Accident InsuranceAuto Rental Collision Damage WaiverBaggage Insurance PlanTrip Delay Insurance$200 hotel credit up to $200 incidental airline fee statement credit$189 CLEAR® creditup to $240 digital entertainment credit$155 Walmart+ creditGlobal Entry ($100)/TSA PreCheck ($85) application fee credit
And while the benefits are the true draw to the card, its rewards are nothing to sneeze at either. Pros
Annual travel creditsTravel insuranceAirport lounge accessGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee creditGood rewardsNo foreign transaction feeMetal
Cons
High annual fee of $695Not for the average traveler
Its rewards program covers plenty of ground, so it’s easy to rake in the points. You can then either redeem points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards for a 25% point redemption bonus or transfer them to one of Chase’s travel partners where you could get an even better value for them. There are also standard redemption options available too, but they won’t be as lucrative. If you can find the right transfer deal to Chase’s airline or hotel partners, points could be worth 1.5 cents or more. At that per-point value, the card’s cash back equivalent for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (5x points per dollar) would be 7.5%. Chase’s travel partners include JetBlue, United, Southwest, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, among others. In addition to its strong rewards and redemption options, the card includes a nice selection of travel protections. Cardholders will no doubt find considerable value for its $95 annual fee. Pros
1:1 transfer rate25% point redemption bonus when redeeming for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards5x points per dollar for travel booked through Chase3x points for streaming and dining2x points for all other travelNo foreign transaction fee
Cons
Annual feeTakes extra work to get the best value
Capital One, however, doesn’t offer very many domestic airline partners, and the transfer rates vary depending on the partner. So, unless you’re planning to fly internationally, the best use for your miles will be to redeem for travel purchases made within 90 days. Redeeming for past travel expenses will ensure a per-mile value of 1 cent. That said, there’s no foreign transaction fee to worry about, so if you do plan to travel internationally, you won’t incur any additional fees for using the card overseas. The card also provides an impressive collection of benefits for a no annual fee card, including travel accident and rental car insurance. It even has an intro 0% APR for purchases for 15 months (then 19.24% - 29.24%) and an easy-to-reach welcome bonus. Pros
No annual fee1.25x miles per dollar for everythingIntro APR offer for new purchasesTravel Accident Insurance/rental car insuranceNo foreign transaction fee
Cons
Few US airline partnersRequires excellent credit
If that annual fee feels high, there is a lucrative welcome bonus for prospective cardholders to obtain. If you have any trips planned, use the card to fund it to get a head start toward the spending requirement. However, if American Airlines isn’t your go-to airline, take a look at our 6 best airline credit cards to find the one that works best for you. Pros
Priority BoardingFree checked bag25% in-flight purchase discountNo foreign transaction fee
Cons
Annual feeNo travel protections
Not only does it earn 4x points per dollar for dining and at US supermarkets, but it also comes equipped with up to $120 dining credit, split into $10 per month over a year. There’s also an up to $120 Uber Cash credit for cardholders to take advantage of. Considering it has an annual fee of $250, using both credits fully would effectively drop it to only $10 a year. In addition to its credits, it comes with a few – albeit sparse – impressive travel protections including a Baggage Insurance Plan and rental car insurance. And for consumers who like to make a statement, the Amex Gold Card is metal and comes in their choice of either Gold or Rose Gold. Pros
4x points per dollar for dining$120 dining credit$120 Uber Cash creditRental car insurance/Baggage Insurance PlanNo foreign transaction feeMetal card
Cons
High annual fee of $250Spare travel protections considering the feeRental car insurance is secondary coverage
While it may not be a realistic option for some travelers, it’s hard not to see its appeal. With the widest airport lounge access of any credit card, numerous travel credits that effectively lower its annual fee to a much more manageable rate, and good rewards coupled with a lucrative welcome bonus, there’s a ton of value to be had by consumers who can afford it. However, for the average traveler, the best option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It covers plenty of ground with its rewards and offers flexible and worthwhile redemption options. And although cardholders will need to utilize point transfers to get the best value, it’s worth the extra work. Not to mention Chase’s travel partners include popular airlines such as United and JetBlue, plus well-known hotel brands including Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and IHG. They feature useful travel perks and protections, airport lounge access, and some of them include a number of travel credits to lower the cost of trips. They represent the best options for travelers in terms of saving time and money, and getting consumers to their destinations safely. However, the VentureOne Rewards card features the easiest-to-reach welcome bonus. New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first three months. Also, keep in mind welcome bonuses are subject to change. Next in line for travel protections is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It offers cardholders Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Baggage Delay Insurance, rental car insurance, and Trip Delay Reimbursement, among others. The VentureOne Rewards card, despite not asking for an annual fee, comes with Travel Accident Insurance and rental car insurance, while the American Express Gold Card features a Baggage Insurance Plan and rental car insurance. Unfortunately, Citi removed many of its card protections, so the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum card comes in at the bottom of the pack in terms of additional travel perks.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Capital One’s premium travel card. It has an annual fee of $395, but offers a reasonable alternative to The Platinum Card. While not as extensive, it still features a solid benefits package including an annual $300 travel credit. And, Capital One recently expanded cardholder’s airport lounge access.U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: This card earns across a number of travel categories, including gas, dining, and general travel purchases. It also features an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and comes with some quality Visa Signature protections. It has an annual fee of $95 that’s waived for the first year, and offers a lucrative welcome bonus.Discover it® Miles: A simple, inexpensive card. Use it for every purchase to earn 1.5x miles per dollar. It doesn’t have an annual fee nor does it have travel perks and protections, but Discover will double the number of miles you earn for your first year.Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Earn 1.5x miles per dollar for everything you buy, for no annual fee. It features an intro 0% APR for purchases for 18 billing cycles (then 17.74% - 27.74% variable), and not much else. But if you’re looking for an uncomplicated travel card, look no further.
Or, take a look at our travel-related best lists to see how some of the best travel cards stack up against each other:
The 6 best airline credit cards: Earn travel pointsThe best travel cards for beginnersThe 5 best credit cards for airport lounge access: Travel in comfortThe 5 best international travel credit cards: Globetrotter rewardsThe best American Airlines credit cards: Earn while you travelThe 5 best Southwest Airlines credit cards: Unlimited tier qualifying points
“Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.”
