Rates checked as of February 1, 2023.
Whether you travel often or just take the occasional vacation, a travel rewards credit card can be an excellent companion. With every purchase, you can use a good travel card to collect points or miles that are redeemable for flights, hotels, or other travel bookings. And many travel rewards cards come with extra benefits, too, from free entry into airport lounges to statement credits toward application fees for TSA PreCheck and other programs that expedite security screening at the airport.
Take a look at our picks of the best travel rewards credit cards. If you’d rather have a card that offers cash back or another type of reward, see our article on the best rewards credit cards.
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For each card (except premium travel cards), we’ve calculated a typical annual reward based on spending patterns in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and assuming $25,000 spent on the card annually. For cards that do not waive their annual fee the first year, we’ve subtracted the annual fee from the cash value of the annual reward. Except where noted, these cards don’t charge a foreign-transaction fee.
We calculate a typical annual reward for each card assuming $25,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards: No Annual Fee
With these cards, you reap points or miles without paying an annual fee. You will still need to consider foreign transaction fees if you plan to do a lot of international travel.
- Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 19.24% to 27.99%
- Annual fee: None
- Foreign transaction fee: A hefty 3%, so for trips abroad, look to our other winners that charge no such fee
- Rewards: Five points per dollar spent on travel purchases through Chase, three points on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5 points per dollar on other spending; earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025
- Redemption: Redeem points at a rate of a penny each for cash back, gift cards or travel; points do not expire
- Sign-up bonus: $200 back if you spend $500 in the first three months; plus earn 5%, or up to $600 cash back, on grocery store purchases (except at Walmart of Target) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year
- Typical annual reward: 45,277 points, worth $453
- Interest rate: 0% for 18 months, then 18.24% to 28.24% variable
- Annual fee: None
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Get three points per dollar for each purchase you make through Bank of America’s Travel Center and 1.5 points per dollar on all other spending
- Redemption: Points are worth a penny apiece for statement credits to offset travel and dining purchases if you redeem points for a check or deposit into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account, they are worth 0.6 cent each; points do not expire
- Sign-up bonus: 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Typical annual reward: 39,000 points, worth $390 in statement credits for travel or dining purchases
- Interest rate: 0% for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR
- Annual fee: None
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on all other spending
- Redemption: Miles are worth a penny each when you redeem them for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One; or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs
- Sign-up bonus: 20,000 miles if you spend $500 in the first three months
- Typical annual reward: 35,000 miles, worth $350 in travel rewards
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Worth the Annual Fee
With a high payback on travel spending and some perks on the side, these cards make the annual fee worth paying.
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 28.24% variable
- Annual fee: $95
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Five miles per dollar spent on hotel stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; all other spending earns two miles per dollar; limited airport lounge access and other benefits apply
- Redemption: Redeem miles at a rate of a penny each for statement credits on travel purchases or to book a new travel reservation through Capital One; or transfer miles to any of more than 15 travel loyalty programs
- Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months; through May 16, 2023, you also get five miles per dollar on bookings through car-sharing service Turo
- Typical annual reward: 56,000 miles, worth $465 after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate: 18.74% to 28.74%
- Annual fee: $85
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: 1.5 cents per point when booking travel through U.S. Bank’s Rewards Center, and five points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the rewards center; three points per dollar on restaurant spending; two points per dollar on purchases with airlines, gas stations and electric-vehicle charging stations; and one point per dollar on other spending.
- Redemption: If you’d rather redeem points for cash back, they hold a respectable value of 1 cent each. Points expire after five years.
- Sign-up bonus: 30,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first four months
- Typical annual reward: 41,318 points, worth $535 in travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 28.24% variable
- Annual fee: $95
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Get three points per dollar spent in a range of categories: restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel and hotels. All other spending earns one point per dollar.
- Redemption: Points are worth a penny each if you redeem them for gift cards or travel bookings through the Citi ThankYou program; you can also transfer points to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months
- Typical annual reward: 50,770 points, worth $413 in gift card and travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Flexible Travel Redemptions
Redeem points for travel bookings or transfer them to a broad range of partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 27.24% variable
- Annual fee: $95
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and two points per dollar on other travel spending; three points per dollar on dining, and select online grocery and streaming services; and one point per dollar on other spending
- Other benefits: On each account anniversary, you get a 10% points bonus on your total purchases made the previous year; you can also get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025
- Redemption: Points are redeemable at a rate of 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Ultimate Rewards as well as statement credits on purchases in rotating categories; recently, eligible spending included Airbnb bookings and donations to select charities
- Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months
- Typical annual reward: 43,291 points, worth $446 in travel redemptions after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate: 0% for 15 months, then 17.24% to 28.24%
- Annual fee: None
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
- Rewards: Two points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent at supermarkets per year and on certain prepaid travel purchases through Amex Travel; other spending gets one point per dollar, and each month that you make at least 20 purchases with the card, you get a 20% points bonus on those purchases
- Redemption: The best way to redeem points include booking flights through Amex Travel at a rate of a penny per point or transferring points to loyalty programs including Delta SkyMiles (at a ratio of one Amex point to one SkyMile), Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
- Sign-up bonus: 10,000 points if you spend $2,000 in the first six months
- Typical annual reward: 38,330 points, worth $383 for certain travel redemptions
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 27.24% variable
- Annual fee: $95, or if you prefer to pay no annual fee, check out the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (opens in new tab)
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Six Marriott points per dollar spent at Marriott properties, three points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent yearly at grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants, and two points per dollar on all other spending; a free one-night Marriott stay per year after each account anniversary
- Redemptions: Most transfers are at a ratio of three Marriott points to one frequent-flier mile, and for each 60,000 points transferred, you get a 5,000-mile bonus; points expire if your account is inactive for 24 months
- Sign-up bonus: Three free-night awards if you spend $3,000 in the first three months (value of up to 50,000 points)
- Typical annual reward: 64,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth about $350 after subtracting the annual fee
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Premium Travel Rewards
Frequent travelers can more than overcome the high annual fees on these cards by taking advantage of a bevy of perks. Note that we do not include a typical annual reward for premium cards because they also provide considerable value outside of the points they award for everyday spending.
- Interest rate: 21.24% to 28.24% variable
- Annual fee: $395
- Foreign Transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, five miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and two miles per dollar on all other purchases
- Other benefits: Perks include 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary each year, an annual statement credit of up to $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel, free entry to more than 1,300 Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges, complimentary access for you and two guests to Capital One’s airport lounges, and President’s Circle status with Hertz
- Redemption: Redeem miles at a rate of a penny apiece for statement credits on travel purchases or travel bookings through Capital One, or transfer them to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months
- Interest rate: 21.24% to 28.24% variable
- Annual fee: $550; $75 for each authorized user
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Get 10 points per dollar on spending at participating restaurants through the Chase Dining program as well as on hotel and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; five points per dollar on flights booked through Chase; three points per dollar on other restaurant and travel spending and one point per dollar on the rest of your purchases
- Other benefits: An annual statement credit of up to $300 for travel purchases (purchases that qualify for the credit do not earn points until the $300 travel credit has been applied), a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, perks at properties in the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025, at least a year of free membership to DoorDash’s delivery subscription service, and a $10 monthly statement credit toward purchases from home delivery service Gopuff
- Redemption: Points are transferable to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs, or trade points at a healthy rate of 1.5 cents each when you redeem them for travel bookings through Ultimate Rewards, or for statement credits against purchases in rotating categories through Chase’s Pay Yourself Back program (including Airbnb, dining, charitable donations, and other categories)
- Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months, for a total value of $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase ultimate rewards
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 27.24% variable
- Annual fee: $695, plus $175 for up to three authorized users and $175 per card for each user beyond three
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Earn five points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel bookings through AmexTravel.com and on flights purchased directly from airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year on flights), plus two points per dollar on other Amex Travel bookings and one point per dollar on all other spending
- Other benefits: Annual statement credits of up to $200 on select hotel bookings (a minimum 2 night stay is required) through American Express, yearly credits of up to $200 for incidental fees charged by one airline of your choice, up to $189 in yearly credits to reimburse the membership fee for the CLEAR® airport-security program, elevated loyalty status with Marriott and Hilton, and free access to many airport lounges; cardholders will also enjoy discounts on many subscription, streaming, delivery, and other services. Enrollment required for select benefits
- Redemption: There is no option for cash back; the greatest value comes from booking travel with points, and from the many discounts and other perks
- Intro offer: 80,000 points if you spend $6,000 in the first six months
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards: Dedicated Airline Cards
If you’re loyal to the airlines associated with these cards, you’ll be well served by using them to rack up frequent-flier miles and taking advantage of extra discounts and perks, such as free checked baggage and preferred boarding.
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 27.24% variable
- Annual fee: $149
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Three points per dollar on purchases with Southwest Airlines and two points per dollar on purchases with Rapid Rewards hotel and car-rental partners; two points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-sharing services), on internet, cable and phone services, and on select streaming services; all other spending earns one point per dollar
- Other benefits: Cardholders receive a $75 annual credit for Southwest purchases and a bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on each account anniversary; reimbursement for up to four upgraded airline boardings per year; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List status for each $10,000 spent on the card; and 25% back on in-flight purchases
- Redemption: Points may be redeemed for travel on Southwest Airlines or through its Rapid Rewards program; points may also be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, and entertainment
- Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Typical annual reward: 33,315 points, worth about $320 after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 29.24%
- Annual fee: $99, waived the first year; if you prefer a no-fee card that earns AAdvantage miles, check out the AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Cardholders get two American Airlines AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants and on American Airlines purchases; all other spending earns one mile per dollar
- Other benefits: A $125 flight discount each year in which you spend $20,000 on the card; a free checked bag on domestic flights for you and up to four companions on the same reservation; preferred boarding; and 25% off in-flight food and beverage purchases; for every mile you earn on Platinum Select card purchases, you get one Loyalty point toward heightened AAdvantage status
- Redemption: Redeem award miles on American Airlines, American Eagle, and oneworld partners flights; the Aadvantage program also allows you to redeem miles for car rentals, hotels, and vacation packages with any American Airlines partner.
- Sign-up bonus: 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles if you spend $2,500 in the first three months
- Typical annual reward: 31,943 miles, worth about $380
- Interest rate: 20.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable
- Annual fee: $99; for a no-fee card that also earns TrueBlue points, check out the JetBlue Mastercard (opens in new tab)
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Six points per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases, two points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and one point per dollar on other spending; each year after your account anniversary, you get 5,000 bonus points, and if you spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year, you get high-level Mosaic status with JetBlue
- Other rewards: The card also comes with a 10% point bonus when you redeem points for a JetBlue Award Flight, a free checked bag for you and up to three traveling companions on the same reservation, and an annual statement credit of $100 if you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package of at least $100
- Redemption: JetBlue’s TrueBlue points program has no blackout dates for reward flights; points may also be redeemed for vacation packages
- Sign-up bonus: 40,000 JetBlue TrueBlue points if you spend $1,000 and pay the annual fee in full within the first 90 days
- Typical annual reward: 47,317 points, worth about $510 after subtracting the annual fee
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards: Dedicated Hotel Cards
Frequent guests of the hotel chains associated with these cards can get great value out of them, earning extra points for hotel stays and certain other purchases. Plus, enjoy benefits such as free-night awards and elevated loyalty status.
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 27.24% variable
- Annual fee: $95
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Get four World of Hyatt Bonus points per dollar on Hyatt purchases; two points per dollar at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, on local transit, and on fitness club and gym memberships; and one point per dollar on other spending
- Other benefits: Each year after your cardmember anniversary, you get a free night at a Hyatt hotel or resort, plus an extra free night if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, automatic Discoverist loyalty status, five qualifying nights toward the next loyalty tier each year, and two more qualifying night credits each time you spend $5,000 on the card.
- Redemption: Redeem points for a wide array of benefits offered by the World of Hyatt (opens in new tab), such as through travel partnerships with MGM Resorts and American Airlines
- Sign-up bonus: Up to 60,000 World of Hyatt Bonus points: 30,000 if you spend $3,000 in the first three months and up to an additional 30,000 points by earning two points per dollar up to $15,000 spent on purchases that typically earn one point for the first six months.
- Typical annual reward: 36,262 points, worth about $520 after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate 19.99%, 24.24% or 29.24% variable, with 0% for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases
- Annual fee: $75; for a no-fee option, look to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Visa (opens in new tab)
- Foreign Transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Six Wyndham Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases with Hotels by Wyndham, as well as on gas; four points per dollar on restaurant and grocery-store purchases; and one point per dollar on all other spending; each anniversary year, cardholders get a 7,500-point bonus
- Other benefits: You’ll also get an additional discount on the best available rate when making reservations at participating properties, and automatic Platinum loyalty status
- Redemption: Points may be redeemed at thousands of Wyndham properties worldwide, including hotels, resorts, casinos, vacation homes, and European parks; points expire if your Wyndham Rewards account is inactive for 18 months.
- Sign-up bonus: 45,000 Wyndham Rewards points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Typical annual reward: 64,791 points, worth about $510 after subtracting the annual fee
- Interest rate: 19.99% to 28.99% variable
- Annual fee: $95; If you prefer to skip the annual fee, try the Hilton Honors American Express Card (opens in new tab) instead.
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: Earn 12 points per dollar spent within the Hilton portfolio, six points per dollar on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and three points per dollar on other spending.
- Other benefits: Extra benefits include a Priority Pass Select membership that provides 10 free yearly visits to participating airport lounges, a free weekend night stay if you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year, complimentary Gold loyalty status; if you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’re bumped up to Diamond status.
- Redemption: Points typically expire if you are inactive in the Hilton Honors program for 24 months, and earning points with the credit card counts as activity; expiration terms may vary by membership tier
- Intro bonus: 150,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months
- Typical annual reward: 119,655 points, worth about $600
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
