11 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards – Money Crashers

If you’ve ever sat in coach, knees kissing the tray table, and overheard the person in 2A say, “Oh yeah, I booked this on points,” you’ve probably had the same thought the rest of us do: Okay, how do I get in on that?

That’s exactly where travel rewards credit cards shine. Used wisely, they can turn your everyday spending into free flights, hotel nights, upgrades, and the occasional “I can’t believe this is my life” airport lounge moment. Used poorly, they’re just an expensive way to pay interest.

This guide breaks down 11 of the best travel rewards credit cards available to U.S. consumers today. We’ll cover who each card is best for, what kind of rewards it earns, and how to think about annual fees, perks, and redemption options so you can choose the card (or cards) that actually fit your travel life.

How Travel Rewards Credit Cards Work

Travel rewards cards are basically loyalty programs in plastic form. Instead of earning a generic cash-back percentage, you earn points or miles that are geared toward travel. Here’s the quick version:

• You earn: Points or miles on every purchase, with higher earning rates in bonus categories like travel, dining, groceries, gas, or streaming.
• You redeem: Rewards through a bank travel portal, by transferring points to airline or hotel partners, or by using statement credits toward travel purchases.
• You get perks: Things like travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits, hotel status, and more.
• You pay a fee (sometimes): Many powerful travel cards have annual fees, which you should only pay if the value you get from rewards and perks exceeds the cost.

The magic happens when you combine strong earning rates, flexible redemption options, and perks you’ll actually usewhile paying your statement in full every month so you’re not erasing your gains with interest.

What to Look for in a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Before we dive into the 11 best travel rewards credit cards, it helps to know what “best” really means for you. A card that’s perfect for a luxury traveler may be a terrible fit for someone who just wants to offset the cost of one family vacation a year.

1. Annual Fee vs. Real-World Value

Premium travel cards can have eye-popping annual fees, but they often come with big statement credits (for travel, rideshares, streaming, and more) and very strong perks. Run the math:

• Add up recurring credits you’d actually use.
• Estimate how much value you’ll get from points or miles in a typical year.
• Consider extra perks like lounge access or hotel status.

If the total benefit clearly beats the fee, the card could be worth it. If you’re squinting at the numbers to make them work, it probably isn’t.

2. Earning Structure

Look for cards that reward what you really spend on. If you’re a foodie who flies a few times a year, a card that gives strong rewards on dining might be more valuable than one that only turbocharges airfare. If you’re a road-trip person, gas and hotels should matter more.

3. Redemption Flexibility

Some cards are tied to a single airline or hotel brand. Others let you transfer points to multiple partners or redeem through a bank travel portal. If you’re loyal to one brand, a co-branded card can be great. If you just want the cheapest flight or room, a flexible program is usually better.

4. Travel Protections and Fees

Many mid-tier and premium travel cards now include solid travel insurance, such as trip delay coverage, lost baggage protection, rental car insurance, and more. Also check for:

• No foreign transaction fees: Essential for international travel.
• Global acceptance: Networks like Visa and Mastercard are generally more widely accepted abroad than some others.

11 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards in 2025

Card offers change frequently, so always confirm current bonuses, fees, and terms before applying. Here’s a snapshot of 11 standouts and who they’re best for.

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best Overall Starter Travel Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the “first serious travel card” for a lot of people, and for good reason. It balances a moderate annual fee with strong earning, flexible redemptions, and a generous welcome bonus for new cardholders who meet the minimum spend.

• Why it’s great: Elevated rewards on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, plus strong earnings on dining, select streaming, and online groceries.
• Redemptions: Points are extra valuable when redeemed for travel through Chase’s portal, and you can also transfer to several major airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.
• Best for: Travelers who want a single, flexible travel rewards card without jumping straight into ultra-premium annual fees.

If you want your first “real” travel card, this is often the sweet spot between cost and value.

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best for Frequent, Premium Travelers

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the Sapphire Preferred’s flashy older sibling. It has a much higher annual fee, but also offers a large annual travel credit that automatically reimburses most travel purchases, plus lounge access and upgraded earning rates.

• Why it’s great: Big travel credit that effectively lowers the net annual fee for frequent travelers, higher point value on travel redemptions through the portal, and strong bonus categories.
• Perks: Airport lounge access through a global lounge program, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, and robust travel protections.
• Best for: People who fly several times a year, value lounge access, and are willing to prepay a high fee in exchange for premium benefits.

If you’re hitting the road (or skies) often, it can easily pull more value than its sticker priceprovided you actually use the credits and perks.

3. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best Flat-Rate Travel Miles

If you’re allergic to spreadsheets and category tracking, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps things simple. You earn a solid, flat rate of miles on every purchase, plus a higher rate on certain travel bookings through Capital One’s portal.

• Why it’s great: Straightforward earning structure that makes it easy to rack up miles without overthinking categories.
• Redemptions: Use miles to “erase” eligible travel purchases as statement credits or transfer them to a growing list of airline and hotel partners.
• Perks: No foreign transaction fees and often a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit on the table.
• Best for: Travelers who want flexible rewards and simple math.

If you like the idea of “2x-ish on everything and we’re done here,” Venture is your card.

4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Premium Value Without the Pain

The Capital One Venture X is a newer contender in the premium travel space and has quickly become a favorite for many frequent travelers. It offers a big welcome bonus, strong flat-rate rewards, and a package of credits and perks designed to offset its annual fee.

• Why it’s great: Strong ongoing earning on all spending, plus even higher rates on certain travel bookings through Capital One.
• Perks: Annual travel credit, anniversary bonus miles, airport lounge access (including Capital One lounges and partner lounges), no foreign transaction fees.
• Best for: Travelers who want premium perks and long-term value without the highest fees in the market.

Think of it as a “value-premium” card: luxurious, but still grounded.

5. The Platinum Card® from American Express – Best for Luxury Travel Perks

The Amex Platinum is the OG status symbol of travel cards. The annual fee is steep, but the list of perks is longer than a boarding queue the day before a holiday.

• Why it’s great: Strong earning on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and on certain hotel bookings.
• Perks: Expansive airport lounge network access (Centurion lounges plus partners), statement credits for airline fees, rideshares, streaming, and more, along with hotel elite status with select brands.
• Best for: Frequent flyers who want comfort and conveniencelounges, upgrades, and credits galoreand can realistically use the benefits.

If you view airports as your second home, this card turns that home into a business-class lounge.

6. American Express® Gold Card – Best for Foodies Who Travel

The Amex Gold card shines on everyday spending that many people already do: dining out, ordering in, and buying groceries. It’s technically more of a “rewards” card than a pure travel card, but its points are extremely valuable when transferred to airline partners.

• Why it’s great: Elevated rewards on dining (including many delivery services) and supermarkets, plus solid earnings on certain travel bookings.
• Redemptions: Membership Rewards points transfer to numerous airline partners, opening up high-value flight redemptions.
• Perks: Monthly dining and food-related credits (if you use them), no foreign transaction fees.
• Best for: Anyone whose budget is dominated by food and who wants those meals to quietly fund their next vacation.

If your love language is brunch, this card speaks it fluently.

7. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card – Best for Global Everyday Travelers

Citi’s Strata Premier (the evolution of the Citi Premier) is designed for people whose travel style is less “once-a-year big trip” and more “I’m always going somewhere.” It offers broad bonus categories and flexible points.

• Why it’s great: Elevated rewards on travel, dining, gas, and often other everyday categories, making it easy to build up points organically.
• Redemptions: Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to multiple airline partners or used through Citi’s travel portal.
• Perks: No foreign transaction fees and strong earning on categories you likely use at home and abroad.
• Best for: Global wanderers who want flexible airline partners and a card that rewards everyday life, not just vacations.

8. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card – Best for Hotel Elite Status

If your happy place is a lobby with a marble check-in desk, this card leans hard into hotel perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is a premium co-branded option that offers automatic high-tier elite status and a free night award each year (up to a certain point value cap).

• Why it’s great: Big rewards on Marriott stays, plus decent earnings on dining and other select categories.
• Perks: Annual free night award, higher-tier Marriott elite status (with benefits like late checkout and room upgrades when available), and statement credits tied to Marriott spending or other benefits that rotate over time.
• Best for: Travelers who frequently stay with Marriott and want to stack points, free nights, and elite perks.

If you’re loyal to Marriott, this card can easily return more than its fee in free nights and status perks alone.

9. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – Best for Airline Loyalists

Airline-specific cards aren’t for everyone, but if you fly Delta regularly, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve can be a powerful way to level up your experience.

• Why it’s great: Elevated earnings on Delta purchases and some everyday categories, plus improved boarding experience and checked bag perks.
• Perks: Access to Delta Sky Club on eligible itineraries, companion certificates (subject to terms), priority services, and status-earning boosts that can help you climb Delta’s elite tiers faster.
• Best for: Travelers who live near a Delta hub or heavily use Delta and want their card to turbocharge that loyalty.

If your idea of travel loyalty is “Delta or nothing,” this card keeps that relationship very happy.

10. Bilt Mastercard® – Best for Earning Points on Rent

For years, paying rent felt like the last major expense you just couldn’t earn rewards on. Bilt changed that. Its core pitch: earn transferable points for paying rent, typically without an added processing fee when you pay through their system.

• Why it’s great: Rewards on rent payments (with monthly activity requirements), plus elevated rewards on dining and certain other spending.
• Redemptions: Points transfer to several airline and hotel programs, which can unlock surprisingly good flight and hotel redemptions.
• Perks: No annual fee, built-in travel protections, and no foreign transaction fees on many versions of the product.
• Best for: Renters who want to turn their biggest monthly bill into future flights and hotel nights.

11. U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card – Best for Road Trips and Everyday Tech

The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card is aimed squarely at modern travelers who split their adventures between the open road, streaming at home, and the occasional flight.

• Why it’s great: Strong rewards on travel, gas stations, and EV charging, plus elevated rewards on streaming and grocery store purchases.
• Perks: Statement credit for streaming services after you meet an annual spend threshold (subject to current terms), travel protections, and no foreign transaction fees.
• Best for: Road warriors who value flexibility and want a card that works hard even when they’re not flying.

How to Choose the Right Travel Rewards Card for You

Still not sure which one belongs in your wallet? Start with three questions:

1. How often do you travel? If you only take one or two trips a year, a mid-tier card with a lower annual fee (or a great no-fee option) might deliver better value than a premium card.
2. Are you loyal to one airline or hotel brand? Brand loyalists can squeeze big value from co-branded cards. If you just chase the best fare, flexible points programs are usually better.
3. Will you use the perks every year? Lounge access, elite status, and statement credits are only valuable if you use them consistently, not just “maybe someday.”

Most avid travelers end up with a small “ecosystem” of cards: perhaps one flexible points card, one co-branded airline card, and maybe a hotel card for their preferred chain. Start with one great core card and expand only if the math clearly works.

Real-World Experiences & Strategies With Travel Rewards Cards

It’s one thing to talk about bonus categories and transfer partners. It’s another to see how these cards actually play out in everyday life. Here are some practical, experience-based tips and mini case studies that show how the right card strategy can make travel more affordableand sometimes a lot more fun.

Stacking Everyday Spending for a Big Trip

Imagine a couple planning a once-a-year international vacation. They choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as their “household travel card,” put all dining, travel, streaming, and online grocery orders on it, and pay in full every month. Over the course of a year, their regular spending earns a sizable stash of points.

When it’s time to book, they log into the bank’s travel portal, where those points are worth more than a simple cash-back redemption. By pairing the welcome bonus from the first year with a year’s worth of everyday spending, they can often cover most (or all) of the flights for their next trip. The trick isn’t spending morejust shifting the spending they were already doing onto a card that rewards it.

The “Two-Card” Strategy for Frequent Travelers

Frequent travelers often find that a two-card combo hits the sweet spot:

• A flexible travel card like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Venture, or Venture X for general spending and broad travel perks.
• A co-branded airline or hotel card for status boosts, free checked bags, or free night certificates.

For example, someone who flies Delta often might carry the Delta SkyMiles Reserve for lounge access and status perks, plus a more flexible card like Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire for earning versatile points on non-Delta spending. The result: both elite treatment on their favorite airline and the flexibility to book non-Delta flights when award space or pricing demands it.

Renters Turning Monthly Payments Into Miles

Rent is usually the single biggest monthly expense for many people under 40. Historically, it’s also been one of the hardest to earn rewards on without paying cumbersome fees. A card like the Bilt Mastercard can change that equation by allowing you to earn points on rent payments processed through their platform.

Consider a renter paying $2,000 a month. Over a year, that’s $24,000 in rent alone. Even at a modest rewards rate, that can be enough for a round-trip domestic flight or a few nights in a mid-range hotel when those points are transferred to airline or hotel partners and redeemed strategically. Add in the card’s dining rewards and other categories, and you can see how regular life quietly fuels vacations.

Using Travel Credits Intentionally

Premium cards like the Sapphire Reserve, Venture X, and Amex Platinum often include hundreds of dollars in annual travel credits, but maximizing them takes a little planning. Some cardholders make a habit of booking one or two key travel purchaseslike a big flight or hotel stayon those cards early in the cardmember year to ensure they fully trigger the credits.

Others use calendar reminders. At the start of the year, they set a reminder on their phone or calendar to use travel credits, airline fee credits, or rideshare credits by certain deadlines. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps the annual fee math firmly in the “worth it” column.

Protecting Your Trips With Built-In Insurance

Many mid-tier and premium travel rewards cards include trip delay, trip interruption, baggage, and rental car coverage when you pay for your trip with the card. Seasoned travelers often choose one “insurance card” for flights and big hotel staystypically a card known for strong protectionswhile using other cards for categories where they earn more points.

This becomes especially valuable during peak travel chaos (summer holidays, winter storms, busy weekends). Getting reimbursed for meals and hotel nights during a long delay, or having coverage when a nonrefundable trip goes sideways, can easily outweigh a year’s annual fee in one stressful travel day.

Staying Out of Trouble With Interest and Fees

Here’s the un-fun but crucial part of every real travel rewards strategy: the only way these cards truly pay off is if you avoid interest and avoid fees you don’t need. Successful cardholders treat travel rewards cards like charge cards:

• They pay their statement balances in full and on time every month.
• They don’t spend extra just to “chase” a bonus. They plan bonuses around expenses they already know are coming (like planned travel, home projects, or tax bills).
• They periodically re-evaluate whether they’re still using a card’s perks enough to justify its annual fee.

When you run your cards this way, points and miles are a genuine “extra” that make your trips better, not a justification for debt.

Building a Travel Rewards Plan That Matches Your Life

Ultimately, the best travel rewards credit cardor combination of cardsisn’t the one with the biggest bonus or lounge with the fanciest champagne. It’s the setup that:

• Rewards the way you actually spend.
• Fits your current travel habits and goals.
• Offers perks you’ll use every year, not just admire in the brochure.

Start with one great card from this list, get comfortable earning and redeeming points or miles, and then decide whether a second or third card actually adds clear value. When you align your card strategy with your real life, those “booked it all on points” stories stop being something you overhearand start being your own.

Final Thoughts

Travel rewards credit cards can absolutely transform the way you see the world, but they work best when you approach them like a tool, not a lottery ticket. Match the card to your travel style, use the perks intentionally, and treat paying in full as non-negotiable. Do that, and the right travel rewards card can turn everyday spending into the flights, hotels, and upgrades you were going to daydream about anyway.