6 Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024

So you’re in the market for a travel card.  Well, you’re certainly not hurting for options; it seems that every few months some bank drops a new travel card.

But you’re here because you want to know which travel card is best.

Well, the truth is, it’s pretty tough to crown a single travel card as the best.  The best travel card for you may be different than the best travel card for me because we have different spending habits and travel goals.

That said, I’ve been able to narrow down my list of the top travel cards to six, and I’m pretty confident that the best card for you is somewhere among these six.

Before we get into the list, though, let’s talk about the basics.

What Is a Travel Credit Card?

Rewards credit cards come in two main flavors: cash back cards and travel cards.

Cash back cards give you, well, cash back.  A good cash back card will either give you 2% cash back on all purchases or 3-6% cash back on at least one bonus category such as dining, groceries, or gas.

Travel cards, on the other hand, give you points — called “miles” by some card issuers — that you can redeem for travel expenses such as airfare, lodging, and transportation.

There are hundreds of travel cards out there, but they all fall into the three basic categories that I discuss below.  Note that I’ve made up the names of these three categories myself; this isn’t commonly-accepted nomenclature.

Travel Portal Cards

The most common — and perhaps the most lucrative — travel cards are those issued by a bank that has its own travel portal through which you can either 1) directly book travel expenses in exchange for points or 2) transfer points to various travel partners’ rewards programs.

For example, when you use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you are earning points to use through Chase’s travel rewards portal called Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Through this portal you can use your points to book flights, hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, and more.

Alternatively, you could transfer your points — oftentimes at a bonus rate — to one of Chase’s hotel or airline partners.

Airline and Hotel Cards

Airline cards and hotel cards constitute another type of travel card.

These cards earn rewards that can be redeemed through specific airlines and hotel chains, and they typically offer special benefits for use on these specific airlines or at these specific hotel chains.

Generally speaking, these cards are worth it only if you are particularly loyal to a certain airline or hotel chain.

Reimbursement Cards

Reimbursement travel cards are perhaps the most straightforward way to earn travel rewards: you simply receive a statement credit for any travel purchases you make with the card.

For example, if you earn $200 worth of travel rewards on a reimbursement card, and you spend at least that much in travel expenses on that card, you could have your $200 rewards applied as a statement credit.

An example of a reimbursement card is the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card, though it does permit transfers to airline partners.

When Travel Cards Make Sense

Travel cards — especially premium cards that provide a lot of value but at the cost of a high annual fee — aren’t for everybody.

But they are right for some people, especially those with an incurable wanderlust.

If you see yourself in any of the profiles below, then a travel card may be your next money move.

You Travel a Lot

This is pretty obvious.  Travel points won’t do you any good if you rarely travel.  But if you make at least a couple trips a year, the right travel card can possibly let you travel for free.

Interested in Cash Back Cards?

If after reading this section you've concluded that cash cards are more your thing, check out our top picks for cash back cards!

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You Can Hit Sign-Up Bonus Tiers

For many people, the primary draw of travel cards is their massive sign-up bonuses.

These sign-up bonuses typically go something like this: if you spend at least $2,000 on the card within the first three months of card opening, you will receive 40,000 bonus points.

Of course, the devil’s in the details.  How much are those 40,000 bonus points actually worth?  If they’re worth a penny each when redeemed for travel, then they’re essentially worth, in total, $400.  This means you’re getting $400 in rewards on $2,000 spend, which comes out to a 20% redemption rate not including the standard points earned on each transaction.

But here’s the thing: you need to be able to put enough on these cards to hit its sign-up bonus tier (in the example above, this would be spending $2,000 in the first three months).  If you can’t possibly put $2,000 on the card in three months, then maybe you should look at a card with a lower sign-up bonus tier.

You Go Out a Lot

In terms of per-transaction earnings, travel cards really shine when it comes to “fun” spending such as on restaurants, entertainment, and travel expenses themselves.  Many travel cards give their holders double, triple, quadruple, or more points when it comes to these kinds of charges made on the card.

So if you spend a lot on “fun” expenses, then you can really rack up the points if you charge them to a travel card.

7 Best Travel Cards

Like I said previously, it’s pretty tough — if not impossible — to state that such-and-such travel card in unequivocally the “best” travel card on the market today.

There are so many factors that go into choosing which travel card is best for someone, including their individual spending and travel habits.  As habits are by nature personal and unique to every individual, I strongly hesitate to make a claim that any particular travel card is the “best” for everybody.

However, I did spend hours researching travel cards and contrived six different “awards” for travel cards.  Hopefully you’ll gravitate toward one of these award categories and find the travel card that makes the most sense for you.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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  The Platinum Card® from American Express

  • Basics: The American Express Platinum Card gives you five Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline as well as on airfare and hotels booked through Amex Travel and one point per dollar spent on other categories. Terms Apply. By our math (see below), each point is worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel through Amex Travel, making your return 5% on the specified travel spending described previously and 1% on other categories. Where this card really shines, though, is in its perks.
  • Our Math: Through Amex Travel, you can use 100,000 points to cover $1,000 worth of travel. This comes out to a value of 1 cent per point. Because you earn five points per dollar spent on the travel categories specified above, your return on spend is essentially 5% for these purchases.
  • Bottom Line: If you're both a frequent flyer and a frequent diner who will also put all of this card's generous perks to work, this is a phenomenal premium travel card.
  • Welcome Offer

    100,000 points with $6,000 spend within first six months from opening account. Since 100,000 points is worth approximately $1,000 when they are redeemed for travel through Amex Travel, this results in a 16.67% return on spend from the bonus alone. Terms Apply.

  • Annual Fee

    $695. Yes, this is tied with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for the highest annual fee among cards on this list, but you will get more than $695 of value if you use all the perks annually. Terms Apply.

  • Perks

    • Up to $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings Program with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card(R). This benefit requires a minimum two-night stay.
    • Up to $240 in Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 each month when you pay for eligible purchases - Enrollment required.
    • Up to $200 in Uber Cash a year plus enjoy an Uber VIP Status
    • Up to $300 in Equinox Credits: Get $25 back each month on eligible Equinox memberships - Enrollment required
    • Up to $200 in Airline Fee Credit per year
    • Up to $100 credit once every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA Pre✓ once every four and a half years
    • Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit per year - Enrollment required
    • Exclusive access to American Express Global Lounge Collection with more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries
    • Priority Pass, Delta, and Centurion lounge access
    • No foreign transaction fee (See Rates and Fees)
    • Terms Apply

Capital One Venture Rewards

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  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simplicity

  • Basics: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you two miles per dollar spent on the card. By our math (see below), each point is worth 1 cent each when you redeem for travel through Capital One, making your return 2%. There is a welcome offer of 75,000 miles with $4,000 spend within the first three months from opening the account, this is equal to $750 in travel.
  • Our Math: The easiest ways to redeem Capital One Miles are to either receive a statement credit for travel purchases made on the card within the last 90 days or to book travel through Capital One travel. With both of those options, 100 Capital One miles is worth $1 of travel, making the miles worth 1 cent each. Note that transferring your miles to one of Capital One's airline partners could increase (as well as decrease) the value of your miles.
  • Bottom Line: This card is a great credit card for those who value simplicity when it comes to rewards, but at the end of the day you're getting 2% rewards with a $95 annual fee. The Citi Double Cash, on the other hand, can earn you 2% cash back without an annual fee. That said, the Double Cash comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee. The Venture Rewards does not have a foreign transaction fee, so if you spend more than $3,166.67 ($95/3%) abroad per year, you would come out ahead with the Venture Rewards, assuming you value simplicity and just want one go-to card for everything.
  • Welcome Offer

    75,000 miles with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening account. This is equal to $750 in travel.

  • Annual Fee

    $95

  • Perks

    • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ every four years
    • No foreign transaction fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred

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  Chase Sapphire Preferred: Best for Semi-Frequent Travelers

  • Basics: The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you five Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel, three points on dining, two points on all other travel purchases and one point per dollar spent on all other categories.
  • Our Math: If you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you gain 80,000 points worth $1,000 after spending $4,000 within the first three months. This comes out to a value of 5 cents per point. A return of 25% after spending that amount.
  • Bottom Line: This card provides a higher rewards rate than other cards at its annual fee level and is great for those who travel once or twice a year. If you travel more frequently than that, a more premium card such as the American Express Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve may be a better option.
  • Sign-Up Bonus

    80,000 points with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening account. Since 80,000 points is worth approximately $1,000 when they are redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, this results in an 25% return on spend from the bonus alone.

  • Annual Fee

    $95

  • Perks

    • Doordash delivery fees with a DashPass subscription
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • Flexible points redemption
    • No foreign transaction fees
    • A generous sign-up bonus
    • Low annual fee
    • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit

Chase Sapphire Reserve

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  Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for Foodies

  • Basics: The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you five Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on air travel and ten points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R) immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Three points on all other travel and dining, and one point per dollar spent on all other categories. By our math (see below), each point is worth 1.5 cents each when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, making your return 4.5% on travel and dining spending and 1.5% on other categories.
  • Our Math: If you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can use 60,000 points to cover $900 worth of travel. This comes out to a value of 1.5 cents per point. Because you earn three points per dollar spent on travel and dining worldwide, your return on spend is essentially 4.5% for these purchases since 1.5% x 3 = 4.5%.
  • Bottom Line: If you're both a frequent flyer and a frequent diner who will also put all of this card's generous perks to work, this could be the card for you.
  • Sign-Up Bonus

    60,000 points with $4,000 spend within first three months from opening account. Since 60,000 points is worth approximately $900 when they are redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, this results in an 22.5% return on spend from the bonus alone.

  • Annual Fee

    $550. This sounds steep, but keep in mind the perks whose value will easily exceed the annual fee if you use them all.

  • Perks

    • $300 travel credit
    • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓ every four years
    • Priority Pass lounge access
    • One year of complimentary Lyft Pink
    • Complimentary DashPass from DoorDash

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

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  Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best Airline Card

  • Basics: The Gold Delta SkyMiles gives you two miles per dollar spent directly with Delta, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets, plus one mile per dollar spent on everything else. By our math (see below), each point is worth an average of 1.5 cents each when you redeem for travel, making your return on spend 3% on Delta spending, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets and 1.5% on everything else. There is a welcome offer of 65,000 bonus miles with $2,000 spend within first six months from opening account. Terms Apply.
  • Our Math: The value you will extract per Delta SkyMile depends on where and how you fly. For example, you could extract as much as two cents per mile by redeeming them for an international trip in Delta's Main Cabin class but as little as one cent per mile by redeeming them for a domestic first class flight. We simply took the average of these and derived a value of 1.5 cents per mile.
  • Bottom Line: If you're a frequent Delta flyer, then this card is a no-brainer. The perks alone outweigh the annual fee. But if you don't fly Delta very often, it's probably best to opt for a more universal travel card.
  • Welcome Offer

    Offer ends on 11/9/2022 -- 65,000 bonus miles with $2,000 spend within first six months from opening account. Terms Apply.

  • Annual Fee

    $99, waived for the first year. Terms Apply.

  • Perks

    • First checked bag free (Delta flights only)
    • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding (Delta flights only)
    • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases
    • $100 Delta Flight Credit when you spend $10,000 on the Card in a calendar year
    • No foreign transaction fee (See Rates and Fees)
    • Terms Apply

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

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  Marriott Bonvoy Boundless(R) Credit Card: Best Hotel Card

  • Basics: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card gives you seventeen points per dollar spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and two points per dollar spent on everything else. By our math (see below), each point is worth an average of 0.7 cents each when you redeem for hotel stays, making your return on spend 4.2% at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and 1.4% on everything else. Earn 1 Free Night Award(each night valued at up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Our Math: The value you will extract per Marriott Bonvoy point depends on how you use them. Most will use their points on hotel stays, so that's what we used to come up with our valuation. We averaged the at over 50 hotels around the world and came up with an average value per point on hotel stays of 0.7 cents per points.
  • Bottom Line: If you like Marriott Bonvoy hotels and stay at them frequently, this can be a great card to use during your stays, with the whopping 4.2% return at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. That said, there are better cards on this list for everyday spending.
  • Welcome Offer

    Limited Time Offer -- Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

  • Annual Fee

    $95

  • Perks

    • Free night award (valued up to 35,000 points) given every anniversary of opening your account
    • Automatic Silver Status
    • Upgrade to Gold Status with $35,000 annual spend on card
    • 15 Elite Night Credits per year
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card: See Rates and Fees; Gold Delta SkyMiles(R) Credit Card from American Express: See Rates and Fees