Unlocking Travel Rewards: Find The Best Travel Credit Cards

By Hetal Bansal

Travel credit cards offer a plethora of benefits, from earning points or miles to enjoying travel perks like airport lounge access and travel insurance. With a wide array of options available, finding the right travel credit card can be overwhelming. To help you navigate the world of travel rewards, we've compiled a list of some of the best travel credit cards in 2024.

1. American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card offers generous rewards points on dining and travel purchases, making it an excellent choice for food and travel enthusiasts. Cardholders also enjoy benefits such as travel insurance and access to exclusive events.

• Annual Fee: $250
• Rewards: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide, 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1X points on other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.

2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is ideal for travelers looking for flexible rewards. Cardholders earn miles on every purchase, and miles can be redeemed for travel expenses or transferred to partner airlines.

• Annual Fee: $395
• Rewards: Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.

3. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel credit card with excellent rewards and benefits. Cardholders earn points on travel and dining purchases, and points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal at a higher value.

• Annual Fee: $550
• Rewards: Earn 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5X total points on air travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

4. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option for travelers looking for a more affordable travel credit card. Cardholders earn points on travel and dining purchases, and points can be transferred to partner airlines and hotels.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

5. The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is a premium travel credit card with a range of benefits. Cardholders enjoy airport lounge access, travel credits, and exclusive hotel benefits.

• Annual Fee: $695
• Rewards: Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

6. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

A simple travel credit card without foreign transaction fees is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Every purchase made with a card earns miles, which can then be redeemed for travel expenditures.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

7. Citi Premier Card

The Citi Premier Card is a good choice for travelers who value flexibility. Cardholders earn points on travel, dining, and entertainment purchases, and points can be transferred to a variety of airline partners.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

8. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is ideal for Southwest Airlines frequent flyers. Cardholders earn points on Southwest purchases and enjoy benefits such as priority boarding and an annual travel credit.

• Annual Fee: $149
• Rewards: Earn 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

9. Bilt World Elite Mastercard

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard is a unique travel credit card that rewards cardholders for paying rent. Cardholders earn points on rent payments, as well as on other purchases, and points can be redeemed for travel expenses.

• Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $99
• Rewards: Earn 2X Bilt Rewards points on rent payments and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Bilt Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

10. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is a great choice for Marriott loyalists. Cardholders earn points on Marriott purchases and enjoy benefits such as automatic elite status and a free night award each year.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy and 2X points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

11. Wyndham Rewards Earner Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Card is a good option for travelers who frequent Wyndham hotels. Cardholders earn points on Wyndham purchases and enjoy benefits such as elite status and a discount on points purchases.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards: Earn up to 6X points on eligible purchases and Wyndham hotel stays, 4X points on dining and groceries, 2X points on gas, utilities, and eligible marketing purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

12. Aeroplan Credit Card

The Aeroplan Credit Card is ideal for Air Canada frequent flyers. Cardholders earn points on Air Canada purchases and enjoy benefits such as priority boarding and a free checked bag.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 3X the points for every $1 spent on eligible Air Canada purchases, dining, and food delivery in Canada, and 1X the points on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points and a bonus Buddy Pass.

13. United Club Infinite Card

The United Club Infinite Card is a premium travel credit card for United Airlines frequent flyers. Cardholders earn miles on United purchases and enjoy benefits such as United Club membership and priority boarding.

• Annual Fee: $525
• Rewards: Earn 4X miles on United purchases, 2X miles on all other travel, and 2X miles on dining at restaurants and eligible delivery services.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

14. British Airways Visa Signature Card

The British Airways Visa Signature Card is a good choice for travelers who frequent British Airways. Cardholders earn Avios points on British Airways purchases and enjoy benefits such as companion tickets and travel insurance.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 5 Avios for every $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL within your first 18 months from account opening, thereafter earn 3 Avios.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

15. Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is a premium travel credit card for Hilton loyalists. Cardholders earn points on Hilton purchases and enjoy benefits such as automatic Hilton Diamond status and a free weekend night award each year.

• Annual Fee: $450
• Rewards: Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and U.S. restaurants, and 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

16. Credit One Bank Wander Card

The Credit One Bank Wander Card is a good option for travelers with less-than-perfect credit. Cardholders earn rewards on every purchase and enjoy benefits such as travel insurance and roadside assistance.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 5X reward credits on eligible hotel and rental car purchases, 2X reward credits on eligible dining and entertainment purchases, and 1X reward credit on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus reward credits after making $2,500 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

17. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is ideal for IHG loyalists. Cardholders earn points on IHG purchases and enjoy benefits such as automatic Platinum Elite status and a free night award each year.

• Annual Fee: $89
• Rewards: Earn 25X points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel, 2X points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

18. The World of Hyatt Credit Card

For fans of Hyatt, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent option. In addition to receiving rewards like annual free night awards and automatic Discoverist status, cardholders earn points on Hyatt purchases.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards: Earn 4X points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting, and fitness club and gym memberships, and 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points - 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

You may also like to read: Explore the Top No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Conclusion

Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and the benefits that matter most to you. Evaluate the annual fees, rewards structure, welcome offers, and additional perks to find the card that aligns with your travel goals and financial preferences. With the right travel credit card, you can unlock a world of travel rewards and experiences.