Travel Smarter: Top Picks for Best Rewards Credit Cards

By Hetal Bansal

Traveling is an exciting experience, but it can also be expensive. One way to make your travels more affordable is by using a rewards credit card. These cards offer various benefits, such as earning points or miles for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, and rental cars. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at some of the best rewards credit cards currently available, including their features, benefits, and how they stack up against each other.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a popular choice among travelers due to its simple earning structure and flexible redemption options. Cardholders earn 2x miles on every purchase, with no foreign transaction fees. Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases or transferred to airline and hotel partners.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
• Intro Offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual fee. It's a great option for those who prefer cash-back rewards over travel rewards.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
• Intro Offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for foodies and entertainment enthusiasts, offering 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), plus 1% on all other purchases.
• Intro Offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

United Gateway Card

The United Gateway Card is a co-branded card that offers 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and select streaming services, plus a range of travel benefits like priority boarding and a free first-checked bag.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining, including eligible delivery services, and at gas stations.
• Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Citi Double Cash Card

The Citi Double Cash Card is unique in that it offers 2% cash back on all purchases 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill, making it a solid choice for those looking for a simple cash-back card.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• Intro Offer: No traditional bonus, but the cash-back match at the end of your first year can be considered a welcome bonus.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a favorite among frequent travelers for its generous rewards and flexible redemption options. Cardholders earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards Rate: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, 3X points on select streaming services, 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and 2X points on all other travel purchases.
• Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card offers 4x points on dining, takeout, and food delivery, 2x points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, and gas stations, and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn 4 points per $1 spent on takeout, food delivery, and dining, and earn 2 points per $1 spent on grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, and gas stations.
• Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. That's a $200 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel, and more.

You may also like to read: Maximize Protection: Credit Card Travel Insurance Explained

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a top choice for business travelers, offering 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines, and 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.

• Annual Fee: $95
• Rewards Rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year: travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• Intro Offer: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers cash back rewards on everyday purchases, including 4% cash back on eligible gas worldwide, including gas at Costco, for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter. It also offers 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide, 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

• Annual Fee: $0 (requires Costco membership)
• Rewards Rate: Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on all other purchases.
• Intro Offer: No traditional bonus, but the cash-back rewards can add up quickly, especially if you're a frequent Costco shopper.

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers 5x points on gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months, and 1x points on other purchases. It also offers a unique cell phone protection plan when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card.

• Annual Fee: $0 for the first year; $45 thereafter
• Rewards Rate: Earn 5X points on gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months (on up to $12,500 spent), and 1X points on other purchases.
• Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - a $200 cash redemption value.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card offers unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Points can be redeemed for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
• Intro Offer: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is known for its luxury travel perks, including access to airport lounges worldwide, airline fee credits, and hotel benefits. Cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and 5x points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.

• Annual Fee: $695 (See Rates & Fees)
• Rewards Rate: 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• Intro Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Discover it Miles

The Discover it Miles card offers unlimited 1.5x miles for every dollar spent on all purchases, with no annual fee. Discover matches all the miles you've earned at the end of your first year, making it a great option for those looking for a simple and rewarding travel card.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
• Intro Offer: Discover will match all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. That's $700 towards travel!

Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard Travel Credit Card is a unique card that allows you to earn points on your rent payments, which can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, and more. Cardholders also enjoy travel benefits like rental car insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

• Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $125 thereafter
• Rewards Rate: Earn up to 2x Bilt Rewards points per dollar spent on rent and up to 3x points per dollar spent on travel and select lifestyle purchases.
• Intro Offer: Earn 50,000 Bilt Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right rewards credit card can significantly enhance your travel experience while saving you money. Consider your spending habits, travel goals, and the features offered by each card before making your decision. With the right card in hand, you can travel smarter and make the most of your adventures.