There is no single best travel credit card. That statement used to frustrate me, but I have come to think it is actually the right answer. Travel spending is not one category. It is a collection of very different needs: getting through the airport quickly, sitting somewhere decent before your flight, paying for things abroad without getting penalized, buying airline tickets efficiently, earning on hotel stays, and building a points currency that does not lock you into one program. The cards that are best for each of these things are not the same cards.
What follows is my best pick for each of those use cases, along with the context you need to understand why. I have also included a section on how to think through the right card for your situation and answers to the questions I get asked most often.
Compare travel credit cards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn over $1,000 in travel bonuses
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check Credit
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $300 to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that's more than $1,000 in travel value
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $300 to use on hotel and vacation rental bookings through Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s more than $1,000 in travel value
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Earn 100,000 bonus points
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on Dining
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 75,000 bonus points
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel purchases
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining
- 3x on vacation homes
- 3x on gas & EV charging
- 3x on top streaming services
- 3x on online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
- Earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more-you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3x Points on Airfare
- Earn 3x Points on Hotels
- Earn 3x Points at Restaurants
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card
Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- Earn a Companion Award
- Free Checked Bag Benefit
Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points.
- Get 70,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Each account anniversary, get a 25,000-point Global Companion Award for a travel companion on the same itinerary, when booking travel using your Atmos™ Rewards points.
- Additionally, receive a 100,000-point Global Companion Award annually after spending $60,000 or more on purchases each anniversary year.
- Receive 8 Alaska Lounge passes and 8 Wi-Fi passes every year (2 of each per calendar quarter).
- Earn unlimited 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases and unlimited 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Get 10,000 status points every year on your account anniversary and earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases.
- Save up to $90 per person round-trip with a free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to six guests on the same reservation when you pay for your flight with your card.
- Receive an airport security statement credit up to $120 every four years in connection with the TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry trusted traveler programs.
- Receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flight cancellations or departure delays of 2 hours+.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a competitive $395 annual fee.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Limited-time online offer – 70,000 bonus points.
Get 70,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles
- Earn unlimited 1.25x miles per dollar on every purchase
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- No Annual Fee
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Bilt Palladium Card
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status offer
- 2X points on everyday purchases
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit
Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, and 2X points on everyday spend.
Learn more from these OMAAT posts:
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.
Citi Strata℠ Card
Earn 20,000 bonus Points after qualifying purchases
- Earn 2x Points at Restaurants
- Intro APR On Purchases & Balance Transfers
- No Annual Fee
Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Travel credit cards overview
Before getting into the full lineup, here’s the quick comparison:
| Card | Best for | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Points program | Standout perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best travel credit cards | |||||
| American Express Platinum Card® | Lounge access, and booking airfare | (Rates & Fees) | 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x Roughly an 8.5% return at 1.7 cents per point | Membership Rewards | Centurion Lounge network, Priority Pass™ with unlimited visits and up to two guests (no restaurant access), Delta Sky Club when flying Delta up to 10 visit-days per year, Escape Lounges and select Lufthansa lounges(Enrollment required) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Fastpassing airport security, and runner-up for booking airfare | $795 | 8x through Chase Travel℠; 4x on direct flight bookings Roughly 13.6% and 6.8% at 1.7 cents per point | Ultimate Rewards | Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years; Priority Pass; Chase Sapphire Lounges; $300 annual travel credit; primary rental car coverage; trip delay insurance |
| Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card | International spending | $395 | 3x on all foreign purchases, meaning any purchase made in a foreign currency or processed outside the United States Roughly a 4.5% return at 1.5 cents per point | Atmos Rewards | No foreign transaction fees, and the 3x applies across every spending category abroad rather than select ones |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Mid-range travel card, and Ultimate Rewards earning | $95 | 5x on Chase Travel℠ portal bookings; 3x on dining, streaming, gas and EV charging, select vacation rentals, and online groceries; 2x on all other travel; 1x on other eligible purchases Roughly 5.1% on dining and 3.4% on travel at 1.7 cents per point | Ultimate Rewards | No foreign transaction fees, primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and transfers to World of Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus |
| Citi Strata℠ Card | No annual fee travel card | $0 | 5x on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel; 3x at supermarkets, on select transit, on gas and EV charging, and on one self-select category; 2x at restaurants; 1x everything else | ThankYou Points | Self-select category you can change once per calendar quarter; no annual fee for the primary cardmember or authorized usersCharges a 3% foreign transaction fee |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Runner-up, no annual fee travel card | $0 | A flat 1.25x on all purchases Roughly a 2.125% return at 1.7 cents per mile | Capital One Miles | No foreign transaction fees, and miles redeem for one cent each toward a travel purchase or transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners |
| Best flexible points cards per program | |||||
| American Express® Gold Card | Membership Rewards earning | (Rates & Fees) | 4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x; 4x at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per year, then 1x; 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel Roughly a 6.8% return on dining and groceries at 1.7 cents per point | Membership Rewards | Transfers to many partners at 1:1, with exclusive access to ANA Mileage Club and Delta SkyMiles |
| Citi Strata Premier® Card | ThankYou Points earning | $95 | 3x on dining, groceries, gas stations, airfare, and hotels Five 3x categories on a single $95 card | ThankYou Points | Unlocks full 1:1 transfer access as a premium hub card, and is the only major flexible program that transfers directly to American AAdvantage |
| Bilt Palladium Card | Bilt Rewards earning, and housing payments | $495 (Rates & Fees) | 2x on all eligible purchases with no category restrictions, plus the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash Roughly a 3.4% return at 1.7 cents per point, before Bilt Cash | Bilt Rewards | Transfers to over 20 airline and hotel partners at 1:1, including Alaska Mileage Plan and World of Hyatt, and earns on rent and mortgage payments |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Miles earnings | $395 | 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel; a minimum of 2x on all other eligible purchases | Capital One Miles | $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, Priority Pass™ membership, Capital One Lounge and Capital One Landing access, Plaza Premium Lounge access, Hertz President’s Circle status, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years |
Best travel credit cards
Best for lounge access: American Express Platinum Card®
The Amex Platinum is my top pick for lounge access. The card includes Priority Pass™ membership with unlimited visits and up to two complimentary guests per visit. Restaurant access is not included. But Priority Pass is not the primary lounge benefit of the Platinum; that distinction belongs to the Amex Centurion Lounge network, which is widely considered the best proprietary lounge program in the US. The card also includes Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta, up to 10 visit-days per year, and access to Escape Lounges and select Lufthansa lounges. (Enrollment required)
Link: Learn more about American Express Platinum Card®
Best for fastpassing airport security: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top pick for getting through airport security faster. It reimburses the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS once every four years. The credit is worth up to $120 and posts within one to two billing cycles of the eligible charge.
The reason Chase edges out the competition here is NEXUS. Chase is the only major card issuer that reimburses NEXUS in addition to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. NEXUS costs the same $120 as Global Entry but includes Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and expedited immigration in Canada. Getting three programs for the price of one, all covered by a credit you already have, is the kind of thing that sounds small until you use it.
Beyond the security credit, the Sapphire Reserve comes with a Priority Pass lounge membership, access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, a $300 annual travel credit, and 4x Ultimate Rewards points on direct flight bookings.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Best for international spending: Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite is the strongest single card for no foreign transaction fees available right now. It earns 3x Atmos Rewards points on all foreign purchases, defined broadly as any purchase made in a foreign currency or processed outside the United States. That blanket 3x applies across every spending category when you are abroad, not just dining or travel. At my valuation of 1.5 cents per Atmos Rewards point, that is a 4.5% return on everything you spend internationally.
No other card does this. Every other strong option for international spending requires you to match your spending to specific categories. The Summit earns 3x on all of it, which simplifies the math considerably.
Link: Learn more about the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
Best for booking airfare: American Express Platinum Card®
The Amex Platinum earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 in flight purchases per calendar year (then 1x). At my valuation of 1.7 cents per Membership Rewards point, that is an approximately 8.5% return on airfare. No other personal card comes close to that rate on flight purchases.
Link: Learn more about American Express Platinum Card®
Runner-up for booking airfare: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Sapphire Reserve earns 4x Ultimate Rewards points on direct flight bookings, which I value at a 6.8% return. Book through Chase Travel℠ and that jumps to 8x, or approximately 13.6%. The $300 annual travel credit reduces the effective annual fee to $495, Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounge access are included, and the card carries strong travel protections, including primary rental car coverage and trip delay insurance.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Best mid-range travel card option: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best $95 card for international spending. It earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining globally and 2x on travel globally, with no foreign transaction fees. I value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.7 cents each, which makes the 3x dining return approximately 5.1% and the 2x travel return approximately 3.4%. For most travelers, those two categories cover the majority of what they spend abroad.
The card also carries excellent travel protections for a $95 annual fee: primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. And the Ultimate Rewards transfer partner roster, which includes World of Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus, and others, gives you genuinely strong redemption options.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best no annual fee travel credit card: Citi Strata℠ Card
The Citi Strata Card is a no annual fee card that punches well above its weight. There’s no annual fee for the primary cardmember or authorized users, so you can hold it long-term at zero cost, which is great for keeping your credit score healthy. Holding a card long-term adds to your average age of accounts and total available credit.
The reason the Strata Card edges out the competition here is the bonus categories, which you won’t find on many other free cards. You’ll earn 3x ThankYou points at supermarkets, on select transit, and on gas and EV charging, plus 2x at restaurants and 5x on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. One of the more unique features is the 3x self-select category, where you pick from fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, pet supply stores, or cosmetic stores, barber shops, and hair salons. You can change your selection once per calendar quarter, which lets you tailor the card to your actual spending habits.
Beyond the earning structure, the card has a welcome bonus of 20,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,000 within the first three months, worth $200 as cash back or closer to $340 if you transfer them. One thing to note: the card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so I wouldn’t use it for purchases in foreign currencies.
Link: Learn more about the no annual fee Citi Strata℠ Card
Runner-up: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a popular no annual fee travel rewards credit card, and it has no foreign transaction fees either. For those who like to avoid paying fees, this really sets the card apart. There aren’t many solid travel rewards credit cards out there that have no foreign transaction fees, so this is a great option abroad.
The rewards structure is straightforward: a flat 1.25x Capital One miles on all purchases. Those miles can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including for one cent each toward the cost of a travel purchase, or transferred at a 1:1 ratio to a variety of airline and hotel partners. Personally I value Capital One miles at 1.7 cents each, so by my math the card offers a ~2.125% return on spending. It’s rare to have a no annual fee card that has no foreign transaction fees and earns more than one transferable mile per dollar spent.
The welcome bonus is 20,000 Capital One miles after spending $500 within the first three months, which is an excellent bonus for a no annual fee card. If you’re absolutely committed to not paying an annual fee and want a “one size fits all” travel rewards card, this is worth considering. That said, there’s a case to be made for the $95 annual fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (learn more) instead.
Link: Learn more about the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Best flexible points cards
Flexible points are the most powerful tool in credit card rewards. Unlike airline miles or hotel points, they transfer at 1:1 to multiple loyalty programs, which means you are not locked into one carrier or chain. You earn points on everyday spending and then route them to whichever partner offers the best value for the trip you actually want to take.
There are five major transferable points programs in the US: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards. Each has a distinct identity, and for each one, here is the card I would recommend.
Best for Membership Rewards: American Express® Gold Card
The Amex Gold is one of the most well-rounded Amex cards. It earns 4x Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) and 4x at restaurants worldwide
(up to $50,000 per year, then 1x), plus 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. At my valuation of 1.7 cents per Amex point, the 4x on dining and groceries represents a 6.8% return, the highest of any card for those two categories combined.
Membership Rewards transfers to many partners at 1:1, with exclusive access to ANA Mileage Club and Delta SkyMiles. The key insight for Amex strategy is to treat it primarily as an airline-transfer program. Hotel transfer partners like Hilton and Marriott deliver poor value relative to airline partners, with limited exceptions for specific top-ups.
Link: Learn more about the American Express® Gold Card
Best for Ultimate Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best $95 travel card on the market, and its a great choice if you’re considering a Chase card as a beginner. It earns 5x on Chase Travel℠ portal bookings, 3x on dining, streaming, gas & EV charging, select vacation rentals (including Airbnb, VRBO, and more), and online groceries, 2x on all other travel, and 1x on other eligible purchases.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to partners, with the most valuable hotel partner in any program: World of Hyatt. Hyatt only has two transfer partners, making Chase Ultimate Rewards a primary currency for anyone who wants to earn points redeemable at Hyatt properties.
Link: Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for ThankYou Points: Citi Strata Premier® Card
The Citi Strata Premier earns 3x ThankYou Points on dining, groceries, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Five categories at 3x on a single $95 annual fee card is simply unmatched at this price point, making it one of the best general-use Citi cards. For someone who does not want to manage multiple cards but wants strong flexible points earning across their most common spending, this is the most efficient single-card solution in any program.
Citi ThankYou transfers to partners at 1:1, with one caveat: you must hold a premium hub card like the Strata Premier to unlock full transfer access. The exclusive partnership with American AAdvantage is what makes Citi uniquely valuable. It is the only major flexible program that transfers directly to AAdvantage, making it the default choice for anyone who wants to build AA miles through everyday spending.
Link: Learn more about the Citi Strata Premier® Card
Best for Capital One Miles: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X offers a minimum of 2x Capital One miles on all purchases, which I value at a 3.4% return on spending. That makes this one of the best cards for everyday spending, and while some other cards may have lucrative bonus categories, you can’t beat the ease and general value of earning 2x miles on all purchases. Book through Capital One Travel and you’ll earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights, all with no foreign transaction fees.
Capital One has nearly 20 travel partners, ranging from Air Canada Aeroplan, to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, to British Airways Executive Club, to Emirates Skywards, to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and miles typically transfer at a 1:1 ratio. If you put some effort into learning how to redeem miles and points, you can get way outsized value this way. A one-way Air France business class award across the Atlantic starts at just 50,000 miles. Alternatively, miles can be redeemed for one cent each toward the cost of a travel purchase.
The card has a $395 annual fee, but between the $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, you’re coming out ahead without even using the card for everyday spending. On top of that, it offers a Priority Pass™ membership, Capital One Lounge access, Capital One Landing access, Hertz President’s Circle status, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years.
Link: Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best Bilt Rewards Card: Bilt Palladium Card
Bilt Rewards is the only program that meaningfully solves the housing payment problem for points collectors. If you pay rent or a mortgage, those payments have historically been dead money from a rewards perspective. Bilt changes that.
The Bilt Palladium Card is my favorite Bilt card, and earns 2x Bilt Rewards points on all eligible purchases with no category restrictions, plus the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash (Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year) on all spending. Bilt points transfer to over 20 airline and hotel partners at 1:1, including Alaska Mileage Plan and World of Hyatt, both of which are unique to Bilt among transferable programs outside of Hyatt with Chase. At my valuation of 1.7 cents per point, the 2x earn rate represents a 3.4% return on every dollar spent before factoring in Bilt Cash.
Link: Apply for a Bilt credit card (Rates & Fees)
How to choose the right travel card
The single most important question is not which card has the highest earn rate or the longest list of perks. It is which benefits you will actually use. Premium travel cards often look similar on paper but deliver very different value depending on your travel patterns.
Start with your travel profile
How often do you fly? If you fly domestically more than a few times a year, TSA PreCheck is essentially mandatory, and a card that reimburses Global Entry or NEXUS gets you there for free. If you fly internationally, Global Entry is worth even more.
Do you concentrate your flying on one airline? If you fly Delta primarily, a Delta co-branded card makes sense for the lounge access, bag benefits, and status shortcuts. If you split your flying across carriers, a transferable points card gives you flexibility that a co-branded card cannot.
How loyal are you to a hotel brand? Hotel co-branded cards are most valuable when you stay at that brand consistently. If you book Hyatt a dozen times a year, the Hyatt card pays for itself many times over. If you spread your stays across brands, a general travel card that earns well on hotel spending and transfers to multiple programs is probably the better tool.
Do you travel internationally with frequency? If so, a card with no foreign transaction fees and a strong international bonus category is essential. The Atmos Rewards Summit earns 3x on all foreign purchases. The Citi Strata Premier earns 3x on groceries and gas globally, which is unusual.
Think about the annual fee honestly
Every premium travel card can be justified mathematically when all credits and benefits are used. The honest question is whether you will actually use them. A $300 travel credit that you have to route through a specific portal to earn is less valuable than a $300 credit you would spend anyway. Dining credits that require enrollment at specific restaurants are worth less than dining credits redeemable anywhere.
The cards with the clearest math on annual fees tend to be hotel cards with free night certificates: you can easily compare the certificate’s value against the annual fee. Airline cards require more nuance, since their value is spread across multiple smaller benefits. Flexible points cards require honest assessment of which credits you will use.
Do not overthink the points currency
All five major transferable points programs deliver good outcomes for someone who engages with them. Chase is the most defensible starting point for most people: the Sapphire Preferred at $95 has the best combination of welcome bonus, earn rates, travel protections, and transfer partner quality of any entry-level hub card. From there, adding the Amex Gold for dining and grocery earning, or the Citi Strata Premier for AAdvantage access, makes sense as spending grows and travel patterns clarify.
The worst outcome is paralysis. Earning 60,000 to 100,000 transferable points per year from a well-chosen card or two and then routing those points to the right partner for the trip you actually want is a straightforward strategy that will consistently outperform cash back, airline miles locked to one carrier, or hotel points tied to one chain.
Travel credit card FAQs
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees).
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