16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them – Credit cards with travel rewards programs are a great method to reduce your trip costs while accumulating worthwhile points or miles that can be used to pay for lodging, transportation, and other travel-related expenses.
It can be difficult to choose the best credit card for you, though, because there are so many options available.
In recent years, travel rewards credit cards have grown in popularity as more customers look for ways to reduce their travel expenses while accumulating important reward points or miles.
These credit cards provide a range of benefits, such as airline miles, hotel points, and cash back, which may be used for travel-related costs like lodging and airfare.
In this post, we’ll examine the top credit cards for travel rewards in more detail and offer some advice on how to make the most of them.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
- United℠ Explorer Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- JetBlue Plus Card
- United Quest℠ Card
- American Express® Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
- Credit One Bank Wander® Card
The Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them
We will examine travel rewards credit cards in more detail in this post, along with the various kinds of benefits they provide.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by Capital One. This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers, such as:
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on all other purchases
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee credit up to $100 every four years
- Annual $300 travel credit
- Up to $100 credit for a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee every four years
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to premium travel benefits and perks
To apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you must have good to excellent credit. The annual fee for the card is $395, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent travelers.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel rewards credit card offered by Chase Bank. This credit card offers a variety of benefits and rewards, such as:
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which offers a 25% bonus when redeeming for travel.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
To apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you typically need good to excellent credit. The card is popular among travelers who want to earn points on their travel and dining purchases and have the flexibility to redeem them for travel rewards.
The card’s annual fee is $95 after the first year, and it offers a range of benefits that can make it worth the cost for frequent travelers.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by Chase Bank. This credit card offers a range of exclusive benefits and rewards, such as:
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3X points on travel (excluding $300 travel credit) and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which offers a 50% bonus when redeeming for travel.
- $300 annual travel credit.
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit.
- Access to exclusive travel and dining experiences through the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Concierge service.
To apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you typically need excellent credit. The card has a high annual fee of $550 but offers a range of benefits and rewards that can more than offset this cost for frequent travelers.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a top choice for those who want premium travel benefits and exclusive experiences.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by United Airlines and JPMorgan Chase. This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers, such as:
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United purchases including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel purchases.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining at restaurants and eligible delivery services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- United Club℠ membership, with access to United Club℠ locations and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges worldwide.
- Premier Access® travel services, including priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding, and baggage handling.
- First and second checked bags free for the cardholder and one companion when flying United.
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee credit up to $100 every four years.
- Luxury hotel and resort collection benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
To apply for the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you typically need excellent credit. The card has a high annual fee of $525, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent United Airlines travelers who value access to airport lounges and Premier Access® travel services.
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by American Express. This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers, especially those who frequently stay at Hilton hotels, such as:
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases at participating Hilton hotels and resorts, 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases.
- Complimentary Diamond status in the Hilton Honors program, which includes room upgrades, executive lounge access, and more.
- One free weekend night reward each year after your Card account anniversary.
- $250 Hilton Resort statement credit each year.
- Up to $250 airline incidental fee statement credit each year.
- Priority Pass Select membership with access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has a high annual fee of $450, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent Hilton hotel guests. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by Chase Bank in partnership with Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers, especially those who frequently stay at Hyatt hotels, such as:
- 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.
- Earn 9X points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member.
- Earn 2X Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships.
- Earn 1X Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- One free night award every year after your cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort.
- Discoverist status in the World of Hyatt program.
- Additional free night award when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee of $95, and the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent Hyatt hotel guests. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by American Express in partnership with Delta Airlines.
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent Delta Airlines travelers, such as:
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club access for the cardholder, plus discounted access for up to two guests.
- Access to the American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta.
- An annual companion certificate that can be used for a round-trip domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin ticket.
- Priority boarding and first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation.
- 20% savings on in-flight purchases on Delta flights.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a high annual fee of $550, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent Delta Airlines travelers who value access to airport lounges and other travel perks. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Card
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Card is a rewards credit card offered by Bilt Rewards, a loyalty program that allows renters to earn points for paying rent.
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to renters who want to earn rewards for their rent payments, such as:
- Earn up to 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 2x points for every $1 spent on rent payments, as well as eligible dining and travel purchases, and 1x points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- Mastercard World Elite benefits, including concierge service, travel protection benefits, and more.
- Automatic upgrade to Bilt Rewards’ Silver status, which includes benefits like waived fees on rent payments, early access to promotions, and more.
- The ability to redeem points for statement credits, travel, merchandise, and more.
- The option to transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Zero liability for fraudulent purchases.
Overall, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Card is a good option for renters who want to earn rewards for their rent payments and who are looking for a credit card with no annual fee. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by Chase Bank in partnership with United Airlines. 16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent United Airlines travelers, such as:
- Earn up to 65,000 bonus miles – 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United Airlines, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation when you purchase your tickets with your United Explorer Card.
- Two United Club one-time passes per year.
- Priority boarding for the primary cardmember and companions traveling on the same reservation.
- 25% back on United inflight purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
The United℠ Explorer Card has a reasonable annual fee of $95, and the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent United Airlines travelers. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by American Express in partnership with Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent Hilton guests, such as:
- Earn up to 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points – 130,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership, plus an additional 20,000 bonus points after you spend a total of $15,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 6X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3X Hilton Honors bonus points for all other eligible purchases.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, and free breakfast.
- Weekend Night Reward at any hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 10 Priority Pass lounge passes per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage insurance, and more.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has an annual fee of $95, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent Hilton guests. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
JetBlue Plus Card
The JetBlue Plus Card is a co-branded travel rewards credit card offered by Barclaycard in partnership with JetBlue Airways. 16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent JetBlue travelers, such as:
- Earn up to 100,000 bonus points – 50,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, and an additional 50,000 bonus points after you spend a total of $6,000 on purchases within the first 12 months of account opening.
- Earn 6 points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to 3 companions on the same reservation when you use your JetBlue Plus Card to purchase JetBlue-operated flights.
- Enjoy 50% savings on eligible in-flight purchases like cocktails, food and movies.
- Enjoy TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases each calendar year with your card.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage insurance, and more.
The JetBlue Plus Card has an annual fee of $99, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent JetBlue travelers. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
United Quest℠ Card
The United Quest℠ Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by Chase Bank in partnership with United Airlines. 16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent United Airlines travelers, such as:
- Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles – 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United Airlines, 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation when you purchase your tickets with your United Quest Card.
- Up to $125 in statement credits annually for United purchases.
- Up to 5,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward MileagePlus Premier status for every $12,000 spent on purchases.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year.
- Priority boarding for the primary cardmember and companions traveling on the same reservation.
- 25% back on United inflight purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and more.
The United Quest℠ Card has an annual fee of $250, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent United Airlines travelers. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a premium rewards credit card offered by American Express. This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers and foodies, such as:
- Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points – earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
- Earn 4x 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, and 1x points on all other purchases.
- Up to $120 in dining credits annually (up to $10 per month) at participating restaurants and food delivery services, including Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and more.
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (up to $10 per month) for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and more.
- Shopping protection benefits, including extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Access to exclusive events and experiences through the American Express® Experiences program.
The American Express® Gold Card has an annual fee of $250, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent travelers and foodies. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by American Express. 16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers and those who value luxury experiences, such as:
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points – earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
- Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.
- Access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection® with over 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries, including the exclusive Centurion® Lounge network.
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits annually for incidental fees charged by the airline of your choice.
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash annually (up to $15 per month, plus a bonus $20 in December) for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.
- Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits annually (up to $50 per 6 months) for eligible purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and more.
- Shopping protection benefits, including extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Access to exclusive events and experiences through the American Express® Experiences program.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent travelers and luxury experience seekers. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium travel rewards credit card offered by U.S. Bank.
This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to frequent travelers and those who value luxury experiences, such as:
- Earn 50,000 bonus points – earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked through the Altitude Rewards Center, and 3x points on eligible travel and mobile wallet purchases, including dining, gas stations, and more.
- Up to $325 in annual travel credits, including up to $325 in statement credits for eligible travel purchases.
- Priority Pass™ Select membership with 12 complimentary lounge visits per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and more.
- Shopping protection benefits, including extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Access to exclusive events and experiences through the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Concierge.
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has an annual fee of $400, but the benefits and rewards can more than offset this cost for frequent travelers and luxury experience seekers. To apply for the card, you typically need good to excellent credit.
Credit One Bank Wander® Card
The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is a travel rewards credit card offered by Credit One Bank. This credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that are designed to appeal to those who enjoy traveling and want to earn rewards on their spending, such as:
- Earn 1.5% cash back rewards on every eligible purchase.
- No annual fee.
- Access to exclusive travel discounts and offers through Visa Signature®.
- Automatic reviews for credit line increases and account reviews for credit score monitoring.
- Fraud protection and zero liability for unauthorized purchases.
- Free online access to your Experian credit score.
- Credit One Bank mobile app for easy account management and bill payment.
The Credit One Bank Wander® Card may be a good option for those who want to earn rewards on their everyday spending without paying an annual fee.
However, it’s important to note that the card does not offer as many benefits and rewards as some other travel rewards credit cards on the market.
Additionally, the card’s terms and conditions, including interest rates and fees, may vary based on your creditworthiness.
Conclusion
16 Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards and How to Maximize Them – Credit cards with travel rewards are a great method to reduce your travel expenses while accumulating worthwhile reward points or miles.
Some of the best travel options are credit cards. Use your card wisely, benefit from all the perks and advantages it provides, and settle your balance in full each month to optimize your rewards. By heeding these recommendations, you can make
Credit cards with travel rewards offer a range of benefits, including airline miles, hotel points, and cash back, which may be redeemed for travel-related costs like lodging and airfare.
You may optimize your benefits and reduce your trip expenses by picking the best travel rewards credit card and utilizing it wisely.
You may maximize the benefits of your travel rewards credit card by using these suggestions and earning worthwhile rewards points or miles.
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