Planning a trip this year? The right travel credit card can mean the difference between paying full price for flights and hotels — and getting them for free. We spent weeks comparing sign-up bonuses, earning rates, annual fees, and real-world redemption value to bring you this list.
What Makes a Great Travel Card?
Not all travel cards are created equal. We evaluated each card on four criteria:
- Sign-up bonus value — how much is it actually worth in flights or hotels?
- Ongoing earning rate — how fast do points accumulate on everyday spending?
- Annual fee vs. benefits — does the math work in your favor?
- Flexibility — can you transfer points to airlines and hotels you actually use?
Our Top Picks
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® — Best Overall
The Sapphire Preferred has held the top spot for years, and for good reason. The sign-up bonus alone is worth over $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel. You'll earn 2x points on all travel and dining and 1x on everything else.
The $95 annual fee is offset by a $50 annual hotel credit and a 10% anniversary points bonus. If you're just getting into travel rewards, start here.
Best for: First travel card, flexible redemptions, dining rewards2. Capital One Venture X — Best Premium Card
If you're ready to step up to a premium card, the Venture X delivers exceptional value. The $395 annual fee sounds steep until you realize the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles effectively bring the real cost to around $95.
You also get Priority Pass lounge access, which alone is worth $400+ per year if you travel frequently.
Best for: Frequent travelers, airport lounge access, simple flat-rate earning3. American Express Gold Card — Best for Dining & Groceries
Most travel cards reward travel spending. The Amex Gold rewards the spending that actually makes up most people's budgets — food. You'll earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year).
The $250 annual fee is offset by up to $240 in annual dining credits and $120 in Uber Cash.
Best for: Foodies, grocery spenders, Amex Membership Rewards collectorsThe Bottom Line
The best travel card depends on how you spend. If most of your budget goes toward dining and groceries, the Amex Gold wins. If you want simplicity with premium perks, look at the Venture X. For a first travel card with flexibility, the Sapphire Preferred is hard to beat.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you apply and are approved through our link, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations — we only feature cards we genuinely think are worth your consideration.