Best Travel Credit Cards for February 2023

Travel credit cards can help you finance a trip, earn rewards toward your next trip or upgrade your flight. There’s a wide variety of features available for all sorts of travelers and budgets. Travel credit cards can cost hundreds of dollars — or have no annual fee — so it’s important to make sure you’re able to benefit from the perks offered. Perks may include features like annual travel credits, welcome bonuses, flight upgrades, airport lounge access and more. They all have no foreign transaction fees, so using them abroad will not cost you extra.

Read more: Best American Airlines Credit Cards

Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

APR21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent

Reward Rates

• Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Annual Fee$550

Balance Transfer APR21.24% – 28.24% Variable

Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater

Foreign Transaction Fees $0

Penalty APR Up to 29.99%

• Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
• Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Our Take

The Chase Sapphire Reserve may look expensive at first glance, but the credits and rewards can easily compensate for the cost for frequent travelers. Not only will you earn great travel rewards, but you’ll receive perks that save you time and energy during your journey. You’ll get a statement credit reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (worth $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck, both valid for five years), which can save you the hassle of long security lines at the airport.

You’ll automatically be reimbursed for up to $300 of travel expenses per year via the annual travel credit, plus you’ll get airport lounge access through Priority Pass Select and a number of other VIP-style travel perks. 

For more details, see our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Best travel card with no annual fee

Intro Offer25,000 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.

APR18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases

Recommended Credit Excellent/Good

Reward Rates

• 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.

Annual Fee$0

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.

Balance Transfer APR18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Balance Transfer Fee 3% of the amount of each transaction

Late Payment Fee See terms

Foreign Transaction Fees None

Penalty APR up to 29.99% APR

• 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.

Our Take

This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

For travel cards with no annual fee, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers one of the best flat rewards rate at 1.5 points per $1 spent on purchases. If you use the card to book your flights, hotels or other accommodations when you first get it, you’ll likely be able to earn the welcome bonus — and then later spend it on your charges as a statement credit. The introductory APR on purchases can offer some security as an emergency card while you’re traveling, as well. If the unexpected happens and you need a last-minute flight back, you’ll have time to pay it off.

For more details, see our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

A well-rounded rewards program

Intro OfferEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

APR20.49% – 28.49% (Variable)

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent, Good

Reward Rates

• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Annual Fee$95

Balance Transfer APR20.49% – 28.49% (Variable)

Balance Transfer Fee Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Late Payment Fee Up to $41

Foreign Transaction Fees 0%

Penalty APR Up to 29.99% (Variable)

• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Our Take

The Citi Premier® Card is Citi’s competitor to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Though the Sapphire Preferred may offer higher rewards rates on certain travel, the Citi Premier Card is less restrictive in the purchases that earn you points — and 3x points is a respectable rate to offer for so many categories. The 60,000 point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months is fairly competitive, too: If you earn it, it’s redeemable for $600 in gift cards, a statement credit or travel rewards at Thankyou.com.

There is a travel credit — $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit toward a single hotel stay of $500 or more when booked through Thankyou.com, excluding taxes and fees — but it’s more restrictive than that of some of its competitors. 

For more information, check out our full review of the Citi Premier Card.

Best flat rate on all purchases

Intro OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

APR20.24% – 28.24% (Variable)

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent, Good

Reward Rates

• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.

Annual Fee$95

Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A

Balance Transfer APR20.24% – 28.24% (Variable)

Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR

Late Payment Fee Up to $40

Foreign Transaction Fees None

Penalty APR None

• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.

Our Take

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* is a straightforward, easy-to-use option for those who want to book travel with travel reward miles generated from general spending, instead of worrying about eligible purchase spending categories. Besides the rewards and welcome bonus, The Capital One Venture also gives cardholders up to a $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, as well as travel accident insurance and auto rental collision insurance (terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details).

Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Intro OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

APRSee Pay Over Time APR

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent/Good

Reward Rates

• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

Annual Fee$250

Balance Transfer Fee N/A

Late Payment Fee Up to $40

Foreign Transaction Fees None

Penalty APR See Rates & Fees

• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

Our Take

The American Express Gold Card is good for travelers with a proclivity for eating out or cooking from where they’re staying, as it offers high rewards at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. It does have a high $250 annual fee, so you’ll want to be sure it fits into your budget before you apply.

Along with its strong rewards, it features no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and a number of annual credits to take advantage of, including up to a $120 dining credit (up to $10 in statement credits each month) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. How much your points are worth will vary, however, and you’ll want to be sure you’re redeeming for airfare through American Express Travel to get the most from them. 

You can find out more in our Amex Gold Card review.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Earn 2x miles for every purchase

Intro OfferEarn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

APR25.24% (Variable)

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent, Good

Reward Rates

• Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.

Annual Fee$0 intro for first year; $95 after that

Intro Balance Transfer APRN/A

Balance Transfer APR25.24% (Variable)

Balance Transfer Fee $0 at this Transfer APR

Late Payment Fee Up to $39

Foreign Transaction Fees None

Penalty APR 33.65% (Variable)

• Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.

Our Take

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business* offers a simple way to earn miles and turn them into trips.

It’s especially useful thanks to its application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Anyone who has spent time in airports knows what a pain TSA can be, but with this card you could skip right through it.

Intro OfferEarn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days from your account opening and redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel.

APR28.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Fair/Good

Reward Rates

• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases

Annual Fee$95

Late Payment Fee Up to $39 (terms apply)

Foreign Transaction Fees N/A

• Earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• Earn 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas
• Earn 1x points on all other purchases

Our Take

The Credit One Bank Wander Card could be a rewarding choice, but its rewards are more restrictive than most travel cards.

You’ll earn a high 10x points per dollar on eligible hotel rentals and car rentals but only with a designated travel provider that may change from time to time. It does offer 5x points per dollar for eligible travel including airfare, hotels, and car rentals outside of the designated travel provider. It has an annual fee of $95, but doesn’t offer too much in the way of travel protections.

Intro OfferEarn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

APR20.24%-29.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent/Good

Reward Rates

• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Annual Fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Balance Transfer Fee N/A

Late Payment Fee Up to $40

Foreign Transaction Fees None

Penalty APR 29.99% Variable

• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Our Take

For travelers who fly Delta frequently enough, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers a way to put some money back in your pocket while gaining a few travel protections.

It includes an annual $100 Delta credit each calendar year you spend $10,000 or more on the card. It’s a high spend requirement with a small payout, but a little back is better than none at all. You’ll also get your first checked bag free of charge and 20% back on eligible in-flight Delta purchases, plus it’s one of the few airline cards that offers good rewards for non-airline purchases.

You can learn more in our Delta SkyMiles Gold card review.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

A good flat-rate travel card

Intro OfferUnlimited Bonus: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

APR16.24% – 27.24% Variable APR

Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 15 months

Recommended Credit Excellent/Good

Reward Rates

• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.

Annual Fee$0

Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR for 15 months

Balance Transfer APR16.24% – 27.24% Variable APR

Balance Transfer Fee 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Late Payment Fee None the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41.

Foreign Transaction Fees None

• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.

Our Take

The Discover it® Miles* has a simple yet lucrative rewards program that offers miles for everything you buy. It also has one of the best welcome bonuses around: Discover will essentially double the rewards you earn for your first year with the card at the end of your first year.

It doesn’t offer many additional travel perks, but you won’t have to pay any foreign transaction fees if you use this card abroad. You could get used to how a travel card operates before moving on to a more advanced card offering that includes more bells and whistles.

For traveling business people

Intro OfferEarn 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®

APR20.24% – 25.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Good, Excellent

Reward Rates

• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
• Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn

Annual Fee$95

Balance Transfer APR20.24% – 25.24% Variable

Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fees $0

Penalty APR Up to 29.99%

• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
• Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn

Our Take

The Ink Business Preferred is best if you travel relatively often on business. It has better redemption options than most cards, a high welcome bonus and a selection of travel protections.

Not only does it feature a 1:1 transfer rate to Chase’s travel partners (1 point equals 1 partner point/mile) but you can also get a 25% redemption bonus for redeeming for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Its welcome bonus is higher than most cards at this fee level, and it provides cardholders with primary auto rental collision damage waiver.

Find out more in our Ink Business Preferred review.

Intro OfferEarn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your 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

APR20.24% – 27.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APRN/A

Recommended Credit Excellent/Good

Reward Rates

• Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships

Annual Fee$95

Balance Transfer APR20.24% – 27.24% Variable

Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fees $0

Penalty APR Up to 29.99%

• Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships

Our Take

The World of Hyatt card offers extra amenities and rewards at World of Hyatt properties. It features a welcome bonus plus an annual free night award after your cardmember anniversary.

It charges a $95 annual fee, but it could be worth it if you stay at World of Hyatt properties often enough. Hyatt properties dot the US but don’t have many international locations. Along with its hotel rewards, it provides World of Hyatt Discoverist status which gives cardholders expedited check-in and late check-out, as well as preferred room upgrades when available.

What are the benefits of travel rewards credit cards?

Travel rewards cards are designed for a few purposes. They can help you earn points or miles to be redeemed for travel expenses, insure trips from unexpected mishaps or upgrade your accommodations. Annual fees for travel cards can range from $0 to hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to understand what you’ll get before signing up.

Common travel card benefits include:

Boosted travel rewards: Many travel credit cards offer elevated rewards rates for travel purchases, such as flights and hotels.

Travel booking portals: Several major credit card issuers have their own travel portals for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and more. Sometimes, these portals offer better deals if you book using your points or miles.

Trip insurance: Many travel credit cards offer some combination of baggage insurance, trip delay, trip cancellation, trip interruption or car rental collision insurance. You’ll have to check the fine print of each specific card for the details.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Some credit cards will offer a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. These programs help you get through security lines at the airport faster and may benefit frequent flyers.

Lounge access: A perk common among premium travel cards, some credit cards offer access to airport lounges. There, you can wait for your flight in comfort with refreshments, lounges and work areas.

Annual travel credits: Many travel cards offer some sort of annual travel credit, whether for hotels, flights or general travel purchases. These credits can range from $50 into the hundreds of dollars, but they typically only come with travel cards that have an annual fee.

Consider the combination of these travel perks along with rewards rates in a credit card offer, and compare it to your own travel habits before choosing a travel credit card.

How to choose a travel rewards card

There are a number of different card features you’ll need to consider when deciding which travel card is right for you, including the fees, rewards, redemption methods and additional card perks.

Foreign transaction fees: If you plan to travel out of the US, you’ll want to be sure the card you’re eyeing doesn’t require foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards tack these fees on while you’re abroad, and they add up at an average 3% of your transaction.Most travel credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees.

Annual fees: You’ll want to make sure that the card’s rewards and benefits provide enough value through your normal spending to cover its annual fee. That means your spending generates enough rewards to cover the fee and you travel enough to use all of the card benefits. A travel card without an annual fee is better for travelers who don’t travel too often throughout the year, but it likely won’t provide overly impressive card perks like annual statement credits.

Rewards: A travel credit card’s rewards are one of the most important things to consider. You’ll want to make sure they match your spending while you travel, and are worth something when it’s time to redeem. Choose a card that bolsters how you spend every day without having to change your spending habits to fit the card. 

Rewards redemption: Some credit cards offer redemption bonuses for certain types of redemption, while others offer point transfers to hotel or airline partners that could provide a higher per-point value than standard forms of redemption. Generally, you’ll have a better chance to maximize your rewards if you have more options available.

Travel perks: And lastly, consider the card’s additional perks. Does it offer annual statement credits or airport amenities like airport lounge access or an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck? Many premium travel cards will offer ways to offset their annual fees through their benefits, but you’ll need to make sure you can make full use of them to do so.

What are travel points and miles worth?

The value of points and miles will vary depending on the card and how you redeem them. Travel credit cards usually have two main forms of redemption, using rewards for past travel expenses and transferring them to hotel and airline partners.

Point transfers could provide a higher per-point value than standard forms of redemption, but again it depends on what card you’re using and which brands you’re transferring them to. Generally, travel cards encourage you to redeem for travel, which could mean booking airfare, hotels or rental cars.

When redeeming for airfare or hotels, factors including how many people are traveling and booking at that time will also impact the value of your points or miles. But generally speaking, points and miles will always be worth the most when used for travel as opposed to statement credits or other forms of redemption.

How to maximize your travel card

To maximize your cards’ value, use it strategically for purchases that provide the most rewards, and then redeem those rewards in the most lucrative way. That’ll likely be for travel through your card’s respective travel portal or for point transfers to its travel partners.

Make sure you take advantage of any annual statement credits that may apply to you. Take advantage of airport amenities like airport lounges, priority boarding, or having checked bag fees waived.

Should you get a travel rewards card?

If you travel a few times a year, then yes. Travel credit cards are great tools for making your trips less stressful and in some cases, less expensive. Which travel card you should get depends on how often you’re on the road.

How to apply

Follow these steps to apply for a travel rewards card:

1. Find the card that best fits your travel habits.
2. Follow the links above to a secure application on the credit card issuer’s website.
3. Fill out all the required financial and personal information.
4. Use your card responsibly and pay on time.

Make sure to redeem your travel rewards in the way that provides the greatest value, and to use its perks whenever possible.

FAQs

Our methodology

CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card. 

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, click here

*All information about the Capital One Spark Miles for Business, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Discover it Miles has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.