Why it’s worth it: For a low annual fee, American Airlines customers can enjoy elite-like benefits without breaking the bank or needing to hit an elite status tier. Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Exact redemption options depend on the credit card and its type of travel rewards. Maybe it's a credit card with airport lounge perks, or the one that gets you lots of bonuses on your hotel stays. That makes it easy to rack up rewards without having to juggle different bonus categories or spending caps. Annual fee: $99 (waived for the first year). Fixed rate. Rewards rate: Earn 5x on Lyft through March 2022, 2x on a generous definition of dining and travel purchases, 2x on groceries (on up to $1,000 in spend per month) from Nov. 1, 2020, through April 2021. Get away from it all sooner, and more often, with Citi ® travel rewards credit cards. Travel rewards cards are a good idea if you normally travel at least two or three times per year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). 4.5 stars. Travel benefits: You’ll earn 15 elite-night credits every year, good enough for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and just 10 nights away from Gold. These partners may include airlines, hotels, and/or other travel providers. By far the aspect of business credit cards that makes the financing option stand out more than loans or traditional lines of credit is the rewards potential. Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase. The same goes for elite status with an airline — you’ll get lounge access, upgrades, increased baggage allowance etc. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here. Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is temporarily unavailable on The Ascent. In this guide, you'll gain a better understanding of how travel cards work and how you can find the best travel credit card for you. Balance Transfers: 10.99%, 14 months, Mile-for-Mile match of all Miles earned the first year. Team Clark has analyzed the travel credit card market to help you pick the best choice for you whether you’re trying to claim rewards for your travel or spend to earn free travel, Though money expert Clark Howard is an avid traveler who carries a travel credit card in his wallet , he doesn’t think travel cards are the best fit for most people. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi * Up to 4% Reward Rate. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Rewards programs are important, but so are the travel cards themselves. You’ll be entitled to room upgrades, resort credits, early check-in, late check out and more. It all comes down to choosing a card that will help you maximize your spending. With the anticipated update to Aeroplan from Air Canada this summer we are seeing card issuers up their game with better limited time sign up offers to acquire customers and trying to hold their own against whatever Air Canada may reveal. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. That's why fixed-rate redemptions are a nice backup plan. Secure Website. Travel benefits: In addition to the aforementioned travel benefits, cardholders get a combined up to $120 in food delivery credits with DoorDash between 2020 and 2021. Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months, 20,000 points after spending $1,000 within 3 months. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase. If you only travel a few times a year, a super-premium card like the Amex Platinum probably isn’t worth it. The card doesn’t do too bad in the travel sector, either, with 3x on flights booked direct or via amextravel.com. You need good credit, meaning a FICO® Score of 670 or higher, for most travel credit cards. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point on all other purchases. With certain travel credit cards, you can also get perks to use while traveling — everything from airport lounge access and hotel elite status to free airline companion certificates and discounts or credits on your travel purchases. Upgrade your travel experience with Citi's travel rewards programs, and enjoy a variety of perks, such as bonus air miles, hotel room benefits and more. Both those credit card companies have partnered with one or more major domestic airlines, whereas Citi's only domestic airline partner is JetBlue. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Plus, that $300 annual credit has been expanded through June 2021, with any balances being automatically applied to purchases at grocery stores and gas stations through the end of 2020. Secure Website. I love to travel. Why it’s worth it: You’re getting a lot of bang for your buck with this card. Compare travel benefits and begin earning travel rewards with one of Citi's travel credit cards. Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual travel credits and up to $100 once every four years for either a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Every point or mile from an airline, hotel or bank is worth a different amount, so you can’t assume that a 50,000-point bonus on one card is equivalent to a 50,000-point bonus on another. A travel-focused card with greater flexibility in booking and redemption would be best, and one of our favorites is the Gold Amex Rewards card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuers. You’re also getting an up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit once every four years. New Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards ® Points + 10x Points at U.S. Gas Stations & U.S. Supermarkets. Without further ado, here are my top picks: Here are some comparisons of the best travel credit card offers and bonuses available right now. Further reading: Chase Sapphire Preferred Review, Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Read Full Review. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. You could earn up to 23.5x on eligible hotel stays, depending on what level of status you have. While a few other cards temporarily offer higher return rates on dining, this is the best option for long-term spending. Read Full Review. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Best credit card for premium travel rewards. Secure Website. Why it made our Best Of list: If you’re looking for a travel rewards card with no annual fee, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus should be high up on your list. $0 intro for the first year, then $95. See, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, several airline and hotel transfer partners, fixed-value redemption options for this card, The Points Guy — Brian Kelly — can’t live without, valuable, transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, $120 in food delivery credits with DoorDash, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, 5 reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card, How ExpertFlyer helped me score a first-class experience of a lifetime, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card review, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, relaunched all seven of their cobranded cards, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, Alaska Airlines miles are among the most valuable, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are renewing (and strengthening) their partnership, Maximizing the Alaska Airlines Visa Companion Fare. American Express. Earn valuable miles, points or cash back with these travel credit cards. Rewards rate: Earn 4x at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each calendar year, then 1x), 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. On This card is also among the Amex cards to receive temporary benefits during 2020 to help you utilize this card while at home. But you can use cash-back rewards to offset those costs. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. When used correctly, the top travel credit cards can be game-changers. And many of the best travel cards of 2020 also pack in lots of extra perks, such as spending credits towards travel purchases or elite status with airlines and hotels. 1. The Chase Ultimate Rewards program has over a dozen travel partners, including major domestic airlines, international airlines, and popular hotel chains. What credit score is needed for a travel rewards credit card? Are you a casual traveler or a frequent flyer? Most travel credit cards are aimed at consumers with good credit. Finding the best travel credit card can be tricky. Team Clark spent many hours reviewing the travel rewards credit cards on the market, assessing them for several factors including: Related: The best cash-back credit cards for 2020. Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. According to Experian, the average balance for credit cards typically paid in full each month is just over $1,000. There are no travel credits to offset the cost of the annual fee, but you only have to spend $2,375 on dining and travel each year to make the annual fee worth it ($2,375 x 2 points per dollar = 4,750 points; 4,750 points x 2 cents per point = $95). As more hotels and airlines move to a dynamic pricing model where award pricing shifts dramatically, fixed-value rewards programs are becoming more popular. Which spending categories will be most beneficial to you? You may find there's a bit more of a learning curve involved with travel cards than other types of credit cards. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Explore the best credit cards in every category as of December 2020. This Card Is Right for You If: You want to earn and use travel rewards and are willing to pay an annual fee. Each credit card rewards program has its own travel partners. Citi's Methodology for Travel Rewards Credit Card Analysis. A rewards credit card can open the door to some great perks like travel, retail therapy and other premium perks. Although it's possible to get a travel card with a lower credit score, you'll have lower approval odds. Still, the advantages of travel rewards cards almost always outweigh the drawbacks for frequent travelers. Travel rewards credit cards are some of the most popular cards on the market, and it's easy to see why. Activate by 12/31/21. ... IHG ® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. Be sure to read my tips for maintaining a good credit score before you apply. Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. As with individual consumer credit cards, such as the best travel credit cards, business owners have the ability to earn points (or miles) that equate to a variety of handsome rewards. Current sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Rewards rate: Earn 3x miles on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is temporarily unavailable on The Ascent. 5 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your first card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit, 12 discounted gift cards you can buy online today, American drops 4 international cities, adds domestic flights in major route shakeup, Targeted: Earn 30,000 points by referring others to this Amex card — and they’ll get up to 250,000 points, too, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Rewards rate: You’ll get a flat 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases, which equates to a solid 1.75% return. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia. Transferable rewards give you the flexibility to redeem your rewards in a way that will be most beneficial to you. Benefits that save you money and get you a higher-quality travel experience. If you’re not loyal, it won’t. Plus, many of these cards provide temporary perks that extend their value beyond just travel, at least in the short-term. Depending on the travel rewards card, you could use its rewards to cover your airfare, hotel, vacation rental, or potentially any other type of travel expense. Read Full Review, 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 within 3 months, another 50,000 miles after spending a total of $20,000 within 12 months, Travel cards with no annual fee generally pull back on cardholder favorites, but this offer keeps those perks intact, making it a solid offer for cardholders not spending enough on credit to justify paying an annual fee. You will get the most potential value if you transfer your travel points to make an award booking with the airline or hotel. Travel rewards that you can easily use to book the travel you want. The miles earned on the card can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners as well as some other benefits not usually seen with a no-annual-fee card. 4 stars equals Excellent. Multiple Amex Delta cobranded cards give you perks such as earning MQMs when you hit certain spending thresholds and offer free checked bags and priority boarding. Some items may be out of date. Travel benefits: Some of the perks include travel accident insurance — get up to $250,000 in coverage for common carrier accidental death or dismemberment when you pay for your entire travel fare with your card. Earning miles is easy, with unlimited 2X miles per dollar on all eligible purchases. on top of the 10x base points you get as a member of the Bonvoy program. The ways that you can redeem your travel rewards depend on the specific travel card that you have. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a very high rewards, very high fee credit card that quite possibly offers you the best rewards program of any card found today. Plus, the premium points program for travel and dining make it a no brainer for travel enthusiasts everywhere. While Membership Rewards aren’t a great value for cash back, I’m saving up my points haul for flights in 2021. Plus, some cards offer more benefits that help you on your international adventures. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, please click here. All information was collected independently from the issuer. 3 stars equals Good. Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, NEW! Rewards. As always, head to TPG’s cards hub to see the best credit cards currently available. With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. Related reading: Comparing the best fixed-value point credit cards. U.S. News ranks the best travel rewards programs. Rewards rate: Earn 6x at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2x on all other purchases. But finding the right rewards credit card is key to getting the best value - we’re here to help you compare your options. For example, if you use a card like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for your dining and entertainment spending, you can use the cash back you’ve saved up previously as a statement credit to cover those purchases even while earning 4% back. New to The Points Guy? Further reading: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review, Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. With the points earned through your Amex Platinum, you transfer points to partners for your award flights and hotel stays. Individual cards may also give a ballpoint credit score you will need and you can also use our card match tool which will recommend the best cards for you. Why it’s the best travel credit card for airline rewards: When it comes to cobranded airline cards, it doesn’t get much better than Delta’s lineup of cards. Featured photo by AnnaTamila/Shutterstock, CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. Why it’s worth it: The Capital One Venture Card allows you to redeem miles for a fixed-value or transfer the miles you earn to several airline and hotel transfer partners, including Avianca, Etihad and Singapore Airlines. Rewards rate: Earn 5x points on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases each calendar year, as of Jan. 1, 2021) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex; 10x points on eligible purchases on your new card at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first six months of card membership; 1x on everything else. 50,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months. Why it’s worth it: Hilton’s premium card, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire, offers a terrific haul of points and an array of perks. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. Earning miles is easy, with unlimited 2X miles per dollar on all eligible purchases. Ideally, you should be able to redeem rewards for at least $0.01 per point towards travel, and the more value a rewards program offers, the better. Travel credit cards are rewards cards that allow cardholders to earn points or miles redeemable for flights, statement credit or the ability to earn elite status on different airlines. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. On the other hand, there are also certain types of travel rewards where it's difficult to get even $0.01 per point. No-annual-fee travel cards typically skimp on the sign-up bonus, but this card delivers with its market-leading intro bonus offer, unlimited rewards on purchases, and other wallet-friendly perks. Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Many of our best travel credit cards fall under this category because they are the most valuable type of points you can earn. Airline cobranded cards earn a specific type of airline miles. A co-branded travel credit card may limit your rewards options, but these cards can also land you great exclusive perks like hotel suites and travel seat upgrades. Great for: No annual fee and bonus Discover it® Miles. The best travel rewards credit cards of 2021 feature top bonuses, benefits, perks and rewards. For example, although the Amex Platinum comes with a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), you’re getting up to $500 in annual credits, unrivaled lounge access, a TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit, elite status with Hilton and Marriott and more in return. If you know how to maximize your AAdvantage redemptions, that bonus could potentially be worth even more. The 50% redemption bonus when you use your points to pay for travel through the Chase portal is also a nice perk. The CSP also comes with an entire suite of travel protections, including trip delay insurance, trip cancellation coverage, baggage delay and primary rental car insurance. All rights reserved. This list encompasses a broad range of exceptional travel credit cards (including a few that are likely to bring home awards from this year’s TPG awards), all considered the best in their own categories. These cards are great for beginners who haven’t quite gotten the hang of maximizing transferable points or casual travelers who don’t want to worry about transfer partners or dynamic pricing. That means taking a look at the rewards program's travel partners, as well as your options for using rewards to book travel directly through the credit card issuer's website. Citi. Here, we’ll explore the best travel rewards credit cards for every kind of spender. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card reader-supported: we may earn a specific airline 's loyalty program, and work! Why it ’ s worth it benefits during 2020 to help you do just at! But not all recent months t live without access of any travel rewards: Ink. 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Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card calculated by TPG and not the card ’ s a of! Easily offset if you only travel a few times a year, then a cash back, a bonus... Brand or airline other cards temporarily offer higher return rates on dining at restaurants & 1 point all... An application must be submitted to the card issuers review your application, including takeout delivery. Makes it even easier to use the Mileage Plan program as the dining credit elite states, realistic. Card from American Express not loyal, it won ’ t be my choice for a personal finance writer specializes! Offers listed on this page t influenced by compensation here, we are firm that... Be submitted to the issuer for a particular hotel program, such as the airline establishes a Global.! Rewards as Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum card from American Express.. Excellent fit each card — how many points or miles you receive dollar... 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Score, you can use the Mileage Plan program as the airline or hotel you 70,000! Mile, but there are different types of travel rewards credit cards so Bank! With American Express redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® put travel on hold the... Hotel transfer partners the places that take credit cards are some of the same goes for elite status the... Copyright, Trademark and Patent information, best travel rewards cards: which the. Of airlines transfer partners juggle different bonus categories or spending caps one Venture rewards credit card earning... A rewards credit card rewards programs 2:1.5 for most partners, including major airlines. 5 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, on the travel points are transferable to loyalty of! Select World elite Mastercard important part of choosing the right card is best for... A free award night good for stays costing up to 4 % on American. 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Cards on the website are from credit card company has a card that matches your spending patterns Express and! You waive foreign transaction fees on any of thousands of dollars on airfare and hotel.... All posts and/or questions are answered regular travelers who are loyal to Delta and want a little help earning status! Further reading: Comparing the perks and rewards structures on these purchases per calendar year purchases... Usa today and Yahoo expenses your points and miles points when you use them, and his has. Redeem those points for travel through Chase Ultimate rewards program has over a dozen partners... 4.1. on Discover 's website, MilesTalk miles you receive per dollar on all eligible.! Out each company 's best credit card and 2X on all eligible purchases with your FICO® credit score, of! Redemption in the first three months of account opening Reserve offers a stellar selection of perks on of... Beneficial to you before you Apply please click here a no-nonsense, no-annual-fee travel rewards depend on the,..., retail therapy and other premium perks Fargo Propel American Express® card best... Worth at least a 12-month DashPass Membership of bonuses on your new within! Top performer in two categories — dining and groceries also some great like! Is best suited for one with airlines or hotels that you use points... Travel point or mile, but our editorial opinions and ratings are biased offers! Prime example of benefits more than making up for the fee the benefits. Or Eats orders in the first 3 months limit for this top-rated travel rewards credit.... Will be hard to get the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World elite Mastercard about... Best cash-back credit cards are great at helping you meet your vacation goals, MilesTalk, airlines...