Team Clark spent hours reviewing the market for travel credit cards and evaluated them according to the guidelines for usage set by money expert Clark Howard.
In addition to travel rewards programs, when assembling this list, we considered factors like annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory annual percentage rates (APRs) and bonus categories.This article was updated in May 2023 and I review it every month. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.
Best Travel Credit Cards Available Right Now
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Clark’s Favorite Travel Card
Annual Fee: $395
|
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best For: High-Volume Travel
Annual Fee: $695 ()
|
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best For: Sign-up Bonus
Annual Fee: $95
|
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best For: Sign-up Bonus
Annual Fee: $550
|
Discover it® Miles
Best For: No Annual Fee
Annual Fee: $0.00
|
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Best For: No Annual Fee
Annual Fee: $0.00
|
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best For: Flat-Rate Rewards
Annual Fee: $95
|
|
Citi Premier® Card
Best For: Bonus Spending Categories
Annual Fee: $95 ()
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Best For: Airline Rewards
Annual Fee: $149
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Best For: Hotel Rewards
Annual Fee: $95.00
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Best For: Hotel Rewards
Annual Fee: $0 ()
|
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best For: Business Travel
Annual Fee: $95
|
Do you start planning your next vacation as soon as you return from the last one? Or are you constantly on the go with business travel? Travel credit cards can be a great way to earn rewards while you’re exploring the globe.
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 travel credit cards in his wallet, he doesn’t think travel cards are the best fit for most people. He believes travel cards are “aspirational” for many consumers, and he says most would be better served by a standard cash back credit card.
“People pay those big annual fees and get those cards because they get sucked in by the fantasy. ‘Hey, I got this card and I’m going to Tahiti!’ and ‘Hey, I got this card, so that’s going to be me on the beach in Maui and on that ski mountain!’ And with all this, we’re actually conspiring against ourselves.”
“People pay those big annual fees and get those cards because they get sucked in by the fantasy. ‘Hey, I got this card and I’m going to Tahiti!’ and ‘Hey, I got this card, so that’s going to be me on the beach in Maui and on that ski mountain!’ And with all this, we’re actually conspiring against ourselves.”We’ll go into more detail on why Clark feels this way later in the article.
More on Travel Credit Cards:
- The 2 Different Types of Travel Card Consumers
- Best Travel Credit Cards
- Clark Howard’s Warning for Travel Credit Cards
- Clark Howard’s General Strategy for Credit Cards
- Methodology
Travelers Looking for Rewards vs. Spenders Looking for Travel
Before you sign up for a new travel rewards card, you should think about why you feel the need for this type of credit card in the first place. Typically, there are two different types of consumers who would get the most out of a travel rewards card:Travelers Looking for Rewards
These folks are on the move whether for business or leisure. And as such, they’re looking for a way to cash in on their travel with a credit card that rewards them for things like miles flown or nights stayed in a hotel. In this article, we’ll explore brand-specific cards that can help with this as well as cards geared more specifically toward business travel.Spenders Looking for Travel
These people want to increase how much they travel and so want to earn travel-related rewards with their everyday spending. They’re looking for a way to earn a free or discounted vacation through spending on things like groceries and gas purchases. In this article, we’ll explore cards that reward everyday spending with miles or travel rewards points.The Top Credit Cards for Travel Rewards Right Now
Clark’s Favorite Travel Card
Capital One Venture X Reward耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:s Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$395
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards Program Details:
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
|
Why Clark Likes It: It might surprise you to see Clark likes a credit card with such a high annual fee, but he thinks it’s a good fit for frequent travelers. And he carries this one in his wallet.
Here’s what he told a listener of 耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:his podcast when recommending it:
Best Travel Card for High-Volume Travel
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Annual Fee:
$695 ()
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Program Details:
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
|
Why We Like It: Clark recommends against spending this much on an annual fee, but if you’re a high-volume traveler who enjoys the finer things, it’s hard to go wrong with this elite card. Depending on your habits, you can recoup much of the $695 annual fee by earning the statement credit offers. Annual credits for using this card include $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings (requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®), $240 Digital Entertainment Credit (enrollment required), $200 Airline Fee Credit, $200 Uber Cash, $300 Equinox Credit (enrollment required) and a $189 CLEAR Credit. Each of these has stipulations on spending and many of them require enrollment before purchasing, but this is a good way to earn back that costly annual fee. Terms apply. .
Best Travel Card for Sign-Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
|
Annual Fee:
$95
Foreign Transaction Fee:
$0
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 80,000 bonus points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Rewards Program Details:
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
|
Why We Like It: This card lands just right with a strong welcome bonus and an annual fee under $100. And you’re getting yourself into a pretty solid card once the sign-up bonus disappears.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
|
Annual Fee:
$550
Foreign Transaction Fee:
$0
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
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®
Rewards Program Details:
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
|
Why We Like It: This card has many of the same benefits that attract us to other high-fee cards for frequent travelers, such as airport lounge access and big multipliers on popular spending categories. But this one does it with a nice welcome bonus and within the popular Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.
Best Travel Cards With No Annual Fees
If you would like to be rewarded with travel, these no-annual-fee cards are an option for everyday spending. They provide a nice, steady rate of return on every purchase you make with the card, and you can put those earnings toward travel— or you can redeem them for cash.|
Annual Fee:
$0.00
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
No
Bonus Offer:
Discover automatically matches all the Miles you earn at the end of your first year. Example: 35,000 Miles becomes 70,000 Miles, which is $700 all for you.
Rewards Program Details:
1.5xMiles on every dollar of every purchase.
There’s no limit to how many Miles you can earn. Then redeem for cash, or as a statement credit towards a travel purchase.
|
Why We Like It: This straightforward Miles card is most attractive because of the generous match at the end of the first year. For example, if you spend $10,000 with your card in the first year, you’d receive a total of 30,000 miles (15,000 earned and 15,000 from the bonus match).
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$0.00
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
No
Bonus Offer:
25,000 online bonus points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
If you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening – which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases
Rewards Program Details:
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time.
No blackout dates or restrictions and points do not expire.
|
Why We Like It: This is another straightforward travel card that does not have the hassle of an annual fee. If you’re not a fan of the end-of-year miles match from Discover, you’ll find an alternative bonus offer here (25,000 points for $1,000 in spending) to go along with your 1.5 points per dollar spent.
Best Travel Card for Flat-Rate Rewards
If you are looking to earn travel-based rewards on your everyday spending, you may find that a flat-rate rewards card is a good way to ensure that you’re getting a steady return on your purchases without concern over spending categories or limits.Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$95
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Program Details:
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
|
Why We Like It: If you’re an avid traveler, you’re likely going to want a Global Entry and/or a TSA PreCheck membership. Getting one of those for free through this card offsets the $95 annual fee. And the simplified points structure lets you earn miles on everyday purchases.
Best Travel Card for Bonus Spending Categories
耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:Citi Premier® Card
|
Annual Fee:
$95 ()
Foreign Transaction Fee:
0%
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
No
Bonus Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
Rewards Program Details:
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
|
Why We Like It: The amount of spending categories that let you earn triple points is worth noting. And they line up perfectly with the type of spending someone with a travel card might be doing. You can get $100 off a $500-or-more hotel stay each year if booked through Citi’s thankyou.com If you’re planning one big trip per year, you can make your $95 annual fee back with that annual $100 credit offer.
Best Travel Card for Airline Rewards
Brand-specific airline cards are limiting in that they commit you to one airline, and that might mean you won’t always get the best price for your flight. But if you’re unfailingly loyal to one airline over the rest, this kind of card can be a massive help in achieving bonus rewards points with that airline. We’re citing the Southwest card as an example of one we like, but you’re probably best served by checking out the rewards card offered by your favorite airline.Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$149
Foreign Transaction Fee:
$0
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
No
Bonus Offer:
Earn 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Program Details:
Receive 7,500 anniversary points and a $75 Southwest® travel credit each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
|
Why We Like It: A lot of the perks some other airline cards offer, such as waivers on bag fees or change fees, are standard for all Southwest Airlines customers. That allows this card to focus on going a little deeper with its promotions such as unlimited rewards seats and no blackout dates. Also, you’ll get an annual $75 Southwest credit that is like slashing the annual fee in half. Clark carries this card in his wallet.
Best Travel Cards for Hotel Rewards
If you make frequent hotel stays, you’ve probably figured out that it’s best to pick one of the major brands and stick with it for the perks. You can take that to the next level by getting a branded credit card. As you might imagine, brand-specific hotel cards mostly offer rewards that you have to use at that hotel chain. But they do offer a lot of opportunities to multiply your rewards. Marriott and Hilton are the two largest brands in this space, and each has a variety of credit cards from which to choose. If you’re a frequent or customer, you may want to consider those brand-specific cards instead.Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$95.00
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 100,000 Bonus Points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
After you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Rewards Program Details:
Up to 17X total points at Marriott: Earn 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels. Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member. Plus, earn up to 1X point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of being a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cardmember. 3X points per $1: Earn 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. 2X points per $1: Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases and your points don’t expire as long as you make purchases on your credit card every 24 months. Free Night Award every anniversary: As a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Cardmember, you’ll enjoy a Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points. |
Why We Like It: Cardholders receive a free reward night each year, automatic Silver Elite status and 15 Elite night credits per calendar year. The free night is valued up to 35,000 points, so it should cancel out the $95 annual fee on this card.
|
Annual Fee:
$0 ()
Foreign Transaction Fee:
None
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Program Details:
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
|
Why We Like It: Hilton has three tiers of American Express cards that range from no annual fee all the way up to $450. This one is the no-annual-fee option. While the 7x points on Hilton spending is nice, you can also rack up the rewards with 5x spending on three key everyday spending categories. Terms apply. .
Best Travel Card for Business Travel
Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
|
Annual Fee:
$95
Foreign Transaction Fee:
$0
Auto Rental Insurance Coverage:
Yes
Bonus Offer:
Earn 100,000 bonus points
Bonus Offer Disclaimer:
after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Program Details:
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
|
Why We Like It: If you have your own business, you can really rack up travel rewards points based on both your spending and that of your employees. And with a 25% redemption bonus on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can make sure you get the most out of that spending. For example, you’d be able to claim travel worth $1,250 with the welcome bonus.
Clark Howard’s Warning for Travel Credit Cards
Travel cards have rewards that can help take you to the most desirable places on the globe. It’s easy to see why they’re popular. But are they actually in your best financial interests? Clark cautions against getting too carried away with the fantasies associated with travel credit cards.That level of spending is often achieved by business owners. But if you’re considering this for a personal card, make sure that your monthly spending is on that level. Clark says he sees people pulling high-end travel cards out of their wallets all the time, but few of those people are spending enough each month to make these cards worth it. “There are so many people that I see all around who pull out these Sky Miles reward cards, and I know that they’re not traveling constantly on Delta. They’re not charging $10,000 per month. And it just doesn’t pay,” Clark says. So who’s actually best served by travel cards? Clark says that the market for people who spend enough to see the benefits is pretty small. “Typically, it’s for corporate travelers who are not paying for their own tickets,” Clark says. “They use the card and the points for their personal and family travel.”
Clark averages between 25 and 30 trips per year. This frequent travel is why he carries the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority and Capital One Venture X credit cards 耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:in his wallet.
Clark Howard’s General Strategy for Credit Cards
Clark believes it’s important to have a credit card to build and maintain a solid credit history. That’s to prepare you for big life events, like a home purchase or a job application, which require credit checks.
Clark carries the Costco Anywhere Visa card 耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:in his wallet because he’s a frequent Costco shopper. He also likes the Citi Double Cash card because its unlimited 2% cash back program is so simple.
Methodology for Travel Rewards Credit Card Analysis
For the purposes of determining which travel rewards cards are “best,” we got input from Clark and sought to find cards that fit his credit card strategy best. Clark believes credit cards with high annual fees are a bad idea for most consumers. So for the purposes of these rankings, we paid special attention to the annual fees. Team Clark spent many hours reviewing the travel rewards credit cards on the market, assessing them for several factors including:- Annual fees (Clark recommends avoiding them)
- Travel rewards programs
- Welcome bonuses
- Length of introductory APR periods
- Balance transfer introductory periods
- Additional fees (transaction or otherwise)
- Perks offered to cardholders
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Card: ; The Platinum Card® from American Express: .
Article Updates
How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? - Are you worried that the number of credit cards you have could have a negative impact on your financial life? Is there a “right” number of credit cards for one person to have in 2023? The answer is a little… 
耀竣金融配资_在线配资炒股:Best Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses for 2023 - Team Clark spent hours reviewing the market for credit card sign-up bonuses and evaluated them according to the guidelines for usage set by money expert Clark Howard. Clark believes credit cards with exorbitant annual fees are a bad idea for most…