Best Travel Credit Cards USA 2025: Top Picks & Travel Card Comparison

Travel rewards credit cards can make your vacations virtually “free” by earning points or miles on everyday spending that you redeem for flights, hotel stays, and other travel perks. The best travel credit cards will align with your travel habits – for example, whether you frequently fly one airline or stay at a favorite hotel chain – and offer generous signup bonuses, bonus points on travel purchases, and valuable benefits (like airport lounge access or travel insurance). In general, travel cards reward each purchase with points or miles that you use toward travel. NerdWallet notes that “the best travel credit card is one that brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it,” whether through broad flexible rewards or through airline/hotel loyalty programs. Because credit card offers change often, this 2025 guide compares the leading travel credit cards (general, airline, and hotel), highlighting each card’s annual fee, signup bonus, earning rates, and key perks and drawbacks. We also outline the pros & cons of travel cards in general, how to pick the right one for your needs, and tips to squeeze the most value out of your card.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards generally fall into three categories: general-purpose travel rewards cards, airline-specific cards, and hotel-specific cards. Each serves different traveler profiles. General travel cards (like Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, and Citi ThankYou cards) earn rewards that can be redeemed for any travel or transferred to a variety of airline/hotel loyalty programs. They offer the greatest flexibility: you can book flights on any carrier and hotels anywhere without blackout dates. For example, NerdWallet explains that general travel cards allow you to “earn and/or redeem rewards on broader categories” than airline cards. Airline cards (like Delta SkyMiles, United Explorer, etc.) earn big bonuses on one carrier and often include perks like free checked bags or priority boarding, but the rewards must be spent on that airline or its partners. Experian notes that airline cards are best when you have a preferred airline and they can “earn status in a frequent flier program,” but they require you to fly that airline to get full value. Hotel cards (e.g. Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors cards) similarly reward stays at a specific hotel chain and often grant free night certificates and elite-status benefits. American Express explains that hotel credit cards deliver the biggest benefits for people loyal to a particular hotel chain, while general travel cards suit those who use many airlines and hotels. In practice, many savvy travelers carry a mix: a general travel card for flexibility, plus one airline or hotel card to maximize loyalty perks.

In-Depth Reviews of Top Travel Credit Cards

Below are detailed reviews of the top travel credit cards in the U.S. for 2025. Each card is evaluated by its annual fee, welcome bonus, ongoing rewards, notable perks (and any statement credits), and key drawbacks. (Annual fees and bonuses are current as of mid-2025.) We cover a mix of general travel rewards cards, premium luxury cards, and a representative hotel card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Premium Travel Rewards)

Annual Fee: $550 (soon increasing to $795).

Signup Bonus: ~60,000 points after $5,000 spent in 3 months. (Redeemable for ~ $900 t o w a r d t r a v e l v ia C ha se; m ore v a l u e i f t r an s f erre d t o ai r l in es / h o t e l s .) * * * E a r nin g R a t es : * * 5 p o in t s /$ on flights and 10 points/$ on hotels and rental cars when booked through Chase Travel (after the $300 t r a v e l cre d i t i s u se d); 3 p o in t s /$ on other travel and dining; 1 point/$ elsewhere. (Beginning in mid-2025, Chase will change the earning structure: the new Reserve will earn 10× on hotels and 5× on flights, down from today’s 10× hotels/5× flights.)

Key Benefits: Each year you get a $300 travel statement credit (automatically applied to travel purchases). The card provides airport lounge access: Priority Pass Select membership plus entry to Chase’s own Sapphire Lounges. You also get a $120 credit (every 4 years) for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck applications. In other words, Chase Reserve gives unparalleled travel insurance and lounge benefits.

Drawbacks: Very high annual fee. (Chase has announced that beginning late 2025 the fee will jump to $795, though existing cardholders won’t pay the new fee until renewal.) You need to travel and use the credits frequently to offset the fee. Aside from the lounge credits, its bonus categories are somewhat narrow. NerdWallet calls Sapphire Reserve “one of the most valuable travel rewards card[s]… as long as the $550 annual fee doesn’t scare you away.”

Chase Sapphire Preferred® (Flexible Mid-Tier Rewards)

Annual Fee: $95.

Signup Bonus: 100,000 points after $5,000 spent in first 3 months (worth ~$750– $834 w h e n re d ee m e df or t r a v e l) . * * * E a r nin g R a t es : * * 5 p o in t s /$ on travel booked via Chase (with Chase’s travel portal); 3 points/$ on other travel (airfare, taxi, etc.) and on dining (including delivery/takeout); 1 point/$ on all other purchases. Points are worth 25% more toward travel through Chase (i.e. 60,000 points = $750 travel). Points can also be transferred 1:1 to many airline and hotel partners (JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott, etc.).

Key Benefits: $50 annual hotel credit for bookings via Chase Travel. Anniversary bonus of 10% extra points on all spend each year. The card comes with trip cancellation/delay insurance and primary rental car insurance. There are no foreign transaction fees.

Drawbacks: No airport lounge access or luxury perks (that’s for Reserve). Although a $95 fee is modest, this card’s main value is the big signup bonus and flexible points. It has fewer extra credits than higher-end cards. Still, for moderate travelers the Preferred hits an excellent balance of rewards vs. fee. (Kiplinger praises its bonus offer and strong rewards, calling CSPref “packed with benefits for travelers.”)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Premium Flat-Rate Travel)

Annual Fee: $395.

Signup Bonus: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spent in 3 months (worth $750 in t r a v e l) . * * * E a r nin g R a t es : * * 10 mi l es /$ on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5 miles/$ on flights and other Capital One Travel purchases; 2 miles/$ on all other purchases. Miles are worth 1 cent each toward travel, or can transfer to partners (Air Canada, Emirates, Singapore, etc.).

Key Benefits: $300 annual Capital One Travel credit (automatically applied to bookings). Up to $120 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck every 4 years. Complimentary access to Capital One’s airport lounges plus Priority Pass lounges (over 1,300 locations). A 10,000-mile (=$100) bonus every card anniversary. As a premium card, it has no foreign transaction fees and offers trip protection.

Drawbacks: $395 fee is high for a flat-rate card, but lower than many ultra-premium cards. You need to make use of the travel credit and lounge access to justify the fee. Also, while 2× everywhere is good, other cards (like Venture Rewards below) can earn 2× with no fee at all (though without lounge perks). Kiplinger notes Venture X’s many perks but reminds that “at $395, the annual fee is lower than that of many luxury travel cards.”

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (Simple Flat-Rate Travel)

Annual Fee: $95.

Signup Bonus: 75,000 miles after $4, 000 in 3 m o n t h s . * * * E a r nin g R a t es : * * 2 mi l es /$ on all purchases; 5 miles/$ on hotels, rentals, and car reservations booked through Capital One Travel.

Key Benefits: Simple redemption: you can redeem miles as statement credits toward any travel purchase within 90 days, essentially at 1 cent per mile. Transfer partners allow additional value. No foreign transaction fees. Capital One notes it has a straightforward rewards program ideal for those who prefer simplicity.

Drawbacks: No lounge access or extra credits (unlike Venture X). The 2× base rate is modest compared to category-specific cards. Still, its low fee and big bonus make it a strong entry-level travel card. The only real downside is that rewards are flat rate – if you want more points on dining or airfare, a different card might be better.

The Platinum Card® from American Express (Ultimate Luxury Travel)

Annual Fee: $695.

Signup Bonus: 80,000 Membership Rewards points after $8,000 spent in 6 months. (Worth ~$800+ in travel when used smartly.)

Earning Rates: 5× points on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (up to $500k/yr) and on prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel; 1× on other purchases.

Key Benefits: The Platinum Card is packed with premium perks. It grants access to a wide set of airport lounges (Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (on Delta flights), Priority Pass, Lufthansa, etc.) – BusinessInsider lauds it for “some of the best airport lounges around the world.” Up to $200 airline fee credit each year (for incidental airline fees). Up to $200 in Uber credits per year (Uber Eats/Uber rides in US). Up to $200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels+Resorts/$40 monthly on prepaid hotel bookings). $240 Digital Entertainment credit ($20/mo for streaming services). $199 CLEAR credit per year. Statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Hilton and Marriott Gold status. In short, Amex Platinum offers nearly every luxury travel perk.

Drawbacks: One of the highest fees in travel cards. The ongoing rewards outside of flights/hotels are just 1×. Business Insider notes the fee is “mind-boggling” but justifies it with “best lounge access” and many credits. Unless you use the credits (Uber, travel, CLEAR, etc.) and travel enough, it’s easy to lose money. Also, Amex lounges require enrolling in Priority Pass for some networks.

American Express® Gold Card (Top Card for Foodies & Moderate Travel)

Annual Fee: $325.

Signup Bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 spent in 6 months.

Earning Rates: 4× points on restaurants worldwide (up to $25,000/yr, then 1×); 4× points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/yr); 3× points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel; 1× on other spending.

Key Benefits: Up to $120 Dining Credit per year ($10/mo on select restaurants/food delivery services), up to $120 Uber Cash per year ($10/mo on Uber rides/delivery), up to $100 (semiannual $50) Resy dining credit, and up to $84 (monthly $7) Dunkin’ credit. These credits total $424 if fully used. NerdWallet notes these annual credits can effectively offset the $325 fee. Points are in Amex’s transferable Membership Rewards program (transferable to airlines like Delta, Emirates, etc.).

Drawbacks: The high fee ($325) is justified only if you use the dining and Uber credits every month. If you don’t eat out or use those specific partners, you lose the credit value. Also, no airport lounge access. NerdWallet calls the Gold a “top pick for foodies” with “outstanding rewards at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets,” but warns that if you don’t maximize its credits, you may be better off with a lower-fee card.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (New Flexible Bonus Card)

Annual Fee: $95.

Signup Bonus: 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spent in 3 months. (Redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel via Citi; can also transfer to select partners.)

Earning Rates: 10× points per $o nh o t e l s, c a rre n t a l s, an d a tt r a c t i o n s b oo k e d t h ro ug h C i t i T r a v e l .3 \times p er$ on groceries, gas/EV charging, restaurants, airfare, and hotels not booked through Citi. 1× on all other purchases. (Points are worth 1 cent each when used for travel through Citi or gift cards.)

Key Benefits: Annual $100 hotel discount (once/year on $500+ Citi Travel booking). Points are highly transferable to airline/hotel partners (e.g. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Qatar, Hawaiian, etc. via ThankYou). No foreign transaction fees. Citi points do not expire as long as the account stays open.

Drawbacks: Rewards structure is a bit complex (multiple 10× and 3× categories). The very high 10× bonus only applies when booking travel through Citi. (For everyday travel purchases not in Citi portal, you only get 3×.) However, for someone who can use Citi Travel or has big purchases in the 3× categories, this card can rack up points quickly. At $95 fee, it’s reasonable for the bonus and credits offered.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card (Hotel Rewards)

Annual Fee: $95.

Signup Bonus: 50,000 Bonvoy points after $3,000 in 3 months, plus $150 statement credit on first purchase.

Earning Rates: 6× Bonvoy points per $a tM a rr i o ttp ro p er t i es (o n t o p o f t h e p o in t syo u e a r na s a M a rr i o tt m e mb er); 3 \times p er$ at restaurants, groceries, and gas (on up to $6,000/yr); 2× on all other purchases. (Bonvoy points transfer to Marriott at 1:1 and can also be converted to airline miles at a 3:1 rate.)

Key Benefits: One free night certificate (up to 35,000 points) each year after account anniversary. Marriott Silver status (free breakfast and late checkout). Bonus on Marriott stays plus the ability to earn a second free night via points. No foreign transaction fees.

Drawbacks: Only earns Marriott points (so if you travel mostly outside the Marriott family, it’s less useful). The free night certificate is capped at mid-range (35k points). If you prefer transferring points to airline miles at a higher rate, the ratio (3:1) isn’t very generous (you only get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred). Still, for loyal Marriott guests this is a top card – Kiplinger praises its layered 6×/10× earning and the annual free night.

(Note: Several other travel cards—such as the Wells Fargo Autograph, Bank of America Premium Rewards, United Explorer, and Hilton Honors—also rank highly for certain users. For example, the no-fee Hilton Honors Amex Card now offers 100,000 points (and a $100 credit) after a $2,000 spend with 7× on Hilton stays. Airline cards like the United Explorer give free bags and lounge passes for loyal flyers. But the 8 cards above represent the broadest appeal across traveler types.)

Travel Card Pros and Cons

In general, travel rewards credit cards offer significant advantages for travelers, but they also have drawbacks. Key advantages of travel cards include:

Generous Rewards & Flexible Redemption: You earn points or miles on everyday spending that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, or sometimes cash back. Rewards programs often allow you to transfer points to multiple airline or hotel partners, giving flexibility and potentially high value. (For example, many points are worth a fixed 1¢ each toward travel bookings, but transferring to airlines can yield more value.) Travel cards often have welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars, far exceeding typical cash-back cards. Experian notes that a major pro of travel cards is “potentially high welcome bonus for new cardholders.”

Travel Protections & Benefits: Most travel cards waive foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad, which is a big savings on international trips. They commonly include travel insurance benefits (trip cancellation/interruption, baggage delay, rental car collision coverage, etc.) at no extra cost. Premium travel cards add perks like airport lounge access, free checked bags, priority boarding, and status upgrades on hotel chains. For example, airline cards often waive baggage fees and offer priority boarding, and cards like Amex Platinum come with multiple hotel/lounge credits and elite status.

Point Growth on Travel Spending: Travel cards usually reward travel-related purchases at higher rates (2×, 3×, or more), accelerating points accumulation on flights, hotels, dining, and often streaming or groceries. If you travel and spend heavily, you can rack up points far faster than on a flat-rate or cash-back card.

Drawbacks of travel cards include:

High Annual Fees: Many top travel cards come with substantial fees ($95–$695). You only come out ahead if you use their benefits and rewards. As Experian points out, premium perks often come “only with high-fee cards,” meaning you must travel enough to justify those fees. If you rarely travel, a high-fee card may never pay for itself.

Learning Curve & Restrictions: Maximizing value often requires learning complicated rules: meeting minimum spend for a bonus, activating credits (like airline fee or restaurant credits), or using specific portals to get bonus points. If you forget to use a statement credit or downgrade a card after the first year, you can lose value. Credit Karma advises travelers to check whether they’ll actually use all benefits – for example, an airline fee credit might only apply to baggage or lounge passes, not airfare.

Earning Caps and Loyalty: Some high-earning categories have annual caps (e.g., Amex Gold’s 4× on dining is capped at $25k/yr). Co-branded cards lock you into one airline or hotel loyalty program, which is great if you use that brand but limiting otherwise. Travel cards typically won’t help you earn frequent-flier status on their own (only flights do that). If you switch carriers or hotels often, some perks (like free checked bags) are wasted. Experian notes travel cards have “minimal to no airline-specific benefits” and “can’t be used to earn frequent-flier status,” unlike co-branded airline cards.

In summary, travel cards are ideal for those who travel often and can exploit their perks, but less valuable for infrequent travelers who just need ordinary cash-back.

How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card

Selecting the right travel card depends on your personal situation. Key factors include travel frequency, spending habits, brand loyalty, and desired perks. Consider the following questions and guidelines:

How often do you travel? If you travel internationally or take several trips a year, a premium card with high fees (like Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum) can pay off through credits and lounge access. If you only travel occasionally, a no- or low-fee card (like the Capital One Venture or Bank of America Travel Rewards) might be smarter. Credit Karma explicitly advises asking “How often do you travel?… travel rewards cards won’t do any good if you never leave home.”

What are your spending patterns? Look at where you spend the most money. If you dine out and buy groceries heavily, the Amex Gold (4× dining, 4× groceries) might suit you. If you rent cars and hotels often, the Venture X (10× on those) or CSR (10× on those via Chase) could be better. For mixed spenders, a flat-rate card like Venture (2× on everything) is very straightforward. Matching your card’s bonus categories to your spending ensures maximum points.

Are you loyal to one airline or hotel brand? If you consistently fly one airline (e.g. United) or stay at one hotel chain (e.g. Hilton), a co-branded card can yield extra miles/points and airline/hotel perks. For instance, United cardholders get free bags and club passes. On the other hand, if you fly many carriers, a general travel card avoids limitations. NerdWallet suggests “Stick to general rewards cards if you want flexibility, or a hotel or airline card if you’re loyal to certain brands.” Hotel cards (Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt) make sense if you’re loyal to that chain, as they often grant free night certificates and automatic elite status.

What perks matter most? Decide which benefits you will actually use. If lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and luxury hotel perks are important, a premium card is worth the fee. If you mostly care about saving on travel costs, a card with a big signup bonus or good points value is key. Also, check if the card has foreign transaction fees – most travel cards don’t, but if you plan international travel, ensure you won’t pay extra. (Credit Karma’s list reminds us to ask “Does the card charge any foreign transaction fees?” when choosing.)

Can you meet the minimum spend? Check the spending requirement for the signup bonus. Choose a card where you can comfortably meet that threshold without overspending. Don’t sign up for a card you’ll struggle to use fully. Remember NerdWallet’s advice: apply for a new travel card before planning to book travel, so you have time to earn the bonus. Also, consider timing: many cards restrict how often you can get their bonus (usually once every 48 months on similar cards), so plan strategically.

By weighing these factors – and comparing card-by-card – you can select a travel card that maximizes your rewards. For example, a frequent luxury traveler might opt for Amex Platinum or Chase Reserve, whereas a moderate spender who values flexibility might prefer Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture.

Tips to Maximize Rewards and Minimize Fees

Once you have a travel credit card, use these strategies to get the most value:

Use it for all your spending. Charge everyday purchases (groceries, gas, bills, etc.) on your travel card to rack up points. Always pay the balance in full each month to avoid interest, which would negate rewards.

Meet signup bonuses. Plan major expenses (rent, taxes, home improvement, etc.) on the new card to hit the bonus quickly. Some people pool household spending or use authorized users to accumulate spend (but beware overshooting your budget).

Book through portals when rewarded. If your card offers extra points for travel through its own portal (e.g. Chase or Capital One Travel), take advantage if the price is competitive. Otherwise, you can often still buy flights normally and later use points to offset them at 1¢ each.

Transfer points for big trips. Explore the card’s transfer partners. Transferring to an airline or hotel can sometimes give more value (especially for premium cabin flights) than booking through the card. Compare award charts to see if transfers yield a better redemption.

Use every statement credit and perk. Don’t let free money go unused. If your card gives $200 in airline fee credits, $15 Uber credits, or monthly dining credits, make sure to apply those each year/month. Before cancelling or downgrading a card, spend or transfer out any remaining points so they don’t expire with the account.

Stack rewards with loyalty programs. Enroll in the associated loyalty programs (airline frequent flyer, hotel membership, etc.) to earn extra points on your travel. Some cards give automatic elite status, which you should activate.

Monitor your annual fee. Every year, evaluate whether you earned at least as much value (through rewards and credits) as the card’s fee. If not, consider downgrading to a no-fee version or cancelling. For example, Chase often lets you downgrade Sapphire Reserve to the no-fee Freedom to avoid paying a high fee, then re-apply for bonuses on Preferred later.

Avoid foreign transaction fees. Always use your travel card for overseas spending so you aren’t hit with extra charges on foreign transactions. Most of the cards above waive these fees, making them ideal for international travel.

By following these tips, you can stretch each dollar to get more travel out of it, while ensuring the card’s fees don’t outweigh its benefits.

FAQs About Travel Credit Cards

Q: What exactly is a travel rewards credit card? A travel credit card is one that earns points or miles instead of cash back. You accumulate points by using the card, and those points can be redeemed to pay for travel (flights, hotels, etc.) or transferred to frequent-flyer/hotel programs. The goal is to use purchases to fund your next trip. As NerdWallet explains, travel cards let you “turn everyday spending into free flights and hotel stays.”
Q: Do travel cards have foreign transaction fees? Most travel credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, since they are designed for travel spending. For example, Citi, Chase, Amex, and Capital One travel cards generally charge no fee on foreign purchases. Always check the card terms, but on our top list nearly every card listed explicitly has no foreign fee.
Q: How much is the sign-up bonus typically worth? Signup bonuses often range from $600 to over $1,000 in travel, depending on the card and how you redeem the points. For instance, a 60,000-point bonus might be worth $600 toward travel through the card’s portal, or potentially more if transferred to an airline. Use a conservative 1¢ value per point as a baseline. The exact value can vary; for example, NerdWallet valued the 60,000-point CSP bonus at $750 when used on travel.
Q: Is it worth paying an annual fee? It depends on how much you travel and use the card’s perks. Generally, pay the fee if you’ll use at least an equal amount in benefits (credits, lounge visits, etc.) plus earn enough points to exceed the fee. Many cards with fees $250–$550 can return hundreds or thousands in value if you take full advantage. But if you’d only use a small fraction of the credits, a no-fee card might be better.
Q: Can I have more than one travel card? Absolutely. In fact, mixing cards is common: one premium card (for big perks) and one or two flexible-point cards can cover different needs. Just make sure to manage them responsibly (pay them off on time) and keep track of whose points are where.
Q: How do I redeem travel points? Most cards let you redeem points either by booking directly through the card’s travel portal (giving fixed value per point) or by transferring them 1:1 to partners (airline miles or hotel points). If you use the card’s portal, points usually cover any travel purchase at a fixed rate. If you transfer to partners, you book directly through that airline/hotel’s website, and your points become their miles/points balance.
Q: Are points transferrable between cards? No, points generally stay with the issuing bank’s program. However, many programs (Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One) allow transfers to partner loyalty programs (airlines/hotels). You can’t move points from one bank to another, but you can often combine points within one family (e.g. transferring points from one Chase card to another Chase card’s points balance if needed).

Conclusion

There is no single “best” travel credit card for everyone – the right card depends on how and how much you travel. For luxury travelers who maximize perks, the Amex Platinum (for its unmatched credits and lounges) or Chase Sapphire Reserve (for 10× hotels, Priority Pass, and travel credits) stand out. For those seeking flexibility and strong sign-up bonuses, cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture are excellent. Frequent flyer enthusiasts should consider co-branded airline cards (e.g. United Explorer, Delta SkyMiles) to unlock checked-bag waivers and upgrades, while loyal hotel guests can look at Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the no-fee Hilton Honors card. Budget travelers or beginners may prefer no-fee or low-fee travel cards (such as Bank of America’s Travel Rewards or no-fee cash/rewards cards) to ease into points.
Bottom line: Think about your travel profile. If you travel often and will use premium perks, a high-fee card can pay for itself. If you travel a few times a year and want simplicity, a low-fee card with a solid bonus is likely better. Use the comparisons above as a guide to match a card’s features to your needs – whether that means flexible points for any travel, bonus miles on your favorite airline, or special hotel benefits. With the right travel card (or combination of cards), you can significantly reduce the cost of flights and hotels, turning everyday spending into valuable trips and experiences.

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