The best travel credit cards of May 2022

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Comparing the best travel credit cards of 2022

Editor’s picks: Best travel credit card details

Best for unlimited miles on purchases: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: When you book through Capital One Travel, you’ll get unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights. All other purchases will earn 2X miles. The first-year savings are impressive thanks to the sign-up bonus. Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Biggest drawbacks: When it comes to luxury travel cards, the $395 annual fee isn’t the highest on the market, but it’s still worth noting.
• Alternatives: If you’re a no-frills person who is more comfortable traveling on a budget, take a look at the more budget-friendly Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
• Bottom line: Frequent travelers who want to enjoy perks along the way and will be able to make the most of all the benefits will find it hard to pass up this card.

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best welcome bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Best features: Earn a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. That bonus comes out to $1,000 in travel purchases at current valuation when redeemed via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You’ll also earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining, 2X points on other travel purchases and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Biggest drawbacks: The Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t for travelers looking for luxury features. You won’t find premier perks, such as travel credits or lounge access.
• Alternatives: For those who spend big on travel and can make the most of the $550 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a generous $300 annual travel credit to put towards airfare or bag fees.
• Bottom line: The $95 annual fee will be well worth it if you don’t need luxury and can take advantage of all that the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers.

Related: Why the CSP is a great first travel card

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best general-purpose travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: For a reasonable $95 annual fee, this popular Capital One credit card offers simplicity without skimping on rewards. Cardholders earn a generous 2X miles on every purchase, which can be redeemed as a statement credit toward travel, including hotel and airline purchases.
• Biggest drawbacks: Capital One doesn’t have many domestic travel transfer partners. This can make it harder to get as much value as possible out of your miles when booking domestic flights. Plus, most Venture miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which might feel like a letdown to rewards maximizers.
• Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with a valuable sign-up bonus, worth up to $1,000 when redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards (80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months). Plus its everyday bonus categories could prove more valuable depending on your spending habits.
• Bottom line: This card will certainly appeal to those looking for a travel credit card with high earning potential. But travelers who mostly fly domestic and are looking for top-drawer travel perks should look elsewhere.

Related: How to maximize your Venture rewards card?

Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best luxury travel card: The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Best features: The popular premium card from American Express comes fully-loaded with travel benefits, including luxury lounge access and Hilton Honors gold status (enrollment required), which entitles you to free Wi-Fi, late checkout and room upgrades (upon availability). There’s also a laundry list of travel credits that’ll help you recoup its pricey $695 annual fee. These include an up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, as well as up to $200 in annual Uber Cash credits for rides or eats in the U.S. (that’s up to $15 a month plus a $20 bonus in December using the Uber app).
• Biggest drawbacks: The $695 annual fee is a real commitment, so carefully consider whether you travel enough to justify the price. You must redeem travel rewards through American Express Travel – and, unlike with many Chase credit cards, you won’t get a bonus for doing so. Some of the travel credits come with caveats that make them a bit tricky to track or maximize. For instance, the Platinum comes with up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required), $50 in statement credits that can be redeemed from January through June and $50 that can be redeemed from July through December.
• Alternatives: American Express® Gold Card comes with a much lower annual fee than the Platinum but includes a lot of the same great perks such as car rental insurance, purchase protection and Hotel Collection benefits.
• Bottom line: This card ticks off all the boxes for big spenders and frequent travelers looking for luxury travel perks, particularly complimentary airport lounge access.

Read our American Express Platinum Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for rewards on travel & everyday spending: Citi Premier® Card

• Best features: For a $95 annual fee, cardholders earn 3X points on air travel, hotels and restaurants, but they also get a bonus (3X points) on supermarkets and gas stations, two popular everyday spending categories, along with 1X points on all other purchases. There’s also a competitive sign-up bonus: Cardholders can earn 60,000 ThankYou points if they spend $4,000 in their first three months.
• Biggest drawbacks: You have a lot of redemption options, including statement credits, gift cards and travel, but none of them let you maximize your earnings through specific bonus categories similar to what you would find with other cards. You’re also limited in your destination options as most of Citi’s airline transfer partners are based overseas – JetBlue is their only partnering domestic carrier.
• Alternatives: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is similar but may be a more attractive option due to its travel protection coverage. Plus, Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program includes a robust list of airlines and hotel partners with its Ultimate Rewards program.
• Bottom line: Someone looking to earn rewards on travel and everyday expenses will appreciate the versatility of the Citi Premier Card, not to mention its excellent welcome bonus.

Read our Citi Premier Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for traveling foodies: American Express® Gold Card

• Best features: Traveling foodies, rejoice – this card offers an industry-leading 4X points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. You’ll also earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then one point per dollar) and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amextravel.com. Trips with common carriers that are booked with your Gold card are covered for baggage insurance worth up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and $500 for checked bags.
• Biggest drawbacks: The annual fee is $250, pricier than the annual fees charged by many travel credit cards. Unless food is a significant portion of your spending, you’ll probably get more value from a different travel card.
• Alternatives: The Citi Premier® Card is on par with the Amex Gold in terms of rewards rates but its $95 annual fee is much lower than the Amex Gold Card.
• Bottom line: If you’re a traveler who makes dining out a staple of their vacations and staycations, you’ll find a lot of value in this card. But if your top spending categories don’t include groceries at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, you may be better served by a general rewards card or something with a bit more flexibility.

Read our American Express Gold Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

First-time travel credit cardholders: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Best features: The VentureOne Rewards card is a basic travel card for beginners who aren’t ready to commit to a better travel card with an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel as well as 1.25X miles on every other purchase. These miles can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.
• Biggest drawbacks: Other no-annual-fee travel cards offer higher rewards than the VentureOne’s 1.25X miles and better perks.
• Alternatives: Travelers not yet ready to commit to a travel rewards card with an annual fee might get better value out of a general-purpose credit card like the Citi® Double Cash Card. It doesn’t charge an annual fee and has a higher rewards rate for cardholders who can pay off their balances on time. These rewards are more flexible and can be used in a variety of ways, even travel.
• Bottom line: Budget-friendly travelers can get a decent amount of value out of this starter travel card.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best airline credit card: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Best features: Earn 125,000 points in a year and you can score one of the most coveted perks in all of travel rewards: the Southwest Companion Pass®. On top of a competitive sign-up bonus, this card also offers 2X points for Southwest purchases, as well as partner hotel and car rental purchases. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has no blackout dates and no seat restrictions. And while it has long been a great domestic carrier, Southwest is increasingly expanding to go abroad.
• Biggest drawbacks: Sadly, the anniversary bonus of 3,000 points is lower than the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card’s bonus, and there’s an annual fee of $69 that isn’t waived the first year. This is a Southwest-centric card so if you don’t frequently fly the discount carrier, you’ll be better served by a different travel rewards credit card.
• Alternatives: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comes with an excellent welcome offer, a complimentary first checked bag, and is nearly equal to the Southwest Rapid Rewards in perks. But Delta and its partner network are much more extensive than Southwest.
• Bottom line: The Rapid Rewards Plus card is a decent choice for occasional Southwest flyers looking for a cheap rewards travel card. But if you fly Southwest frequently and want to double your anniversary points while avoiding foreign transaction fees, consider upgrading to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and its higher annual fee of $99.

Related: Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card worth it?

Read our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for occasional travelers: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• Best features: Instead of booking through a designated travel portal, you can redeem your points for any travel and dining purchases made on your credit card within the last 12 months. That includes third-party sites like Expedia or Travelocity. Cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after they spend $1,000 in their first 90 days. Also, cardmembers who can take advantage of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can get a 25% to 75% boost on rewards earnings.
• Biggest drawbacks: The best rewards are reserved for Bank of America customers with sizable bank accounts of $50,000 or more. If that’s not you, you can likely find another card that rewards your travel purchases at a higher rate
• Alternatives: The Capital One VentureOne is similar in that it also does not charge an annual fee and, good news for travelers, doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
• Bottom line: The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is a solid choice for occasional travelers focused on earning some rewards and avoiding an annual fee.

Related: Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards card worth it?

Read our Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best sign-up bonus & welcome perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Best features: This top-of-the-line card comes with a wealth of travel perks, including a sign-up bonus worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards (50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months). There’s also a $300 annual credit for travel purchases that can be used for flights, hotel stays, taxi rides and public transportation.
• Biggest drawbacks: If dining rewards and traveling in comfort and style are not your main focus, this card and its $550 annual fee won’t provide much value.
• Alternatives: If you’re looking for a card with annual credits and luxury lounge access, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wider network.
• Bottom line: Frequent travelers who can take full advantage of all that the Sapphire Reserve offers will find the steep annual fee worth the cost.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best no annual fee airline card: American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

• Best features: In addition to 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, you’ll also get the same rate at grocery stores, which increases the earning potential for the average consumer. All other purchases earn 1X miles. Those who spend modestly and travel occasionally will appreciate the low spend threshold for the sign-up bonus: Spend just $500 within the first three months of opening an account and you’ll earn 10,000 miles and a $50 statement credit.
• Biggest drawbacks: The AAdvantage® travel program does have some limitations, including possible blackout dates, limited seating for award bookings and restrictive routing requirements.
• Alternatives: The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a similar rewards rate and charges no annual fee for the first year, then $99 thereafter.
• Bottom line: This is an excellent option for frequent American Airlines flyers looking for a no-annual-fee credit card. But those who don’t fly American or its partners often and don’t live near an American hub may not get much out of this card

Read our American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for airline incidentals: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

• Best features: To help offset the $95 annual fee, cardholders get up to $100 annually in airline incidental statement credits, which will automatically be applied to your card statement for qualifying purchases like baggage fees and seat upgrades. If you’re a qualifying Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you get a 25% to 75% boost on your rewards. The welcome bonus of 50,000 online bonus points (after you make $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening) has a value of $500.
• Biggest drawbacks: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card lacks the flexibility of other cards with an annual fee. The best rewards are reserved for people with large bank accounts, and you won’t be able to transfer your points to any airline or hotel partners.
• Alternatives: The Citi Premier card offers 3 points per dollar on flights, hotels and dining versus the Bank of America Premium Rewards card’s 2 points per dollar. Citi Premier also offers 3 points per dollar on gas and grocery spending.
• Bottom line: This card could be a good fit for heavy packers who can take advantage of the airline incidental fee credits or people who already have a Bank of America checking account. Those who are loyal to one airline or don’t bank with Bank of America may not find much value in this card.

Read our Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best no-annual-fee travel credit card: Discover it® Miles

• Best features: The Discover it® Miles offers simplicity and flexibility without the annual fee. All purchases earn 1.5X miles, which is a fairly average offer. But Discover sweetens the deal by matching all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You can redeem your rewards at any time without fear of blackout dates, expiration dates or mile limits.
• Biggest drawbacks: Discover it Miles only matches the miles earned at the end of your first year, so your earning potential takes a big dip after that. You should also consider the fact that you can’t transfer miles to any airline frequent-flyer programs, which limits any possibility of miles boosts in that way.
• Alternatives: Also without an annual fee, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card offers 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, at grocery stores, plus 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Bottom line: This card’s generous first-year welcome offer is ideal for budget-friendly travelers or someone looking for their first travel credit card.

Related: Is the Discover it Miles card worth it?

Read our Discover it Miles review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best hotel credit card: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

• Best features: Cardholders earn 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2X points on all other purchases. They also enjoy a bevy of other Marriott benefits, including free in-room Wi-Fi, late checkout and a fifth night free on any rewards stay of five consecutive nights or longer.
• Biggest drawbacks: The card carries a $95 annual fee, so make sure you spend and travel enough to recoup that charge.
• Alternatives: Though it charges a much higher annual fee of $450, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card delivers much more in terms of perks and can help you reach elite status much faster.
• Bottom line: The rewards apply to Marriott hotels, so if you don’t frequent the brand, you’ll be better served by a different hotel credit card. Marriott hotel fans who travel enough to recoup a $95 annual fee will appreciate this card.

Read our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for United MileagePlus members: United Quest℠ Card

• Best features: There are many ways to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. The sign-up bonus (70,000 miles after spending $4,000 in your first three months) could be worth up to $1,064 in United travel, given we estimate an average value of 1.52 cents per mile. You’re eligible to receive up to two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year if you take an eligible flight booked with rewards, a perk that has an estimated worth of $150, assuming the same mile valuation.
• Biggest drawbacks: You can only transfer miles to United partner airlines. Plus, the sign-up bonus is generous, but the spending requirements to receive the offer are quite high.
• Alternatives: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a similar rewards rate but cardmembers also earn 3 miles per dollar on direct hotel bookings and 2 miles per dollar on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. Cardmembers also receive an annual companion certificate for an eligible round-trip domestic flight each year upon renewal (not including taxes and fees).
• Bottom line: Even semi-frequent United flyers can come out ahead with this premium airline credit card, thanks to its anniversary bonus, checked baggage fee waivers and the up to $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee.

Read our United Quest℠ Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details.

Best for fair credit: Credit One Bank® Wander™ Card

• Best features: This is the rare travel rewards credit card that is accessible to people with fair credit. It focuses on earning elevated rewards in a number of recreational categories, such as sporting events and visits to national parks, as well as dining and lodging.
• Biggest drawbacks: You won’t earn bonus rewards on airfare or on everyday spending like gas or groceries. People with good-to-excellent credit can find rewards cards that have better features and travel benefits for a similar annual fee. And people with fair credit who are wary of paying that $95 annual fee have better credit-building options available to them. Plus, the card charges foreign transaction fees, so it’s not ideal for international travel.
• Alternatives: The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a flexible rewards credit card for people with fair credit. It doesn’t have any high bonus rewards categories. But it charges a smaller annual fee of $39, has no foreign transaction fees and comes with unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
• Bottom line: This is a good choice for people with fair credit who can take advantage of the card’s featured bonus rewards categories.

Read our Credit One Bank® Wander™ Card review jump back to this card’s offer details.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel rewards credit cards let you earn points or miles you can redeem for travel purchases. Some offer a flat-rate of return on general purchases, but many offer bonus rewards for typical travel purchases or tangential travel spending categories, like restaurants, gas or even groceries. Earning points or miles is usually as easy as swiping your card in the right spots, and some cards provide limited-time offers and sign-up bonuses as opportunities to sprinkle more on top.

When it comes to exchanging your miles or points for trips, your redemption options will vary by card. Most travel credit cards stipulate that you redeem points or miles for travel purchases. (Some let you redeem for gift cards or cash back.) You can typically redeem points or miles by booking future trips through a designated portal, like Amextravel.com or Chase Ultimate Rewards, or transferring rewards to an issuer’s travel partners to book flights or hotel stays.

The basics of points and miles cards are pretty much the same. You swipe, tap or insert to make purchases, earn and accumulate rewards, and redeem for a discount on your next trip. Both points and miles cards often let you apply your earnings as a statement credit to refund eligible purchases, but there are some differences between the two that are useful to know.

How travel miles work

Travel miles are typically associated with an airline frequent flyer program. You’ll be able to earn miles by using an airline credit card to book flights with the co-branded airline or by making other kinds of eligible purchases. However, some general-purpose travel credit cards also use miles as their reward currency without tying them to a single airline or hotel brand.

The most common method of redeeming air miles is to use them for free flights, sometimes called award flights. In fact, some airlines have established award charts that give you information on what each flight would cost in miles, while others have switched to a dynamic pricing model that bases award pricing on multiple factors, including seasonality and route popularity.

How travel points work

Travel points usually come in two forms: general-purpose points earned with non-branded credit cards and points earned with co-branded hotel and airline credit cards. You can earn these points by using your card to book travel and make other eligible purchases.

Co-branded hotel points are usually redeemed for free nights at that particular hotel brand while general-purpose points offer more flexibility in how you redeem them since they aren’t tied to any individual brand. Based on what card you have, your options could include redeeming these points for statement credits to help pay for previous travel purchases, booking current travel purchases or transferring them to the issuer’s hotel and airline partners.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although the travel benefits and rewards offerings of travel credit cards are enticing, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each card to determine if it’s the right fit for your travel and spending habits.

How to choose a travel credit card

Who should get a travel credit card

• Frequent flyers. If you’re someone who spends lots of time up in the air or booking hotel stays, you can absolutely benefit from earning rewards towards flights and free nights with a travel credit card. Regular travelers will also appreciate the additional benefits that relieve certain stresses of the travel experience. If you’re new to travel, look for cards that are less risky, like cards with no annual fee or ones with easy-to-understand rewards. Globetrotters both new and old will also appreciate the lack of foreign transaction fees many travel cards offer.
• Brand loyalists. Fans of particular airlines and hotel chains can reap some serious rewards with their go-to brands. If you’re someone who sticks to the same spot when it comes to booking your travel, there’s strong rewards and perks for loyal customers with a card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
• Luxury travelers. Vacationers looking for top-shelf travel perks and lucrative rewards programs may have to pay a pretty penny to carry their card, but options like The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve can easily offset their annual fees. You’ll find high-end earnings rates on your purchases and benefits to back it up. Take advantage of exclusive add-ons, like access to airport lounges, free checked bags, specialty offers and more.

Who should skip a travel credit card

• Someone looking for flexibility. If you aren’t a frequent traveler or tend to spend the majority of your money on non-travel-related expenses, you may be able to get greater value out of a cash back credit card. These general-purpose cash rewards cards are more versatile than the majority of travel cards. They can help you maximize the amount of points you earn on spending in multiple everyday categories like supermarkets, gas, transit, streaming services or online purchases. And redeeming can be far less complicated and far more flexible. Depending on the credit card, redemption options may include statement credit, direct deposit, check, and travel.
• Someone prone to overspending. The best travel rewards credit cards can help you save a lot of money but only if you use them strategically. Since rewards cards typically come with higher interest rates, you need to pay your balances in full each month to get the best value. If you can’t, you run the risk of losing more money to interest charges than you earn in rewards. You may even fall into credit card debt. If you aren’t able to pay your balances in full, a low-interest credit card may be a better option.

How to make the most out of your travel credit card

Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its travel guidance related to the coronavirus pandemic – including allowing fully vaccinated Americans to travel domestically without testing before or quarantining after their trip – you may be ready for a long, overdue vacation. A travel credit card can help fund or sweeten your trip. Here are some ways to best leverage one.

• Score a welcome offer. These promotions award you big bonus points if you spend a certain amount of money within a set timeframe, usually between your first three to six months as a cardholder. Consider charging the airfare or hotel stay on a new travel credit card with a strong offer to fund the remaining or future travel expenses. If you’re looking for a large welcome bonus, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card which is offering a generous 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership.
• Redeem rewards through a travel portal or transfer partner. If you’re using existing points or miles, these options tend to give you the most bang for your buck. For instance, if you have a premium Chase credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem points for travel through the Ultimate Rewards travel site for a 50% bonus. Meanwhile, transferring American Express Membership rewards to an airline partner, like Delta, garners the best cent-per-point ratio.
• Know what perks are available to you. It’s likely been a while since you’ve redeemed your travel rewards, so if you’re unfamiliar with your redemption options, revisit your rewards program’s terms and conditions. That’ll help you identify any additional perks you can take advantage of during your vacation, like supplemental travel insurance or free checked bags. In just one trip, a family of four could easily recoup a card’s annual fee through baggage fees alone. Likewise, your card may also cover incidentals in the event your baggage is lost. That means the issuer could reimburse you for any clothing, toiletries or medication you had to purchase, even if your bag was only delayed by a few hours (up to a specified amount).
• Skip the foreign transaction fees. Make sure to take along a card that skips this common overseas charge if you are traveling internationally. Many travel credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, but so do Capital One and Discover credit cards.

In the news: How to speed through security using your credit card

Having access to expedited security lanes via TSA Precheck and Global Entry can certainly take the sting out of an otherwise tedious travel experience. Yes, there’s a membership fee to join ($85 for five years of TSA Precheck membership and $100 for five years of Global Entry membership), but the convenience is worth the price for anyone who travels more than a couple of times a year. International travelers will find Global Entry to be more useful as it also covers TSA Precheck for just an additional $15.

Select travel enthusiasts may already have a credit card that covers the cost of a membership with TSA Precheck and Global Entry. This is a benefit offered by many premium travel credit cards, including the Capital One Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. But if you aren’t interested in paying sky-high annual fees, there are credit cards that cover your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Clear membership cost for a far more modest annual fee.

Want to learn more? CreditCards.com’s Ana Staples and Aaron Broverman round up the very best travel cards for expedited airport security screening.

How we picked the best travel cards

Research methodology: We analyzed 300 travel rewards credit cards to identify the best offers currently on the market. The major factors we considered include:

• Rewards rate: Does the card offer a competitive rewards rate for the travel category? For general purpose travel cards, this rate is generally between 1.25X to 2X rewards. For co-branded hotel or airline credit cards, we looked for a rate between 3X and 10X points on brand purchases, plus a competitive rate in other bonus categories.
• Welcome offer: Many travel credit cards offer a welcome offer or sign-up bonus that’s equivalent to a hotel stay or airline ticket when you spend a certain amount of money in a specific time frame, usually your first three to six months. Annual fee travel credit cards, in particular, may offer a welcome bonus valued between $500 to $900. We considered the value of the sign-up bonus, alongside the required spend to receive it.
• Ancillary travel perks: We considered whether the card offers additional travel benefits beyond base rewards. For instance, for airline credit cards, we considered whether they offered priority boarding, a free checked bag or lounge access. For hotel credit cards, we considered whether they offered upgrade opportunities, for Wi-Fi and free hotel stays with a card anniversary. For premium travel credit cards, we considered whether the card touted travel credits, travel insurance and other benefits that justified the high annual fee.
• Rates and fees: Travel credit cards do tend to carry annual fees and higher APRs than low-interest credit cards. However, we considered how a card’s APRs compared to the current credit card industry average and whether any fees could be avoided or recouped by its travel rewards and benefits.

All criteria used: Rewards rates, rewards categories, sign-up bonus, point values, transfer partners, redemption options, redemption flexibility, annual fee, other rates and fees, travel credits, airport lounge access, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, concierge service, other travel benefits, travel portal functionality, credit needed, customer service, events or other perks.

More information on travel credit cards

For more information on all things travel cards, continue reading content from our credit card experts:

• Cash back vs. points
• Trip cancelation reimbursement by credit card
• How to choose a travel credit card

About the Author

Jeanine Skowronski

Jeanine Skowronski is a credit card expert, analyst, and multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience covering business and personal finance. She has previously served as the Head of Content at Policygenius, Executive Editor of Credit.com, Deputy Editor at American Banker, Staff Reporter at TheStreet and a columnist for Inc. Magazine.

About the Editor

Tracy Stewart

Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.

About the Reviewer

Stephanie Zito

Stephanie Zito is a professional traveler, humanitarian and credit card points collector sharing savvy travel tips she has learned firsthand from more than 20 years of circling the globe as a backpacker, expat and premium traveler in more than 125 countries and all seven continents.