Best Travel Credit Cards in 2024

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a strong contender for travel-savvy individuals. It offers exceptional rewards on travel-related spending, making it an efficient way to fund future adventures. Its premium perks, like lounge access and credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck offer an elevated travel experience, ensuring journeys are as comfortable as possible. Although the card carries a considerable annual fee, it’s not as high as those of luxury travel cards with many of the same benefits, and its rich rewards and perks can make it a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers. The card's generous welcome offer and unique anniversary bonus highlight Capital One's commitment to rewarding loyalty. All in all, it's an attractive package for those with wanderlust in their veins.

• Introductory Offers

  • Earn 75,000 Capital One Miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, equivalent to $750 in travel.
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles each year, starting on your first anniversary, which equals $100 towards travel.

• Rewards

  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Earn 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Earn 2X miles on all other purchases.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary lounge access for you and two guests at over 1,300 lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network.
  • Use your Venture X miles to cover travel expenses or transfer them to over 15 travel loyalty programs.
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection.
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is more than just a vehicle for purchases; it's a portal to a world of travel opportunities, all fueled by a flexible rewards program. This card is a great fit for the frequent traveler seeking to glean maximum value from their spending, with rewards extending beyond travel. With a sizable welcome bonus, impressive rewards on travel spending, an array of redemption options and a slew of annual credits and perks, this card can more than offset its high annual fee for the right cardholder.

• Introductory Offers

  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in the first six months.

• Rewards

  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year.
  • Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Receive a $200 Hotel Credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings.
  • Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • Access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
  • Enjoy a $155 Walmart+ Credit for eligible delivery fees and shipping.
  • Receive a $200 Airline Fee Credit for incidental fees with a selected airline.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • Receive a $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit for expedited airport security.
  • Get a $120 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck® credit for application fees.
  • Enjoy $100 Shop Saks with Platinum credit annually.
  • Unlock exclusive dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy.

• APRS, Fees, and Penalties

  • $695 annual fee. see Rates and Fees
  • Terms Apply.

We feel the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards card might work well for people who wish to make the most of their travel purchases without paying a steep annual fee.

This card comes with a $49 annual fee. It offers statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees, worldwide automatic travel accident insurance, collision damage waiver, and travel and emergency assistance. It charges no foreign transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use outside of the U.S.

New cardholders stand to earn 40,000 bonus points (valued at $400) if they spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Travel purchases from a host of categories earn 3X points per dollar, and all other purchases fetch 2X points.

If you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account, you may benefit by using this card’s introductory low APR offer on purchases, through which you pay 1.99% interest for the first six months. Further, this card does away with cash advance and balance transfer fees.

• Spending $4,000 within 90 days after receiving the card, earns you 40,000 bonus points worth $300. Plus, enjoy a year of free Amazon Prime® (a $139 value).
• Up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PrecCheck programs.
• 1.99% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, following which, a variable APR of 16.49% – 18.00% applies.

The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card comes with a $95 annual fee. However, you don’t have to pay this fee if you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage member. Even if you end up paying the annual fee, you may offset if easily if you make use of the available domestic air ancillary travel statement credit, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit and Priority Pass Airport Lounge membership.

New cardholders earn 50,000 bonus points if they spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. PenFed Honors Advantage members earn 4X points per dollar on all travel categories, and it changes to 3x points for non-members. All other purchases come with 1.5X points.

This PenFed credit union card comes with a 0% APR offer on balance transfers for 12 months. However, each balance transfer carried out during this period comes with a 3% fee.

Using this card when you travel internationally is perfect because it comes with no foreign transaction fees.

• 4X points on all travel categories for PenFed Honors Advantage members
• 3X on all travel categories for non-members
• 1.5X points on all other purchases
• Earn 50,000 welcome bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days
• Consolidate debt with a 0% balance transfer promo offer

We feel the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great alternative for travelers not just because of its generous sign-up offer but also because it lets you transfer your reward points to different airline loyalty programs.

As a new cardholder, you may earn 60,000 bonus points by spending $4,000 in the first three months. You earn 3X points per $1 for spending on flights and hotels, at restaurants, at supermarkets and at gas stations. All other purchases come with 1X points. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® points per dollar spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

Transferring your points to popular frequent flyer programs such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, JetBlue TrueBlue and Emirates Skywards is an option, and you pay no extra fee.

Having to pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card outside of the U.S. is great. You also get $100 off a single hotel stay that costs $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) once every year. You may offset the card's $95 annual fee by using this benefit alone.

Getting additional cards for authorized users comes at no extra cost and gives you the ability to earn points faster.

• Introductory Offers

  • For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

• Rewards

  • Earn 10 ThankYou Points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
  • Earn 3 points per dollar on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and EV charging stations.
  • Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Enjoy a $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more once per calendar year when booked through CitiTravel.com.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases.
  • Points do not expire and there's no limit to the amount you can earn.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers incredible value and convenience for regular travelers and general consumers alike. A key strength is its high earning rate on travel-related expenses, rewarding you with generous miles for hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel. Furthermore, it provides broad earning potential with 2X miles on all other spending. Its sizable welcome offer further elevates its appeal. Flexibile mile redemption options, coupled with travel perks such as an application credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and no foreign transaction fees, make it an excellent companion for your travel and daily spending needs.

• Introductory Offers

  • Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, equivalent to $750 in travel.

• Rewards

  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Miles do not expire for the life of the account, with no earning cap.
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection.
  • Use miles to reimburse any travel purchase or book a trip through Capital One Travel.

The American Express® Gold Card has outstanding features and benefits. Its generous rewards program allows cardholders to earn substantial points on dining and groceries, making it easy to get rewarded for everyday expenses. Additionally, you'll enjoy entertainment perks, like a dining credit at eligible restaurants and access to presale event tickets. Overall, the American Express Gold Card is a great card for both ordinary and extraordinary spending.

• Introductory Offers

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months.

• Rewards

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 annually, then 1X points.
  • Earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 annually, then 1X points.
  • Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X points on prepaid hotels and eligible purchases through AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X point on all other eligible purchases.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Receive $120 Uber Cash annually for Uber Eats or rides in the U.S. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No foreign transaction fees. See Rates and Fees

• APRs, Fees, and Penalties

  • Annual fee is $325. See Rates and Fees
  • Know if you're approved for a card with no impact on your credit score. Accepting the card may impact your score.
  • Terms apply.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers exceptional value and flexibility for both frequent travelers and everyday spenders. It allows you to earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1.25X miles on all other purchases. The card also provides a generous welcome bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within the first three months. The enticing welcome bonus and the absence of annual and foreign transaction fees add further value to this card. While there are some considerations, such as a balance transfer fee and potentially higher ongoing APR, this card's overall quality and functionality make it a desirable option for consumers seeking flexibility and rewards.

• Introductory Offers

  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months, equivalent to $200 in travel.

• Rewards

  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

• APRs, Fees, and Penalties

  • Enjoy a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
  • Benefit from 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that, with a balance transfer fee.

• Perks & Benefits

  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account, and there's no limit to how many you can earn.
  • Transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.
  • Use your miles to reimburse any travel purchase or book trips through Capital One Travel.