12 Best Travel Credit Cards November 2024

We ranked the {name} as the best travel card overall because it has some of the most flexible and valuable points. It also has several types of travel insurance and protections while having a reasonable {fee.annual.text} annual fee. Those benefits and coupled with a good earning rate for travel and a generous sign-up bonus makes this a great card choice for both beginners and experienced travelers.

One of the most highly regarded credit cards in general, the {name} is also among the best Chase travel credit cards. The best way to maximize your rewards with this card is by redeeming them through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.

Along with charging a {fee.annual.text} annual fee, the {name} offers a generous rewards rate in popular travel spending categories. Cardholders {rewardsRateDesc}. The card also offers a solid sign-up bonus with a low spend requirement: {signUpBonus}. Rewards can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credit and merchandise.

The {fee.annual.text}-annual-fee {name} also offers a {purchaseIntroRate} ({purchaseGoToRate} after that), which can come in handy if you need to finance a trip and pay if off over time.

The {name} is our top pick for international travel because it has no foreign transaction fees. Plus, it's a Visa card, which means it generally has wide international acceptance. It has a simple rewards structure and a moderate {fee.annual.text} annual fee, which also makes it a good card for beginners.

Use your {name} to access two free lounge visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to more than 100 locations through its Partner Lounge Network.

The {name} is an excellent choice for business owners who want to earn lucrative travel rewards. The card's sign-up bonus on its own is enough to save you significantly on travel if you transfer those points to one of Chase's airline and hotel partners.

The travel perks and trip insurance benefits are limited on this card when compared with other travel credit cards, but you'll earn big on some business-related spending categories.

Travel for business? Optimize your "]business travel credit card for lounge access, airline miles or your other travel goals.

If you frequently travel and have the budget to splurge on a premium travel credit card, The {name} is an excellent choice offering a number of luxury travel perks. The card also comes with an extensive list of travel and purchase protections including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage waiver.

If you are looking for a credit card with solid travel insurance, The {name} is a great option despite its annual fee. You can take advantage of insurance and protections automatically when you use this card to make travel purchases.

The {name} is an excellent option for those with fair credit who are looking to travel internationally. This card is easy to get approved for and only requires a minimum security deposit of $200 which becomes your line of credit.

For those looking to build or improve their credit score while simultaneously earning rewards on everyday purchases that can be put towards travel, The {name} is a great option.

{name} is an elite travel card that gives you access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries. Its annual fee is {fee.annual.text}, but it comes with a long list of other perks, like large travel credits and hotel statuses (enrollment required). With strong travel protections and a large welcome offer, it can be well worth the steep annual fee for frequent travelers.

Choosing a card with airport lounge access is one of our best frequent traveler tips. The Platinum Card® from American Express gives you access to a multitude of luxurious airport lounges all over the world.

The {name} offers some of the most versatile points. It's not a co-branded card, so you can earn and redeem points in multiple ways. That includes booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for 50% more value or transferring points at a 1:1 rate to Chase's airline and hotel loyalty partners.

Be sure to take advantage of the annual $300 Chase travel credit that comes with this card to offset its high annual fee.

The {name} is one of the best for airline miles because of its welcome offer and rewards rate. {rewardsRateDesc} The rewards rate for everyday purchases can help your airline miles add up quickly.

Using Delta miles is a great way to travel for free and one of the best flight rewards credit cards. Be sure to use your {name} when you buy groceries, dine out or pick up from restaurants and for all Delta purchases to maximize your rewards earning potential.

The {name} can help students start earning points while establishing their credit. It's easier to qualify for than most other premium travel cards. Although its earning rate and sign-up bonus are minimal, it has a {fee.annual.text} annual fee — so it costs students nothing to learn how to use credit card points.

The {name} earns the same amount of points everywhere — so students can take this card anywhere and not have to wonder how many points they've earned.

The {name} is a great choice for Hilton Honors rewards members because of its high earning rates and generous welcome offer. You can earn elevated points on a wide variety of purchases, including Hilton hotels and resorts, U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and more. It also offers exclusive benefits that make this worth the {fee.annual.text} annual fee for Hilton frequenters.

Hilton Honors is one of the best hotel rewards programs, so investing in a Hilton credit card can be incredibly valuable for frequent Hilton travelers. This card automatically grants you Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required), which includes things like room upgrades when available, free continental breakfast, milestone bonuses and more.

{name} is similar to the [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail], but offers a few additional perks that can add to your luxury travel experience — whether you're a business owner or not. Cardholders will receive up to a $200 airline fee credit (enrollment required), up to $189 back in CLEAR® Plus Credits per year (enrollment required), and access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection. You'll also get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status (enrollment required), Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status (enrollment required), and access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

{name} is one of the best American Express travel cards. Those who can take advantage of the numerous travel perks that come with this card will be impressed by the significant value it offers.

If you don’t want to be tied to one specific airline or hotel brand, a general travel rewards credit card will be a good fit. Because flexible points have the obvious benefit of versatility, they may seem like a no-brainer. On the other hand, be aware that you may only get up to 3x points per $1 on travel purchases — but you’ll earn that on all travel spending regardless of the brand.

In general, you’ll want to consider the following:

Earning categories. You’ll want to go for a card that earns big on your main spending categories. Estimate your annual spending in major categories like travel, dining, groceries and gas, and then do the math to figure out how much you'd earn in a year with each one.

Welcome offer. While the welcome bonus shouldn't be as important as the card's lasting value, it's an important factor. If you're stockpiling points for a particular travel goal, these bonuses can get you there quickly. You should also consider the minimum spending requirement for these sign-up bonuses, as some are more attainable than others.

Transfer partners. Even if you decide you want flexible points, you're going to want to identify your preferred airlines and hotels, as you might be able to transfer your points at a 1:1 value. For example, the [data-lightrail id="92"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers transferable points. The list of available transfer partners can help you choose which generic travel credit card to get.

Credit card transfer partners

Rewards loyalty programs

If you're partial to a particular airline (for example, Delta SkyMiles) and want to earn miles to help offset the cost of airfare, an airline rewards card may be best. If the card is co-branded with an airline, like the [data-lightrail id="851"]{name}[/data-lightrail], any perks and rewards it offers only apply to that airline and, sometimes, any partner airline. Along with the value of the card’s sign-up bonus, look at the card’s earning rate on airline and everyday purchases. Also see if the card offers any of the following benefits:

Airline loyalty programs

Hotel points, like Hilton Honors points, are earned with one particular hotel program and can be redeemed for hotel nights with that program. While a hotel credit card will typically earn bonus points on more narrow categories, like spending at one specific hotel chain, some cards can get you 14x points per $1 at that hotel chain.

Along with no foreign transaction fees and elite status benefits, consider if the hotel card offers the following benefits:

The benefits and rewards offered by co-branded cards, like the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], are typically only useful at the card's respective hotel chain.

Hotel loyalty programs