• HOME
  • About
  • Shop
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
    • Budget Travel Bible
  • Destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Haiti
      • United States
        • Arizona
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Idaho
        • Illinois
        • Montana
        • Nevada
        • New York
        • Oregon
        • South Dakota
        • Utah
        • Washington
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
        • National Parks
    • Europe
      • Faroe Islands
      • France
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • United Kingdom
    • Asia
      • Maldives
    • Oceania
      • Hawaii
      • French Polynesia
        • Bora Bora
        • Tahiti
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Travel Tips
    • Budget Travel Tips
    • Travel Hacking
    • All Travel Tips
  • Travel Essentials
    • Gift Guides
    • Packing Lists
  • Travel Photography
    • Camera Gear
    • Photography Tips
    • Photography Guides
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Search

    Let's be friends!

    Salt free + shark free 🌊 📍Lake Michigan If Salt free + shark free 🌊

📍Lake Michigan

If you’ve never been to the Great Lakes, you have no true understanding of just how huge these freshwater lakes are! People are stunned whenever they first visit that they can’t see the other side of the lakes. Not even close.

Between the surf, strong currents, shipwrecks, unique marine life and vastness, the Great Lakes truly feel like oceans.

The different? No salt to sting your eyes and (arguably more importantly) no scary sharks. 🦈 

Have you ever been to the Great Lakes?
    A different kind of grief. 📍Mount Fremont Fire A different kind of grief.

📍Mount Fremont Fire Lookout in Mount Rainier National Park
    I’m tired. 😭😂 Okayyyy so this all may be I’m tired.

😭😂

Okayyyy so this all may be true, but without Instagram, I never would have started my travel blog over at indigosahara.com, which has had over a MILLION readers.

And I am so thankful for that.

But yeahhh I’m tired. 💀

Follow @indigosahara for daily travel tips + destination guides!! 🤣
    I am girls. 🧺 I am girls. 🧺
    Those are happy tears btw. ✈️ Just booked a b Those are happy tears btw. ✈️

Just booked a business class lay-flat seat from the USA to Japan for $32.69. Yes, really. 🤯

How?

Easy.

First, I opened one new travel credit card with flexible points and responsibly earned the card’s opening bonus.

Then, after I got a @thriftytraveler email alert for Delta One award availability from the USA to Japan, I transferred those flexible points to an airline transfer partner (in this case, Flying Blue to book a Delta One flight through Air France).

Boom. 89,500 points (which is a bargain, by the way) + $32.69 out of pocket later…

I got myself a biz class flight worth $7000 for less than the cost of our Chipotle order. 💸

Want access to my free beginner guide to points and miles? Comment “Beginner” and I’ll send it over ASAP.
Travel Blog

Indigo Sahara

Travel Reviews, Guides, Tips & Travel Hacking

  • Destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Haiti
      • United States
        • Arizona
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Idaho
        • Illinois
        • Montana
        • Nevada
        • New York
        • Oregon
        • South Dakota
        • Utah
        • Washington
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
        • National Parks
    • Europe
      • Faroe Islands
      • France
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • United Kingdom
    • Asia
      • Maldives
    • Oceania
      • French Polynesia
        • Bora Bora
        • Tahiti
      • Hawaii
    • South America
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Travel Tips
    • Budget Travel Tips
    • Travel Hacking
    • All Travel Tips
  • Travel Essentials
    • All Travel Essentials
    • Packing Lists
    • Gift Guides
  • Travel Photography
    • Camera Gear
    • Photography Tips
    • Photography Guides

17 Best Travel Credit Cards 2025

By: Indigo Sahara, M.A. | Published: January 8, 2024 | Updated: December 30, 2024

Overall, the best travel credit cards for 2024 are the Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X travel credit cards.

Best Travel Credit Cards

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If a product is purchased using one of the following links, I may earn a small commission from the brand at no cost to you.

However, there are various factors to consider when choosing the best travel credit cards for you, such as the opening bonus, annual fee and miles rewarded.

Thanks to travel credit cards and the responsible use of these cards called travel hacking, I’ve been able to travel all over the world for free. You can too.

Here are the best travel credit cards this year.

best travel credit cards

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Overall Best Travel Credit Cards
  • Best Premium Travel Credit Cards
  • Best Travel Credit Cards For Miles
  • Best Travel Credit Cards For Opening Bonuses
  • Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
  • What is the easiest travel card to get?
  • More Travel Credit Card Tips
  • Save These Travel Credit Cards For Later

Overall Best Travel Credit Cards

1. Capital One Venture Rewards

best travel credit cards for beginners
APPLY NOW
  • 2X miles per dollar spent.
  • 75,000 mile opening bonus.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
  • 19.99%-29.99% APR.

Opening bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: best midtier card opening bonus, great mile per dollar rate, points redeemable on multiple airlines and hotels, travel insurance protection, 5X miles on travel purchases booked through Capital One Travel and more.

Cons: excellent credit score required.

2. Capital One Venture X Rewards

best travel credit cards to get free flights
apply now
  • 10X miles on Capital One Travel hotels and rental cars.
  • 5X miles on Capital One Travel flights.
  • 2X miles on all other purchases.
  • 75,000 mile opening bonus
  • 10,000 mile anniversary bonus.
  • $300 annual travel credit.
  • Airport lounge access.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $395 annual fee.
  • 19.99%-29.99% APR.

Opening bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: best premium travel credit card overall, points redeemable on multiple airlines and hotels, no blackout dates, free additional cardholders, cell phone protection, travel insurance protection and more.

Cons: high annual fee, excellent credit score required.

3. Chase Sapphire Preferred

best credit cards for travel
APPLY NOW
  • 3X miles on dining purchases.
  • 2X miles on travel purchases.
  • 1X miles on other purchases.
  • 60,000 mile opening bonus.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fee.
  • 21.49%-28.49% APR.

Opening bonus: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $4000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: 5X miles on travel purchases booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, points redeemable on multiple airlines and hotels, travel insurance protection and more.

Cons: Chase 5/24 restrictions, excellent credit score required.

Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve

best travel rewards credit cards
APPLY NOW
  • 10X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • 5X miles on flights booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • 60,000 mile opening bonus.
  • $300 annual travel credit.
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
  • Airport lounge access.
  • $550 annual fee.
  • 22.49%-29.49% APR.

Opening bonus: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $4000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: travel insurance protection, partner benefits and more.

Cons: Chase 5/24 restrictions, $75 fee for each authorized user, high annual fee, excellent credit score required.

Best Travel Credit Cards For Miles

1. The Gold Card from American Express

best credit cards for international travel
APPLY NOW
  • 4X miles on restaurant purchases.
  • 4X miles on grocery purchases.
  • 3X miles on American Express Travel flights.
  • $120 dining credit.
  • $120 Uber cash.
  • $100 American Express Travel hotel credits.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $250 annual.
  • 21.24%-29.24% APR.

Opening bonus: Up to 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $6000 in the first 6 months.

Pros: travel insurance protection, over $300 in statement credits, rental car insurance and more.

Cons: highest mid-tier annual fee, excellent credit score required.

2. Citi Premier Card

best credit cards for travel points
APPLY NOW
  • 3X miles on restaurants, groceries, gas stations, flights and hotels.
  • 1X miles on other purchases.
  • 60,000 mile opening bonus.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • 21.24%-29.24% APR.

Opening bonus: 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $4000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: good miles per dollar rewards and more.

Cons: fewer card benefits.

Best Travel Credit Cards For Opening Bonuses

1. The Platinum Card From American Express

best credit cards for travel
APPLY NOW
  • Up to 150,000 mile opening bonus.
  • 5X miles on American Express Travel purchases.
  • 1X miles on other purchases.
  • $1500+ in statement credits.
  • $189 CLEAR Plus credit.
  • Premium car rental status.
  • Airport lounge access.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • 21.24%-29.24% APR.

Opening bonus: Up to 150,000 bonus miles after you spend $8000 in the first 6 months.

Pros: best premium travel credit card benefits, over $1500 in statement credits for airlines/Uber/hotels/groceries/etc., travel insurance protection, cell phone protection and more.

Cons: highest annual fee, excellent credit score required.

2. IHG One Rewards Premier

best credit cards for travel rewards
APPLY NOW
  • 140,000 point opening bonus.
  • Up to 26X points at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
  • 5X on select travel purchases.
  • 5X on gas purchases.
  • 5X on dining purchases.
  • 3X on other purchases.
  • Free anniversary night.
  • Free 4th night on 3-night bookings.
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit.
  • IHG Elite Status.
  • $99 annual fee.

Opening bonus: 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: low annual fee, great opening bonus, great points per dollar rewards, free night stays, travel insurance protection and more.

Cons: points best redeemed on IHG hotel stays, Chase 5/24 restrictions.

3. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

best credit cards for travel miles
APPLY NOW
  • Up to 180,000 point opening bonus.
  • 14X points on Hilton hotels and resort.
  • 7X points on select travel.
  • 7X points on dining purchases.
  • 3X points on other purchases.
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status.
  • $400 Hilton resort credit semi-annually.
  • Free night annually.
  • $200 flight credit per year.
  • $189 CLEAR Plus credit.
  • $550 annual fee.
  • 20.99%-29.99% APR.

Opening bonus: up to 180,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6000 in the first 6 months.

Pros: best premium travel credit card point per dollar reward, exclusive Diamond Status hotel experiences and more.

Cons: high annual fee.

Stay organized with my Travel Hacking Spreadsheet! This free downloadable spreadsheet will ensure all your credit card bonuses, annual fee deadlines and payment deadlines stay organized.

4. Chase Ink Business Preferred

best credit cards for travel rewards
APPLY NOW
  • 100,000 mile opening bonus.
  • 3X miles on select business purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • 21.24%-26.24% APR.

Opening bonus: 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $8000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: miles worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, travel insurance protection, free employee cards and more.

Cons: high opening bonus spending minimum.

5. Disney Premier Visa

travel hacking
APPLY NOW
  • $300 cash back statement credit opening bonus.
  • 10% off on select Disney Park dining purchases.
  • 10% off on other select Disney Park purchases.
  • Exclusive Disney Park character photo opportunities.
  • Free character card designs.
  • $49 annual fee.

Opening bonus: $300 statement credit after you spend $1000 in the first 3 months.

Pros: Disney vacation discounts, exclusive discounts and experiences in Disney Parks, spending minimum easily earned with Disney Park pass purchases, low annual fee and more.

Cons: not for people who don’t travel to Disney Parks, earns only Disney Rewards dollars, Chase 5/24 restrictions.

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

1. Wells Fargo Autograph

travel hacking credit cards
APPLY NOW
  • 3X miles on select dining, gas, travel purchases and more.
  • 1X miles on other purchases.
  • Up to 30,000 mile opening bonus.
  • No foreign currency conversion fees.
  • 0% APR for first year.
  • 20.24%-29.99% APR after first year.

Opening bonus: 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1500 in the first 3 months.

Pros: highest opening bonus for no annual fee, highest miles per dollar for no annual fee, zero APR for first year, travel insurance protection, cell phone protection and more.

Cons: lower opening bonus than paid cards.

2. Bilt World Elite Mastercard

credit card points for travel
APPLY NOW
  • 3-6X points on dining purchases.
  • 2-4X points on travel purchases.
  • 1X points on rent (no transaction fee).
  • 1X points on other purchases.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No foreign currency conversion fees.
  • 21.49%-29.49% APR.

Opening bonus: none.

Pros: earn points on any apartment rental without a transaction fee, higher points per dollar on the first of the month, travel insurance protection and more.

Cons: no opening bonus, must use card 5 times per month to earn points.

3. US Bank Altitude Connect

best travel credit cards
APPLY NOW
  • 5X miles on Altitude Reward Center travel bookings.
  • 4X miles on gas station and EV station purchases.
  • 2X miles on grocery and dining purchases.
  • 2X miles on other purchases.
  • 50,000 miles opening bonus.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
  • No annual fee for first year.
  • $95 annual for following years.

Opening bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $1000 in the first 120 days.

Pros: good opening bonus, $30 streaming service statement credit and more.

Cons: annual fee after first year.

4. Bank Of America Travel Rewards Card

best travel credit card
APPLY NOW
  • 1.5X miles on every purchase.
  • 25,000 mile opening bonus.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • 18.24%-28.24% APR.

Opening bonus: 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $1000 in the first 90 days.

Pros: no annual fee, low introductory APR and more.

Cons: lower opening bonus.

5. Capital One VentureOne Rewards

best travel credit cards for beginners
APPLY NOW
  • 1.25X miles on every purchase.
  • 20,000 mile opening bonus.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • 19.99%-29.99% APR.

Opening bonus: 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 months.

Pros: travel insurance protection, no annual fee, 5X miles on travel purchased through Capital One Travel, low opening bonus minimum spending and more.

Cons: low opening bonus, excellent credit score required.

What is the easiest travel card to get?

1. Credit One Bank Wander Card

best travel credit cards to get free flights
APPLY NOW
  • 10X points on eligible Credit One Bank travel partner bookings.
  • 5X on eligible flights, dining and gas purchases.
  • 1X points on all other purchases.
  • 10,000 point opening bonus.
  • Average credit score required.
  • 10% cash back from select retailers.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • 29.24% APR.

Opening bonus: 10,000 bonus points when you spend $1000 in the first 90 days.

Pros: low credit score requirement, high dining and gas points per dollar and more.

Cons: low opening bonus, high APR, annual fee.

Can’t decide which card to open? Take this free quiz to help you choose the best travel credit card for you.

Best Travel Credit Cards

More Travel Credit Card Tips

How To Get Free Flights For Life (Travel Hacking For Beginners)
How To Choose The Best Travel Credit Card (Quiz)
Cheap Travel Tips That Will Change Your Life

Save These Travel Credit Cards For Later

Save this list of the best travel credit cards for later by sharing to your socials.

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

By: Indigo Sahara, M.A.

About Indigo Sahara, M.A.

Indigo Sahara, M.A., is the founder and CEO of the Indigo Sahara travel blog. Since earning her master's degree in global leadership, she has traveled to more than 20 countries. Now, her goal is to make travel accessible to all by teaching others how to travel on a budget. She writes world travel guides and travel hacking tips weekly.

you’ll also love

how to get free flightsHow To Get Free Flights For Life (Travel Hacking For Beginners)
how to travel moreHow To Travel More In 2025
flying for the first timeFlying For The First Time Step-By-Step Checklist

Get exclusive content.

Stay up-to-date & receive the latest travel guides and tips right to your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

How To Get Free Flights For Life (Travel Hacking For Beginners)

Primary Sidebar

Meet Indigo

Meet Indigo
hello!

I'm Indigo, a 27-year-old full-time travel blogger who's on a mission to make travel accessible to all through budget travel tips and bucket list destination guides.

Read More

Let's Be Social

get exclusive content

Search The Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

Indigo Sahara

Catch Up On The Lastest Posts

Follow On Instagram

@indigosahara

Salt free + shark free 🌊 📍Lake Michigan If Salt free + shark free 🌊

📍Lake Michigan

If you’ve never been to the Great Lakes, you have no true understanding of just how huge these freshwater lakes are! People are stunned whenever they first visit that they can’t see the other side of the lakes. Not even close.

Between the surf, strong currents, shipwrecks, unique marine life and vastness, the Great Lakes truly feel like oceans.

The different? No salt to sting your eyes and (arguably more importantly) no scary sharks. 🦈 

Have you ever been to the Great Lakes?
A different kind of grief. 📍Mount Fremont Fire A different kind of grief.

📍Mount Fremont Fire Lookout in Mount Rainier National Park
I’m tired. 😭😂 Okayyyy so this all may be I’m tired.

😭😂

Okayyyy so this all may be true, but without Instagram, I never would have started my travel blog over at indigosahara.com, which has had over a MILLION readers.

And I am so thankful for that.

But yeahhh I’m tired. 💀

Follow @indigosahara for daily travel tips + destination guides!! 🤣
I am girls. 🧺 I am girls. 🧺
Those are happy tears btw. ✈️ Just booked a b Those are happy tears btw. ✈️

Just booked a business class lay-flat seat from the USA to Japan for $32.69. Yes, really. 🤯

How?

Easy.

First, I opened one new travel credit card with flexible points and responsibly earned the card’s opening bonus.

Then, after I got a @thriftytraveler email alert for Delta One award availability from the USA to Japan, I transferred those flexible points to an airline transfer partner (in this case, Flying Blue to book a Delta One flight through Air France).

Boom. 89,500 points (which is a bargain, by the way) + $32.69 out of pocket later…

I got myself a biz class flight worth $7000 for less than the cost of our Chipotle order. 💸

Want access to my free beginner guide to points and miles? Comment “Beginner” and I’ll send it over ASAP.

Footer

Blog

  • Destinations
  • Travel Tips
  • Travel Essentials
  • Travel Photography
  • Camera Gear

Info

  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Portfolio
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund And Returns Policy

stay in the know

Copyright Indigo Sahara © 2025 · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies.Accept