These travel rewards credit cards are your best bet!
You might be entirely new to credit cards in general. Or maybe you’ve just never owned a travel credit card. Whatever your case may be, if you’re planning on traveling more, a travel rewards credit card can be your new best friend!
The good news is that travel cards come in many different flavors. You can rewarded with points or miles and even get cards for those who regularly rely on ridesharing services. Some offer a flat rewards rate, while others offer rewards in numerous tiers.
No matter the type, The Frugal American has your best choices for travel rewards credit cards in today’s post. So read on, get your card, pack your bags, and Bon voyage!
American Express Gold Card
Best for: Dining and groceries
Annual fee: $325
Foreign transaction fees: None
-Why should you get it: We all need to eat anyway, right? Well, this travel rewards credit card offers bonus points on restaurant and grocery store spending. It also comes with credits you can put toward takeout and Uber.
If you’re a Gold Card user, you’ll even get access to Amex’s extensive transfer partner list when you want to put your hard-earned points to good use!
-How it earns points: You’ll earn 4 membership rewards points for each dollar spent with this travel rewards credit card on restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 annually.
Then, one point per dollar for the remainder of the year and 4 membership rewards points per dollar spent at US supermarkets.
It also earns 3 membership reward points for each dollar spent on flights that are booked directly on AmexTravel.com or with airlines, 2 reward points for every dollar spent on prepaid hotels, and 1 membership reward point for each dollar spent on all other eligible buys.
-Additional bonuses: This travel rewards credit card comes with a credit on dining of up to $120 which you can use for dining through Goldbelly, GrubHub, and many more, as well as $120 Uber Cash and a $100 for The Hotel Collection when you stay two or more nights.
It also provides baggage, shopping, and rental car protection.
-Current welcome bonus: You can earn 60,000 Rewards Points after you pay $6,000 with this card in the first six months of your membership.
You’ll also get 20% back in statement credits on purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Best for: Beginners
Annual fee: $95
Foreign transaction fees: None
-Why should you get it: This travel rewards credit card has been popular for years, and we can see why.
For a small annual fee, it has a sizable welcome bonus, strong earning rates in many popular categories, and the option to redeem points at a rate of 1.25 cents per point or transfer them to hotel and airline partners.
It’s widely considered a top pick for folks launching into the world of miles and points for the first time.
-How it earns points: This card earns two points per dollar on all travel acquisitions, three points per dollar on all your dining and online grocery needs, five points per dollar on travel bought through Chase, and three points per dollar on certain streaming services.
It also earns one point per dollar on everything else you can think of.
-Additional bonuses: If you have a travel delay, this credit card offers up to $500 per ticket in reimbursement for meals, hotels, and incidentals.
And if you booked flights for you and your spouse on the same card, you’d each qualify for the compensation. It also offers a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit and a 10% anniversary points bonus.
-Current welcome bonus: With this travel rewards credit card, you can get 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months within opening an account.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Best for: Airfare and lounge access
Annual fee: $695
Foreign transaction fees: None
-Why should you get it: This travel rewards credit card is a heavy hitter. With its solid points-earning potential, it takes all the headaches out of traveling.
It has access to elite status with two top hotel chains, two networks of domestic and international airport lounges, and so many credits.
All in all, it’s hard to keep track, especially because the list keeps growing. And when it’s time to cash in your points, you can transfer to multiple hotel and airline partners, including some of the world’s best carriers.
-How it earns points: You’ll earn five rewards points for every dollar you spend on any flights that are booked directly through Amex Travel or with an airline of up to $500,000 per calendar year, as well as five points for every dollar spent on prepaid hotels you book via Amex Travel.
It also gets you one point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
-Additional perks: Amex is trying to make up for this travel rewards credit card’s high annual fee with stimulating benefits and statement credits.
It comes with up to $200 per year in Uber credit, an annual $200 credit to the airline of your choosing to cover any incidentals, a $240 entertainment credit for certain digital subscriptions, a $300 Equinox credit to put toward a gym membership, and cell phone protection.
That’s not all, though. There’s also a $199 CLEAR Plus Credit, up to $200 hotel credit on certain prepaid bookings of at least two nights via Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit that’s worth up to $100, and roughly $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits.
We’re not finished! You even get airport lounge access to both Amex’s network of Priority Pass and Centurion Lounges, Gold Elite status with both Marriott and Hilton and (we know it’s hard to believe) even more.
Your card also comes with baggage, shopping, rental car insurance, and access to top-notch restaurant reservations through a partnership with Resy.
-Current welcome bonus: You’ll earn 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 within six months of opening your account.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best for: Value
Annual fee: $395
Foreign transaction fees: None
-Why should you get it: Besides having a solid earning potential, this travel rewards credit card offers a range of bonuses that make it a solid competitor against top offerings from Amex or Chase.
And it has a much lower annual fee. Points that are earned with your card can be transferred to the company’s solid list of transfer partners, including Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Air Canada Aeroplan.
-How it earns points: This travel rewards credit card nets two miles for each dollar spent on each purchase, including travel bonuses.
It gets 10 miles on the dollar on rental cars and hotels that are booked through the Capital One Travel portal, along with five miles for every dollar spent on your flights booked via the portal.
-Additional perks: The travel rewards credit card comes with a $300 annual credit valid for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal.
You’ll also get unlimited access for you and two people to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass lounges worldwide, a 10,000-mile bonus on every account anniversary, and up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
-Current welcome bonus: You can earn 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.
While we’re on this topic, where do you keep your credit cards? To keep yourself organized, we highly recommend grabbing a credit card holder from Amazon. Here’s one of our favorites: FurArt Credit Card Wallet
So what are YOUR thoughts on this matter? Which of these travel rewards credit cards will suit your needs? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
But don’t leave yet! If you found this article helpful, we highly recommend you also read: Here Are 12 Ways You Can Get Free Items From Companies
