Best travel credit cards of 2024

Earn miles and points to save money on travel with a rewards card. Get matched to credit cards from our partners based on your unique credit profile.

Earn intro bonuses

You could get $200 or more to offset vacation expenses.

Enjoy air travel benefits

Get perks, like rental car insurance, free checked bags and access airport lounges.

No foreign transaction fees

Use your card wherever you travel without paying foreign transaction fees.

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All travel credit cards

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25 partner offers

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro bonus:

N/A

Rewards:

1x-10x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$95

Annual percentage rate (APR)

The APR on credit cards is simply the interest rate the card issuer charges when you don't pay off your balance in full each month—it doesn't include the card's annual fees or other fees you may be charged for using your card. There are several types of APR that can apply to credit cards including purchase, balance transfer and cash advance.

Intro bonus

A credit card intro bonus, also called a welcome bonus, is a benefit that credit card issuers offer new cardholders when they're approved for the new card. While some intro bonuses offer automatic rewards upon approval, most require you to spend a certain amount on eligible purchases in a given timeframe to qualify. Look for cards with a high intro bonus and a low spending requirement.

Rewards

You can earn rewards in the form of cash back, points or miles with a rewards credit card. Look for cards that offer around 2 points or miles (or 2% cash back) on everyday spending. Many rewards cards have special categories such as gas, groceries, dining and travel that earn rewards at a significantly higher rate—3x to 6x, for example. Look for rewards that align with what you spend the most on.

Annual fee

Some credit cards have an annual fee you'll pay when you first receive the card and at each cardholder anniversary. Take the cost of an annual fee into account when considering which options will benefit you the most over the course of a year.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Rewards:

1x-2x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.

Rewards:

3x-7x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Intro bonus:

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards:

1x-5x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee:

$695

Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit

Intro bonus:

N/A

Rewards:

1.25x-5x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

30.74% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card logo.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards:

2x-6x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$250

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Rewards:

1x-3x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$350

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Intro APR:

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards:

1.25x-5x (Miles per dollar)

Annual Fee:

$0

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

Rewards:

2x-5x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$95

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

Rewards:

1x-3x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Double Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards:

2% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro APR:

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards:

1%-8% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

19.48% or 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Rewards+® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Rewards:

1x-2x (Points per dollar)

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Premier® Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Rewards:

1x-3x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$95

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards:

2x-6x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$650

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card logo.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Rewards:

1x-3x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$650

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.

Rewards:

2x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

21.24% - 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$99, waived for first 12 months

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Ongoing APR:

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Rewards:

2% (Cash Rewards)

Annual Fee:

$0

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

Rewards:

2x-10x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$395

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Rewards:

1x-2x (Miles per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro APR:

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards:

1.5%-5% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards:

3x-12x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$150

American Express® Gold Card

Intro bonus:

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards:

1x-4x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee:

$250

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Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any offer.

*For complete information, see the offer terms and conditions on the issuer or partner's website. Once you click apply you will be directed to the issuer or partner's website where you may review the terms and conditions of the offer before applying. We show a summary, not the full legal terms – and before applying you should understand the full terms of the offer as stated by the issuer or partner itself. While Experian Consumer Services uses reasonable efforts to present the most accurate information, all offer information is presented without warranty.

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How to find the best travel credit card

1

See how to earn points

Pick a card that offers points for your most common purchases.

2

Look for sign-up bonuses

Spend a set amount to earn a bonus to offset travel costs.

3

Get travel protection

Some offer car rental insurance, lost baggage and other perks.

4

Compare annual fees

Most travel cards have an annual fee from $0-$500.

Start with your FICO® ScoreΘ and see card offers matched to your credit profile.

Get started for free

ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards allow you to earn rewards in the form of points, miles or cash back. Sometimes these rewards will be specific to an airline or hotel chain. Many travel cards also offer unique benefits, including annual statement credits and travel insurance that make them worthwhile for frequent travelers.

You generally need a good to excellent credit score to qualify for a travel credit card (FICO® Score 670 and above). However, there are travel credit cards for people with low credit scores.

While the perks that travel credit cards can offer are attractive, it's also important to note that most of them charge annual fees, which typically range anywhere from just under $100 to more than $500. As a result, it's important to review the card's rewards and benefits to see how their value compares to its annual fee. In many cases, a travel credit card's benefits can easily make up for its annual fee, but only if you use them.

Think about how often you travel each year. If you don't fly frequently or don't think you'd take advantage of an airline credit card's free checked bag benefits, a hotel credit card's anniversary night certificate or a premium credit card's airport lounge access, it might not be worth applying for one. Fortunately, a few travel credit cards don't have annual fees, but they also typically don't come with extra perks beyond the rewards program.

Points and miles are both types of rewards that you can earn on your credit card. The terms are generally interchangeable, as some airline rewards programs use the term "points," while others use "miles."

You'll generally get the most value out of your points and miles when you redeem them for travel, particularly if you have an airline or a hotel credit card. If you have transferable points, you can research itineraries with multiple loyalty programs to see which will give you the most value per point or mile. Other redemption options often include:

  • Deposit into your bank account
  • Statement credit
  • Gift cards
  • Charitable donations
  • Merchandise

The rewards you earn with your credit card generally doesn't expire while your account remains open. However if you close your card, you will likely forfeit any rewards. However, you'll often have a small window of time when you can redeem your rewards after closing your card—it depends on the card issuer's rules and card's terms.

In addition to points, miles or cash back, many travel credit cards also offer insurance protection and other credit card benefits that can provide a lot of value. Some of the more basic perks include:

  • Rental car insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty coverage
  • Travel insurance
  • Cellphone protection

Premium benefits that often come with higher annual fee cards may include:

  • Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credits
  • Credits for travel purchases
  • Complimentary airport lounge access
  • Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
  • Free checked baggage
  • Lost luggage reimbursement and delayed baggage insurance

As you compare cards, look beyond the rewards to ensure you're getting the most value based on how you plan to use your new card.

Once you've got your new travel credit card, consider how you can use it to get the most benefits. The big things to look for are:

  • Meet the spending requirement for the intro offer (if there is one) before the deadline.
  • Remember which categories offer bonus rewards and try to use your travel card for those purchases.
  • Compare redemption options and see which give you the best value for your rewards. With travel cards, it's often best to redeem for travel bookings or transfer your rewards to partner travel companies.
  • Review the cardholder benefits and see if you need to activate certain perks—such as a complimentary Priority Pass membership.
  • Learn about the purchase-related benefits, which may include travel and purchase protections.

If your card has an annual fee, you may also want to set a calendar reminder for next year. As your anniversary date approaches, review how you used the card and decide whether it's worth keeping the card.

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