Best Travel Credit Cards

April 4, 2023

The credit card arena is getting increasingly competitive, and major banks and airlines are all battling for customers armed with a variety of credit card options. This is especially true when it comes to travel rewards. In the realm of travel credit cards, card rewards are steadily escalating, and companies are offering high sign-up bonuses, travel statement credits, and the ability to earn double points on purchases. As travelers become savvier, the opportunities to use credit card rewards to finance experiences become more plentiful.

If you are currently in the market for a new travel card, check out five of the best credit cards for travel now.

Platinum Card American Express

With a 550 dollar annual fee, this card comes at a steep price but has the rewards to support the cost. Cardholders can earn up to 75,000 points after spending five thousand dollars in the first three months. The AmEx Platinum Card allows up to fifteen dollars per month for Uber, a one hundred dollar credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry application fees, and a two hundred dollar fee credit with a selected airline towards airline fees. Additionally, this card provides easier access to Gold Status from both Starwood Preferred Guest and Hilton Honors. For heavy travelers, the benefits of this card could easily cover its high price tag, but remember balances on American Express cards must be paid off in full every month. As with most travel cards, the Platinum Card from American Express has no foreign transaction fees. However, be careful when relying on this card on international trips as you are likely to encounter establishments that do not accept AmEx cards.

Continue reading to reveal the details on the next travel credit card, Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is hugely popular among travelers and often ranks high on the lists of best travel cards. According to some travel advice blogs, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the ideal starter card for someone new to travel rewards. The annual fee is ninety-five dollars, though it is waived for the first year. At fifty thousand points, the sign-up bonus is among the higher offers seen, and an additional five thousand points can be earned after adding an authorized user. Purchases made in the travel and dining categories, which include ridesharing companies and fast-food restaurants, are earned at twice the rate while all other purchases are earned at one point per dollar spent.

The primary advantages to the Sapphire Preferred are access to Chase Ultimate Rewards and the ability to transfer points to all the major alliances, as well as Southwest Airlines, at a 1:1 rate. When travel is booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, points can be redeemed at a 1.25:1 rate.

Continue reading to discover the details surrounding the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

Bank Of America Travel Rewards

Bank of America Travel Rewards is the only card on this list without an annual fee. Earning and redeeming points on this card is as straightforward as it gets. Users earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent and can redeem those points for a statement credit for travel-related purchases. This card offers a lower sign-up bonus at 20,000 points, but at one thousand dollars, the required spending is the lowest among this group of high-reward cards. Customers with active bank accounts with Bank of America can earn an additional ten percent for each purchase, and for Preferred Rewards clients, the point bonus increases to up to seventy-five percent based on balances across Bank of America and Merrill Edge/Merrill Lynch accounts.

Continue reading to learn about the Lufthansa credit card.

Lufthansa Credit Card

Lufthansa Airlines has teamed up with Barclaycard for a Miles & More rewards card. This card falls in the middle of the pack regarding the annual fee of eighty-nine dollars, and users receive 20,000 miles when the fee is paid and a purchase is made. There is the opportunity to earn another 30,000 bonus miles when cardholders spend five thousand dollars in three months. This puts the Lufthansa card high on the required spend list. Miles are earned at twice the rate for ticket purchases from Miles & More partners and one mile for every other dollar spent. Cardholders also receive two business lounge vouchers and one companion ticket per year. The Lufthansa Credit Card allows status mile conversions at a minimum of 5,000 miles and a maximum of 25,000.

Continue reading to learn about the stunning Capital One Venture card.

Capital One Venture Card

Looking for a card with an easy and straightforward way of earning and redeeming rewards? The Capital One Venture card may be the card for you. The Venture card earns two miles per dollar spent, regardless of the spending category. As an additional perk, Capital One has partnered with Hotels.com to offer ten times the miles on any hotel booking made via the bank’s link using the card. This offer is set to remain in place through January 31, 2020.

While the card doesn’t offer any other partners or transfer options, it makes redemption easy. Users can redeem miles for a statement credit within ninety days of a travel purchase made on the Venture. New cardholders can earn 50,000 miles as a sign-up bonus when they make three thousand dollars worth of purchases within the first three months of opening the card, and as each mile equating to one cent, this equals a five hundred dollar value. The Venture carries a ninety-five dollar annual fee, which is waived in the first year.

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