Travel credit cards are one of those things that sound complicated until you realize they’re just a tool. Pick the right tool, and your flights get cheaper, your hotels get easier, and the little travel annoyances (like baggage fees, lounge food, and travel insurance) stop coming out of your wallet.
Pick the wrong one, and you end up paying a big annual fee for perks you never use.
This guide is designed to make the choice simple.
You’ll learn:
- What actually makes a travel card “good”
- Which cards are best for different travel styles
- How to avoid the common traps (overspending for credits, chasing points the hard way)
- The smartest 2-card and 3-card setups for earning faster
I’m going to keep it practical, real-life, and focused on decisions you can actually make.
First, what makes a travel credit card worth it?
When people say “top credit cards for travel,” they usually mean one of three things:
1) They want a big welcome bonus
This is the fastest win if you can meet the spending requirement without forcing it.
2) They want points they can use flexibly
Flexible points that transfer to airlines and hotels can be more valuable than being locked into one brand. That’s why cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred are popular, because they allow 1:1 point transfers to multiple airline and hotel programs.
3) They want premium perks
Lounge access, travel credits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, strong trip protections, and hotel status. Premium cards can be worth it, but only if you will actually use the perks.
The “best” card depends on which of these three goals matters most to you.
The 5 things you should check before you apply
If you only read one part of this guide, read this.
1) Annual fee vs what you’ll realistically use
A card is not “worth it” because a blog says it is. It’s worth it if you can use the benefits naturally.
Example: Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Reserve is now a $795 annual fee card.
That is a huge difference. If you are not using premium credits and lounge access regularly, the math can get ugly fast.
2) Foreign transaction fees
If you travel internationally, a card that charges foreign transaction fees quietly taxes you every time you use it abroad. That adds up.
Some travel-friendly cards explicitly have no foreign transaction fee, like the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
Bilt also highlights no foreign transaction fees in its materials for its card lineup.
3) How easy the points are to use
Points can be amazing or annoying.
Easy points are points you can use for:
- Any airline
- Any hotel
- Any booking
Hard points are the ones where you need to learn an entire loyalty program and hunt for “award availability” like it’s a second job.
If you want a simple travel life, pick points that let you book travel easily, even if the “maximum theoretical value” is lower.
4) Travel protections and insurance
This is underrated. The right card can cover delays, cancellations, rental car damage, and lost baggage.
For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance with stated coverage limits on the product page.
These benefits are part of why so many travelers consider it a strong all-around pick.
5) Your real spending categories
A travel card doesn’t help if you barely travel and your biggest spending is groceries and bills.
Some cards shine for travel purchases, others shine for everyday spend, and the best setups combine both.
The best travel credit cards by traveler type
Instead of one giant list, here’s a smarter way to choose: match the card to how you actually travel.
Best overall for most travelers: Chase Sapphire Preferred
If you want a “do-it-all” travel card without paying a luxury-level annual fee, this is often the easiest recommendation.
Why it’s a top pick:
- $95 annual fee
- Points can transfer 1:1 to a broad set of airline and hotel partners
- Strong built-in travel protections highlighted on the product page (including trip cancellation and interruption coverage)
Who it’s best for:
- People who travel a few times a year and want meaningful points
- People who want flexibility without paying a premium fee
- Couples and families who want protections and solid earning
Who should skip it:
- Someone who will never transfer points and never use travel protections
- Someone who wants luxury lounge access as the main perk
Best premium value (if you travel often): Capital One Venture X
Venture X is popular because it tries to “pay for itself” if you use it the way it’s designed.
Key facts pulled from Capital One’s own info:
- $395 annual fee
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year after your anniversary
- Lounge access, including Priority Pass network access for primary cardholders (enrollment required)
Why it can be a great deal:
If you fully use the $300 travel credit and value the anniversary miles, the net cost can feel much lower than the headline annual fee.
Who it’s best for:
- People who take multiple trips per year
- People who like a simple “premium” setup without juggling too many credits
- Travelers who value lounge access but don’t want the highest annual fee tier
Who should skip it:
- Someone who never books travel through the required portal for the travel credit
- Someone who wants luxury airline lounge networks that are more expansive than what most cards offer
Best luxury perks (for travelers who will use the credits): Amex Platinum
Amex Platinum is the classic luxury travel card, but it is not a “set it and forget it” card. It’s a lifestyle perks card as much as a travel card.
Key facts from American Express:
- The Platinum Card has an annual fee of $895
If you use the credits and benefits, the value can be excellent. If you don’t, the annual fee will hurt.
A big reason frequent travelers like it is lounge access and travel perks. It also has a well-known airline fee credit structure, often discussed as a way to reduce the sting of the annual fee if you naturally spend on eligible airline incidentals.
Who it’s best for:
- People who travel frequently and value airport lounge comfort
- People who will actually use statement credits without changing their spending habits
- Travelers who want premium hotel program perks and upgrades when booking certain ways
Who should skip it:
- People who hate tracking credits and enrollments
- People who travel once or twice a year and mostly want points
Best “no annual fee” travel card: Wells Fargo Autograph
A no-fee travel card is perfect if you want travel rewards without committing to a big annual fee.
Wells Fargo states:
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Earning includes 3X points on categories like travel, restaurants, gas, transit, and more
Who it’s best for:
- Beginners who want a travel-friendly card with no fee
- International travelers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees
- People who want one simple card that covers a lot of everyday life categories
Who should skip it:
- People who want transferable points to airline and hotel partners as the main strategy (this card is more about earning and redeeming through its rewards ecosystem)
Best for renters who want travel points: Bilt
Bilt is in its own lane because it’s built around earning rewards on housing-related spending.
Bilt promotes earning rewards tied to rent and housing, and it also highlights no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on its materials and recent updates.
This matters because rent is often the biggest monthly bill, and most cards don’t reward it in a meaningful way.
Who it’s best for:
- Renters who want to turn a huge monthly payment into travel rewards
- People who want transfer partner flexibility without paying an annual fee
Who should skip it:
- Homeowners who don’t pay rent and don’t benefit from its housing angle
- People who want premium travel perks like lounge access built in
Best premium “Chase ecosystem” option: Chase Sapphire Reserve
This card is powerful, but it is not for casual travelers anymore, mostly because of the fee.
Chase lists the Sapphire Reserve annual fee as $795 (plus $195 per authorized user).
Kiplinger also notes major fee increases across premium cards and that Sapphire Reserve moved to $795, alongside changes to perks and credits.
If you travel often and can use premium credits, it can still be worth it. If you do not, Sapphire Preferred is usually the smarter “value” choice in the same family.
Who it’s best for:
- Frequent travelers who will use travel credits and premium perks
- Travelers who want a premium card with strong travel protections and redemption options
Who should skip it:
- Anyone who is not consistently traveling and using the credits enough to justify $795 per year
The best 2-card setups for travel
This is where most people win. One card rarely does everything best. Two cards can.
Setup A: Flexible points plus no-fee everyday travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred (flexible points and protections)
- Wells Fargo Autograph (no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, broad 3X categories)
Why it works:
You earn solid everyday travel rewards without paying two annual fees, and you still have a powerful flexible-points engine.
Setup B: Premium travel perks with a simple earning strategy
- Venture X (premium perks, credits, lounge access)
- A no-fee card that covers your biggest spending categories
Why it works:
Venture X handles the premium travel experience. Your second card handles daily life.
Setup C: Renter-focused strategy
- Bilt (rent and housing rewards)
- One strong travel card for trips, protections, and bonuses (like Sapphire Preferred or Venture X)
Why it works:
You earn from the expense you already pay, then use a travel-focused card for actual travel purchases and protections.
How to decide in 5 minutes
If you want a fast decision, use this.
If you want the best mix of value and flexibility
Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred.
If you travel a lot and want premium perks that can offset the fee
Consider Venture X.
If you want luxury perks and will actually use credits
Consider Amex Platinum.
If you want no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Look at Wells Fargo Autograph.
If you rent and want to earn travel rewards from rent
Look at Bilt.
The biggest mistakes people make with travel cards
Mistake 1: Chasing points and overspending
If you buy things you didn’t need just to earn points, you lose.
Mistake 2: Paying for premium perks you don’t use
A premium fee can be worth it, but only if the credits match your real habits. That’s why premium fee increases have sparked so much debate, even among card fans.
Mistake 3: Ignoring foreign transaction fees
It’s one of the easiest ways to accidentally pay more for travel.
Mistake 4: Picking a card based on hype, not fit
The right card for a frequent business traveler is often wrong for a family that takes two trips a year.
FAQs: Top credit cards for travel
1) What are the top credit cards for travel right now?
Top choices are usually a mix of flexible points cards (like Chase Sapphire Preferred), premium perks cards (like Venture X and Amex Platinum), and strong no-fee travel cards (like Wells Fargo Autograph).
2) Is a premium travel credit card worth the annual fee?
It can be, but only if you use the credits and perks naturally. With premium annual fees rising, it’s more important than ever to do the math based on your real spending.
3) What is the best travel card for beginners?
A common beginner-friendly option is a solid no-fee card with travel-friendly features and no foreign transaction fees, like Wells Fargo Autograph.
4) What is the best travel card for someone who travels internationally?
Look for a card with no foreign transaction fees and rewards that fit your spending. Wells Fargo Autograph is one no-fee example, and some other travel-focused cards also remove foreign transaction fees.
5) What travel card gives the best lounge access?
Premium cards tend to lead here. Venture X includes lounge access to Capital One Lounges and a large network via Priority Pass (enrollment required). Amex Platinum is also known for lounge access and premium travel perks.
6) What is the best travel card if I want flexible points I can transfer?
Chase Sapphire Preferred is a well-known option for 1:1 transfers to multiple airline and hotel partners.
7) What is the best travel card if I rent and want points from rent?
Bilt is built around earning rewards tied to rent and housing spend, and it highlights no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees in its messaging.
8) Should I use one travel card or a combo?
Many travelers get the best results with two cards: one for flexible points or premium perks, and one for everyday spending categories.
Hi, I’m Bruno. I’ve worked in the aviation industry for over 6 years as a B1.1 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. This blog is where I share insights on aviation and travel globally.