The best travel credit cards are cherished assets for globe trotters who travel either for business or pleasure. This is because, with a good travel card, you get valuable rewards for all categories be it for business or pleasure, or both.
These cards, come with impeccable benefits such as free checked bags or complimentary airport lounge access, points and miles, luxury perks etc.
Best Travel Credit Cards – Top Picks
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent choice for globe trotters who love to dine and wine. Even though it comes with an annual fee of $250, it makes up for it with the number of luxury rewards that helps offset the cost.
Credit Score Required
Excellent/Good
Welcome Bonus
Offers 35,000 Membership Rewards® points after you have spent $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from opening your account.
Rewards
- Enjoy 4X Membership Rewards® points when you dine at restaurants globally and shop at U.S. supermarkets (upwards of $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X),
- There’s 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy 1X points on all other purchases.
What Fees Apply?
Annual Fee – $250
Regular APR – See rates and fees
Foreign Transaction Fees – None
Intro APR – Not applicable
Balance Transfer Fee – See rates and fees
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
If you need a card for luxury travel, you’d be making a great choice by choosing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. It is a card designed for travelers who love luxury perks and strong rewards program and offers cardholders a $300 annual statement credit to apply to qualifying travel expenses.
Credit Score Required
Excellent
Welcome Bonus
It comes with a 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from opening your account – equivalent to $750 towards travel when you redeem via Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Rewards
- Earn 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2022.
- Enjoy 3X points on travel worldwide (immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit).
- There’s also an offer of 3X points on dining at restaurants globally.
- Plus 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
What Fees Apply?
Annual Fee – $550
Regular APR – 18.49% – 25.49% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee – None
Intro APR – None
Balance Transfer Fee – 5%, minimum $5.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a card that offers benefits and rewards to its cardholders ranging from 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel as well as unlimited 2X miles on every dollar spent.
Credit Score Required
Excellent/Good
Welcome Bonus
Welcomes you with a bonus of 50,000 bonus miles immediately you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from opening your account.
Rewards
Enjoy 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
Earn as well as enjoy 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase.
What Fees Apply
Annual Fee – $0 first year, then $95
Regular APR – 17.24% – 24.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers.
Foreign Transaction Fee – None
Intro APR – N/A for purchases and balance transfers.
Balance Transfer Fee – 3% for promotional APR offers; none for balance transferred at regular APR.
TD First Class Visa Signature® Credit Card
This best for low interest credit card offers a unique welcome bonus, impressive rewards program as well as a relatively low 14.99% variable APR.
Credit Score Required
N/A
Welcome Bonus
Offers a whopping 25,000 miles when you spend $3,000 within the first 6 billing cycles.
Rewards
Earn a 3X miles bonus on every $1 spent on travel and dinning.
Revel 1X mile earned on every $1 spent on everything else.
What Fees Apply?
Annual Fee – $89, waived for the first year.
Regular APR – 14.99% variable
Foreign Transaction Fee – None
Intro APR – 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee – $5 or 3% of transfer, whichever is greater.
Who Can Apply?
The class of travel credit cards we have selected, will require having good – excellent credit (scores above 670) as card issuers always look out for this important factor before considering you for a card.
Thus, it is very essential that you check your credit score to be sure you are qualified to apply for one. And if your credit score is not in good standing, you should consider building up a good one before you go ahead to apply.
