Best travel credit card of September 2023

Americans have fully doubled the amount that they spend on vacation in the past four years, with the average household expected to shell out $2,830 for leisure travel this year, according to Allianz partners. Savvy travelers know that one way to stretch a vacation budget even further is by using a travel rewards credit card, which can help offset the costs of hotel, airfare, and other expenses.

But with so many travel rewards cards, including hotel and airline credit cards, on the market, it can be hard to find the right card for you. The below list of 10 of the best cards out there is a great place to start. 

• Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel portal and 2x miles on all other purchases
• Two free lounge visits per year to Capital One Lounges or its more than 100 partner lounges
• Flexibility to redeem miles for travel (through the Capital One Travel Portal) or cash back, or to transfer them to one of Capital One’s partner airline loyalty programs

• The current list of airline partners available for mile transfers does not include any of the large U.S. carriers
• No additional credits for things like Global Entry or checked bags

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a great credit card for folks new to the travel rewards game, since it has a relatively low annual fee ($95) and offers flexible rewards. You can redeem them through the Chase travel portal or transfer to a range of airline or hotel loyalty programs.

• Earn 5x reward points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, some online grocery purchases, and some streaming services; 2x points on travel not booked through Chase; and 1x point on all other purchases
• $50 statement credit each year for hotel stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Six months free Instacart membership (must activate by July 31, 2024)

• Could earn more rewards with other cards for travel booked outside of Chase
• No airport lounge access

In addition to the ability to earn flexible rewards, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a range of travel-related perks. Platinum card benefits include airline fee and hotel credits (Hotel Collection properties require a two-night minimum stay), lounge access, and automatic gold status with Marriott and Hilton hotel loyalty programs (enrollment required; terms apply).

• Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express travel portal, 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through the travel portal, and 1 points on all other purchases (terms apply)
• Statement credits for hotels (up to $200 per year for partner hotels), digital entertainment (up to $240 per year), Walmart+ credit ($155 per year), Uber ($15 per month; U.S. rides only), airline fees (up to $200 per year), Equinox membership (up to $300 per year), Saks Fifth Avenue (up to $100 per year), and a $189 credit for CLEAR Plus membership (enrollment required)
• Access to 1,400 American Express airport lounges

Like its sister card, the Capital One Venture Rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers flexibility for cardholders to earn rewards on all their spending. You can then redeem those rewards for travel, cash back, or other benefits. The Venture X card also comes with lounge access and other travel-related perks.

• Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One’s travel portal and 2x miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited access to Capital One lounges for the cardholder and two guests
• $300 travel credit and $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

• $395 annual fee
• The current list of airline partners available for mile transfers does not include any of the large U.S. carriers

You can’t beat the 10x rewards that the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® pays for hotel stays, rental cars, and high-end dining booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Sapphire Reserve also offers a $300 travel credit each year, along with a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

• Earn 10x points on stays, rental cars, and high-end dining booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 5x points on flights booked through the portal (after the first $300); 3x points on restaurants (after the first $300); 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit, $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, $5 monthly DoorDash credit and free one-year membership (activate by December 31, 2024), $15 monthly Instacart credit as well as a free one-year membership (must activate by July 31, 2024), and two free years of Lyft Pink membership (which must be activated by March 31, 2025)
• Complimentary access to Priority Pass airport lounges

• $550 annual fee
• Other cards may offer better rewards for everyday purchases

Since the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card pays a flat 1.25 points per dollar spent, there’s no need to track reward categories or activate bonuses. While other cards offer higher rewards, the VentureOne card doesn’t charge an annual fee, which makes it a good option for budget-minded travelers.

• Earn 5x  rewards for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 1.25x rewards for all purchases
• No annual fee
• Cardholders have flexibility to redeem their points for travel, cash back, or other rewards

• Those who spend a lot on travel and dining might get better reward rates with other cards
• The current list of airline partners available for mile transfers does not include any of the large U.S. carriers

• Earn 3x points on shipping, phone and internet service, advertising, and travel, up to $150,000 annually; 5x points on Lyfts, and 1x rewards on all other spending
• Flexibility to transfer points at a 1:1 value to partner airlines, use them to book travel with your chosen airline and hotel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, or to redeem them for cash back, gift cards or merchandise purchases
• Theft and damage protection up to $600 per claim for your cell phone and every listed employee on your cell phone bill for up to three claims per year (with a $100 deductible)

• Businesses that spend significantly more than the $150,000 cap on key categories might earn more valuable rewards with a card that has an unlimited cap
• Does not offer lounge access or travel access 

The network of hotels and airlines that accept point transfers from American Express cards is among the widest you’ll find — and the Green Card provides access to that network for an annual fee ($150) that’s significantly lower than other American Express cards (see rates and fees).

• Earn 3x rewards for spending on travel, transit, and dining; and 1x rewards on all other purchases
• $189 statement credit for CLEAR membership; $100 credit for LoungeBuddy membership
• Free membership in ShopRunner, which provides two-day shipping for more than 100 online retailers
• Terms apply

• While the $150 annual fee is less than that of other American Express cards, it’s still higher than many other travel cards
• Rewards for everyday spending are higher on some other cards

In addition to using your Capital One Spark Miles for Business rewards to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal, you can use them for airline tickets on partner airlines, or redeem them for cash back, gift cards, or shopping on Amazon. If you’re an international traveler, you can also get a $100 credit to put toward Global Entry or TSA precheck.

• $0 annual fee in the first year ($95 after that)
• Earn unlimited 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel portal and 2x miles on all other purchases
• Two free visits per year to Capital One airport lounges

• The current list of airline partners available for mile transfer does not include any of the large U.S. carriers
• Other cards with a comparable annual fee may offer more travel perks and higher reward rates on non-travel spending

• Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar on all Delta purchases, restaurant spending, and U.S. supermarket spending; 1x miles on most other purchases
• No annual fee in the first year ($99 per year after that; see rates and fees 
• Free first checked bag on all Delta flights
• Terms apply

• No access to either Delta Sky Lounges (unless you have Delta status) or American Express lounges
• Travelers who often fly different airlines could earn better rewards with a card that’s not affiliated with a specific airline

Travel rewards credit cards work like most other rewards cards. You earn rewards for each dollar that you spend with the card, with most offering additional rewards for spending on travel and other specific categories. Some travel cards are affiliated with a specific airline or hotel chain, meaning they offer richer rewards for spending with those companies, while other cards are more agnostic, allowing you to earn the same rewards no matter which airline or hotel chain you choose.

Even those who don’t travel frequently could benefit from a travel credit card, since many offer rewards for other types of spending. For frequent travelers, however, getting a travel credit card is a no-brainer to stretch your budget.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a travel rewards card, including whether you have a preferred airline or hotel chain, if there are certain categories in which you spend more than others, and whether you’ll use enough benefits to offset any annual fee.

As long as you can pay off your card in full every month, you can maximize credit card rewards by using your travel card for all of your spending. While most cards have some flexibility in how you redeem rewards, you’ll get the most value by using your travel card rewards to purchase flights or hotels.

We reviewed dozens of credit cards and assessed them on quantifiable comparisons of APRs, intro offers, annual fees, balance transfer fees, required credit scores, rewards, and foreign transaction fees. We also factored in qualitative analysis of rewards value, how easy it is to redeem rewards, additional cardholder benefits, and customer experience. From there, we give each card a score between one and five stars (with five stars being the best score). We review our ratings and scores quarterly to make sure you’re getting the latest analysis of a particular card’s strengths and weaknesses. Each credit card category has additional requirements that must be met in order for it to be considered for a rating. You can read our full credit card methodology here.

To be considered one of the best travel credit cards, the card must earn bonus travel rewards, such as hotel, airline, or general travel. Rewards rate and flexibility of rewards redemption, introductory offer, travel-related perks (such as free checked bags or no foreign transaction fees), and ongoing rates and fees are weighted most heavily when reviewing travel credit cards.

Editorial Disclosure: All articles are prepared by editorial staff and contributors. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the editorial team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in this article is accurate as of the date of the publish. Check the lender’s website for the most current information.

This article was originally published on SFGate.com and reviewed by Lauren Williamson, who serves as Financial and Home Services Editor for the Hearst E-Commerce team. Email her at [email protected].