Unlocking the Best Travel Credit Cards: A Guide to Rewards, Benefits, and Perks
- Alanna Gabbett
- Nov 21, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Are you looking to take your travel experience to the next level? Choosing the right travel credit card can amplify your adventures and help you rack up rewards.
In this post, we'll explore our four favorite travel credit cards:
We’ll analyze their sign-on bonuses, benefits, points structures, and transfer programs to guide you toward the best choice for your travel style. Note that sign-on bonuses, transfer partners, annual fees, and other terms and conditions may change frequently. It's important to always review the terms and conditions before signing up for a credit card.
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YOUR BEST ALL AROUND CARD
The Capital One Venture X card has made waves in the travel rewards field, specifically designed for frequent travelers. This is our top choice in terms of value as the $395 annual fee pays for itself in yearly travel credit and miles bonuses.
Annual fee: $395
Sign-On Bonus: 75,000 miles
New Venture X cardholders can earn a notable sign-on bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. This bonus can cover substantial travel expenses, such as airfare or hotel stays. In the Capital One Travel Portal, this is valued at $750.
Benefits
The benefits of this card are highlighted by the fact that the annual fee pays for itself and more. Between annual travel credits, anniversary miles, zero foreign transaction fees, and access to hundreds of airport lounges, the annual fee is more than paid for.
Benefits:
Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complementary Priority Pass membership.
Complementary access for you and two guests to Capital One lounges, located in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Washington-Dulles Airport (IAD) and Denver International Airport (DEN).
NO foreign transaction fees.
$300 annual travel credit that can be used toward flight and hotel bookings in the Capital One Travel Portal.
10,000 anniversary miles each calendar year you have the account open.
Receive up to a $120 statement credit on your application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry when you use your card.
Protect your cellphone every time you pay your bill with your Venture X card. If it’s stolen or damaged, you’ll get reimbursed up to $800.
Receive a complimentary subscription to PRIOR, a modern travel brand curating exclusive experiences and voyages, destination guides and insider information.
$0 liability for unauthorized charges
Points Structure
Cardholders can earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights when booked through the Capital One Travel Portal. This means whether you’re dining out or shopping for groceries, you’ll be accumulating miles.
Points Structure:
10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through their travel portal.
5X miles on flights booked through their travel portal.
2X miles per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Points Transfer Programs
Venture X users can transfer their miles to over 15 travel partner programs, including major airlines like Air Canada Aeroplan and hotel chains such as Wyndham Rewards. This flexibility can lead to significant savings and better travel options. This is where you can maximize the value of your miles, leveraging transfer bonus offerings from other airlines and partners.
Transfer Partners:
Aeromexico Club Premier
Air Canada ‒ Aeroplan®
Cathay Pacific ‒ Asia Miles
Avianca LifeMiles
British Airways Executive Club
Choice Privileges®2
Emirates Skywards
Etihad Guest
Finnair Plus
Flying Blue
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
TAP Miles&Go
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Virgin Red
Wyndham Rewards
BEST RENTAL CAR COVERAGE
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a favorite among travelers for its competitive rewards and user-friendly benefits. It also comes with a low annual fee and a generous sign-on bonus.
Annual Fee: $95
Sign-On Bonus: 60,000 points
New cardholders can expect a generous sign-on bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. When booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, these points can convert to around $750 worth of travel.
Benefits
This card features no foreign transaction fees and grants access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This allows users to redeem points for travel, cash back, or gift cards. Additionally, you can enjoy a 25% bonus on points when redeeming through the travel portal, maximizing your travel budget.
Benefits:
Complementary DoorDash Dashpass subscription.
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel.
Each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
NO Foreign transaction fees.
Rental car collision coverage up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.
Points Structure
Cardholders earn 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 2X points on other travel. This reward structure benefits those who regularly eat out as it provides 3X points on all dining and online grocery purchases.
Points Structure:
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
2x on other travel purchases.
3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out.
3x points on online grocery purchases.
3x points on select streaming services.
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Points Transfer Programs
Chase Ultimate Rewards offers over 13 airline and hotel partners, such as United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. This comprehensive network allows you to use points effectively for flights and hotel stays.
Transfer Partners:
Aer Lingus, AerClub
Air Canada Aeroplan
British Airways Executive Club
Emirates Skywards®
Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
Iberia Plus
JetBlue TrueBlue
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
United MileagePlus®
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
IHG® Rewards Club
Marriott Bonvoy®
World of Hyatt®
BEST FOR FREE NIGHTS AND UPGRADED STAYS
Fans of IHG hotels will love the IHG Premier card as it delivers enticing rewards tailored for hotel stays. In our opinion, it's the best card for hotel bookings and free nights.
Annual Fee: $99
Sign-On Bonus: 140,000 points
New cardholders can earn up to 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. This amount can often cover several nights at IHG accommodations, making it a valuable incentive. This offer is valued at the equivalence of 4 free nights!
Benefits
The IHG Premier card provides a host of benefits, including a complimentary night each year upon renewal, room upgrades, and zero foreign transaction fees. You also accumulate additional points for IHG hotel stays, enhancing your loyalty rewards.
List of Benefits:
Automatic Platinum Elite Status.
Diamond Elite Status each calendar year you spend at least $40,000.
$100 statement credit AND 10,000 bonus points for each calendar year with an annual spend of $20,000.
Anniversary free night each year.
NO foreign transaction fees.
26X total points at IHG Hotels and Resorts
Up to $50 United® Airlines TravelBank Cash each year.
Up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS.
Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free on a consecutive IHG hotel stay.
One-year complementary DashPass with DoorDash.
$10 quarterly credit for DoorDash.
Enjoy at least a 20% discount when you purchase points with your Card.
Points Structure
This card offers an impressive 26x total points for every qualifying dollar spent at IHG hotels, 5x points on gas stations, groceries, and restaurants, and 3x points on all other purchases. This structure is perfect for avid IHG guests.
Point Structure:
5X points per $1 spent on travel and dining, and gas stations.
3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
26X points spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
Points Transfer Programs
While IHG’s transfer options are somewhat limited, you can still transfer points to selected airline programs, providing a useful way to combine hotel and airline rewards.
Transfer Partners:
Points can be transferred to 37 airline partners at a ratio of 5:1.
Points can be transferred to Chase Ultimate Rewards at a ratio of 1:1.
Points can be transferred to friends and family at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points.
BEST RANGE OF ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
The American Express Platinum Card is known for its luxurious travel benefits and premium services. While the card does come with a substantially higher fee than the other cards, it has a host of other benefits that we find useful when traveling. The total value of the AMEX Platinum card is estimated at around $1,500 in benefits alone.
Annual fee: $695
Sign-On Bonus: 175,000 points
A very appealing initial sign-on bonus is available, with cardholders receiving 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. The potential value of these points can be significant when used wisely.
Benefits
Exclusive perks of the Amex Platinum include access to Centurion Lounges, no foreign transaction fees, a $200 airline fee credit, and offers for hotel and car rental arrangements. Furthermore, cardholders can enjoy complimentary hotel status and special credits towards luxury hotel stays.
Benefits:
$200 airline fee benefit annually for incidental charges such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments.
$200 in Uber cash annually in the form of $15 monthly Uber Cash that can be used on Uber Eats or rides in the United States.
$200 back annually in a statement credit on prepaid Fine Resorts + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, booked through American Express Travel.
$240 digital entertainment credit in the form of a $20 statement credit each month.
$155 annual Walmart + membership credit in the form of a $12.95 monthly statement credit.
$199 CLEAR Plus credit in the form of a $199 annual statement credit when paid with your card.
$100 Saks credit in the form of a $50 statement credit biannually on purchases from Saks Fifth Avenue both in store and online.
Membership to The American Express Global Lounge Collection, which provides access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries.
Points Structure
Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point for everything else. This structure especially rewards those who frequently travel by air.
Points Structure:
5X points per dollar on flights booked directly through an airline or from American Express Travel.
5X points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made at AmexTravel.com.
1X points per dollar on all other purchases.
Points Transfer Programs
American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to numerous airline and hotel partners, typically at a 1:1 ratio, providing flexibility in redeeming points for travel.
Popular airline partners include British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, and Emirates Skywards. Hotel partners like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy allow points transfers for booking stays.
Transfer Partners:
Aer Lingus, AerClub
AeroMexico
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air France
ANA
Avianca Star Alliance
British Airways Executive Club
Cathay Specific
Delta Skymiles
Emirates Skywards®
Etihad Airways
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia
JetBlue TrueBlue
KLM
Qantas
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Choice Privileges
Hilton Honors
Marriot Bonvoy
Choosing the Best Credit Card for Traveling
MAXIMIZE YOUR BENEFITS AND REWARDS
Choosing the right travel credit card can be a game-changer for your travel adventures. Each of these cards—Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Preferred, IHG Premier, and Amex Platinum—offers unique benefits and sign-on bonuses that cater to different travel habits and preferences.
When selecting a card, consider your preferred travel methods, frequency of hotel stays, and the type of rewards you value most. Whether you want to maximize hotel rewards, earn points on daily purchases, or enjoy luxury travel perks, there is a card that fits your goals.
By understanding what each card offers and making a thoughtful comparison, you can maximize your rewards strategy and elevate your travel experiences.
Enjoy your next adventure!
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