10 best travel credit cards of September 2024

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The best travel credit cards offer more than just great cash-back, points or miles incentives. They also come with a range of perks to take your next trip from basic to bougie without spending extra money.

Some travel card features are nearly standard across the board: no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance and various travel credits. More premium cards take things up by offering lounge access and credits for expedited airport security.

To help you choose the best travel rewards card for your needs, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of popular travel cards and dug into each card's perks and drawbacks. We also included some alternative cards to consider if your credit needs work and you might not qualify for the top travel credit cards yet. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.)

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a smart choice for consumers who love traveling and dining out due to its generous rewards rates.

Standout benefits: You can get over $400 in value with the Gold Card annually thanks to its various dining and rideshare credits. The points you earn can be transferred to about two dozen airline and hotel partners.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with an Amex bank account

An American Express® Rewards Checking account comes with a 1.00% APY and no monthly maintenance fees. Plus, you'll earn Membership Rewards points on eligible debit card purchases (one point for every $2 in eligible spending).

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a loyal following among travelers looking for a travel-centric rewards program and a robust suite of perks. What makes this card shine the most is its generous welcome bonus offer.

Standout benefits: This card offers many helpful benefits, such as an up to $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Cardholders can also benefit from a 10% points boost on each card anniversary.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase bank account

When you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you can earn a $300 bonus after you make at least $500 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. You can also waive the monthly maintenance fee with qualifying activities.

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers an abundance of travel benefits. It's especially valuable if you want a straightforward way of earning rewards without having to juggle bonus categories.

Standout benefits: Travelers overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also get a credit of up to $120 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.

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Who's this for? The Discover it® Miles is ideal if you're seeking a generous rewards program and welcome bonus and don't want to pay an annual fee.

Standout benefits: Discover has a welcome bonus that's hard to beat: It will do a mile-for-mile match of all miles earned the first year (for new card members in their first year only). If you rack up 35,000 miles within the first 12 months, Discover will match you with 35,000 miles. That's a total of 70,000 miles or $700 toward travel. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

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Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Discover bank account

If you want to do all your banking in one place, the Discover® Cashback Debit Checking account offers a debit card that earns 1.00% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. You can also earn a generous return on your cash with a Discover® Online Savings Account.

Who's this for? The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card is ideal if you have fair or average credit and want to earn generous rewards on your travel, dining and gas purchases.

Standout benefits: You'll earn a whopping 10X points when you book eligible hotels and rental cars through the Credit One Bank travel site (5X when you book and 5X when you complete the booking). This card also earns 5X points on flights, dining and gas purchases, so it's rewarding for a wide variety of travel spending. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees.

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Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice if you're a frequent traveler who wants a premium credit card at a lower price than other high-end cards with similar benefits. Plus, up to four authorized users can be added for free.

Standout benefits: This card is loaded with benefits, including a $300 Capital One Travel credit for purchases made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel). Cardholders also receive an up to $120 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance, access to Capital One and partner airport lounges and more. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

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Who's this for? If you rent your home and don't have the Bilt Mastercard®, you're leaving points on the table. The Bilt Mastercard is the only card that lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments with no fees.

Standout benefits: Bilt makes it easy for even beginners to get maximum value from their points through a unique partnership with the award search engine point.me. The BiltProtect feature also protects you from using up your entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging your rent every month.

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Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for road warriors who want to make their travels more comfortable. It grants you access to more airport lounges than any other card on the market and is loaded with lots of other travel and lifestyle benefits that help justify its high annual fee (see rates and fees).

Standout benefits: Cardholders have extensive opportunities to earn over $1,500 in statement credits each year and enjoy ongoing benefits like automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required) and various travel and shopping protections. Even if you only take advantage of half of this card's perks, it's worth paying the annual fee (see rates and fees).

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Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is enormously popular among frequent travelers for its luxe perks, including comprehensive travel protections, and a strong rewards program. While this card comes with a substantial annual fee of $550, the many statement credits help to offset the costs.

Standout benefits: This card provides an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover everything from airfare and hotels to parking and tolls. Cardholders can also get a statement credit of up to $100 (every four years) to help cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fees as well as enroll in Priority Pass™ Select for airport lounge access. Other benefits include generous travel and shopping protections.

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Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card has just about everything you could want in a travel card: A great welcome offer, a reasonable annual fee, useful bonus spending categories and meaningful perks.

Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card will help you rack up rewards quickly for travel spending. The best part is that you can transfer Wells Fargo points to airline and hotel travel partners including Choice Privileges, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club and Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

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A travel credit card can have out-of-this-world perks and benefits, but it won't do much good if you can't qualify. These cards might not provide frequent travelers the most rewards, but can be a good fit if you're looking to raise your credit score or know you'll carry a balance from month to month.

If you have bad credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it Secured Credit Card is ideal for anyone with no credit or poor credit because you don't need a credit score to apply. Instead, you must make a refundable deposit of at least $200 to open the card. Whatever amount of money you deposit becomes your credit limit.

At seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if they can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit. 

The card has no annual fee and has a generous rewards structure for a secured credit card: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match. The cashback doesn't expire and you can redeem your rewards at any time for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and more.

It also has no foreign transaction fees, so you won't be dinged for using it abroad.

Learn more: Discover it Secured Credit Card

If you want to save on interest: First Tech Credit Union Choice Rewards World Mastercard®

Although we always recommend aiming to pay off credit card debt, if you have the debt, the Choice Rewards World Mastercard has one of the lowest interest rates you can find on a credit card.

It also has no foreign transaction fees, a huge plus when traveling abroad. As a World Mastercard, it comes with purchase protection, Mastercard ID Theft Protection and 24-hour worldwide assistance for lost or stolen cards. It has an array of travel protections as well, including insurance for trip cancellations, travel accidents, baggage delays, lost luggage and rental cars (secondary).

Membership to First Tech Federal Credit Union is required to apply, but anyone can join through affiliation with select organizations or employers, a relationship with a current member, working or living in Lane County, Oregon, attending Cogswell Poly Technical College or by joining the Community History Museum (CHM) or Financial Fitness Association (FFA). First Tech pays the membership fee for the CHM and FFA on your behalf.

The card earns 2X points per dollar on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, electronics, household goods and telecommunications. Rewards can be redeemed at a fixed rate toward cash-back, travel, merchandise, gift cards and experiences.

Learn more: First Tech Credit Union Choice Rewards World Mastercard®

If you're a student: Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is a great choice for students who plan on studying abroad or traveling during breaks. The rewards program is geared toward travel, and cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases.

In addition to having no annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card charges no foreign transaction fees, which is useful for college students studying or traveling abroad. This card also comes with a longer-than-average special financing offer of no interest for 15 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR). A full year of no interest is a great way to pay off new purchases over time, without incurring interest charges, though we recommend you pay off your balance on time and in full each month.

Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit to cover the cost of travel and dining purchases — a simple way to reduce the cost of taking a spring break vacation or buying a plane ticket home. You can redeem rewards at any time and any amount.

You must be 18 or older and enrolled in school (college, vocational or trade school) to qualify for this card.

Learn more: Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

*For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

**For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

The American Express Gold Card earns elevated rewards for several popular spending categories, including dining, groceries and airfare. To top it off, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn are some of the most valuable travel points.

Rewards

• 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
• 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
• 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer ends Nov. 6, 2024.

Annual fee

$325 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Cardholders get over $400 in annual statement credits. To start, you'll get up to $120 in annual dining credit (up to $10 in statement credits per month at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys; enrollment is required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States).

On top of that, you can earn up to $100 Resy credit every calendar year (up to $50 back semi-annually), and n up to $84 in Dunkin' credit each year (up to $7 back per month; enrollment required)

Eligible purchases also qualify for the following insurance coverages*:

• Baggage insurance (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Extended warranty (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Purchase protection (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Trip delay insurance (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
• Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary) (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

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In addition to an excellent welcome bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers lucrative bonus categories and other useful perks like travel and purchase protections, all for a modest annual fee.

Rewards

• 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
• 3X points per dollar on dining
• 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 3X points per dollar on select streaming services
• 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
• 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
• 10% anniversary points boost
• $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers travelers many important protections, including primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Travelers can also rack up rewards faster thanks to a 10% points boost on each card anniversary. That means if you spend $50,000 on purchases, you'll get a 5,000-point bonus (worth $75 in travel booked through Chase).

Cardholders can take advantage of various statement credits for specific purchases. For starters, the card offers up to $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit. You'll also receive a complimentary DashPass membership and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out for earning versatile rewards that can be used for just about any travel expense while having a reasonable annual fee and convenient benefits for travelers.

Rewards

• 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders receive a credit of up to $120 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. Other perks include access to extended warranty protection*, Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*.

*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

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The Discover it® Miles is an exceptionally rewarding credit card for everyday purchases, especially when you consider that it has no annual fee.

Rewards

• 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or limits on how much you can earn through the match.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The appeal of the Discover it® Miles is its simplicity of not having to worry about paying an annual fee or paying foreign transaction fees. The card also has an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 18.24% - 28.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms).

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The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card is special because it allows you to earn rewards while working on your credit score and doesn't require a security deposit.

Rewards

• 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X points on eligible travel
• 5X points on dining
• 5X points on gas purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

When you make a purchase in a foreign currency with this card, there are no foreign transaction fees. Eligible purchases are also covered by this card's built-in travel accident insurance.

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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a luxury travel credit card with a straightforward rewards structure and a myriad of benefits that easily make its annual fee worth it.

Rewards

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$395

Notable perks

On top of the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X card is loaded with other benefits. Cardmembers receive up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance, and unlimited access to Capital One Lounges as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. You can add up to four authorized users for free and each additional cardholder also gets airport lounge access.

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

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Normally it's not worth paying rent with a credit card because of the fees, but the Bilt Mastercard offers a path to earning points for paying rent without any fees.

Rewards

Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points at the following rates:

• Up to 1X points per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• 3X points per dollar on dining
• 2X points per dollar on travel
• 1X point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Thanks to the BiltProtect feature, Bilt Mastercard cardholders are protected from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent to their card every month. Other benefits include access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which offers amenities like upgrades, free breakfast and property credits.

For a no-annual-fee card, the Bilt Mastercard has a surprising amount of built-in insurance perks, including:

• Trip delay reimbursement
• Rental car collision damage waiver
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection

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The Platinum Card from American Express has a high annual fee but is also loaded with benefits.

Rewards

• 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$695 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Cardholders can enjoy a long list of benefits, including:

• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $300 per calendar year Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required)
• $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. (Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee. Subject to auto renewal)
• Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
• Up to $200 annual Uber credit. Benefit renews annually. (Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Enrollment required)
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required)
• Comprehensive travel insurance*
• Complimentary Amex concierge service
• Cell phone protection*
• Terms apply.

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.

Rewards

• 10X total points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠*
• 10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
• 5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠*
• 3X points per dollar on other travel*
• 3X points per dollar on dining
• 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$550

Notable perks

Chase Sapphire Reserve® card members get up to $300 in annual travel credits, which covers more than half of the card's annual fee. Additional benefits include an up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit (every four years), elite-like perks when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, access to Sapphire airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469), which unlocks access to more than 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide.

Cardholders also have access to a wide range of limited-time benefits and credits, including:

• Two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (worth $199 a year) when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year (activate by December 31, 2027)

Some of the easiest benefits to overlook are this card's top-notch travel and purchase protections, such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection, return protection, primary rental car collision coverage, trip delay protection, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, baggage delay protection, travel accident insurance, emergency medical and dental insurance and more. Cardmembers traveling internationally also don't need to worry about foreign transaction fees.

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out for having a modest annual fee and high rewards rate on airline and hotel purchases.

Rewards

• 5X points on hotels
• 4X points on airlines
• 3X points at restaurants
• 3X points on other travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

Every year, cardholders receive a $50 airline statement credit with a minimum purchase of $50. This credit covers more than half of this card's annual fee and applies to purchases such as airfare, baggage fees and more.

You can also save money and increase your peace of mind by taking advantage of this card's many insurance benefits. Cardholders receive these coverages:

• Cell phone protection
• Roadside dispatch
• Travel accident insurance
• Lost baggage reimbursement
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection
• Auto rental collision coverage
• Travel and emergency assistance

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There is a variety of travel credit cards available, from general to airline- and hotel-specific, and all the choices can make it hard to settle on one. To choose the best card for your needs, you should consider several factors. Here are some tips on how to choose a credit card.

Consider annual fee costs

Consider whether you're willing to pay an annual fee. Some travel cards have steep annual fees of over $500, which can be worthwhile, but not for everyone. Make sure you do the math to see if an annual fee travel card is for you.

Review your travel habits

Another key factor to consider is the type of travel you do most. If you travel within the U.S., then it doesn't matter if a card charges foreign transaction fees. But if you're off to Mexico or Spain, then it's important to have a no foreign transaction fee card.

Choose the right rewards program

Rewards should also play a part in your decision. Do some research to determine which card offers a rewards program more geared toward your spending habits. If you dine out a lot when you travel, consider the American Express Gold Card with 4X points on dining at restaurants. But if you want a competitive rewards rate on all sorts of purchases, the Discover it® Miles has no annual fee and unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar of every purchase.

You can compare card benefits side by side to see if one card rates better than another. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers complimentary lounge access, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers cardholders a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Before you sign up for a travel credit card, consider how you'll use it and how you can best optimize its rewards program, especially if you're paying a steep annual fee. It's also important to make sure you can pay off your balance on time and in full each month because many of these cards have high interest rates.

Many top rewards credit cards are also travel credit cards, but that doesn't mean that a travel card is the best option for every situation. Travel cards are rewarding for travel-related purchases and can provide outsized value when you use the rewards to book your next vacation. However, travel can be a small part of the typical consumer's budget and other credit cards can be more rewarding for everyday spending or have simpler rewards programs.

Pros

• The rewards you earn with travel cards can have a higher potential value than straight cash back
• Luxury perks like airport lounge access or automatic elite status
• Travel credit cards have some of the most valuable welcome bonus offers available
• Travel cards are often the most rewarding for a variety of travel-related purchases

Cons

• Travel rewards programs are sometimes more complicated
• May be less rewarding for non-travel purchases (groceries, online shopping, etc.)
• Many travel credit cards have higher annual fees
• To qualify for the best travel credit cards, you typically need a higher credit score

Travel credit cards help you turn your credit card purchases into rewards you can redeem for travel. What you can use travel rewards for and the amount of rewards you earn varies by card.

The type of rewards you earn, the cost of keeping the card and the card benefits depend on the type of travel card. There are three main types of travel credit cards: airline cards, hotel cards and flexible travel rewards cards.

Airline credit cards

Co-branded hotel airline credit cards earn frequent flyer miles with that specific airline loyalty program. For example, if you have a Delta card, you'll earn Delta SkyMiles and if you have a Southwest card, you'll earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points. These miles and points can be redeemed for flights with that airline and its partners. There may be other redemption options, such as rental cars or hotels, but you'll normally get the most value when you use your miles for flights.

Airline cards can save you money in other ways. Depending on the card, you may receive perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and priority check-in. Many airline cards also give you a path to earning elite status, and sometimes you can even earn elite status without flying. Most mid-tier airline cards have annual fees of $150 or less. However, there are premium airline cards that cost much more and offer luxury perks such as airport lounge access.

Hotel credit cards

A hotel credit card is a good option to earn free nights and elite status with your preferred hotel chain. These cards earn hotel points with that hotel chain and you can use those points to book rooms at any hotel under that loyalty program's umbrella.

Hotel cards often come with automatic elite status and may earn bonus elite night credit for spending or give you other opportunities to spend your way to top-tier status. Luxury hotel cards may even offer statement credits and free nights every year you keep the card.

Flexible travel rewards credit cards

If you like to keep your travel options open and aren't extremely loyal to one airline or hotel, then a travel credit card that earns flexible rewards makes sense. These cards run the gamete from no-annual-fee travel cards to premium credit cards with top-tier benefits.

What makes this type of travel card so special is the redemption options you have. You're usually able to redeem the points or miles you earn for one cent per point for things such as statement credits, gift cards or travel. Although, depending on the rewards program these aren't always the optimal ways to use points, and some redemptions are far less valuable, such as using points to pay for Amazon purchases.

In general, the best way to make the most of your flexible travel rewards is to transfer them to partner travel loyalty programs. Each flexible travel rewards program has different partners, and by utilizing the best deals that your card offers, you can multiply the value of your points by booking premium cabin award flights to international destinations.

Travel credit card rewards programs operate on a simple premise — make purchases with your card and earn rewards you can use for travel. How you can use these rewards and how many miles or points you earn depends on the card and rewards program.

Most credit card rewards programs offer a range of rewards cards to suit different needs. You can even have more than one credit card part of the same travel rewards program. These cards generally fall into four broad categories: business credit cards, no-annual-fee credit cards, mid-tier credit cards and premium credit cards.

Business travel credit cards

Travel credit cards for businesses are available to anyone with a qualifying business venture, such as a side hustle, independent contractor gig or full-time business. These cards offer higher returns where business owners are more likely to spend the most, including office supply stores, advertising and shipping. They may also feature benefits such as discounts or statement credits for business services. You'll also be able to streamline your bookkeeping and often can sync your card with popular tax software such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks.

No-annual-fee travel credit cards

If you're new to credit card travel rewards, a card with no annual fee is a great way to earn rewards. These cards have fewer benefits than travel cards with annual fees but can still provide value. There are even no-annual-fee travel cards that allow you to transfer points, such as the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. With a no-annual-fee card, you may have the option of upgrading to a card with more benefits and keeping the points you earned with the old card.

Mid-tier travel credit cards

Mid-tier travel credit cards are the most popular cards and usually have annual fees of $150 or less, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You'll typically have a mix of good reward rates, valuable intro bonuses and solid ongoing benefits. It's at this level of card that you're more likely to receive travel and purchase protections.

Premium travel credit cards

Several travel credit card rewards programs offer premium credit cards with annual fees north of $400. A premium card tends to be loaded with statement credits and luxury perks, such as airport lounge access. The travel insurance available with a premium card is usually more valuable and may reimburse up to a higher limit or have large coverage limits. You'll also usually earn more rewards for spending, although, for certain categories, lower-tier cards can sometimes be more lucrative.

The options for using your travel rewards vary depending on the rewards. However, you're typically able to redeem points or miles for:

• Gift cards
• Statement credits or other forms of cashback
• Directly for travel, such as hotels, rental cars, cruises and flights
• Transfers to partner travel programs, including airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Merchandise

Redeeming your rewards is straightforward, you'll need to log in to your account and you can complete most redemptions from there. The big thing to understand when you're using your rewards is that what you redeem them for changes how much value you receive and the value of each redemption varies by program. You'll usually receive a maximum of one cent per point for gift cards and cash-back redemptions. Using points for merchandise or Amazon purchases typically yields the lowest value, which is frequently less than one cent per point.

If the program offers transferrable points, this is often the best way to get the most bang for your buck, especially when you take advantage of airline partners. By transferring points to the right airline partner, you can book International business- and first-class flights. These flights can cost thousands of dollars and provide well over two cents per point in value.

The best way to use your travel card is to utilize its benefits while understanding its cost. Take note of any annual fees, foreign transaction fees and the APR associated with your account. Also, consider the rewards you'll earn and other perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you're familiar with what your card offers, you can maximize the perks. That may include setting reminders to use the annual $300 travel credit provided by the Chase Sapphire Reserve or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to take advantage of the up to $100 credit. Other cards have credits that you can earn monthly or semi-annually and will require you to stay on top of them to maximize the perks.

When redeeming the rewards you earn with travel cards, you'll normally have several options. Certain travel cards offer cash-back type redemptions, which may offer okay value. However, you'll typically get the most of your travel points and miles when you use them for travel.

Even if you're not using points to book travel, paying for your travel with a travel credit card is also a good idea. You'll generally earn bonus rewards for travel purchases such as hotels and flights. On top of that, many travel cards also provide protections at no additional cost, such as trip delay reimbursement or rental car insurance.

Travel credit cards aren't for everyone. If you travel infrequently, you should consider alternative credit card options, such as cards with dining, grocery or gas rewards. Some cards provide up to 6% back in those categories, allowing foodies, meal-preppers and commuters to benefit.

Beyond rewards, you might benefit from a card that offers a 0% APR period. Some cards offer no interest for a year or more on new purchases and balance transfers, such as the Citi Simplicity® Card.

The card has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer, plus 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening (after, 19.24% - 29.99% variable APR; balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.) There is an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your balance transfer fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5; see rates and fees). When used responsibly, these cards can help you get out of debt without high interest charges.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.

To determine which cards offer the best value for travel, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best travel credit cards, we focused on cards with travel-centered rewards programs and benefits. This includes flexible travel programs that allow you to redeem for travel and transfer rewards to travel programs. We also paid special attention to cards with travel perks, such as travel insurance, elite status benefits or airport lounge access.

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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students, has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.