Best Travel Credit Cards of November 2023
The best travel credit cards are tailor-made for frequent travelers, offering a suite of benefits and rewards that make globetrotting more rewarding and convenient. These cards typically provide points or miles for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, and car rentals, which can be redeemed for future travel, upgrades, or other perks. The attractiveness of these cards lies in their ability to transform travel spending into future travel opportunities, often at a significantly reduced cost or even for free.
Beyond accumulating travel rewards, these cards often come packed with extra features that enhance the travel experience. These may include complimentary airport lounge access, travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and elite status with certain hotel chains or airlines. Some of the top travel credit cards also offer substantial sign-up bonuses, adding immediate value for new cardholders. Additionally, they might provide flexibility in how rewards can be used, whether it’s through a specific airline or hotel loyalty program or through a card issuer’s travel portal. Ideal for both business and leisure travelers, these credit cards not only make travel more affordable but also more enjoyable with a range of exclusive benefits and conveniences.
| Credit Card | Our Rating | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Intro Offer | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
5.0/5 | $95 | 1x-5x Points | 60,000 Points | Apply Now |
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
4.7/5 | $95 | 2x-5x Miles | 75,000 Miles | Apply Now |
 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card |
4.9/5 | $395 | 2x-10x Miles | 75,000 Miles | Apply Now |
 The Platinum Card® from American Express |
5.0/5 | $695 | 1x-5x Points | 80,000 Points | Apply Now |
 Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card |
4.5/5 | $0 | 1x-3x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply Now |
 Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
5.0/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% Cashback | Unlimited Matched Cash Back | Apply Now |
 Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
5.0/5 | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply Now |
 Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
4.6/5 | $0 | 1.5%-5% | 50,000 Points | Apply Now |
Our pick for
Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
ANNUAL FEE
$95
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x Points
INTRO OFFER
60,000 Points
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
You earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Points are worth 25% more — 1.25 cents apiece — when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to a dozen airline and hotel programs.
Chase’s no-annual-fee cash back cards now offer competitive rewards on dining and some travel when compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. However, those cards don’t offer the enhanced redemption value and point-transfer options of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and they also charge foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Flat-rate travel rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
ANNUAL FEE
$95
REWARDS RATE
2x-5x Points
INTRO OFFER
75,000 Points
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
Simple rewards and flexible redemption have rightly made the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market.
This card earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on everything else. Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense. You’re not limited to any single airline or hotel chain, and there are no blackout dates or restrictions on your travel. There’s a great sign-up bonus, and the card also reimburses the application fee for TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
You won’t get the perks of a dedicated airline or hotel card, like free checked bags or upgrades. You can transfer miles to several airline loyalty programs, but domestic options are scant.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Our pick for
Travel portal benefits
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
ANNUAL FEE
$395
REWARDS RATE
2x-10x
INTRO OFFER
75,000 Points
CREDIT SCORE
720-850
Capital One’s premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you’re willing to do your travel spending through the issuer’s online booking portal. That’s where you’ll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee.
As with the regular Venture-branded card, you earn 2 miles per dollar on purchases. But when booking through Capital One Travel, you also get 5X miles on airfare and 10X miles on hotel and rental cars. There’s a $300 annual credit for bookings in the portal, a 10,000-point annual bonus, airport lounge access and a jumbo sign-up offer.
The value you’ll get from this card is highly dependent on whether you use Capital One to book your travel. If you prefer to reserve directly with airlines or hotels, look elsewhere. The bonus offer is big, but so is the spending required to earn it.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Our pick for
Luxury travel perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express
ANNUAL FEE
$695
REWARDS RATE
1x-5x
INTRO OFFER
80,000 Points
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
The luxury benefits come at a high cost, but if you’re willing to pay to be treated like a VIP when you travel, The Platinum Card® from American Express will be rewarding.
This is a high-end card designed for high-end travelers. The ongoing rewards are decent: 5 points per dollar on airfare and hotels when booked the right way (terms apply) and 1 point per dollar elsewhere. But the real value lies in the perks. There’s an annual credit of $200 for airline fees and up to $200 a year in Uber credit, for example. You’ll be reimbursed for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (every 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck). Plus, you’ll receive a credit to cover the cost of a Clear membership. You have access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide and exclusive perks at hotels. And don’t forget the big welcome offer for new cardholders.
The $695 annual fee is about as high as it gets for a mainstream card. If you don’t spend a lot on travel, the rewards are poor. And while this card is geared to world travelers, American Express isn’t as widely accepted globally as Visa and Mastercard.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: 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.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Our pick for
Bonus rewards + no annual fee
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
ANNUAL FEE
$0
REWARDS RATE
1x-3x
INTRO OFFER
30,000 Points
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it’s hard to believe there’s no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories.
The card earns unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The bonus offer is outstanding for a $0-annual-fee card, and you even get a introductory APR period.
You don’t get the perks of a dedicated airline or hotel card, and there’s no option to transfer points to airline or hotel programs.
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Limited time offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world’s most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge.
Our pick for
Cash back for travel bookings
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
ANNUAL FEE
$0
REWARDS RATE
1.5%-5%
INTRO OFFER
Unlimited Matched Cash Back
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
Once merely a great cash-back card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can now be counted as an excellent travel card, too. It earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase, and that’s just the start.
This card earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1.5% on other purchases. New cardholders who apply through NerdWallet get snag this bonus offer: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year! There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.. Finally, if you have one of Chase’s Sapphire cards, you can transfer your rewards to it for greater value and flexibility.
As a cash-back card, it doesn’t offer any specific travel perks. And it charges a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best choice for international travel.
- SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You’ll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Cash back for travel bookings
Chase Freedom Flex℠
ANNUAL FEE
$0
REWARDS RATE
1.5%-5%
INTRO OFFER
$200
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is technically a cash-back card, but the whopping 5% rewards rate for travel booked through Chase makes it a darn good travel card as well.
This card earns 5% cash back in bonus categories that change every three months (on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending, then 1%); 5% on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1% on other purchases. New cardholders can snag this sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Finally, if you have one of Chase’s Sapphire cards, you can transfer your rewards to it for greater value and flexibility.
Activating and tracking the bonus categories can be a hassle. For an option that does away with the 5% categories in exchange for a higher ongoing rate on “everything else,” check the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Also, since this is a cash-back card, it doesn’t offer any travel-specific perks. And it charges a foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best choice for international travel.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health – Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
ANNUAL FEE
$95
REWARDS RATE
1x-3x
INTRO OFFER
100,000
CREDIT SCORE
690-850
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the richest sign-up bonuses available on any credit card, anywhere, and it pays handsome rewards in a variety of categories.
The sign-up bonus is especially generous if you redeem points for travel booked through Chase. (You can also transfer points to a dozen or so airline and hotel programs, including United, Southwest, Marriott and Hyatt.) You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 a year in spending on travel, telecommunications (internet, phone and cable), shipping, and advertising on social media and search engines; all other spending earns 1 point per dollar.
This card’s bonus categories aren’t a good fit for all business owners. There’s an annual fee of $95.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more – your points don’t expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC