Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026

Our top 8 picks for travel credit cards

• Our pick for best overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card
• Our pick for beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card
• Our pick for luxury travel perks: Platinum Card from American Express
• Our pick for best for international travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards
• Our pick for flat-rate travel rewards: Venture Rewards from Capital One
• Our pick for no annual fee: VentureOne Rewards from Capital One
• Our pick for airlines: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
• Our pick for hotels: World of Hyatt credit card

Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us. This does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear. For more details on how we selected our top picks, read our full methodology.

Compare travel credit card offers

What is a travel credit card?

A travel credit card lets you earn rewards points or miles for travel-specific redemptions. Some travel credit cards offer flexible rewards that can be used in more than one way, whereas others offer brand-specific rewards for airlines or hotels.

Not surprisingly, cards in this niche also tend to come with travel-related benefits. For example, premium travel credit cards tend to offer annual travel credits and airport lounge access as standard benefits, whereas airline credit cards tend to offer perks like free checked bags or priority boarding. Meanwhile, hotel credit cards often come with benefits like automatic elite status, free night awards and hotel or resort credits, depending on the offer.

Also, be aware that, due to the rewards and benefits you get with a travel credit card, most of them charge an annual fee. Chris Fred, head of credit cards and unsecured lending at TD Bank, says that whether an annual fee card is worth it or not mainly depends on how much you spend and the value of the rewards offered.

"It's generally important that you spend enough for the value of the rewards and other benefits to be greater than the annual fee," said Fred.

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Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Travel credit cards tend to work best for people who travel at least a few times per year, whereas consumers who don't travel often may want to look into cash-back credit cards or general rewards credit cards instead.

When it comes to travel credit cards specifically, here are some of the pros and cons to consider before you sign up.

What to look for in a travel credit card

If you're looking for a travel credit card that will help you earn rewards for airfare, hotels and other travel, you will want to keep a few important details in mind.

• Find a card that earns the type of rewards you want. If you frequently fly with one airline or you're a major fan of a specific hotel loyalty program, a co-branded airline or hotel credit card could be a good fit. If you want some flexibility, however, you may want to opt for a flexible rewards credit card that lets you use points for travel and other options or transfer to airline and hotel programs.
• Pick a card with an annual fee you can live with. Make sure you are comfortable with the annual fee you're asked to pay, and that the value of the benefits you receive is worth more overall. You can also take the welcome offer into account for the first year since this bonus can help justify the annual fee for the first 12 months.
• Make sure the perks are ones you can use. Finally, make sure you like the selection of perks a card offers, whether that includes airport lounge access, automatic elite status with a hotel or free checked bags with your favorite airline. Pick a travel credit card with benefits you can use on a regular basis.

How to use travel cards

Once you decide on a travel credit card and get approved, you'll want to use it for all your regular spending and bills. This is especially important when it comes to the bonus categories your card offers (if any), since spending in these categories will net you more points or miles over time.

In the meantime, you'll want to meet the listed minimum spending requirement to earn the sign-up bonus your card offers (typically within the first three to six months). If you miss hitting the spending threshold by even a dollar before time is up, you won't get the bonus.

Also, be sure you don't overspend on the card in pursuit of more rewards, warned Fred. The fact rewards credit cards charge a high annual percentage rate (APR) also means you should only use them for purchases you can afford to pay off each month.

"If you typically pay your credit card off every month, and you use your credit card frequently, a rewards credit card might be a great option for you," said Fred.

If your travel credit card offers travel benefits, you may also want to keep a list of what they are so you can use them when you can. For example, noting which airport lounges you can access or putting your frequent flyer number on your flight reservation for free checked bags.

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FAQ

Bottom line

Travel rewards cards make it possible to earn points or miles for each dollar you spend, although rewards programs can vary dramatically. The fact each card offers its own selection of travel perks and benefits is another reason to compare cards carefully before you pick one and apply.

You'll also want to make sure you can actually use the rewards you earn, and that the annual fee you're asked to pay seems like a good deal considering all you get in return. Once you find a card that checks off all your boxes, you'll be on your way to earning free travel in no time.

Methodology

To make our top picks, the ConsumerAffairs team compared more than 40 different cards from major financial institutions — including American Express, Bank of America, Chase, Capital One, Citibank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo — that offered travel rewards through various programs. We reviewed these cards based on a variety of factors, including annual fees, travel benefits, redemption options for rewards, earning rates and more.

• Fees: We assessed travel credit cards and their annual fees, ensuring that the required fees were reasonable, considering the perks each card offered. Also, note that none of the credit cards in our ranking charge foreign transaction fees.
• Earning rates: We chose travel credit cards that offer generous rewards for travel purchases and other types of spending.
• Travel benefits: Keeping annual fees in mind, we focused on travel credit cards that offer perks and features frequent travelers can regularly benefit from.
• Travel insurance: We gave preference to travel credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance benefits like auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel delay coverage and more.
• Consumer reviews: We analyzed our own ConsumerAffairs reviews for cards that offer strong customer service, easy transfer processes and noteworthy perks. Note that all the travel credit cards in our ranking with published reviews had both positive and negative remarks.