Best travel credit cards of 2025

Earn miles and points to save money on travel with a rewards card. Get matched to credit cards from our partners based on your unique credit profile.^⍉

See your best matches

Earn intro bonuses

You could get $200 or more to offset vacation expenses.

Enjoy air travel benefits

Get perks, like rental car insurance, free checked bags and access airport lounges.

No foreign transaction fees

Use your card wherever you travel without paying foreign transaction fees.

^⍉Based on FICO^® Score 8 model. Offers and approval not guaranteed. Eligibility requirements and terms apply. Subject to credit check which may impact your credit scores. Offers not available in all states. See licenses and disclosures.

Browse categories

Cash back Rewards For bad credit For fair credit Balance transfer Secured Low interest Student Travel 0% intro APR No annual fee Intro bonus No foreign transaction fee Airline Hotel Gas For building credit For no credit

All travel credit cards

Select state

Select credit score Θ

Select issuer

60 partner offers

(958 reviews)

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Intro APR:	0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	2% (Cash Rewards)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

Need help deciding?When comparing travel credit cards, consider these factors before applying.

Annual percentage rate (APR)

The APR on credit cards is simply the interest rate the card issuer charges when you don’t pay off your balance in full each month—it doesn’t include the card’s annual fees or other fees you may be charged for using your card. There are several types of APR that can apply to credit cards including purchase, balance transfer and cash advance.

Intro bonus

A credit card intro bonus, also called a welcome bonus, is a benefit that credit card issuers offer new cardholders when they're approved for the new card. While some intro bonuses offer automatic rewards upon approval, most require you to spend a certain amount on eligible purchases in a given timeframe to qualify. Look for cards with a high intro bonus and a low spending requirement.

Rewards

You can earn rewards in the form of cash back, points or miles with a rewards credit card. Look for cards that offer around 2 points or miles (or 2% cash back) on everyday spending. Many rewards cards have special categories such as gas, groceries, dining and travel that earn rewards at a significantly higher rate—3x to 6x, for example. Look for rewards that align with what you spend the most on.

Annual fee

Some credit cards have an annual fee you'll pay when you first receive the card and at each cardholder anniversary. Take the cost of an annual fee into account when considering which options will benefit you the most over the course of a year.

[TEST] American Express^® Gold Card

Intro 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.
Ongoing APR:	See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:	5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$325

View details

Rates and fees

USAA^® Rewards™ Visa Signature^® Card

Ongoing APR:	12.15% - 28.15% Variable
Rewards:	1x-2x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Citi Rewards+^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
Ongoing APR:	17.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
Rewards:	5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

The World Of Hyatt Credit Card

Ongoing APR:	17.99% - 24.99% Variable
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$95

View details

One Key+™ Card

Intro bonus:	N/A*
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$99

View details

Rates and fees

(196 reviews)

Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	1x-2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

One Key™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	XX.XX%, XX.XX%, or XX.XX% Variable APR
Rewards:	1.5x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

(539 reviews)

Credit One Bank^® Wander^® American Express^® with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards

Ongoing APR:	29.49% Variable
Rewards:	1x-10x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$95

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(4 reviews)

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	2x-6x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$250

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

USAA Credit Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	1x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

(29 reviews)

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

Ongoing APR:	19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:	1%-5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

Apply View details

Rates and fees

(35 reviews)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:	20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	1x-10x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$95

Apply View details

Rates and fees

(1568 reviews)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	1.25x-5x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards:	21x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$395

View details

Rates and fees

MP11 - Test auto import with vind-914

Ongoing APR:	field_roa_apr_standard
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	field_roa_annual_fee_000

View details

Rates and fees

(349 reviews)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ongoing APR:	20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Rewards:	1x-5x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$95

View details

Platinum Delta SkyMiles^® Credit Card from American Express

Ongoing APR:	17.99%-26.99% Variable
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$195

View details

Rates and fees

Barclaycard Arrival Plus^® World Elite Mastercard^®

Ongoing APR:	18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% variable based on your creditworthiness
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$89 (waived first year)

View details

Rates and fees

One Key™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	XX.XX%, XX.XX%, or XX.XX% Variable APR
Rewards:	1.5x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

One Key+™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	XX.XX%, XX.XX%, or XX.XX% Variable APR
Rewards:	2x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$99

View details

Rates and fees

(405 reviews)

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Intro bonus:	Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Intro APR:	0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.49% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards:	1.5%-5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

(3 reviews)

One Key™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	1.5x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

(261 reviews)

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®

Ongoing APR:	20.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$99, waived for first 12 months

Apply View details

Rates and fees

(2 reviews)

One Key+™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	2x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$99

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Discover it^® chrome

Intro bonus:	Earn
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 14 months
Ongoing APR:	14.24% - 25.24% Variable
Rewards:	1%-2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(338 reviews)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	2x-5x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$95

View details

Rates and fees

(1104 reviews)

Discover it^® Chrome

Intro bonus:	Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Intro APR:	0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
Ongoing APR:	18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	1%-2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

USAA Credit Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Ongoing APR:	19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards:	1x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

(318 reviews)

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Intro bonus:	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:	1x-5x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$695

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(1228 reviews)

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Ongoing APR:	18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

Apply View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] American Express^® Gold Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months.
Ongoing APR:	See Rates & Fees
Rewards:	3x-4x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$250

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(60 reviews)

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	1x-3x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$350

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

[TEST] First PREMIER^® Bank Mastercard^® Credit Card

Intro bonus:	Unlimited Cashback Match. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 14 months
Ongoing APR:	11.99% - 22.99% Variable
Rewards:	1%-2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

(9 reviews)

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	1x-3x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$650

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card TESTV6

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards:	40x-50x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$395

View details

Rates and fees

(263 reviews)

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	1x-2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Ongoing APR:	17.99%-26.99% Variable
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	N/A*

View details

Rates and fees

(2946 reviews)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	1%-8% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	21x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$395

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] SAMU-2236-001

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	21x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$395

View details

Rates and fees

(2894 reviews)

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	1.5%-5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card TESTV6

Intro bonus:	$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards:	7% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	N/A

View details

Rates and fees

(1314 reviews)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit

Ongoing APR:	29.74% (Variable)
Rewards:	1.25x-5x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards:	5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Rates and fees

(657 reviews)

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/29/2025.
Ongoing APR:	19.99%-28.99% Variable
Rewards:	3x-7x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(512 reviews)

American Express^® Gold Card

Intro 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.
Ongoing APR:	See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:	1x-4x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$325

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(27 reviews)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Intro bonus:	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Ongoing APR:	21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards:	1x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$550

View details

MP13 - Test auto import with vind-914

Ongoing APR:	field_roa_apr_standard
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	field_roa_annual_fee_000

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 95,000 Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards:	x ( per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$650

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - update

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account openingv
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)v
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$950

View details

Rates and fees

One Key+™ Card

Intro bonus:	Earn $400 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia^®, Hotels.com^® and Vrbo^®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:	XX.XX%, XX.XX%, or XX.XX% Variable APR
Rewards:	2x-3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$99

View details

Rates and fees

(72 reviews)

American Airlines AAdvantage^® MileUp^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage^® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Ongoing APR:	20.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

Apply View details

Rates and fees

(28 reviews)

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

Intro bonus:	Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Ongoing APR:	20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards:	2x-6x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$650

View details

Terms Apply

Rates and fees

(31 reviews)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	2x-10x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$395

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:	75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Ongoing APR:	19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards:	5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:	$95

View details

Rates and fees

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Intro bonus:	110$
Intro APR:	0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 billing cycles
Ongoing APR:	18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards:	10x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:	$0

View details

S Disclaimer text_updated

Rates and fees

American Express^® Gold Card

Ongoing APR:	See Rates & Fees
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$250

View details

Rates and fees

[TEST] SAMU-1600-001

Intro bonus:	Intro bonus
Intro APR:	11
Ongoing APR:	111
Rewards:	1% (Cash Rewards)
Annual Fee:	1111

View details

Short Disclaimer

Rates and fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Ongoing APR:	N/A
Rewards:	N/A*
Annual Fee:	$550

View details

Rates and fees

Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the banks, lenders and credit card companies.

*For complete information, see the offer terms and conditions on the issuer or partner’s website. Once you click apply you will be directed to the issuer or partner’s website where you may review the terms and conditions of the offer before applying. We show a summary, not the full legal terms – and before applying you should understand the full terms of the offer as stated by the issuer or partner itself. While Experian Consumer Services uses reasonable efforts to present the most accurate information, all offer information is presented without warranty.

Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party companies ("our partners") from which Experian Consumer Services receives compensation. This compensation may impact how, where, and in what order the products appear on this site. The offers on the site do not represent all available financial services, companies, or products.

^ΘCredit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any offer.

How to find the best travel credit card

See how to earn points

Pick a card that offers points for your most common purchases.

Look for sign-up bonuses

Spend a set amount to earn a bonus to offset travel costs.

Get travel protection

Some offer car rental insurance, lost baggage and other perks.

Compare annual fees

Most travel cards have an annual fee from $0-$500.

Start with your FICO^® Score^Θ and see card offers matched to your credit profile.

Get started for free

^ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO^® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO^® Score than FICO^® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards allow you to earn rewards in the form of points, miles or cash back. Sometimes these rewards will be specific to an airline or hotel chain. Many travel cards also offer unique benefits, including annual statement credits and travel insurance that make them worthwhile for frequent travelers.

You generally need a good to excellent credit score to qualify for a travel credit card (FICO^® Score 670 and above). However, there are travel credit cards for people with low credit scores.

While the perks that travel credit cards can offer are attractive, it's also important to note that most of them charge annual fees, which typically range anywhere from just under $100 to more than $500. As a result, it's important to review the card's rewards and benefits to see how their value compares to its annual fee. In many cases, a travel credit card's benefits can easily make up for its annual fee, but only if you use them.

Think about how often you travel each year. If you don't fly frequently or don't think you'd take advantage of an airline credit card's free checked bag benefits, a hotel credit card's anniversary night certificate or a premium credit card's airport lounge access, it might not be worth applying for one. Fortunately, a few travel credit cards don't have annual fees, but they also typically don't come with extra perks beyond the rewards program.

Points and miles are both types of rewards that you can earn on your credit card. The terms are generally interchangeable, as some airline rewards programs use the term "points," while others use "miles."

You'll generally get the most value out of your points and miles when you redeem them for travel, particularly if you have an airline or a hotel credit card. If you have transferable points, you can research itineraries with multiple loyalty programs to see which will give you the most value per point or mile. Other redemption options often include:

Deposit into your bank account
Statement credit
Gift cards
Charitable donations
Merchandise

The rewards you earn with your credit card generally doesn't expire while your account remains open. However if you close your card, you will likely forfeit any rewards. However, you'll often have a small window of time when you can redeem your rewards after closing your card—it depends on the card issuer's rules and card's terms.

In addition to points, miles or cash back, many travel credit cards also offer insurance protection and other credit card benefits that can provide a lot of value. Some of the more basic perks include:

Rental car insurance
Purchase protection
Extended warranty coverage
Travel insurance
Cellphone protection

Premium benefits that often come with higher annual fee cards may include:

Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee credits
Credits for travel purchases
Complimentary airport lounge access
Trip cancellation or interruption insurance
Free checked baggage
Lost luggage reimbursement and delayed baggage insurance

As you compare cards, look beyond the rewards to ensure you're getting the most value based on how you plan to use your new card.

Once you've got your new travel credit card, consider how you can use it to get the most benefits. The big things to look for are:

Meet the spending requirement for the intro offer (if there is one) before the deadline.
Remember which categories offer bonus rewards and try to use your travel card for those purchases.
Compare redemption options and see which give you the best value for your rewards. With travel cards, it's often best to redeem for travel bookings or transfer your rewards to partner travel companies.
Review the cardholder benefits and see if you need to activate certain perks—such as a complimentary Priority Pass membership.
Learn about the purchase-related benefits, which may include travel and purchase protections.

If your card has an annual fee, you may also want to set a calendar reminder for next year. As your anniversary date approaches, review how you used the card and decide whether it's worth keeping the card.

Credit support

Credit advice

Identity Theft support

Identity Theft Advice

Money advice

Credit Card advice

Loan advice

Auto Insurance Advice

Best travel credit cards of 2025

Browse categories

All travel credit cards

60 partner offers

Annual percentage rate (APR)

Intro bonus

Rewards

Annual fee

How to find the best travel credit card

See how to earn points

Look for sign-up bonuses

Get travel protection

Compare annual fees

Frequently asked questions

How do travel credit cards work?

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

Are travel credit cards worth it?

What's the difference between points and miles on a travel credit card?

How can you redeem travel rewards?

Do credit card rewards expire?

What additional credit card perks do travel cards offer?

How to make the most of travel credit cards

Learn about credit cards