Best travel credit cards of May 2026
The best travel credit cards offer premium perks and benefits. Our team at The Points Guy curated a selection of the best travel credit cards for anyone from the occasional traveler to frequent flyer. We’ve chosen the top cards to earn rewards and save money.
Discover which travel credit card from our partners makes the best addition to your wallet.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for beginner travelers
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for business owners who prioritize premium travel perks
- Capital One Venture Business: Best for high-spending businesses that want simple travel rewards
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for earning miles
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for travel and dining combined
- Capital One Venture X Business: Best for businesses with high-spending
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining at restaurants
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for no annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for occasional Delta flyers
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card: Best for earning AAdvantage miles without flying
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Sky Club access
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Best for A premium card with flexible perks for frequent Oneworld flyers
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Best hotel card for Hilton loyalists
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Best for flexible rewards earning
- Bilt Palladium Card: Best for a premium, all-in-one rewards experience
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for mid-tier Delta flyers
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best for low fee Marriott loyalists
- Bilt Obsidian Card: Best for earning rewards on dining, groceries and everyday essentials
- Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card: Best for Alaska loyalists
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®: Best for mid-tier American Airlines rewards
Browse by card categories
Comparing the best travel cards
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X | Earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
The American Express Platinum Card® has a high annual fee but remains one of the best cards on the market for those who prioritize premium travel experiences. A combination of updated and new statement credits makes the refreshed Amex Platinum an ideal card for frequent travelers and digital entertainment enthusiasts alike.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $600 hotel credit (disbursed as up to $300 in statement credits semiannually; enrollment required)
- Up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 in statement credits per month; enrollment required)
- Earns transferable Membership Rewards points
Cons
- $895 annual fee
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5x | Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. |
| 3x | Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. |
| 2x | Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. |
| 1x | Earn 1x on all other purchases. |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points for Chase Travel bookings or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Pros
- You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- Annual $50 Chase Travel Hotel Credit
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
Cons
- The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Best for business owners who prioritize premium travel perks
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X | Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. |
| 1X | Earn 1X points on other eligible purchases. |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express continues its long-standing streak as one of the most valuable cards on the market for frequent business travelers. The Amex Business Platinum card offers perks like automatic Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status (enrollment required) and statement credits that can be used toward business-specific purchases.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Offers easy to use business-specific statement credits
- Earns valuable and transferable Membership Rewards points
Cons
- $895 annual fee
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
Best for high-spending businesses that want simple travel rewards
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X miles | Earn 2X miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere |
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
The Capital One Venture Business card offers a straightforward way for established businesses to earn travel rewards on everyday spending. Cardholders earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel. With flexible redemption options, transferable miles and valuable annual credits, the card is designed for businesses that want a simple rewards structure paired with travel-focused benefits.
Pros
- Simple earning structure
- Bonus categories
- Annual credits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible redemption options, including transfer partners
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Fewer bonus categories than some competitors
- Lacks premium perks
- Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles—75,000 miles once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, and an additional 75,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Receive up to $220 in credits: Receive an annual $50 travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, up to an annual $50 statement credit for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants, plus up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years. Terms and conditions apply
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- $95 annual fee
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- Top rated mobile app
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase with no bonus categories to memorize, making it an ideal card for those with busy lives. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- This flexible rewards card delivers a solid welcome bonus.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories.
- Rewards earned are versatile as they can be redeemed for any hotel or airline purchase for a statement credit or transferred to 15+ travel partners.
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- Capital One airline partners do not include any large U.S. airlines.
- 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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 $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Comparing the best travel cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
at American Express's secure site | premium travel perks and digital entertainment | As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $895 | ||||||||
at Chase's secure site | beginner travelers | 75,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1 - 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
New Offer at American Express's secure site | business owners who prioritize premium travel perks | As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | 1 - 5X points Open Rewards rates
| $895 | ||||||||
New Card at Capital One's secure site | high-spending businesses that want simple travel rewards | Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles Open Intro bonus Limited-time offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles—75,000 miles once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, and an additional 75,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 6 months | 2 - 5X miles Open Rewards rates
| $95 | ||||||||
at Capital One's secure site | earning miles | Earn 75,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 2 - 5X miles Open Rewards rates
| $95 |
Ask our experts
What's your favorite travel credit card — and why?
How we rate cards
Frequently asked questions
Generally speaking, you need at least a very good credit score in order to get many popular travel credit cards. According to FICO, the scoring model used by most lenders, this is a score of at least 740. However, there’s no hard-and-fast rule, as each individual credit card issuer looks at a variety of factors in addition to your credit score when deciding whether to approve or decline your application.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways to check your credit score for free, so you can get an idea of where you stand before wasting an application (and a hard inquiry on your credit report) for a card for which you’re unlikely to qualify.
Points and miles are simply two different ways to describe the same thing: the rewards you earn on a credit card. As an example, many popular Capital One credit cards earn miles, whereas cards that participate in Chase Ultimate Rewards accrue points. There’s no appreciable difference between the two words.
This gets a little more complicated when you begin discussing cash-back credit cards. Some of these show earnings with a dollar amount, while others show cash-back rewards in points. However, here too there’s no significant difference. It’s simply how the card issuer chooses to describe the rewards you’re earning.
It depends entirely on your typical travel habits. Many popular travel credit cards feature rewards, benefits and redemption options that only come into play when you’re actually on the road. This includes perks like airport lounge access, rental car insurance or statement credits for certain travel purchases. Ultimately, you should look at how much value you expect to get out of a given travel card in one year. Then, compare that to the card’s annual fee to make sure you’re getting at least that much value.
It depends. Generally speaking, you should aim to use your rewards from travel credit cards for travel-related purchases – like flights or hotel rooms. However, everyone has a different version of what “value” looks like here. Some travelers are perfectly content redeeming 25,000 miles for a $250 economy flight. Others would rather save up and use 100,000 miles for a $5,000 business-class ticket. The important thing is to avoid redemptions like gift cards or merchandise, since those typically offer poor value for your points and miles.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine whether you want to keep cash in your pocket by using rewards for a particular purchase instead.
Many of the luxury travel cards on this list offer hundreds of dollars in annual travel statement credits. However, not all annual travel statements are created equal. While some cards feature easy redemptions, other cards feature redemptions that come with more restrictions.
Out of the various cards that offer annual travel credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the easiest redemption process for travel credits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's travel credit covers a broad selection of charges, including flights, hotels, campgrounds and more. Additionally, the travel does not have to be booked through Chase’s travel portal, and the statement credit will automatically post when you make an eligible purchase.