Best travel credit cards of January 2026

Fans of Capital One who frequently book travel via Capital One Business Travel and want a card the offers no foreign transaction fees.

In addition to a solid earning structure, the Venture X Business card provides you with a $300 annual credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel in addition to 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary — starting with your first anniversary.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option for those who want to take advantage of a solid earning structure that provides them with easy to redeem miles. The Venture Rewards card earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase plus an unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You get similar benefits that come with the more premium Capital One Venture cards with a smaller annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best suited for travelers who can take full advantage of its elevated earning rates, statement credits and wide range of luxury benefits.

If you regularly spend on travel and lifestyle purchases, and want a premium reward card that delivers both luxury benefits and long-term value, the Sapphire Reserve is a card you should consider.

If you're looking for similar premium travel benefits but are an Amex loyalist, the American Express Platinum Card® is a strong competitor. It carries an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) and offers extensive luxury perks, including access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection for eligible card members, complimentary Hilton and Marriott elite status (enrollment is required for select benefits), and annual statement credits across categories like airfare, hotels, ridesharing services, digital entertainment and more. Its rewards are also flexible to redeem for general travel, but are mostly focused on luxury experiences.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly entry point into travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular alternative — and one of our favorite beginner travel cards here at TPG. It has a much lower fee of $95, earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and offers access to the same Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. While it lacks the premium perks of the Sapphire Reserve, it still provides solid travel protections and the ability to build up a stash of valuable points over time. It’s a great starter card for those new to travel rewards or not yet ready to commit to a premium card.

We’ve long suggested the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card  as an excellent option for those who are new to earning travel rewards because it lets you earn valuable, transferable points with strong bonus categories and a reasonable annual fee.

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has remained a top card in my wallet for years. Between the consistently strong sign-up bonus, low annual fee and continual improvements that have been made over the years, it’s hard for any other mid-tier rewards card to compare. I love that I can earn bonus rewards on travel, dining, streaming and online grocery purchases — all with just one card. Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valuable and easy to use whether you’re new to points and miles or an expert.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior content operations editor

To add more luxury to your travel experience, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Though it comes with a higher annual fee, you’ll enjoy Priority Pass lounge access plus a $300 annual travel credit.

Frequent travelers and digital entertainment subscribers will enjoy travel perks like lounge access and an up to $209 Clear Plus statement credit (subject to auto-renewal) in addition to an up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 per month in statement credits; enrollment required).

Adding this card to your rotation makes sense if you can use its perks and statement credits to offset its $895 annual fee.

If you want a premium travel and lifestyle card that’s not nearly $900, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It features a $795 annual fee — which is still a big figure — but offers several similar perks and credits that offset this fee, and it earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most valuable reward currencies on the market.

Those looking for a great return on dining and purchases at U.S. supermarkets will get a lot of value from this card.

“I'm a huge foodie, especially when I travel, so I make sure to grab the dinner bill for all my friends in order to earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants every time (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar).” — Stanley Sanford, compliance manager

For those who dine out a lot and also want additional bonus categories and other valuable perks for a lower annual fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

This card is ideal for business owners who travel frequently, want to earn valuable rewards on both business and everyday purchases and appreciate premium benefits like travel protections, airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees.

If you’re looking to turn business expenses into meaningful travel rewards — and want premium perks usually reserved for personal cards — the Sapphire Business Card’s strong earning power, flexible redemption options and travel-friendly benefits make it a standout choice.

If you want access to the Centurion Lounge and other top-tier travel perks, you might consider the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. While it carries a hefty $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), it offers 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, access to thousands of lounges worldwide and earns 2 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases in select business categories (on up to $2 million per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

Frequent diners, Citi loyalists and travelers who want American Airlines access without a full lounge membership.

If you want to earn American Airlines miles without flying, enjoy airport lounge access without a full Admirals Club membership and easily offset a high annual fee with versatile statement credits, the Citi Strata Elite deserves a spot in your wallet.

The American Express Platinum Card® offers more robust lounge access and flexible travel credits, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a more flexible annual travel credit and access to a broader range of travel partners.

The VentureOne is a strong card to have in your arsenal and great if you are budgeting. After all, there aren’t many no-annual-fee cards with the ability to transfer points and miles directly to travel partners, so it’s a big bonus that this card offers that.

“I wanted a credit card that earns Capital One miles without an annual fee, and this is a winner. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some other cards, but I’m happy earning 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases without paying a fee to keep this card year after year. I’ll never cancel this card.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

For a small annual fee, many travelers could benefit from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You’ll earn at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and receive a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership.

For frequent travelers, the Capital One Venture X is a must-have and is well worth the $395 annual fee.

“The Capital One Venture X card comes with an annual $300 Capital One Travel credit, which I use to book flights. That effectively brings the annual fee down to $95 per year. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar (a 3.7% return at TPG’s valuations) in spending categories where most cards would only accrue 1 mile — like auto maintenance, pharmacies and medical bills.” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter

Those turned off by the Venture X’s annual fee could opt for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees) and similar earning and redemption options.

Business travelers who can take advantage of this card’s statement credits and would benefit from perks like lounge access and hotel elite status.

If you’re often on the go for work trips, this Amex Business Platinum card is a solid choice. It’s packed with travel-related statement credits and benefits in addition to offering business-specific perks that are pretty straightforward to use.

If you’re in the market for a premium business card but don’t want to commit to the Amex Business Platinum, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. Like its consumer counterpart, the Sapphire Reserve for Business earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points and also offers business-related statement credits and perks.

The card is best suited to casual Delta flyers who may not fly often enough to earn elite status but would enjoy elitelike perks such as priority boarding and a free checked bag.

“As someone who likes flying Delta but doesn’t fly with them often enough to earn elite status, my Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex still gives me elitelike perks to help upgrade my travel experience.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

If you are a regular Delta flyer interested in earning elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a strong alternative. You’ll get the same elitelike benefits as with the Gold, but you’ll also get the ability to fast-track your way to Medallion status.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card is an excellent choice for those seeking to accumulate and utilize Hilton points. This card offers attractive benefits for individuals aspiring to become loyal Hilton guests. Cardholders enjoy the privilege of complimentary Hilton Gold status, entailing a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. hotels or a continental breakfast at non-U.S. hotels. Additionally, they can take advantage of the fifth night free when booking with points, an 80% bonus on earnings during stays and the possibility of room upgrades to standard suites, subject to availability at select brands. The Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card also includes a complimentary night reward (after spending $15,000 each calendar year), no foreign transaction fees and the opportunity to attain top-tier Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year.

“Even if you only stay with Hilton a few times each year, having the Hilton Surpass Card can be worth it. It offers solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status.  Hilton Gold is one of my favorite mid-tier hotel statuses as it gets you complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credits and space-available room upgrades.” — Benji Stawski, former senior reporter

The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is Hilton’s premier offering, granting automatic top-tier Diamond status as a valuable perk. Despite its annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees), the significant benefits of Diamond status, valued at over $3,000 annually by TPG, make this fee worthwhile. Cardholders are rewarded with a complimentary night on each account anniversary, and they have the opportunity to earn two additional free nights by spending $30,000 and $60,000 on their card during a calendar year. Additionally, the card provides statement credits for various expenses, including up to $200 in airline fees per year, up to $400 in Hilton resort credits and up to $100 in Hilton on-property credits. For a comprehensive analysis of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, refer to our detailed review.

The American Express Business Gold card is an excellent choice for business owners who are looking for a premium business card with premium business perks like monthly office supply statement credits, travel and shopping protection and access to The Hotel Collection.

The American Express Business Gold is an excellent choice for small businesses that have changing bonus categories but still want more premium business perks and benefits.

If you still want to earn Membership Rewards points without paying an annual fee, consider The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees), which earns 2 Membership Rewards points on all business purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

Travelers who frequently stay at Hilton hotels and want luxury-level benefits without elite-qualifying stays. 

The combination of high-value credits, elite status and premium travel benefits can far outweigh the $550 annual fee if you maximize them.

For Marriott loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card delivers premium hotel perks within the Marriott portfolio, including an annual free night award and automatic Platinum Elite status, with a slightly higher annual fee. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is ideal for Hyatt loyalists, providing solid value through free nights, elite status and bonus points on Hyatt stays. For a mid-tier option within the same hotel family, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides valuable Hilton perks at a more moderate annual fee.

If you travel frequently and are looking for a card to help you rack up points you can redeem for future travel, this card is a decent option. Additionally, those looking for a way to fill gaps in their points earning strategy will benefit from the flat 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases outside of the main travel categories.

Another great perk the Autograph Journey features is an annual $50 statement credit triggered by an airline purchase of at least $50. This is on top of elevated earning rates in the certain travel categories and a solid welcome offer for new applicants. There's also no foreign transaction fees on the Autograph Journey card making it a good first travel card as well as a decent supplemental card to add to your travel credit card roster.

If you're looking for a more general use credit card with no annual fee, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns a flat rate of 2% cash rewards on purchases making an excellent choice to help fill gaps in your reward earning strategy. The best part? Like the Autograph Journey card, the Active Cash Card doesn't put a cap on the amount of cash rewards you can earn.

Marriott loyalists would get the most value out of having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. The annual free night award, worth up to 85,000 points, can be a great way to score a free night at any of these Marriott hotels.

“This card is an absolute no-brainer for those who stay at full-service Marriott brands multiple times a year but not quite enough to naturally earn the Marriott Platinum Elite status that unlocks perks like free breakfast, club access and suite upgrades. I’ve got the card so that I can enjoy hundreds of dollars in annual status perks, plus the annual 85,000-point award certificate that saves me hundreds of dollars on a night at higher-end Marriott hotels and resorts.” — Summer Hull, director of content

If you are looking for a premium hotel card at a lower cost but with similar perks, consider the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which carries an annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees) and offers many premium benefits — just at participating Hilton Honors properties.

Frequent Delta flyers and/or those seeking to earn Delta Medallion status would benefit from the premium perks offered by the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex.

“I keep it in my wallet for the annual companion pass. My family and I do a lot of domestic flying and often plan our vacations far in advance. Having the companion ticket can save my family hundreds of dollars a year in airfare. Plus, the tickets even qualify for free elite upgrades.” — Scott Mayerowitz, former executive editor

If you are a Delta loyalist who wants more Delta perks, including Delta Sky Club access, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card may be a better option for your wallet.

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

American Airlines loyalists who travel often enough to take advantage of the premium travel perks.

If you are looking for a rewarding airline card that offers lounge access, valuable statement credits and elevated earning rates on American Airlines purchases, the Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard could be a worthwhile addition to your wallet.

For travelers who prefer a lower annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers 2 miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases, restaurants and gas stations, plus a free checked bag on domestic itineraries — all for a $0 introductory annual fee in the first year, then $99.

For frequent travelers who value unlimited lounge access, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® may be a better fit. It carries a $595 annual fee but includes a complimentary Admirals Club membership and additional elite-style perks.

Because of the high annual fee, this card is best for those who fly Delta regularly and can maximize all of the card’s benefits.

“As a Delta Diamond Medallion, I spend a lot of time on Delta jets. The Delta Reserve card helps me maintain my status by offering shortcuts to earning (and retaining) status. Plus, the card’s annual companion ticket is valid on first-class itineraries and has helped me offset the card’s annual fee multiple years in a row.” — Andrew Kunesh, former senior editor, points and miles

The American Express Platinum Card® offers a host of benefits for travelers who want to keep their redemption options open beyond Delta and its partners. While it won’t help you earn Delta elite status, Amex Platinum cardholders do have access to Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying Delta that same day) and can transfer points to Delta for award redemptions.

This card is ideal for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flyers. However, even if you don’t fly with these airlines all the time, holding the Atmos Rewards Ascent card may still offer outsize value thanks to perks like a free checked bag on flights with these two airlines.

If you find yourself on international flights with Alaska and Hawaiian, you’ll enjoy elevated reward rates on every dollar you spend with these airlines, as well as no foreign transaction fees wherever your travels take you.

If you want a more general travel card with a similar annual fee that earns transferable points, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card also comes with a $95 annual fee, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Business owners who want to earn a transferable currency will love Capital One miles, which have grown in value and redemption options over the past few years. You’ll also enjoy a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $120) and the flexibility to use your miles to cover travel expenses at a fixed value of 1 cent apiece. If you’re looking for a card that earns valuable miles without needing to track bonus categories, this is it.

You’ll earn transferable points on every purchase without worrying about bonus categories, all for a low annual fee.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has the same $95 annual fee but earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead of Capital One miles. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, select advertising purchases and internet, cable and phone services (on up to $150,000 in annual combined purchases, then 1 point per dollar); you’ll earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.