Read our editorial standards. We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Chase recently overhauled its lineup of IHG credit cards, and the best for most travelers is the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card. The newly rebranded IHG One loyalty program might not be first in hotel name recognition, but it's likely you've stayed in one of its properties. Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year. Your email address will not be published. Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee, The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Does it make sense to get even the best travel credit card if you only travel once or twice a year? The information related to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer. 5 ways to use 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the Ink Business Preferred credit card, jump to Amex Business Platinum card details , Why I opened the Business Platinum to get Centurion Lounge access, Amex Platinum vs Amex Business Platinum: Both offer excellent welcome bonuses and perks here's how to decide which card is best for you, jump to Capital One VentureOne card details , Capital One Venture vs VentureOne which travel, jump to Bank of America Travel Rewards Student card details , Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card review, How to earn, redeem, and maximize Delta miles. What the experts love: Annual free night award that makes the card worth keeping year after year, What the experts don't love: Low-level elite status doesn't come with many meaningful benefits. Why its one of the best travel credit cards: The World of Hyatt Credit Card is the best travel credit card for hotel points because it is highly rewarding from the get-go. Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. It offers 1.5 miles per $1 on all purchases, doubled the first year. Subscribe today! Along with solid earning and redeeming options, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card comes with a solid suite of benefits, including cell phone protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance (when renting for business purposes), extended warranty, and purchase protection. Are you a casual traveler or a frequent flyer? If approved, youll enjoy 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Hilton Honors loyalty program includes 18 brands and over 6,500 properties around the world, so it's easy to find a Hilton hotel just about anywhere you go. It's also a safe bet if you want to use it while traveling internationally it doesn't charge pesky foreign transaction fees, so you won't be on the hook for extra charges if you use it overseas. Her goal is to empower readers to make smart, informed financial decisions. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. The card has a $95 annual fee. -3 free night certificates after spending $3000 in the first 3 months of account opening. Many or all of the offers on this site are from companies from which Insider receives compensation (for a full list. If you can take advantage of everything Venture X has to offer, its annual fee of $395 can actually be a bargain. Insider evaluated dozens of travel rewards credit cards based on factors like rewards, benefits, fees, and value, as well as consulting top credit card experts to narrow down our list of the best travel credit cards currently available to new applicants. You can get up to $120 in annual dining credits**, but it's divided into up to $10 in credits each month, and the credit only applies at the following restaurants and delivery services: Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House (through August 1, 2022), Boxed (through August 1, 2022), and participating Shake Shack locations. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases, Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card, IHG Rewards bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, EVEN Hotels, Indigo Hotels & Holiday Inn. What the experts love:The ability to use your miles to cover your recent travel expenses; it earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. United flyers are also spoiled for choice when it comes to co-branded cards, with Chase offering a total of six different United credit cards, ranging from a no-annual-fee entry-level version to a premium product with United Club airport lounge access. Most credit cards that offer this benefit will only reimburse one fee every 5 years, so choose wisely. However, if you only fly occasionally or you're not loyal to one airline, a flexible travel credit card that doesn't offer perks on any one airline but earns points or miles that can be redeemed on a variety of airlines like the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better choice. What is the best travel credit card signup bonus? Earns bonus miles on several purchase categories, including dining, Includes an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Gets you a free checked bag on United when you pay with the card, Not the most rewarding card for most non-United travel purchases. Our credit card editor takes those factors into account, and comes up with a rating to best reflect how the card performs in that criteria - relative to other products we've reviewed. Best Travel Credit Card for Hotel Rewards. Another difference between travel money cards and typical debit cards is that there's sometimes an initial fee to get a travel money card, either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount you're loading for the first time. Using an international credit card abroad can also help you save 7% to 10% on foreign currency conversion. She oversees the vertical's guides and reviews, covering topics including banking, credit cards, insurance, investing, and mortgages. If you aren't planning to go anywhere too adventurous, consider the Discover it Miles. Not everyone wants to pay a $550 annual fee, but if you're serious about maximizing your rewards and you travel frequently, the Sapphire Reserve could be worth it. American Express issues a whopping seven co-branded Delta cards with varying annual fees and benefits. Beyond offering a huge welcome bonus of 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership (worth $2,160 in travel, based on Insider's valuations), this card is packed with perks that can improve your travel experience and save you money. You can purchase a Travelex Money Card online. You also have the option to transfer Capital One miles*** to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Citi Premier requires a credit score of 700, at a minimum. -140,000 points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months of account opening-$99 annual fee, comes with a free night certificate upon renewal each year-Can use to book free nights at Holiday Inn or Intercontinental hotels-Benefit of booking award nights, if you book 4 nights with points, it will only cost 3 nights since the 4th night is free. Cardholders receive up to $300 per year in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One, Priority Pass and Capital One airport lounge access(even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits. Cardholders can also use points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more. If you're looking for better benefits, be sure to check out our guide to the best student credit cards for all the top options. Other card benefits include automatic IHG Platinum Elite status (with the ability to unlock Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 on purchases and making one additional purchase each calendar year with the card), 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 on purchases and making one additional purchase each calendar year, up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year, the fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a stay of three or more nights, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit. Below, you can see which cards best meet the needs of international travelers and shoppers of all types, as selected by WalletHubs editors from 1,500+ offers. You'll also get up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) credit each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit). Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Best Travel Credit Card with No Annual Fee. The Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card is a great "set it and forget it" card, in the sense that you don't have to worry about various bonus categories for earning rewards. There is a $39 annual fee, but the card is worth it if you plan to spend at least $217 per month. Which credit card is best for travelling abroad? If you redeem this certificate at pricier Marriott hotels, it's possible to get a stay worth $300 or more and now that Marriott allows you to top up a certificate with up to 15,000 points, you can potentially get even more value. That means you need good credit or better to get approved. You can order a travel money card online, and load money onto it in any of the foreign currencies offered. What the experts love:Between $300 a year in travel credit and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, you can offset the annual fee entirely and that's not even considering other benefits like lounge access. points benefit from a flat redemption rate. New cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases). Plus, like the less-expensive Sapphire Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve offers some of the best credit card travel insurance around. With the Uber credit, you get up to $15 each month, and a $20 bonus in December for a total of $35 that month. Copyright 2007-2022 ChiLu Management Systems, LLC All rights reserved. The annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months, which gives you the chance to try the card out for a year and see if you like its benefits without any out-of-pocket cost. Redeeming Capital One travel rewards is quick and easy. The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, and it earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 2 points on all other travel purchases, and 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. These include a free first checked bag and priority boarding for the cardholder and one companion on United flights (you must use the card to pay for your ticket), two one-time United Club lounge passes each anniversary year, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit, and expanded access to United saver award tickets. Discover a travel nursing assignment tailored to your needs, Your email address will not be published. In addition, it is not the financial institutions responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Known for big initial bonuses and rich ongoing rewards, the best travel rewards credit cards can easily save the average person more than $1,000 over the first two years of use. The Capital One Spark Miles Card has a $95 annual fee, that is waived the first year. For help choosing, check out WalletHub's editors' picks for the best travel credit cards on the market today. And as with all of thebest travel credit cards, Capital One Venture features a $0 foreign transaction fee. That's a decent offer for a no-annual-fee card, and the earning structure is simple, too 1.5x points per dollar on every purchase, with no bonus categories to keep track of. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is loadedwith premium benefits that can more than offset the $395 annual fee which is lower than other premium travel cards. 3 reasons why the Amex Gold card is an easy choice for foodies, travelers, and even beginners, Citi's full list of airline and hotel partners, The Citi Premier card is often overlooked here's why it should be your go-to card right now, These 3 Citi cards are the best combination to earn maximum points on every purchase, 6 reasons to consider the Citi Premier card, jump to Chase Ink Business Preferred card details . If you're a road warrior who flies every week, you'll want to think about a premium travel card that offers lots of perks to make your travels smoother, such as the Amex Platinum, which comes with airport lounge access and hotel elite status. But you do have to pay an initial fee, either $15 or 1.1% of the initial load amount, whichever is greater. For starters, Venture X offers an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Transferable points include popular currencies such as: You can transfer these points to both airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. track your progress for free on WalletHub. This can be worth much more than the card's $95 annual fee. For cards with annual fees, it'll only be worth it if you actually take advantage of the premium benefits. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. The selection of transfer partners is best suited to someone who wants to travel internationally and who doesn't mind spending some time researching the best ways to redeem miles with the different frequent flyer program options. For rates and fees of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, please click here. Who wants to have to change banks every 13 or 26 weeks? For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card from American Express, please click here. The best military credit cards offer great rewards, 0% introductory interest rates, and fees as low as $0 per year. Part-time side gigs and sole proprietorships, including freelancing, DoorDash delivery, or reselling online can all make you eligible. You get up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees** like checked bags and inflight purchases; up to $100 each year toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases**; and up to $200 in annual Uber credits (including Uber Eats)**. Discover it Miles also has a 0% foreign transaction fee to go along with its $0 annual fee. Some of those perks might include free ATM usage at ATMs across the nation or rebates for out-of-network ATM fees, or even credit cards that allow you to build points or miles for travel-related purchases such as buying gasoline, car rentals, airline tickets and more. It's all about how the card's benefits and rewards align with your lifestyle. And thats in addition to other recurring bonuses as well as benefits like airport lounge access. Good premium travel credit cards should offer higher-end benefits such as airport lounge access and annual travel credits as well. Our editors' recommendations for the Best Credit Cards are a reflection of their own subjective opinions, and they should not be relied upon as the sole basis for choosing your financial product. Personal Finance Insider evaluated dozens of travel rewards credit cards currently available to new applicants and narrowed down the list to the best options based on the following factors: We think the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the best overall travel rewards card, but the best card for your particular situation will depend on what benefits you care about the most, as well as how you feel about paying a high annual fee. The United Explorer Credit Card offers60,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 miles for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases. $695 if application is received on or after 1/13/2022. Why its one of the best travel credit cards: The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card is one of the best travel credit cards for people with excellent credit because it offers a lot of bonus rewards and has a $0 membership fee the first year ($95 after that). The card has a $0 foreign transaction fee. jump to Capital One Venture card details , Capital One Venture versus Chase Sapphire Preferred: How to decide which travel rewards credit card is best for you, The premium Capital One Venture X is actually just as affordable as the Capital One Venture here's why the Venture X is a better pick for most travelers, up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) credit. A few of the important things to think about when choosing a new bank as a travel nurse include whether or not there is a local branch at your assignment location, if the bank offers online check deposit, whether or not free online bill pay is available, what the ATM fee policy is and what the withdraw limits are. That's a long list of perks from a card that only charges a $99 annual fee. What credit cards pay for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck? Chase Ultimate Rewards points are my personal favorite since I can redeem them for travel through Chase or with my favorite travel partners including Hyatt and United, and I can also redeem them for everyday purchases through Chase Pay Yourself Back. However, if your main goal is to maximize your rewards earning and have lots of flexibility in using your points, cards that earn transferable points are the best option. But a few key things to look for are a high welcome bonus offer, strong bonus rewards in your top spending categories, trip protection such as trip cancellation insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. Required fields are marked *. Big spenders can also take advantage of a $100 flight credit when they spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year. That means you need good credit or better to get approved. What the experts love: "4x points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) is great usually, a card favors one or the other," says Rathner. Choosing My Next Assignment Amidst Coronavirus, Flying First Class for the Price of Economy, Follow up Training a New Nurse Practitioner. The World Of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent option if you stay with Hyatt frequently, and, like other good hotel credit cards, it comes with one perk that can make it worth keeping for the long term. Spending $15,000 in a year will get you an extra free night, too. PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card, PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa Signature Card, Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Credit Card, Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards Secured Credit Card, Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Credit Card. But youve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. You can redeem them for travel directly through Chase and get more than 1 cent per point (you get 1.25 cents with the Preferred and 1.5 cents with the Reserve), and Chase's selection of transfer partners, including United, Hyatt, Marriott, and more, is great for US-based travelers. If you're a small-business owner who likes to travel, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is an excellent choice for earning and using travel rewards especially if you don't want to pay a high annual fee. The card offers a welcome bonus of3 free nights (each worth up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening, worth up to $1,050 in stays according to Insider's valuations. Like the personal Platinum card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express earns Membership Rewards points:5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, 1.5x points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, and on eligible purchases in the US at electronics goods retailers, software, and cloud service providers, shipping providers, and on construction materials and hardware supplies (on up to $2 million in combined purchases per year, then 1x), and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. If you dont see yourself paying an annual fee on a credit card forever, keep in mind that you can always downgrade your card to a no-annual fee version after the first year. Airline and hotel cards are tied to a specific airline or hotel chain, and they tend to offer more rewards and perks when you use the card for purchases at their affiliated brands. Global Entry makes it easy to re-enter the U.S. by airport, and TSA PreCheck is intended for domestic airport travel. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, please click here. Rewards on travel credit cards may have less value for other redemption methods, though, such as cash back or gift cards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases, With Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring, 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. What the experts love: Valuable benefits for a modest annual fee, path to earning higher elite status and free night award with spending, What the experts don't love:10-visit cap on free airport lounge visits, high minimum requirement to unlock spending-based perks.