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As award travelers, the goal is to redeem points and miles for flights, hotels, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. However, sometimes high award pricing or lack of availability means it's a better option to pay out of pocket for your trip. Using one of the best credit cards for travel purchases in these situations can earn you thousands of extra points per year.
Determining which travel card to swipe at checkout is tricky because it's subjective. You need to factor in your circumstances and travel goals to determine which card makes the most sense for your purchases.
For instance, if your goal is to book a flight through Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, it probably doesn't make sense to pay for your hotel stay with your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, as Capital One Miles can't be transferred to Atmos Rewards.
For the best pick, consider the following questions:
- Are you currently working toward a welcome bonus?
- Which flexible rewards currency will provide the most value?
- Do you need a card that offers extra benefits, such as free checked bags, airport lounge access, or in-flight savings?
- Which card offers the best travel insurance?
Here's a look at some of the best credit cards for travel purchases as we answer these questions.
Best Card for Travel Purchases: Our Pick
If you don't have time to sift through a dozen different travel rewards cards, our pick is a perfect first place to start. You can rest assured knowing you're getting a fantastic earning potential and top-of-the-line benefits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Let's cut to the chase (pun intended). In terms of travel purchases, no card comes close to the comprehensive benefits package offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees). The card has long been a pioneer in the points and miles world, and it's clear from its 2025 overhaul that Chase is making a concerted effort to keep up with the competition.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Earning potential
For starters, this card earns 8x total points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. You'd be hard-pressed to find another card that has such high earning rates on hotels and flights booked directly with the airline or hotel. In other words, if you don't like booking through a travel portal, the Sapphire Reserve gives you the best of both worlds.
The only thing that would make the earning potential even better is an “all other travel” bonus category to catch travel purchases like cruises, Airbnbs, or activities. Although you can earn up to 8X on these purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal, you're limited by availability when booking through a third party.
Why we love it
Apart from its fantastic earning potential, the Sapphire Reserve has a lot going for it. You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for up to 2¢ apiece through the Chase Travel℠ portal thanks to Chase's Points Boost redemption option, or transfer them to any of Chase's 14 transfer partners.
Transferring to partners typically results in a better value and allows you to enjoy elite status perks during your trip. Although Chase has introduced loyalty-eligible bookings through Chase Travel, this isn't widespread.
In addition, the Sapphire Reserve provides a best-in-class $300 travel credit, up to $500 for stays with The Edit (split into two $250 credits), and up to $250 in credits for select Chase Travel Hotels through December 31, 2026. These credits are also stackable, potentially allowing you to get $800 off a single hotel stay, and you'd still have another $250 The Edit credit leftover.
It also offers terrific lounge access and covers your trip with industry-leading travel protection. You'll even receive IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and statement credits for Apple TV+ and Apple Music, StubHub, dining, and DoorDash purchases.
These benefits are all in exchange for a $795 annual fee. Although the annual fee is high, many cardholders believe the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth it.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve Full Review
Best Premium Cards for Travel Purchases
The travel bonus category is crowded. While this can make picking one “best” card tricky, it also means we're not left wanting for options. Let's go through our favorite premium travel rewards cards that earn well on a wide variety of travel purchases.
Best credit card for travel benefits: American Express Platinum Card®
It's impossible to discuss travel cards without bringing up the American Express Platinum Card®. The Platinum Card® also saw a refresh in 2025, cementing its status as an icon in the category.
(Terms apply)
- 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 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $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 pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 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 $219 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 late 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: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- 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.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Earning potential
Cardmembers earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5X points on prepaid hotels (including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection) booked through American Express Travel®.
It's frustrating that the only way to earn bonus points on hotels is by prepaying through American Express Travel®, but the high earning rates on airfare means it'll likely be the only card you'll want to use on flights from now on.
Why we love it
The earning potential is arguably the least interesting feature of the card. Where Platinum Card® shines is in the portfolio of perks and benefits afforded to cardholders. Some of the top benefits include:
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, the most comprehensive airport lounge access provided by any card
- Complimentary elite status with Marriott, Hilton, Leaders Club, Avis, Hertz, and National
- Up to $200 annually in Uber savings on rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S, in addition to $120 Uber One Credit.
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
- Get up to $600 back in statement credits each year (up to $300 semi-annually) on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel®. The Hotel Collection requires a 2-night minimum booking.
- $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck application fee
- Up to $219 in statement credits each calendar year for a CLEAR+ membership
- Up to $400 in statement credits annually for eligible Resy purchases (up to $100 per quarter)
- Up to $300 in statement credits each year for digital entertainment purchases (up to $25 per month)
- Up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year for Lululemon purchases (up to $75 each quarter)
- Up to $155 in statement credits each calendar year for a Walmart+ membership (up to $12.95 plus taxes and fees each month)
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
There are even more statement credits offered to cardholders, bringing the maximum value up to $3,500 each year. The Platinum Card® Card is the poster child of premium travel rewards cards. For frequent travelers, the card's benefits may easily outweigh the eye-watering $895 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
Related: Platinum Card® Card Full Review
Best credit card for travel portal bookings: Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees) is one of the newest cards on this list. However, it earns a spot thanks to its impressive earning potential on travel portal bookings, plus its statement credits that can easily outweigh the $595 annual fee.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
- 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
Earning potential
Cardholders of the Citi Strata Elite earn the following:
- 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
- 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
Unfortunately, 3X on dining and 1.5X on all other purchases is nothing special. However, the ability to earn 12X on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal is unprecedented, as is the 6X on flights booked through Citi Travel. You might not want to book through the portal, which is completely understandable. However, if you don't mind a third-party booking, you can quickly accumulate thousands of points off a single reservation.
Plus, if you can time it right, 6X points on dining during Citi Nights can also add up quickly. Since Citi includes delivery apps in this category, I can order my weekly groceries for delivery and earn 6X ThankYou Points per $1 spent.
Why we love it
Alongside the impressive earning potential on Citi Travel purchases, you can unlock nearly $1,500 in value through statement credits and other benefits:
- Up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel
- Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit on your choice of up to two brands, including American Airlines
- Up to $200 Annual Blacklane Credit
- Four American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge Access Passes each year
Plus, as a Citi Strata Elite cardholder, you'll have access to all of Citi's 21 transfer partners with the best transfer ratios — including American Airlines AAdvantage. Citi is the only issuer that lists American Airlines as a transfer partner, making the Citi Strata Elite worth it for that alone.
Related: Citi Strata Elite Full Review
Best for everyday travel purchases: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a fan favorite thanks to its easy-to-use benefits and comparatively low annual fee of $395. It doesn't pack on statement credits like some of the other cards on this list — its simplicity is what attracts cardholders.
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Earning potential
As a cardholder of the Capital One Venture X, you can earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on other eligible purchases.
The bonus miles on travel portal bookings are fairly standard, but the 2X miles on day-to-day purchases make it an ideal option for attractions, dinners, or other purchases when traveling.
Why we love it
The Capital One Venture X offers a $300 annual travel credit on bookings through Capital One Travel. This is incredibly easy to use and a great way to offset the annual fee. Plus, you'll earn 10,000 bonus points each account anniversary, which is worth $100 when booking travel through Capital One Travel, or potentially more when maximizing Capital One's 22 transfer partners.
Related: Capital One Venture X Full Review
Best for renters: Bilt Palladium Card
When Bilt revamped its credit card portfolio in early 2026, it added a lot more variety for renters to choose from. The Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees) is Bilt's most premium offering. However, it falls somewhere in the middle of other premium cards.
At $495 per year, its annual fee is certainly lower than that of the Sapphire Reserve or Platinum Card®, but still higher than the Capital One Venture X.
- Earn points on housing payments with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
Earning potential
Earnings are simple with the Palladium Card:
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
However, you can also earn additional points by engaging with Bilt partners or booking travel through Bilt. You'll earn up to 5X Bilt Points at more than 20,000 Bilt partner restaurants, up to 4X on flights and hotels booked through the Bilt Travel Portal, and 4X points on Lyft rides after linking your accounts.
Why we love it
As a cardholder, you can enjoy no transaction fees on housing payments, including rent and mortgage payments. That's the primary reason most people hold a Bilt card — to earn transferable points on one of your biggest expenses every month. However, there's a case to be made for the Bilt cards, even if you're a digital nomad or someone who doesn't pay rent each month.
With the Palladium Card, you can take advantage of a $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit, applied as twice-a-year $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings. These credits alone make the annual fee easier to swallow, but you'll receive $200 of Bilt Cash each year. Bilt Cash is incredibly flexible — you can choose from a variety of redemption methods, from fitness classes to Rent Day bonuses. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash rolls over into the next calendar year.
At least for now, Bilt has more transfer partners than any other credit card currency, including 17 airline partners and seven hotel partners. If you want access to these, a Bilt card can allow you to accumulate points quickly.
Related: Palladium Card Full Review
Best Low Annual Fee Cards for Travel Purchases
Although you often get the best earning rates on travel purchases when you pay a high annual fee, there are plenty of cards out there that offer an impressive earning potential in exchange for a sub-$100 annual fee.
Best credit card for beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our favorite travel rewards card for beginners, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), is an excellent option if you need a card without foreign transaction fees before your next trip. It also has a much lower annual fee than its Sapphire Reserve sibling, coming in at just $95 per year.
Surprisingly, the annual fee stayed the same, even after its 2026 refresh.
- 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, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Earning potential
Cardholders of the Sapphire Preferred earn:
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Although earning 2X on general travel purchases might not seem like anything to write home about (especially compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which both earn 2X on all purchases), the Sapphire Preferred has a loyal fan base, and for good reason.
Thanks to the new 3X bonus category for vacation homes, the Sapphire Preferred is now one of the best cards to use on Airbnb stays.
Why we love it
There are many reasons to love the Sapphire Preferred — the $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit, the competitive earning rates, or the comprehensive travel and purchase coverage come to mind.
However, the main reason is the ability to access all of Chase's hotel and airline transfer partners. The points you earn when booking travel directly or through the travel portal can go very far when you maximize the variety of domestic and international partners. For a beginner-friendly card, it packs a lot of valuable perks into a small package.
Important to note: Chase is decreasing the transfer ratio to World of Hyatt for Sapphire Preferred cardholders to 4:3 (down from 1:1). If you were approved for the card before June 15, 2026, the decreased transfer ratio will take effect on October 1, 2026. If you apply now, the decreased transfer ratio takes effect immediately.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred Full Review
Best for bonus category purchases: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) is a lesser-known but phenomenal option for travel purchases. With an annual fee of just $95, its earning potential can't be beat.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's $600 toward your next trip.
- Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- 5X points per $1 spent with hotels
- 4X points per $1 spent with airlines
- 3X points per $1 spent on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points per $1 spent on other purchases
Earning potential
Cardholders of the Autograph Journey earn the following:
- 5X points per $1 spent with hotels
- 4X points per $1 spent with airlines
- 3X points per $1 spent on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points per $1 spent on other purchases
For a card with an annual fee below $100, it's extremely uncommon to see such high earning rates on purchases made directly with hotels and airlines. It rivals some of the top cards on the market, and offers a bonus earning category on other travel purchases.
Why we love it
If you need more convincing outside of its impressive earning potential, the Autograph Journey offers a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. The only drawback is that Wells Fargo only has a handful of transfer partners. Although more partners could be in the pipeline, you're somewhat limited in how you use your points.
Related: Autograph Journey Full Review
Best for no annual fee: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Of all the banks and card issuers out there, U.S. Bank probably gets the least recognition. However, it offers some surprisingly lucrative card products that are worth considering. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is a wonderful no-annual-fee travel card that offers some great benefits.
- 5X points on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked through the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4X points on other travel, including airlines, hotels, rental cars, cruises, taxis, trains, and limousines.
- 4X points at gas stations and on electric vehicle charging (on up to $1,000 in spending each quarter)
- 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining, and streaming services
- 1 point on all other eligible purchases
Earning potential
As a cardholder, you'll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4X points on travel, 4X points on gas stations, and EV charging stations (on up to $1,000 spent per quarter), 2X points on streaming services, plus 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, and dining.
That's right — you can earn unlimited 4X points on general travel purchases, making it an excellent choice for your Airbnb stays, train tickets, or excursions.
However, the one drawback of the Altitude Connect is that there isn't any way to maximize your earnings. U.S. Bank doesn't offer transfer partners, so your only redemption methods are for things like travel or as a deposit into an eligible U.S. Bank account.
That said — not everyone wants to spend hours finding the best high-value redemption. With the Altitude Connect, you can trust that you have a fantastic earning potential, and you know exactly what those points are worth as soon as you earn them.
Why we love it
The Altitude Connect is a fantastic starter card. As a cardholder, you can enjoy a complimentary Priority Pass membership with four free visits per year. How often do you get lounge access on a card that doesn't charge an annual fee? Not very often.
Plus, you can receive up to $100 in statement credits toward your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee once every four years. This statement credit is more than enough to cover the TSA PreCheck application fee, which starts at $76.75, and covers almost all of your Global Entry fee, which costs $120. This is a perk typically seen on premium credit cards.
Finally, you can enjoy a complimentary GigSky global mobile data plan through November 30, 2026. You'll receive 5 GB of data valid for 15 days. There isn't a maximum number of times you can redeem this benefit.
If you don't mind fixed-value redemptions, the Altitude Connect might be the best no-annual-fee travel card on the market.
Related: Altitude Connect Full Review
Best travel credit card for business owners: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) is the workhorse card of the Chase Ink business portfolio and is one of the best small-business credit cards. AwardWallet Editor-in-Chief JT Genter uses the Chase Ink Preferred as his primary travel card.
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- 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
- Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
Earning potential
It's an excellent option for more than just travel, though. Although it offers fantastic travel protections, it also offers powerful point-earning ability — 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year — plus a valuable sign-up bonus.
Why we love it
For only a $95 annual fee, this Chase business credit card can't be beaten. Apart from an impressive welcome bonus, it offers a variety of travel and purchase protections, and you can pool your points with other Chase cards. If you're a small business owner or freelancer, you should absolutely consider adding the Ink Preferred to your portfolio.
Related: Chase Ink Preferred Full Review
Best Credit Cards for Travel Purchases Summary
The cards we've discussed already are the top dogs of the travel rewards world. But that doesn't mean there aren't other cards you may want to consider for your travel purchases. Here's a broader look at some of the best currently available travel rewards cards that earn more than 1X on most travel purchases:
| Credit Card | Points Earned on Travel Purchases | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) | • 8X points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ • 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly | $795 |
| American Express Platinum Card® | • 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (capped at $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) • 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com | $895 (Rates & Fees) |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | • 12X points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com • 6X points on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com | $595 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. | $395 |
| Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees) | • Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X • 2X points on everyday spend | $495 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) | • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase • 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027 • 3X points on vacation homes • 2X points on all other travel | $95 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | • Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases. | $95 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card | • 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Travel Center • 4X points on travel. | $0 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) | • 3X points on travel purchases (up to $150K combined with other categories) | $95 |
| American Express® Green Card | • 3X points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals | $150 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (Rates & Fees) | • Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases. | $0 |
| Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees) | • 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through CitiTravel.com • 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases | $95 |
| American Express® Gold Card | • 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com • 5X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com • 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked on AmexTravel.com | $325 (Rates & Fees) |
Throughout this post, we've focused on cards that earn bonus rewards on a wide variety of travel purchases. But you also should consider hotel credit cards and airline credit cards if you want to maximize your earnings with a specific hotel or airline.
Related: Best Rewards Credit Cards for Each Spending Category
What Purchases Are Included in the Travel Category?
Whenever you find yourself wondering how a transaction codes, your first step should always be to consult the AwardWallet Merchant Category Lookup Tool.
This AwardWallet tool lets you look up the name of a merchant and see how previous purchases have coded. Keep in mind, however, that the tool uses anonymized data from AwardWallet users. So, it could have outdated data points.
Further complicating things is the fact that each bank has different notions of what constitutes a travel purchase. Chase, Barclays, and Wells Fargo all offer relatively similar definitions in the travel category. Amex and U.S. Bank, on the other hand, add more restrictions to qualifying purchases. They both exclude most purchases not made directly with the hotel, airline, car rental agency, or (in the case of Amex) via Amex Travel.
Below are some specific examples pulled from the terms and conditions of popular travel rewards cards. However, the inclusions differ by provider — and sometimes even by card within the same provider. This makes it important to clarify what purchases code as travel before deciding on the best card for your travel purchases.
Of the cards that made our best travel card roundup, only the Sapphire Preferred, Autograph Journey, Altitude Connect, and Ink Preferred offer bonus points on general travel purchases. To earn bonus points on travel with the other cards on this list, you'll need to book through a respective travel portal, which is fairly self-explanatory.
Here's how Chase, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank define the general travel bonus earning category:
Chase
“…airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.”
U.S. Bank travel purchases
“…purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies.”
Wells Fargo travel purchases
“Other travel: retailers whose merchant category code is classified as: timeshare, or vehicle/auto rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds.”
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Sapphire Reserve still sets the standard as the best credit card for travel purchases. It offers incredible perks, excellent insurance benefits, and a solid 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly. But if the annual fee is a bit too steep for you, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent travel rewards card, too.
Not to be overshadowed by a large margin, Amex also offers several exceptional travel card options. For example, the benefit-loaded Platinum Card® card continues to be a staple of the category, providing the most perks per capita of any card.
$95Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
$795Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
$895Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees), Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees)
