The 11 Best Travel Credit Cards to Maximize Your Rewards [August 2020]

Whether you spend a little or a lot, travel frequently or just occasionally, you’ll find tremendous value in having the right travel rewards-earning credit card.

The right travel rewards-earning credit card does more than help you offset the cost of travel. It can:

• Let you linger with late checkouts and freshen up with early check-in at hotels
• Reimburse you for airline checked baggage fees
• Allow you to experience some of the best hotels in the world
• Provide discounted (or free) flights, hotel rooms, and experiences
• Give you priority access to special entertainment and sporting events
• Provide a 24/7 concierge service
• Cover your rental vehicle for theft and damage
• Give you access to some of the nicest airport lounges in the world

And this is just a sampling of the benefits of having a travel rewards credit card. The perks you’ll receive with the actual card you carry will vary, but they should complement your travel profile and reward your spending habits.

Let’s take a look at some of the best travel rewards credit cards available in 2020, review their perks and benefits, and consider which card might be a perfect match for you depending on how you like to travel.

Best Card for First-Time Cardholders

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Top Pick)

Credit Card	Benefits & Info
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card How We Get $1,000+ Value From Just 60,000 Pts >	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months 2X points on travel and dining. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $95

One of the most compelling reasons to hold a travel rewards credit card is to fund your travel goals, and one of the most valuable ways to accomplish this is to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

That’s because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are easy to earn, offer flexible redemption options, and increase in value when redeemed through a premium Chase credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

You’ll earn a sign-up bonus when you complete the required initial spending on the card, and then you’ll go on to earn 2 points per $1 on every travel and restaurant purchase you make.

Update: Chase has made a few limited-time changes to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card through September 30, 2020:
– Cardholders will now earn 3 points per $1 with Instacart (up to $3,000), 3 points per $1 at gas stations (up to $1,500), and 5 points per $1 on select streaming services (up to $1,500).
– Cardholders can also redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.25 cents per piece as a statement credit (via Pay Yourself Back) towards purchases at grocery stores, home improvement stores, and dining establishments.

When it comes time to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points — whether you’re transferring your points to hotel or airline partners or using the Chase travel portal to book your travel — the experience will make you a fan forever.

You can’t go wrong beginning your travel-rewards journey with any Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an especially fine first choice because it allows you to redeem your points for 25% more in value.

Best Card for Luxury International Travelers

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Credit Card	Benefits & Info
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $5,000 in your first 3 months, worth at least $600. 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Access 1,200+ airport lounges across 130 countries, including the amazing Centurion lounges. (This is our favorite lounge access card.) Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually. Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit See how the experts get $2,700+ in value from the card, every year. Annual Fee: $550 Terms Apply For rates and fees of The Platinum Card, click here.
➡️ Did you know that you may qualify for a higher offer? See which personalized offers you're eligible for by checking the CardMatch tool. There's no pull on your credit to check your offers.

When you prefer the best travel experiences, you want only the best travel rewards credit card. And if you’re an international traveler who won’t settle for anything less than a nice comfy seat, lounge access, and premium travel perks and benefits, you’re going to want the Amex Platinum card.

The benefits of the Amex Platinum card collectively create a stunning package of everything a luxury international traveler needs to elevate their travel experience.

• The Best Travel Earnings: With the Amex Platinum card, earning valuable Membership Rewards points is simple. Make your flight and prepaid hotel purchases through American Express Travel and you’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent.
• The Best Lounge Access: Whether you want to visit a Delta Sky Club, a Priority Pass lounge, or treat yourself to a Centurion Lounge visit, your card will grant you access.
• Savor Those Upgraded Hotel Rooms: Enjoy the benefits of complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott.
• The Best Seat on the Plane: Purchase an upgraded seat and get reimbursed up to $200 for incidental airline fees each year.
• Make Checked Luggage Fees Disappear: Use your $200 in incidental airline fees reimbursed each year and forget about checked luggage fees or other incidental airline charges.
• Take Uber for Free: Each month you’ll receive up to $15 in statement credits toward Uber purchases. In December, you receive up to $20.
• No Reservations? No Problem: Just call your private concierge.
• Ease Through Security: Purchase Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and receive a statement credit of up to $100.
• Enjoy Those Hotel Perks: Stay for 2 nights at a Fine Hotels and Resorts property and receive a room upgrade, $100 property amenity, late checkout, and more.
• Terms Apply.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card sets the standard for a premium rewards travel credit card. If its benefits are some you can use, the value will far exceed the annual fee. 

Best Cards for Travelers Who Want Simple Earnings and Redemptions

Keeping track of bonus spending categories, quarterly registrations, and complicated redemption processes may have deterred you from securing a travel rewards-earning credit card.

If that’s the case, you’ll find these Capital One travel rewards cards refreshingly simple.

Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card

• Generous welcome bonus worth up to $500 in travel
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on every purchase
• Redeem miles for travel or transfer to airline partners
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement
• Annual fee waived the first year

Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Card

• Welcome bonus worth up to $200 in travel
• Earn 1.25 miles per $1 spent on every purchase
• Redeem miles for travel or transfer to airline partners
• $0 annual fee

No need to wonder which category of expenses earns more than others — you’ll earn the same on any purchase you make. It’s that simple!

When it comes time to redeem your rewards, you’ll have many choices. The best value, however, will be to use Purchase Eraser to “erase” prior travel purchases at a value of 1 cent for each mile or transfer your miles to airline partners and book award tickets. Transferring miles to airline partners can result in potentially higher value for your reward miles.

Bottom Line: For straightforward earnings and redemptions, Capital One travel rewards credit cards allow you to forget about managing your rewards and let you concentrate on planning your next trip instead.

Best Cards for the Frequent Domestic Traveler

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Credit Card

Benefits & Info

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants. Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select Annual Fee: $550 annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is not just another premium travel rewards credit card. Yes, it earns rewards on travel and dining, offers a fine collection of premium travel benefits (including lounge access), and grants annual statement credits for travel purchases.

But it also does something that no other travel rewards credit card does: when you redeem your points for travel on the Chase travel portal, 50% more value is added to your points.

For example, if you redeem 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll receive $750 in value toward your travel purchase.

While expensive long-haul premium flights can be better secured utilizing Ultimate Rewards airline transfer partners, a sweet spot for redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points is for first-class domestic flights.

If you’re a frequent domestic traveler, this means you can basically travel in first class for the price of economy.

We should also talk about earning Ultimate Rewards, too, as the card is clearly a winner with earnings of 3 points per $1 spent on travel and dining. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1, and purchases using the Chase shopping portal can earn as much as 20 points per $1.

Update:Chase has added these limited-time benefits to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card:
– Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for 1.5 cents each for statement credits (via Pay Yourself Back) for previous grocery store, home improvement, and dining purchases through September 30, 2020.
– The renewal fee will be lowered to $450 from $550 through December 31, 2020.
– Any remaining $300 travel statement credits unused will automatically be applied to grocery store and gas station purchases through December 31, 2020.
– Cardholders also earn 5 points per $1 spent on Instacart (up to $3,000), gas stations (up to $1,500), and 10 points per $ on select streaming services (up to $1,500) through September 30, 2020.

Benefits of this card include Priority Pass lounge access — there are more than 90 lounge and restaurant locations domestically.

A $300 travel credit each card anniversary year automatically reduces travel expenses, and an annual statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck just adds more value.

The road warrior will find value in the additional travel coverage that comes with the card, including auto rental collision damage coverage and 24/7 travel and emergency assistance.

Bottom Line: The world traveler can certainly find value in having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but the frequent domestic traveler who likes to fly first class, enjoys Priority Pass lounge and restaurant access, and spends a lot on travel and dining will fare very well by having the card. 

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

Credit Card

Benefits & Info

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. An additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. Earn 6X per $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and earn 2x on all other purchases. Annual Fee: $95

For the traveler who values choice when it comes to hotels, you won’t find a hotel chain with more properties around the world than Marriott. Plus, each year after your card anniversary, you’ll receive a complimentary night’s stay at one of the properties (up to 35,000 points in value).

Additional benefits of having the Marriott Boundless card include:

• Complimentary Elite Status: 15 night credits per year toward a higher elite status, good for Silver status
• Accelerated Earnings: Earn 6 points per $1 at the Marriott family of properties and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases

You’ll also receive a variety of Visa Signature travel perks with the card including:

• Roadside dispatch
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance
• Travel accident coverage
• No foreign transaction fees

Bottom Line: If you’re loyal to a particular hotel brand, it makes sense to be earning additional rewards on those hotel expenditures with a hotel-branded travel rewards credit card… especially when those rewards can be turned into more free nights. 

Best Card for the Everyday Spender

American Express® Gold Card

AMEX CARD	BENEFITS & INFO
American Express® Gold Card	Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 3 months. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected airline. Annual Fee: $250 Terms Apply For rates and fees of the Gold Card, click here.
➡️ Did you know that you may qualify for a higher offer? See which personalized offers you're eligible for by checking the CardMatch tool. There's no pull on your credit to check your offers.

Want a card that doubles as an everyday spending card and a travel rewards card? Get richly rewarded with the Amex Gold card, which offers a stellar 4 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year, and at restaurants worldwide! Cardholders earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 on all other purchases.

As a traveler, there’s no need to be loyal to 1 airline — with the Amex Gold card, you’re going to earn 3 valuable Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent for flights purchased directly from the airline and at American Express Travel.

You don’t need status with your favorite airline to enjoy the perks of free checked bags or other incidentals, since your $100 statement credit each calendar year will take care of these travel-related costs.

When it comes to hotels, you can book a 2-night stay at an American Express Hotel Collection property and receive a $100 hotel credit that can even be used toward an extra night.

You can also redeem those Membership Rewards points for travel with any airline or hotel and for other travel purchases at American Express Travel.

Everything you need to know about the Amex Gold card, its additional benefits, and how to book travel through the Amex Travel website can be found in our expert guides.

Hot Tip: With so many different issuers in the “Travel Credit Card” space, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each bank’s specific rules before applying. 

Best Card for the Low Spender

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Amex Credit Card	Benefits & Info
Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express	Earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. 3% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Earn 2% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Earn 1% back on all other purchases. Low Intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months; after that, then 13.99%-23.99% variable. Terms Apply Annual fee: $0 For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
➡️ Did you know that you may qualify for a higher offer? See which personalized offers you're eligible for by checking the CardMatch tool. There's no pull on your credit to check your offers.

You don’t have to be a big spender to earn travel rewards. With a relatively low minimum spend requirement once you’re approved for a card, you can earn a welcome bonus and jumpstart the rewards-earning process.

Perhaps you haven’t pursued a rewards-earning credit card because you don’t spend a lot and might be wondering whether it’s worth the effort at all. You may be surprised to learn that the purchases you’re already making can earn rewards to help you fund a trip, or just add some cash to your bottom line.

Because you’ll be earning rewards on your everyday purchases with the Blue Cash Everyday card, you don’t have to spend big for the cash-back to start adding up. On groceries alone, you’ll earn $180 after getting 3% back from $6,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets.

Add that to your 2% earnings at U.S. gas stations and selected U.S. department stores, and you’ve paid for your hotel nights without spending any more than you’d normally spend!

Whether your travel goal is a weekend trip away with the family or a flight to visit an old friend, you can utilize the cash-back you earn on the Blue Cash Everyday card to help offset the cost of your adventure.

Hot Tip: If you’re working toward a travel goal and using a cash-back credit card, you may want to purchase gas, hotel, or other travel-related gift cards with your rewards to help save for your trip. 

Best Card for Family Road Trippers

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Amex Credit Card	Benefits & Info
Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express	Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, 1% back on other purchases. Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, currently 13.99% to 23.99% Annual fee: $95 Terms Apply For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, please click here.
➡️ Did you know that you may qualify for a higher offer? See which personalized offers you're eligible for by checking the CardMatch tool. There's no pull on your credit to check your offers.

It’s Friday afternoon and the workweek is done. You’re ready to high-five the family when you arrive home because you’re hitting the road for a weekend adventure. It doesn’t happen often… but this weekend it’s on!

We’re certain the Blue Cash Preferred card was created with family road trippers in mind. After all, you’ll earn cash-back on all the purchases you’ll be making during your trip, and you can use the cash-back you earned previously on everyday expenses to actually help fund your trip.

It’s a win-win cash-back solution for the family that hits the road together or those who just want a little extra cash flow.

Earning 6% cash-back on U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) delivers up to $360 each year in cash-back. Add all the cash you’ll earn with 3% cash-back on your U.S. gas stations, plus a generous cash-back introductory bonus, and you’ll have plenty of travel funds for that weekend road trip.

Not only do you earn cash-back on groceries and gas, but the card also offers 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash-back on transit, including taxis and rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.

The Blue Cash Preferred card just might make you a family road trip hero!

Best Card for the Budget Traveler

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card

Credit Card

Benefits & Info

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. An additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. Earn 6X per $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and earn 2x on all other purchases. Annual Fee: $95

Do you like to travel but have a tight budget? The Freedom Unlimited card has a little secret that might help you out.

You see, the cash-back you earn on all of your purchases with the Freedom Unlimited card is not just cash-back; it can be redeemed for travel or transferred to Chase premium credit cards for even greater value.

If you like to travel on a budget, Ultimate Rewards points are perfect for securing economy flights on the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Booking travel is easy, and you can redeem your points for airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, and travel experiences.

To step up the value of your Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer them to a Chase premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, where the value of your Ultimate Rewards Points is increased by up to 50% more.

With no annual fee, a simple earning structure, and the value you can receive when redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points, the Freedom Unlimited card is a fine choice for the budget traveler.

Now go tell your family they’re going to Disney World!

Bottom Line: When redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel, you can pick any airline, hotel, or travel experience without worrying about award availability or blackout dates — redeeming your points is just like paying with cash. 

Best Card for the Hotel Loyalist

If Hilton is your hotel brand of choice, you’ll be happy to learn that the perks and benefits you receive in its Hilton Honors loyalty program will be elevated to a new level when you carry and use its hotel-branded credit card.

Let’s take a look at how your experience can be enhanced with the addition of the hotel’s branded credit card.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

It’s unusual that a credit card alone would grant top elite status to the cardholder, especially without a required level of spending each year — but that’s exactly what you’ll receive by having the Hilton Aspire card. And it’s not the only premium benefit that comes with this card!

• Top Diamond Elite Hilton Honors status: Valid for as long as you have the card, you’ll receive room upgrades (including suites), breakfast, hotel amenities, bonus points, internet, and more. Diamond Elite members receive 20 Hilton Honors points per $1 spent at Hilton properties, and the Hilton Aspire card elevates that to a total of 34 points per $1.
• Free Hotel Room Nights: Receive 1 free hotel room night each card anniversary year, plus another when you spend $60,000 on the card each year. You’ll also receive your fifth night free when booking award nights with your points.
• Airline and Hotel Statement Credits: Get $250 in incidental airline fees, a $250 Hilton resort credit, and a $100 property credit at Conrad or Waldorf Astoria properties.
• Worldwide Lounge Access: Your Hilton Aspire Card comes with a full Priority Pass lounge membership.
• Terms Apply.

Update: – Your $250 Hilton resort credit can be applied to restaurants through August 31, 2020.
– Bonus points earned through purchases that post to your Hilton Honors account before December 31, 2020, will count towards elite tier qualification and lifetime Diamond status.
– Unexpired free weekend night certificates, and those issued through December 31, 2020, can now be used on any night of the week, and those issued between May 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, will be valid for 24 months from the date of issuance.

Earning Hilton Honors points is easy: you’ll receive 14 points per $1 spent at Hilton properties; 7 points per $1 spent on airlines, Amex Travel purchases, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. rental cars; and 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Redeem your Hilton Honors points for the best value by booking free hotel nights with points or with cash and points. Our expert guide on the best ways to redeem your Hilton Honors points will help make sure you receive maximum value at redemption time.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to selecting a travel rewards-earning credit card. Fortunately, each card has its own distinct characteristics that match up with certain travel and spending profiles. This makes it possible to zero in quickly on which travel rewards credit card might be a good fit for you.

Remember: because Chase plays a prominent role in the travel rewards credit card arena, you’ll want to consider the Chase 5/24 rule in your selection process.

Regardless of which card you choose, we know for sure that travel rewards credit cards can change the way we travel and the way we live. They allow us to earn points, cash, or miles on purchases we would be making anyway and give us the ability to offset the cost of travel we may have never considered otherwise.

The information regarding the Capital One® Venture Card, Capital One® VentureOne Card, and Chase Freedom Unlimited® card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.