Best travel credit cards of August 2022

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Travel credit cards help you earn valuable points and miles to put toward flights, hotel stays and other travel-related expenses. They’re also known to come with generous sign-up bonuses and additional travel perks, like airport lounge access and travel insurance. Check out some of the best credit cards for travel from our partners and start planning your trip today.

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BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Reward rate
5

5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.

3

5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center.

-1

1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

1

1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

$200 bonus

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.74% - 26.74% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is packed full of bonus rewards categories. It will take more than a little effort to track them all, but people who don’t mind strategizing to earn high rewards for all their purchases will enjoy having this card in their collection.
Pros
  • Multiple rotating and fixed bonus categories, which can make it easier to earn rewards quickly
  • The $200 sign-up bonus (after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account opening) increases the card’s first-year value
Cons
  • The $2,000 combined spending cap each quarter for your chosen 5% categories limits your ability to rake in rewards
  • Having to track and enroll in rotating categories can be a hassle for some
  • New! $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
  • 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
  • 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 16.74% – 26.74%
  • No Annual Fee
  • Pay over time by splitting eligible purchases of $100+ into equal monthly payments with U.S. Bank ExtendPay™ Plan.
  • Terms and conditions apply.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.

Balance transfer intro APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.

BEST FOR PERSONAL LOAN ALTERNATIVE

Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

Reward rate
2.2

Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment

Intro offer

$200

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

8.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

If you value having an incentive for making your credit card payments, you will find a lot to love with this card option. You’ll earn a competitive rate of 2.2 percent cash back on your purchases each time you make a payment. The card is also fairly affordable, skipping the annual fee, foreign transaction fees and many other common maintenance fees.
Pros
  • You won’t need to use your reward earnings to offset any maintenance fees.
  • You’ll earn a bonus after you open a Rewards Checking account and make three purchases with the card in your first 60 days.
Cons
  • The high end APR range is well above average. That could prove costly if you don’t have the credit needed to qualify for the lower range and you end up carrying a balance.
  • You won’t get a break on interest if you carry a balance since there are no intro APR offers on purchases or balance transfers.
  • $200 bonus on your Upgrade Card after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions within 60 days.*
  • New Feature: Pay your balance in full early each month and avoid interest with EarlyPay.
  • Earn 2.2% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
  • See if you qualify in seconds with no impact to your credit score
  • No Fees – $0 annual fees, $0 activation fees, $0 maintenance fees
  • Combine the flexibility of a card with the low cost and predictability of a loan
  • Access to a virtual card, so you can start earning while you wait for your card to arrive in the mail.
  • Contactless payments with Apple Pay® and Google Pay™
  • Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
  • *To qualify for the $200 welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Upgrade Rewards Checking Account and make 3 debit card transactions within 60 days of your Upgrade Card account opening. The bonus credit will be posted to your Upgrade Card as a rewards credit within 1-2 billing periods following the third debit transaction on your Rewards Checking account. Your Upgrade Card must be in good standing to receive the bonus.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
N/A

Balance transfer intro APR
N/A

BEST FOR GROCERIES

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Reward rate
6

6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).

1

6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.

3

3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations

0

3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations

1

1% Cash Back on other purchases

Intro offer

$350

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

16.24%-26.24% Variable

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

With generous rewards rates in family-friendly categories including purchases at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, on-the-go families will have a hard time finding a more rewarding credit card.
Pros
  • The base reward program is uber-lucrative, making this card a good choice for people looking for long-term value.
  • You don’t have to keep track of rotating spending categories or enrollment deadlines.
Cons
  • There is no intro APR offer on balance transfers.
  • You won’t earn the extra rewards for grocery shopping at major superstores and wholesale clubs, as those don’t count as U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.24% to 26.24%.
  • 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 at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • $95 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% on purchases for 12 months

Balance transfer intro APR
N/A

BEST FOR ROTATING CASH BACK CATEGORIES

Discover it® Cash Back

Reward rate
5

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

1

Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Intro offer

Cashback Match™

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

13.49% - 24.49% Variable

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

The Discover it Cash Back is a popular choice for cash back rewards because of the rotating bonus categories. It’s an exciting way to earn cash back quarter by quarter and all year-round without committing to a set rewards category.
Pros
  • Discover will match the cash back you earn at the end of the first year.
  • There are a few cash back redemption options, including credit to your account and donations.
Cons
  • You must enroll to take advantage of the bonus categories each quarter.
  • There is a spending limit on your highest cash back category each quarter ($1,500 in combined purchases per quarter).
  • Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
  • New! Discover helps remove your personal information from select people-search websites. Activate by mobile app for free.
  • Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
  • New Intro APR: Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 13.49% to 24.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
  • No annual fee.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
0% for 15 months

Balance transfer intro APR
0% for 15 months

BEST FOR UP TO 2% CASH BACK

Citi® Double Cash Card

Reward rate
2

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Intro offer

$200 Cash Back

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

16.24% - 26.24% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 - 850)

If you make your payments on time each month, it’ll be tough to find a better cash back card than the Citi Double Cash Card. With healthy financial habits, this card effectively becomes a 2 percent flat-rate cash back card (1 percent when you make purchases and another 1 percent when you pay your bill), a rare find in the cash back market.
Pros
  • You can convert your cash back earnings to Citi ThankYou points when paired with a card like the Citi Premier® Card, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards and more.
  • There are no spending category restrictions or rotating categories
Cons
  • Your rewards can expire with this card if you don’t use it for a year.
  • The sign-up bonus spending requirement is higher than you’ll find on many no-annual-fee cash back cards.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 16.24% – 26.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Purchase intro APR
N/A

Balance transfer intro APR
0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers

A closer look at Bankrate’s top travel credit cards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best overall travel card

  • What we love about the Venture Rewards card: It offers an easy way to earn travel rewards and comes with a generous sign-up bonus and several travel and purchase protections. The annual fee is a modest $95, which will appeal to a broad range of travelers who don’t need a luxury experience.
  • Who this card is good for: Travelers who want to earn flat-rate rewards on all of their purchases but want to maintain flexibility in how they redeem their miles.
  • Travel benefits: Get an up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, transfer your miles to 15+ loyalty programs and earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Alternatives: If you are ready to explore the realm of luxury travel rewards, the Capital One Venture X card is a great place to start. It comes with lounge access, statement credits and a sign-up bonus to help offset the $395 annual fee.
  • Compare this card with: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for qualifying travel purchases

  • What we love about the Bank of America Travel Rewards card: Unlike other travel rewards cards, this card counts more than just airfare and hotel rooms as travel. You can redeem points for statement credits to cover purchases at zoos, art galleries, aquariums, travel agencies and more.
  • Who this card is good for: Occasional travelers looking for a no-annual-fee travel card that offers a simple flat rate for all purchases.
  • Travel benefits: Points don’t expire and you can book any airline, any hotel any time without blackout dates. You can also flexibly redeem points for statement credits to pay for travel or dining purchases like flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, as well as restaurant and take out purchases.
  • Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ takes a little getting used to, but its rotating and fixed categories earn bonus rewards in travel and everyday categories, which could bring in more value than a flat-rate travel rewards card.
  • Compare this card with: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Credit One Bank Wander Card: Best travel card for fair credit

  • What we love about the Wander Card: Even cardholders with fair credit are eligible for this card, which comes with unique travel-related perks like 5X points on eligible recreational and amusement park purchases (including national parks and professional sporting events).
  • Who this card is good for: People who can justify the card’s $95 annual fee by taking advantage of its select travel categories, which include eligible restaurant & lodging purchases. Plus, the card is open to people with average credit.
  • Travel benefits: You can earn a statement credit that covers the cost of a qualifying National Park Pass in your first year as a cardholder, as well as bonus rewards in niche categories that could hold unique value for family travel and road trips.
  • Alternatives: Depending on your spending habits, a general-purpose travel rewards card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card may be a better fit. For people with a wide range of spending habits, rewards will add up fast with the unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

In the news

Inflation is curbing the value of your dollar and adding financial stress to consumers across the country. While the federal reserve spikes interest rates to combat it, navigating your expenses is likely to grow more difficult, forcing many to find ways to cut expenses out of their budget—including vacations.

But before you cancel your travel plans, it may be worth considering some of the ways a credit card can fight inflation. Since most travel cards earn rewards for some of the hardest hitting categories–gas and groceries–stockpiling rewards for your next trip could potentially soften the rising costs.

Plus, some cards, namely the American Express Gold Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card and the Citi Premier Card have recently begun offering increased bonuses, which can help to further drive down the costs of travel. If a vacation is an important part of your life, now may be the perfect time to sign up for one of these travel cards

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards allow cardholders to earn points or miles on a variety of purchases (typically travel-related), which are redeemable for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards and more.

The best travel credit cards do more than help you foot the bill for your next flight—travel cards also offer perks to upgrade your entire travel experience. Trip insurance, annual travel credits, concierge services and lounge access are all common benefits. Airline and hotel co-branded credit cards sometimes offer specific discounts and perks for loyalty program members.
Creditcard's Insight

When researching a new travel card, look beyond the obvious features like the sign-up bonus and APR. The top cards will feature benefits that give the card better long-term value and give you additional savings and peace of mind. To make sure you’re getting the most out of your travel credit card, check out travel expert Ariana Arghandewal’s article on the top 5 travel credit card perks to look for in 2022.

Different types of travel rewards credit cards

As with other types of cards, travel credit cards offer you a lot of variety to choose from. Notable features include issuer travel portals with boosted rewards value, hotel and airline loyalty status and credits for some of your favorite products and services. To zero in on which card might best fit your needs, consider the different categories of travel cards.
  • Issued by a credit card company, bank or other financial business, a general-purpose travel card typically offers the most flexibility for how you choose to travel and redeem your rewards. The easiest option is to redeem rewards directly through the issuer’s travel portal program, which ensures they’ll always have the same value or may even increase the value of your points (depending on the issuer).
  • Some cards also let you transfer rewards to the issuer’s travel partners (usually airlines and hotel chains but sometimes cruise lines as well). You may even be able to increase the value of your card points or miles by transferring to certain airlines.
  • Examples: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card from American Express.
  • A travel card co-branded by an airline and a credit card issuer is known as an airline rewards card. You can earn miles or points by using the card to book flights with the airline, make in-flight purchases and so on. You redeem the rewards through the airline’s loyalty program. You may even receive complimentary loyalty status with the brand tied to your card.
  • Examples: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card.
  • Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • co-branded hotel credit card is similar to an airline card, except with a hotel chain instead of an airline. Likewise, using the card to book stays at the hotel’s properties earns points that you redeem through the hotel loyalty program. Like airline cards, some co-branded hotel cards also include complimentary elite status, an excellent benefit that can provide you with higher rewards rates or perks like room upgrades.
  • Examples: Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Card.

How do credit card points and miles work?

Credit card miles are one of the three types of credit card rewards in addition to points and cash back. Credit card miles and credit card points work in mostly the same way, but miles are usually associated with air travel. You earn credit card rewards by making purchases using your card and storing up those points for travel, gift cards and other options.

Types of credit card points and miles

Credit card points and travel miles come in a variety of forms, including:

  • Points or miles tied to a specific airline through a frequent flyer program
  • Points or miles redeemable for travel purchases with a number of different airlines and hotels
  • Points or miles that are worth more when they’re redeemed through a credit card company’s online travel booking portal.

When using a co-branded credit card the airline—not the card issuer—sets the number of miles needed to reach the various levels of a loyalty rewards program. With these types of cards, customers who frequently use a specific airline will see the most value. If you’re not partial to any particular airline, a general travel or miles credit card would serve you best.

How to redeem points and miles

Common ways of redeeming points and air miles include:

  • To book free or discounted flights
  • To book free or discounted hotel stays with particular chains
  • As a statement credit to cover past travel expenses
  • Transferring to loyalty and partner programs
  • As cash back, gift cards and merchandise

The best way to redeem your points or miles will depend on which cards you carry, the redemption options they offer and the value you can get out of your points with each option. Transferring from an issuer program to an airline rewards program will often help you maximize the value of your points, but if you’d rather not wade into those sometimes-confusing waters, redemption through an issuer’s travel portal will likely get you a solid redemption value of at least 1 cent per point.

Some issuers even offer a value boost when you redeem through their portal. A great example is the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal: Your Chase points are worth 25 percent to 50 percent more when you redeem for travel through the portal, depending on the card you hold.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Although a well-chosen travel card can pay huge dividends, it might not be the right move for every traveler. Before you apply, take time to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks of travel credit cards.
  • Rewards optimized for travel: Rewards categories are often designed to earn more points or miles for purchases directly related to travel, mainly expenses such as airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more.
  • Travel-friendly benefits: Many travel cards offer perks such as travel insurance, free checked bags, lounge access and credits for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
  • High reward rates: Travel credit cards typically have some of the most generous rewards rates. It’s not uncommon to see travel purchases earn 5X, 6X, 7X or more points or miles.
  • The convenience of travel portals: Many card issuers have their own online travel portals where you can book travel and redeem your rewards toward those purchases in one session. Sometimes, using these portals may even boost your rewards value.
  • Credit score requirements: The typical baseline credit score requirement for a travel card is good-to-excellent, which could make it difficult to qualify with a credit score below 670.
  • Using rewards can be complex: You’ll frequently have to calculate points, check for eligibility requirements for flights and hotel stays and otherwise navigate the process to get full value of your rewards.
  • Annual fees: Some of the top travel credit cards have annual fees starting in the $95 to $100 range. Upper-tier hotel and airline cards and luxury travel cards could have annual fees exceeding $200 or even $500.
  • Losing value on non-travel redemptions: Points or miles typically lose value when redeemed for cash back, gift cards or merchandise, rather than travel.
Creditcard's Insight

Airbnb and VRBO offer travelers the feeling of a home away from home, but that’s not all. You can also earn miles or points if you book your stay with travel cards that reward eligible vacation rentals.

How to make a travel card work for you

A travel credit card is almost always a good idea if you want to offset the cost of future travel. If you are able to save up airline miles, rack up points for free nights at hotels or get discounted travel through your credit card issuer, you’re on your way to saving significantly on travel costs. The right travel card will vary depending on your travel habits, but there is at least one that can fit your travel style and budget.

How we chose our list of top travel rewards cards

Bankrate evaluates credit cards on a 5-star system that factors in attributes such as annual fees, APR, rewards value and welcome bonuses. To make our list of best travel rewards cards, our writers and editors pay particular attention to:
Rewards structure

The best travel card for you will allow you to earn the most rewards for your specific spending habits. The cards in our lineup cover a variety of programs geared toward hotel lodging, dining, air travel costs and other factors. In general, the best travel cards reward you with two to three points per dollar on bonus categories.

Travel perks

The top travel rewards cards offer travel-specific benefits that take the hassle out of travel. Some perks we looked for are designed to save you money, including trip cancellation insurance, delayed baggage insurance, rental car insurance, checked bag discounts and travel credits. Other perks are all about making your experience more comfortable, such as airport lounge access, flight and hotel upgrades and concierge service.

Annual fees

Annual fees are common among travel credit cards, but our top picks that charge these fees make it easy to get your money’s worth. Some luxury cards with very high annual fees might be worth the expense for frequent travelers who put a premium on comfort.

Sign-up bonus

Though long-term value should always be weighed the most heavily, travel credit cards often come with sign-up bonuses that can be worth a flight or two. We highlight the most competitive offers so that, all other factors equal, the better sign-up bonus can help you make a decision.

Foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction fees can make or break the value of a travel credit card, especially if you travel outside the country often. This fee typically tacks on an extra 3% to purchases made overseas, so our top-rated travel cards tend to be of the no-foreign-transaction-fee variety.

Travel credit card frequently asked questions

The best travel card for you will depend on your travel schedule, budget, spending habits and other factors. Still, the Chase Sapphire Reserve makes a strong case for being the top choice. The rewards program, benefits and overall value helped this card earn a 5/5 Bankrate Score.
You’ll likely need at least a 670 credit score if you want to get a travel credit card. Though most credit cards don’t come with an explicit credit score requirement, rewards cards usually are geared toward people with good to excellent credit.
Whether you’re worried that scaling back travel could lead to your elite status and miles expiring, or you simply don’t want to miss out on valuable rewards opportunities, you have options for maximizing rewards even at home. The best solution is a flat-rate travel card you can use on everyday purchases. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards card earns 2X miles on everything, travel-related or not.
When it comes to travel insurance, does the coverage included with certain credit cards provide adequate protection? On the plus side, a number of credit cards offer travel insurance coverage to cardholders at no extra cost. Some of the best credit cards for travel insurance cover a number of potential mishaps, including: Trip cancellation, delay or interruption Lost, damaged or delayed baggage Theft or collision damage involving rental cars Emergency medical or dental treatment
No reward flight is technically “free,” as you’ll need to spend to earn enough rewards to redeem on a flight cost. Different airlines and card issuers have different rules when it comes to redeeming points or miles for travel. Most reward programs use a 1:1 one conversion rate where each reward mile or point is worth 1 cent. You can redeem travel rewards by using an issuer’s travel portal or transferring the points or miles to a partner program. Depending on the issuer, your rewards could be worth more if you book using either of these options.

Although many credit card issuers have adopted no-expiration policies, some holdouts remain. Don’t make any assumptions—read the terms and conditions of your credit card and loyalty programs carefully. Also, our guide to credit card rewards expirations breaks down the policies of a few popular issuers.

Some of the top travel credit cards charge annual fees, which could range from less than $100 to more than $500. Before you make the commitment, consider whether the card’s annual fee is worth the cost for you:

  • Is a travel card the right choice for you? If you travel infrequently and can’t justify the annual expense, perhaps a cash back card might be more in line with your needs.
  • What would benefits cost separately? Do some comparison shopping to find out how much you might pay if you purchased benefits on your own instead of getting them included with a credit card.


Travel cards with annual fees typically come with the most perks and protections, but if you’re new to travel credit cards or don’t travel as frequently, travel cards with annual fees may not be worth the cost. There are solid options for travel cards with great perks and no annual fees.

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