๐ณ Credit Cards
Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026
Find the perfect card for your travel style. We analyze sign-up bonuses, rewards rates, and perks to help you earn more miles and points.
32
Cards Reviewed
$4,000
Top Bonus Value
4.9
Highest Rating
10
Editor's Picks
Top Picks for 2026
Chase Sapphire Reserveยฎ
Chase
125,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$795
Our Rating
Rewards
8X Chase Travel, 4X flights & hotels booked direct, 3X dining, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โUp to $500/year hotel credit via The Edit
- โUp to $300/year Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables dining credit
- โPriority Pass lounge access
- โGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Pros
- + Highest-ever 125K welcome bonus
- + New $500 hotel + $300 dining credits
Cons
- - $795 annual fee (up from $550)
- - Requires excellent credit
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Capital One
75,000 miles
after $4,000 spend in 3 months + $300 travel credit
Annual Fee
$395
Our Rating
Rewards
10X hotels/rentals via Capital One Travel, 5X flights via Capital One Travel, 2X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$300 annual travel credit via Capital One Travel
- โCapital One Lounges + Priority Pass
- โ10,000 anniversary bonus miles ($185 value)
- โHertz President's Circle status
Pros
- + $300 credit + 10K miles makes effective fee ~$95
- + Growing lounge network
Cons
- - Fewer transfer partners than Chase/Amex
- - Capital One lounges limited
Chase Sapphire Preferredยฎ
Chase
75,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
5X travel via Chase, 3X dining & streaming & online grocery, 2X other travel, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$50 annual hotel credit via Chase portal
- โPoints worth 25% more on travel via Chase
- โ10% anniversary points bonus
- โPrimary rental car insurance
Pros
- + Low $95 annual fee
- + Strong 75K bonus
Cons
- - No lounge access
- - Lower earning vs Reserve
Bilt Mastercard
Wells Fargo
No traditional bonus - earn points on rent with no fees
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
1X on rent (no fees), 3X on dining, 2X on travel, 1X on everything else (on Rent Day: double points)
Key Perks
- โOnly card that earns points on rent with no fees
- โTransfer 1:1 to 15+ airline/hotel partners
- โRent Day (1st of month): Double points on dining/travel
- โPath to homeownership features
Pros
- + Points on rent - unprecedented
- + No annual fee
Cons
- - Must make 5 transactions/month
- - No welcome bonus
United Questโ Card
Chase
80,000 miles
after $4,000 spend in 3 months + 10,000 for authorized user
Annual Fee
$250
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on United, 2X on dining/hotels/streaming, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โTwo free checked bags
- โ$200 annual United TravelBank credit
- โ10,000-mile award discount after $20K spend
- โPriority boarding
Pros
- + 80K bonus + 10K for AU
- + Two free bags save $280+/year
Cons
- - $250 annual fee
- - Only valuable for United flyers
Marriott Bonvoy Boundlessยฎ
Chase
5 Free Night Certificates (up to 50K pts each)
after $3,000 spend in 3 months + $100 airline credit
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
6X at Marriott, 3X gas/grocery/dining (up to $6K/yr), 2X everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Silver Elite status
- โFree night award annually (up to 35,000 points)
- โ15 elite night credits yearly
- โ2026 Exclusive: Up to $100 airline credit
Pros
- + 5 free nights is exceptional value
- + Annual free night covers fee
Cons
- - Marriott points worth ~0.7 cpp
- - 35K cap on annual night
Browse by Category
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Capital One
75,000 miles
after $4,000 spend in 3 months + $300 travel credit
Annual Fee
$395
Our Rating
Rewards
10X hotels/rentals via Capital One Travel, 5X flights via Capital One Travel, 2X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$300 annual travel credit via Capital One Travel
- โCapital One Lounges + Priority Pass
- โ10,000 anniversary bonus miles ($185 value)
- โHertz President's Circle status
Chase Sapphire Reserveยฎ
Chase
125,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$795
Our Rating
Rewards
8X Chase Travel, 4X flights & hotels booked direct, 3X dining, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โUp to $500/year hotel credit via The Edit
- โUp to $300/year Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables dining credit
- โPriority Pass lounge access
- โGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Chase
3 Free Nights (Cat 1-4)
after $5K/3mo + 2 more
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
4X at Hyatt, 2X on dining/fitness/transit, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Discoverist status
- โFree night annually (Cat 1-4)
- โExtra free night after $15K spend/year
- โHyatt points most valuable (1.7 cpp)
The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express
American Express
Up to 175,000 Membership Rewards points
after $8,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$895
Our Rating
Rewards
5X on flights via Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โUp to $600/year hotel credit (FHR + Hotel Collection)
- โUp to $400/year Resy dining credit ($100/quarter)
- โUp to $300/year Lululemon credit ($75/quarter)
- โUp to $300/year digital entertainment credit ($25/month)
Ink Business Preferredยฎ Credit Card
Chase
90,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising (up to $150K/year)
Key Perks
- โPoints transfer 1:1 to Sapphire cards
- โCell phone protection ($600/claim)
- โComplimentary DashPass membership
- โPurchase protection (120 days)
Chase Sapphire Preferredยฎ
Chase
75,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
5X travel via Chase, 3X dining & streaming & online grocery, 2X other travel, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$50 annual hotel credit via Chase portal
- โPoints worth 25% more on travel via Chase
- โ10% anniversary points bonus
- โPrimary rental car insurance
American Expressยฎ Gold Card
American Express
Up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points
after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$325
Our Rating
Rewards
4X restaurants worldwide (up to $50K/year), 4X U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/year), 3X flights, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$120 Uber Cash annually ($10/month)
- โ$120 dining credit at participating restaurants
- โNo foreign transaction fees
- โBest dining rewards in the market
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Businessโ
Chase
150,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $20,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$795
Our Rating
Rewards
8X Chase Travel, 4X flights & hotels direct, 3X social media/search advertising
Key Perks
- โUp to $500/year hotel credit via The Edit
- โUp to $300/year dining credit
- โPriority Pass lounge access
- โGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Chase Freedom Unlimitedยฎ
Chase
$200 bonus + 5% on grocery stores (first year, up to $12,000)
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
5% on travel via Chase, 3% on dining/drugstores, 1.5% on everything else
Key Perks
- โNo annual fee
- โPoints transfer to Sapphire cards at 1:1
- โPurchase protection
- โExtended warranty
Citi Strata Premierโ Card
Citi
75,000 ThankYou points
after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas; 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$100 annual hotel savings benefit
- โTransfer to 17+ airline partners
- โNo foreign transaction fees
- โTrip interruption protection
Bilt Mastercard
Wells Fargo
No traditional bonus - earn points on rent with no fees
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
1X on rent (no fees), 3X on dining, 2X on travel, 1X on everything else (on Rent Day: double points)
Key Perks
- โOnly card that earns points on rent with no fees
- โTransfer 1:1 to 15+ airline/hotel partners
- โRent Day (1st of month): Double points on dining/travel
- โPath to homeownership features
Marriott Bonvoy Boundlessยฎ
Chase
5 Free Night Certificates (up to 50K pts each)
after $3,000 spend in 3 months + $100 airline credit
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
6X at Marriott, 3X gas/grocery/dining (up to $6K/yr), 2X everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Silver Elite status
- โFree night award annually (up to 35,000 points)
- โ15 elite night credits yearly
- โ2026 Exclusive: Up to $100 airline credit
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
American Express
175,000 Hilton Honors points
after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$550
Our Rating
Rewards
14X at Hilton, 7X on flights/dining, 3X on everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Diamond status (top tier)
- โFree Weekend Night reward annually
- โ$250 Hilton resort credit
- โ$250 airline fee credit
American Expressยฎ Business Gold Card
American Express
200,000 Membership Rewards points
after $15,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$375
Our Rating
Rewards
4X on top 2 spending categories (up to $150K/year combined), 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ4X on top 2 categories each month
- โCategories: airfare, advertising, gas, restaurants, shipping, tech
- โ25% airline points rebate via Amex Travel
- โFlexible payment options
Capital One Venture X Business
Capital One
150,000 miles
after $30,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$395
Our Rating
Rewards
10X hotels/rentals via Capital One, 5X flights via Capital One, 2X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$300 annual travel credit
- โCapital One Lounges + Priority Pass
- โ10,000 anniversary miles
- โSimple unlimited 2X earning
United Questโ Card
Chase
80,000 miles
after $4,000 spend in 3 months + 10,000 for authorized user
Annual Fee
$250
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on United, 2X on dining/hotels/streaming, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โTwo free checked bags
- โ$200 annual United TravelBank credit
- โ10,000-mile award discount after $20K spend
- โPriority boarding
British Airways Visa Signatureยฎ Card
Chase
90,000 Avios
after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โAvios are extremely flexible
- โBook partners: AA, Qatar, JAL, and more
- โ10% points rebate on redemptions
- โTravel Together Ticket after $30K spend
The Business Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express
American Express
200,000 Membership Rewards points
after $20,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$895
Our Rating
Rewards
5X on flights/prepaid hotels via Amex Travel, 1.5X on purchases $5K+
Key Perks
- โCenturion Lounge access
- โ35% points back on flights via Amex Travel
- โ$200 Dell credit (semiannually)
- โUp to $400 airline fee credit
Citiยฎ Double Cash Card
Citi
$200 cash back
after $1,500 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
2% on everything (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
Key Perks
- โSimple flat-rate rewards
- โNo annual fee
- โCan convert to ThankYou points (1.9 cpp value)
- โBalance transfer option
Wells Fargo Autograph Journeyโ Card
Wells Fargo
60,000 points
after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
5X hotels, 4X airlines, 3X other travel/transit/dining/streaming, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ$50 annual airline credit
- โCell phone protection
- โNo foreign transaction fees
- โTransfer to airline partners at 1:1
Unitedโ Explorer Card
Chase
60,000 miles
after $3,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Our Rating
Rewards
2X on United, dining, hotels; 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โFree first checked bag (saves $70+/roundtrip)
- โPriority boarding
- โ2 United Club passes annually
- โ25% back on inflight purchases
Delta SkyMilesยฎ Platinum American Express Card
American Express
100,000 miles
after $4,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$350
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on Delta, hotels, 2X on restaurants/supermarkets/transit, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โFree first checked bag
- โCompanion Certificate annually (Main Cabin)
- โPriority boarding
- โGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Southwest Rapid Rewardsยฎ Priority Credit Card
Chase
50,000 points
after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$149
Our Rating
Rewards
4X on Southwest, 2X gas/dining/transit/internet/streaming, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โ7,500 anniversary points ($100+ value)
- โ$75 annual Southwest travel credit
- โPreferred seat selection at booking
- โFree checked bags (SW standard)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpassยฎ Card
American Express
155,000 Hilton Honors points
after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$150
Our Rating
Rewards
12X at Hilton, 6X on flights/dining/supermarkets, 3X on everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Gold status
- โFree weekend night after $15K spend
- โPriority Pass (10 visits/year)
- โNo foreign transaction fees
Wells Fargo Active Cashยฎ Card
Wells Fargo
$200 cash back
after $1,500 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
2% unlimited cash back on all purchases
Key Perks
- โNo annual fee
- โCell phone protection
- โ0% intro APR for 12 months
- โ$600 cell phone protection
Discover itยฎ Cash Back
Discover
$100 referral bonus + Cashback Match (doubles all cash back year 1)
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else
Key Perks
- โNo annual fee
- โCashback Match = 10% on rotating categories year 1
- โFree FICO score
- โNo foreign transaction fees
Delta SkyMilesยฎ Gold American Express Card
American Express
90,000 miles
after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$150
Our Rating
Rewards
2X on Delta, restaurants, U.S. supermarkets; 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โFree first checked bag (saves $70+/roundtrip)
- โPriority boarding
- โ20% back on inflight purchases
- โNo foreign transaction fees
Citiยฎ / AAdvantageยฎ Platinum Selectยฎ World Elite Mastercardยฎ
Citi
80,000 miles
after $3,500 spend in 4 months
Annual Fee
$99
Our Rating
Rewards
2X on AA purchases, gas, restaurants, cable/streaming; 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โFree first checked bag
- โPreferred boarding
- โ25% back on inflight purchases
- โNo foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Boldยฎ
Chase
2 Free Night Certificates (up to 50K pts each)
after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
3X at Marriott, 2X grocery/rideshare/streaming/internet, 1X everything else
Key Perks
- โNo annual fee
- โ2 Free Night Certificates (up to 50K each)
- โ5 elite night credits yearly
- โNo foreign transaction fees
Delta SkyMilesยฎ Reserve American Express Card
American Express
125,000 miles
after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$650
Our Rating
Rewards
3X on Delta, 1X on everything else
Key Perks
- โDelta Sky Club access
- โCompanion Certificate (First Class eligible)
- โCLEAR Plus membership
- โSame-Day Confirmed upgrades
Hilton Honors American Express Card
American Express
100,000 Hilton Honors points
after $2,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee
$0
Our Rating
Rewards
7X at Hilton, 5X on restaurants/supermarkets/gas, 3X on everything else
Key Perks
- โNo annual fee
- โAutomatic Silver status
- โ100K bonus for no-fee card is excellent
- โNo foreign transaction fees
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Chase
175,000 points
after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$99
Our Rating
Rewards
10X at IHG, 5X on travel/dining/gas, 3X on everything else
Key Perks
- โAutomatic Platinum Elite status
- โFree night annually (up to 40,000 points)
- โFourth reward night free on award stays
- โ$100 credit + 10K bonus after $20K spend/year
Quick Comparison
Full Comparison Tool โ| Card | Annual Fee | Bonus Value | Rewards Rate | Rating | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Capital One | $395 | $1388 | 10X hotels/rentals via Capital One Travel, 5X flights via Capital One Travel, 2X everything else | โ
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4.9 | Apply |
Chase Sapphire Reserveยฎ Chase | $795 | $2563 | 8X Chase Travel, 4X flights & hotels booked direct, 3X dining, 1X everything else | โ
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4.8 | Apply |
World of Hyatt Credit Card Chase | $95 | $1700 | 4X at Hyatt, 2X on dining/fitness/transit, 1X everything else | โ
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4.8 | Apply |
The Platinum Cardยฎ from American Express American Express | $895 | $3500 | 5X on flights via Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel, 1X everything else | โ
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4.7 | Apply |
Ink Business Preferredยฎ Credit Card Chase | $95 | $1845 | 3X on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising (up to $150K/year) | โ
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4.7 | Apply |
Chase Sapphire Preferredยฎ Chase | $95 | $1538 | 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining & streaming & online grocery, 2X other travel, 1X everything else | โ
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4.6 | Apply |
American Expressยฎ Gold Card American Express | $325 | $2000 | 4X restaurants worldwide (up to $50K/year), 4X U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/year), 3X flights, 1X everything else | โ
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4.6 | Apply |
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Businessโ Chase | $795 | $3075 | 8X Chase Travel, 4X flights & hotels direct, 3X social media/search advertising | โ
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4.6 | Apply |
Free Guide
Free: "Earn 100K Miles in Year One" Guide
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How We Evaluate Cards
Sign-up Bonus
We calculate the true value of welcome offers based on realistic redemptions.
Rewards Rate
Earning potential across common spending categories weighted by typical usage.
Perks & Benefits
Travel credits, lounge access, insurance, and other valuable benefits.
Value vs. Fee
Whether the total benefits justify the annual fee for the average traveler.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other company, and have not been reviewed or approved by any of these entities. Credit card offers are subject to change. Please verify terms and conditions on the issuer's website before applying. Some links may be affiliate links.