Best Travel Credit Cards Of 2025

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Becky PokoraCredit Card Rewards Expert

With more than 50 million redeemed miles under her belt, Becky Pokora is a rewards travel expert. She's been writing about credit cards and reward travel since 2011 with articles on Forbes Advisor, BoardingArea, The Points Guy and more. Her redemptio...

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Becky Pokora

Becky PokoraCredit Card Rewards Expert

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Credit Card Rewards Expert

Jerod MoralesDeputy Credit Cards Editor

Jerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he...

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Jerod Morales

Jerod MoralesDeputy Credit Cards Editor

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Deputy Credit Cards Editor

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Yanely EspinalCredit Cards and Financial Education Expert

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Yanely Espinal

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Yanely EspinalCredit Cards and Financial Education Expert

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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

If you’re constantly planning your next trip, the best travel credit cards available in April 2025 can be valuable resources toward booking and paying for it. The rewards can offset a huge portion of your out-of-pocket expenses and may come with other worthy benefits that pay for themselves, both in savings and avoided headaches.

Show Summary

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Beginner Travel Card
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Best Everyday Earnings With Travel Redemptions
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best Premium Travel Rewards Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best Travel Credit Card for International Travel
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best Travel Rewards Card for Lounge Access
American Express® Gold Card: Best Travel Rewards Earnings for Foodies
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: Best Travel Earnings Without a Travel Portal
Aeroplan® Credit Card: Best Airline Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best Hotel Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for Businesses

Find The Best Credit Card

Best Travel Credit Cards Methodology

Forbes Advisor considered dozens of airline, hotel and flexible-rewards credit cards to create this list of the best travel credit cards. The primary factors taken into consideration for all types were:

Estimated annual earnings—25% to 50% depending on card category
Welcome bonus—15% to 25% depending on card category
Travel benefits—15% to 25% depending on card category
Annual fee—5% to 15% depending on card category
Consumer benefits—0% to 10% depending on card category
Foreign transaction fee—0% to 5% depending on card category

The hotel earnings rate was weighted 25% for hotel credit cards and the airline earnings rate was weighted 15% for airline credit cards. Earning potential on each card is determined using average American spending amounts based on data from multiple government agency reports. We use the same data for all card calculations to ensure cards are compared equally.

The top travel rewards credit cards list is reevaluated at least every few months to determine if any cards need to be added and/or removed. Demand for travel rewards cards is high, and competition remains strong between issuers offering benefits aimed at meeting travelers’ wishes. This means card benefits get updated frequently, and we evaluate each card’s update to determine how it might fit into this list.

To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.

Travel Rewards Cards in the News

The welcome bonus for the Aeroplan® Credit Card (rates & fees) was refreshed in mid-January, making it easier to earn for cardholders who apply and are approved this winter.
American Express announced plans to open two new Centurion lounges in Salt Lake City and Boston, making The Platinum Card® from American Express even more appealing for travelers who frequent those airports.
You can extend the value of your travel rewards with these transfer bonuses in 2025.

Best Travel Credit Card Deals Right Now

If you want to replenish your stash of points to work toward booking your next dream trip, you may want to know which travel credit cards have the highest-value welcome bonuses as of 2025. Below are the airline, hotel and flexible rewards travel cards with the highest welcome offers. Keep in mind that annual fees and additional benefits will vary, often significantly, so weigh the pros and cons of a particular card beyond just the bonus before you apply.

Up-to-date as of April 1, 2025.

Card Category	Card Name	Annual Fee	Welcome Offer
Best Airline Card Welcome Bonus	Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card*	$249	60,000 miles after spending $4,500 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening plus 40,000 miles after spending $25,000 in the first year
Best Airline Card Welcome Bonus Runner-up	The New United Club℠ Card	$695	90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Best Hotel Card Welcome Bonus	Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	$150 (Terms apply, see rates & fees)	130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership
Best Hotel Card Welcome Bonus Runner-up	Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*	$95	3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Best Flexible Travel Card Welcome Bonus	Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	$95	100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Best Flexible Travel Card Welcome Bonus Runner-up	The Platinum Card® from American Express	$695 (Terms apply, see rates & fees)	80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the card in the first 6 months of card membership

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

A travel rewards credit card accrues miles or points for each purchase made with the card. Every card has a different earning and redemption structure.

A co-branded card, like one labeled with Marriott or Southwest, will earn rewards in the specifically named travel brand.
General travel cards may instead earn flexible bank points, like those you see with Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards®.

Here’s how credit card points and miles work:

Earn rewards when you make purchases. Nearly all purchases on a card will earn rewards at the rate specified by the card. Rates may vary based on the type of purchase.
Rewards are deposited into your account. Most cards update your rewards balance once per month after your billing statement closes. On co-branded cards, travel rewards are typically deposited into your existing airline or hotel account automatically. On general travel cards, you’ll most likely have a bank of points where rewards pool.
Consider your reward options. Airline and hotel point values often are variable, which means that the value of a point may fluctuate depending on the specific redemption. Before you make a redemption, ensure that you’re happy with the value of your specific reward.
Make a redemption. Once you’ve chosen a redemption option, you’ll need to follow the specific direction to request your reward. Depending on the type of redemption, you might request this from your card issuer through their travel portal or your preferred travel partner.

There are many other intricacies to redeeming miles and points, so if you’re not confident about all your options, you’ll want to review the opportunities from your program before committing to a redemption.

Types of Travel Credit Cards

Not all travel credit cards are alike. Here’s how the various types break down so you can choose which type of rewards card is best for your unique circumstances.

Transferable Rewards Credit Cards

Airline Credit Cards

Hotel Credit Cards

Fixed-Value Credit Cards

Business Credit Cards for Travel

Yanely Espinal

Credit Cards Expert

Clint Proctor

Credit Cards Lead Editor

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

If I had to choose, I’d say flexible travel rewards because it allows for much more versatility in your redemption options beyond just flights and hotel stays. But the best approach is to have both. You can maximize benefits from each card type by earning rewards across all of the spending you normally do, while getting perks with your favorite travel providers at the same time.

Yanely Espinal

Credit Cards Expert

Since I’m not particularly loyal to any airline or hotel, I prefer the flexibility of general travel cards. I especially appreciate travel cards that offer transfers to travel partners. With flexible rewards, I can access 10 to 20 or more loyalty programs from a single card. This increases my chances of being able to take advantage of the best award deals that are available for my next trip.

Clint Proctor

Credit Cards Lead Editor

I love that most co-branded travel cards include benefits when booking with that brand. Free night certificates on hotel cards and free checked bags with airlines are valuable perks. Plus, even though earning a single type of point might seem limited, big hotel chains have more than a dozen brand choices and airlines may have 10 or more alliance partners, so you’ll still find plenty of versatility.

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

Pros and Cons of Travel Credit Cards

Advantages of Travel Credit Cards	Disadvantages of Travel Credit Cards
Frequently offer large welcome bonuses	May have high annual fees
Earn travel rewards with every purchase	Bonus earning categories may be geared toward travel spending rather than everyday expenses
Opportunity to fast track toward elite status	Included benefits may be difficult to use
May offer travel-specific perks, like free checked bags, complimentary hotel nights or airport lounge access	May not have the option to redeem points at a fair value toward cash back, if your needs or preferences change

How To Compare Travel Credit Cards

When comparing travel credit cards, items to consider include:

1. Annual fee

2. Foreign transaction fee

3. Sign-up bonus

4. Rewards rate

5. International acceptance

6. Travel protections

7. Perks

Adam Sterling

Credit Cards Expert

Robin Frankel

Credit Cards Writer

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

One of my favorite travel credit cards is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® because it has many useful benefits. Two benefits stand out in particular. First, it grants cardholders access to Sapphire Lounge by the Club locations, which are some of the newest airport lounges in the U.S. Second, it offers trip delay insurance, which covers travelers when their eligible trip is delayed by more than six hours.

Adam Sterling

Credit Cards Expert

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is my go-to for travel bookings. Between the high rewards rate, travel protections and transfer partners, it’s a no-brainer for me.

Robin Frankel

Credit Cards Writer

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a favorite for me because you can earn at high rates on daily, non-travel expenses at home but then turn around and redeem your points for a nearly limitless amount of travel redemptions.

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

How To Maximize Credit Card Points for Travel

You’ll need to take a multi-pronged approach to maximize your credit card rewards.

1. Choose a Card That Matches Your Spending and Travel Habits

You’ll want to use a card (or cards) that offer bonus points in spending categories that are meaningful to you. It’s also important to ensure the type of rewards you earn—whether that’s miles or points specific to a certain airline or hotel, or more flexible rewards—also lines up with your travel style.

I most commonly pull out my Citi Strata Premier℠ Card to earn bonus points on regular, daily expenses I have at home, like gas, groceries and dining. For other expenses that don’t earn at bonus rates on that card, my other go-to is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card since it earns 2X on everything, regardless of how a particular merchant codes the purchase. Both of these are flexible rewards cards, so I don’t need to be brand loyal with a specific airline or hotel. This works out best for me since I hop around brands based on which is best for a specific trip.

2. Use Your Credit Card To Cover as Many Expenses as Possible

In order to earn a meaningful amount of points, you’ll need to use your credit card to make payments regularly. Using credit instead of debit or cash can also offer extra purchase protections, which is another advantageous perk. Just remember: Credit cards have high APRs and other potential fees, so you’ll only want to use them if you expect to pay the balance off quickly. Otherwise, your potential rewards earnings will be offset by the cost of interest charges.

3. Learn Your Redemption Options

Maximizing your travel credit card rewards involves learning the ins and outs of your card’s related loyalty programs since some redemptions can be worth more than others. On co-branded airline and hotel cards, this might mean reading award chart prices or doing a little research on available options for your specific trip before clicking the “redeem now” button.

On flexible rewards cards, you may also want to dig into the value per point from different redemptions. I know that my Citi ThankYou Points are worth 1 cent each toward cash redemptions, but other reward points may only be worth half a penny each unless used for travel. That’s a significant difference if you’re cashing out a lot of points! Additionally, both programs have different partner lists if you want to transfer your miles.

Most often, I transfer miles from my credit card to an airline in order to book international airfare. I’ve taken time to learn the sweet spots of each program, where I might find a better ticket at a lower price. But I’ve also learned one major reality of rewards travel: The best value is sometimes the ticket that’s available to your destination on your dates, even if it’s not the fanciest, fastest or absolute lowest price. Value is subjective so make sure you’re customizing options to your needs.

Jerod Morales

Credit Cards Editor

Troy Liu

Credit Cards And Loyalty Programs Expert

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

Some of the benefits of travel cards I rely on that don’t get much attention are the travel and purchase protections. I always make sure to book travel with a card that includes things like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay protection and lost or delayed baggage benefits. It’s not always a substitute for separate travel insurance, but it can go a long way to getting compensation when travel goes awry.

Jerod Morales

Credit Cards Editor

I feel cellphone insurance is overlooked by some travelers and followed by travel insurance coverage. Many credit cards even cover the trip if you just pay taxes on a reward ticket.

Troy Liu

Credit Cards And Loyalty Programs Expert

Free nights, big bonuses and statement credits get all the attention but one perk that goes unnoticed is the option to add authorized users to your card account at a reduced cost (or even free). That extends benefits like airport lounge access to a household member, even if they’re not traveling with you.

Becky Pokora

Credit Cards Writer

Are Travel Credit Cards Worth It?

Generally speaking, yes, travel credit cards are worth it—if you’ll use the benefits. Travel rewards credit cards can be a strategic addition to your finances, if you travel with any regularity. You’ll be able to earn rewards on every purchase and later redeem those rewards toward future trips—often at a higher yield than cash back. Many travel cards also include benefits to enhance your travel experience along the way to add even more value.

Find The Best Credit Cards For 2025

No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.

Learn More

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the easiest travel credit card to get?

Most travel credit cards require good to excellent credit scores (a good credit score starts at 670 according to the FICO scoring model). However, generally speaking, travel cards with no annual fee are typically easier to be approved for than ultra-premium travel cards with high annual fees.

How many travel credit cards should I have?

The number of travel credit cards you should have depends on how often you travel, which benefits you value, your financial situation and whether you’re willing to spend time tracking multiple cards. Frequent travelers can find value in holding at least one travel card but may consider holding several. For example, having both an airline card and a hotel card can provide complementary benefits and the ability to earn rewards for all aspects of your travel plans.

How can you travel for free with credit cards?

Travel with credit card points can save you a lot of money on travel compared to paying full price. A combination of welcome bonus offers and the rewards you earn from everyday spending can add up to hundreds of dollars in value toward free travel. However, you’ll need to learn the rules of your specific program to maximize travel points and get the most possible value

Included statement credits or card benefits can also help you travel for free. Premium credit cards may offer annual credits toward the purchase of select travel, effectively serving as a rebate. Alternatively, you might have airline companion certificates or hotel free night certificates, which work more like a coupon.

Other Credit Cards To Be Considered

*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Becky Pokora

Credit Card Rewards Expert

Jerod Morales

Deputy Credit Cards Editor

Yanely Espinal

Credit Cards and Financial Education Expert

Yanely Espinal is the director of educational outreach for Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit working to ensure that every high school student gets a full semester of personal finance education—including lessons in proper credit card usage—before graduation. She is often described as a ball of energy, with a gift for storytelling, and a passion for explaining credit cards and other financial concepts in a straightforward way.

While working as an elementary school teacher, Yanely decided to change her financial life by paying off $20,000 of debt in just 18 months. In 2015 she created MissBeHelpful, a YouTube channel and social media platform that now has over 5 million views, to help others learn the money skills she never learned in school. Some of her most popular videos on the channel include “5 Things to Consider When Applying for a Credit Card” and “When To Pay Your Credit Card Bill and Increase Your Credit Score.”

Her book, “Mind Your Money,” is an Amazon bestseller and was a Plutus Award finalist for Best New Personal Finance Book of 2023. She hosts Financially Inclined from Marketplace, a video podcast for teens about money lessons for living life your own way. Yanely is also a member of CNBC's Financial Wellness Advisory Council and an Advocate at the NGPF Mission 2030 Fund.

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Best Travel Credit Cards Of 2025

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Summary of the Best Travel Credit Cards

Best Flexible Travel Rewards Cards

Best Beginner Travel Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Everyday Earnings With Travel Redemptions

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Premium Travel Rewards Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Travel Credit Card for International Travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Travel Rewards Card for Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Travel Rewards Earnings for Foodies

American Express® Gold Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Travel Earnings Without a Travel Portal

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Airline Rewards Card

Best Airline Credit Card

Aeroplan® Credit Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Hotel Card

Best Hotel Credit Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Business Travel Card

Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for Businesses

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Welcome Bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

Credit Score

Best Travel Credit Cards Methodology

Travel Rewards Cards in the News

Best Travel Credit Card Deals Right Now

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

Types of Travel Credit Cards

Transferable Rewards Credit Cards

Airline Credit Cards

Hotel Credit Cards

Fixed-Value Credit Cards

Business Credit Cards for Travel

Is it better to choose a flexible travel rewards card or one branded to a specific airline or hotel?

Pros and Cons of Travel Credit Cards

How To Compare Travel Credit Cards