Best Credit Cards for Travel
Picture this: you book a flight to Paris, a beach getaway in Mexico, or a family road trip — and the points you earned from everyday spending cover most of it. Travel credit cards promise big rewards, but many hide their true value behind confusing portals, wildly different point valuations from 0.5 to 1.5 cents each, and high annual fees that may or may not pay for themselves. We ranked the top travel cards by real-world cash-equivalent rewards rates, factoring in portal bonuses where they apply, so you can quickly see which ones actually deliver the biggest wins for your next trip.
Rankings are estimates based on published card terms. Actual rewards depend on your spending, redemption, and category qualification. How we rank.
The Top Contenders
#1
Earns 8% on travel through the issuer’s portal with no spending cap.
Points are worth ~1.5¢ each, making the cash-equivalent rate ~12.0%.
8x on Chase Travel, 4x on flights/hotels direct, 3x on ads.
Annual fee: $795
Points value: ~1.5¢ each
Sign-up bonus: 150,000 points after $20,000 spend in 3 months
Perfect if: You maximize portal bookings and want premium perks to offset the fee.
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#2
Earns 7.0% on travel with no spending cap.
Points are worth ~0.5¢ each, making the cash-equivalent rate ~3.5%.
7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
Annual fee: None
Points value: ~0.5¢ each
Sign-up bonus: 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
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#3
Earns 6% on travel with no spending cap.
2x on all, 2.5x on mobile up to $5k/quarter, 6x on prepaid travel.
Annual fee: None
Sign-up bonus: 75,000 points after $10,000 spend in 120 days
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now
The Rest of the Field
Citi Strata Elite Card (#5) —
6% on travel,
$595/yr fee.
12x on hotels/car rentals via Citi Travel, 6x on flights via Citi Travel, 3x on dining.
Amazon Prime Visa (#6) —
5% on travel,
no annual fee.
5% at Amazon.com, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel; 2% on dining, gas, and transit.
How We Rank
Cards are ranked by their stated rewards rate in this spending category. This ranking does not account for: the cash value of points (which varies by card and redemption method), spending caps, annual fees, or portal booking requirements. All of these are shown per card so you can factor them in.
For a personalized comparison that weighs your actual spending, accounts for caps, subtracts annual fees, and estimates real dollar value, use our calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit card gives the most travel rewards?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business earns 8x on Chase Travel portal bookings. However, many high-rate travel cards require booking through the issuer's portal. Our rankings show these conditions so you can compare fairly.
Do travel card bonus rates require booking through a portal?
Many do. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred (5x), Capital One Savor (5x), and Citi Double Cash (5x) earn their top travel rates through their issuer's booking portal. Direct bookings may earn a lower rate.
How much are credit card points worth for travel?
Point values vary significantly by card. Chase points are worth ~1.25-1.5 cents, Amex points ~1 cent, Capital One miles ~1 cent, and IHG points ~0.5 cents. Our rankings show the cash-equivalent value next to each rate.
Is a travel credit card worth the annual fee?
It depends on how much you travel and which perks you use. Many premium cards offset their fee with credits (e.g., $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve). Enter your spending in our calculator for a personalized comparison.