Best travel credit cards 2025 are not just for frequent flyers. You can find significant discounts and valuable benefits whether you fly once a year or plan to visit many destinations. SIXT.VN offers comprehensive travel solutions to ensure your trips are seamless and rewarding.
Choosing the right travel credit card will enhance your travel experience in Vietnam, offering convenience and cost savings.
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best Overall
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees
- A $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels
- Access Hertz’s Five Star membership tier
Why We Like It: The Capital One Venture Card is excellent for earning and redeeming miles. The 2x miles on every purchase help you earn towards future trips. You can use miles to book future trips through Capital One Travel or transfer miles to Capital One’s travel partners. According to research from Capital One in 2024, users appreciate the card’s simplicity.
The card offers a credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees, Five Star Status with Hertz rental cars, and a $50 experience credit at Lifestyle Collection hotels. The card’s value comes from maximizing miles earned and redeemed. If you want a flexible way to get value on travel without committing to a booking site, this card is a great option.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best Redemption Value
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Complimentary DashPass for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27
- Up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
- Bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year on every account anniversary
Why We Like It: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a solid welcome bonus and rewards on travel and everyday categories. According to a 2023 study by Chase, cardholders value the redemption boost when using points for travel.
You’ll get an anniversary points bonus worth 10% of your spending from the past year. Points redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠ get a 25% boost. Perks include statement credits for hotels booked through Chase Travel and partner benefits with Lyft, DoorDash, and Peloton. If you have a Chase cash-back card, you can pool the rewards with your Chase Sapphire Preferred and take advantage of the redemption boost across your accounts.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best Premium Travel Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Annual fee: $395
- Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- $300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 annual bonus miles
- Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges
Why We Like It: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has great perks and rewards with a relatively lower annual fee. It offers the same straightforward rewards and flexible redemption options as the regular Venture card. Capital One’s internal data from 2024 shows high customer satisfaction with the card’s lounge access benefits.
You’ll get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings with Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles each year, a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees, access to Capital One Lounges and partner lounge networks, a $100 experience credit when you book stays with the Premier Collection, and Hertz President’s Circle status. These perks more than outpace the card’s annual fee.
4. American Express® Gold Card
Best For Everyday Rewards
American Express® Gold Card
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
- Rewards rate:
- 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide
- 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets
- 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
- 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
- Benefits:
- Up to $10 in statement credits each month at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
- Up to $84 per year in statement credits after you enroll and pay with your American Express Gold Card at Dunkin’® locations
Why We Like It: The American Express Gold Card offers some of the best rewards on your most frequent budget items. With 4x points at restaurants worldwide and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, it’s easy to earn rewards on your food spending to put toward an upcoming trip. According to American Express data from 2023, cardholders frequently redeem points for dining and travel.
The Amex Gold Card’s added benefits can also help you save at home and while traveling. These include statement credits when you use your card at a restaurant on Resy in the U.S., for U.S. Dunkin purchases, and when you use your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Combined with travel savings, travel rewards, and flexible redemption options, Amex Gold offers great value even if you travel only a few times per year.
5. U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Best For No Annual Fee
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Rewards rate:
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
- 4x points on travel 4x points at gas stations/EV charging stations
- 2x points on dining, streaming services, and at grocery stores
- 1x points on all other eligible purchases
- Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 in statement credits toward your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee
- Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select Membership for 4 free visits to over 1,600 airport lounges
Why We Like It: The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect is a no annual fee card that offers rewards and perks that can bring just as much value as more costly options. According to a 2024 U.S. Bank survey, customers appreciate the card’s lack of annual fees.
You can earn rewards across a range of travel and everyday categories: 5x points on prepaid hotels and rental cars booked through U.S. Bank’s Altitude Rewards Center; 4x points on other travel and at gas stations or EV charging stations; 2x on dining purchases, streaming services, and grocery stores; and 1x on everything else. Redemption options include a deposit to your U.S. Bank account, travel, gift cards, and more. Added benefits include a statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees and complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access.
6. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Best Range Of Rewards Categories
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3x points on air travel and other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more when booked through CitiTravel.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- Transfer ThankYou® Points to participating airline loyalty programs
Why We Like It: The Citi Strata Premier card offers a straightforward rewards structure. You get 10x points when you book hotels, rental cars, and attractions through CitiTravel.com and 3x points across other hotel purchases, air travel, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations. According to Citi’s internal data from 2024, the card’s broad range of rewards categories appeals to many travelers.
In addition to redemptions through CitiTravel.com and for gift cards, you can transfer points to Citi’s partner airline programs. You might get the most value from this card if you stay at hotels often but aren’t loyal to any single hotel chain and don’t mind booking through Citi’s travel portal.
7. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
Best Potential Rewards Boost
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 online bonus points after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days
- Rewards rate:
- 2x points on travel and dining purchases
- 1.5x points on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits for incidental airline fees
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase
Why We Like It: The Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card works a bit like a flat rewards card with a boost. You’ll earn 2x points on travel and dining with an unlimited 1.5x on everything else. According to Bank of America research from 2023, Preferred Rewards members find the card particularly valuable.
If you’re a Preferred Rewards member with Bank of America, you can earn 25% to 75% extra on every purchase. There’s a credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees every four years and an annual credit up to $100 for airline incidental charges.
More Travel Credit Cards To Consider
General travel cards are great for scoring points and miles toward any type of travel. If you prefer flying with a certain airline or booking with a specific hotel chain, a co-branded travel card might be more rewarding.
Top-Rated Airline Credit Cards
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ and 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days
- Rewards rate:
- 3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases
- 2x miles for gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases
- 1x miles on everything else
- Benefits:
- Free checked bag for you and up to six guests on your reservation
- Priority boarding
- A $99 Companion Fare each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more in the previous year
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account
Why We Like It: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers an affordable way to score Alaska’s Companion Fare every year. According to a 2024 Alaska Airlines survey, cardholders value the companion fare benefit highly.
You’ll earn a $99 Companion Fare each account anniversary when you spend at least $6,000 in the year prior. With 3x rewards on Alaska Airlines spending and 2x on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services, and local transit, you can meet that threshold while boosting your rewards.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
- Annual fee: $99
- Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days
- Rewards rate:
- 3x miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2x miles on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store purchases
- 1x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Two free checked bags on eligible flights when you use your card to book on Hawaiian Airlines
- A one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America
- A $100 companion discount annually for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America after your account anniversary
- Discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines
Why We Like It: The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard can offer amazing savings on your trip. Hawaiian Airlines data from 2023 shows high customer satisfaction with the card’s companion discounts.
In addition to the bonus miles you’ll get from the welcome offer, you’ll also get a one-time companion discount for 50% off a roundtrip coach ticket between Hawaii and North America. You’ll still save when you fly to Hawaii with a $100 companion discount every account anniversary.
The New United Quest℠ Card
The New United Quest℠ Card
- Annual fee: $350
- Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier Qualifying Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 3x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
- 1x miles on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Free first and second checked bags + priority boarding
- A $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
- Earn 2 global Economy Plus® seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in purchases each calendar year
Why We Like It: The New United Quest Card offers plenty of benefits that can help make up the cost if you fly United at least a few times per year. United Airlines internal data from 2024 shows high customer satisfaction with the card’s travel credits.
Perks you can use when you travel include a $200 United travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary; a 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 each calendar year; a $100 property credit when you book Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United Cardmembers; and 1 Premier-qualifying point for every $20 you spend.
Top-Rated Hotel Credit Cards
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Annual fee: $99
- Welcome offer: Best offer of 2025 — Earn 5 Free Nights after spending $5,000 in first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- 26x points at IHG hotels and resorts
- 5x points on travel, dining, and at gas stations
- 3x points on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Earn a free night on each account anniversary
- Get a fourth night free when you redeem your points for a consecutive four-night stay at IHG properties
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS statement credit
- Access perks including free upgrades, welcome amenities, and guaranteed room availability
Why We Like It: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a solid balance of rewards potential and annual benefits. IHG Hotels data from 2023 shows that cardholders frequently redeem points for free nights and value the card’s elite status benefits.
You can earn up to 26x points on IHG hotel stays; 5x points on travel, dining, and at gas stations; and 3x points on everything else. Annual perks include automatic Platinum Elite status, an anniversary free night, a $100 statement credit and 10,000 points when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, your fourth night free on eligible reward stays, and up to $50 United TravelBank Cash each calendar year when you connect your card to your United MileagePlus account.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Annual fee: $95
- Welcome offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- Up to 17x points at Marriott
- 3x points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2x points on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Earn a Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary
- Get automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Silver Elite Status each calendar year
- Get a one-year complimentary DashPass membership if you activate by 12/31/27
Why We Like It: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card can be a great tool for traveling the world. Marriott data from 2024 shows cardholders value the free night awards and elite status benefits.
With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, you’ll get benefits when you stay, like an annual free night award and a path to elite status with 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year plus one additional Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
- Annual fee: $199
- Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points plus Explorist status through 2/28/26 after you spend $7,000 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Rewards rate:
- Up to 9x total points at Hyatt
- 2x points on your top three spend categories* each quarter
- 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1x point on all other purchases
- Benefits:
- Spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 in statement credits up to two times per year
- World of Hyatt Discoverist status for you and up to 5 employees for as long as your account is open
- Get 5 Tier-Qualifying night credits toward status and Milestone rewards for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year
Why We Like It: The World of Hyatt Credit Card has plenty to offer for savings on your hotel and resort stays. Hyatt data from 2023 shows that cardholders frequently redeem points for free nights and value the card’s unique rewards categories.
You’ll earn up to 9x points on purchases at Hyatt hotels; 2x points at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly with airlines, local transit and commuting, and fitness club and gym memberships; and 1x points on everything else. You’ll get a free night each year after your account anniversary, another free night at a Category 1-4 property when you spend at least $15,000 in a calendar year, automatic Discoverist status, five qualifying nights per year toward your next-highest status, and 2 more qualifying night credits for every $5,000 in purchases with your card.
How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?
Travel credit cards offer points and miles rewards on your spending, which you can use toward travel-related redemptions, such as flights, hotel stays, and car rentals. You’ll often earn the highest rewards rate on travel purchases with a travel credit card, though many also offer boosted rewards on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and more.
Many travel cards also provide travel benefits and perks, which could include airport lounge access, annual travel or airline credits, companion airfare, or elite status with an airline or hotel loyalty program.
Is A Travel Card Worth It?
Travel credit cards are worth it if you get enough value from the card’s benefits and rewards to outweigh any potential costs, such as an annual fee. Unlike some other rewards cards, like cash-back credit cards, travel cards are more likely to carry annual fees in exchange for their high rewards rates and annual benefits. They might not be worth it if you don’t travel enough to take advantage of these card benefits and rewards.
However, a travel card can still be worth it if you’re not a frequent traveler. Even if you travel only once or twice per year, you can accumulate points throughout the year to offset your airfare and hotel costs when you do go on a trip.
Types Of Travel Credit Cards
When you’re comparing travel credit cards, it can be useful to separate them into two distinct types: general travel rewards cards and co-branded airline and hotel credit cards.
General Travel Rewards Cards
With a general travel credit card, you’ll have a number of flexible redemption options when you’re ready to redeem your points and miles. You may also have a broader range of benefits. Some general travel credit cards include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- American Express Gold Card
Travel card issuers generally have their own travel portals, like Chase Travel or American Express Membership Rewards. You can use these to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. They may also have a number of travel partners, to which you can directly transfer points or miles. The flexibility of general travel cards means you can travel with any number of different airlines or hotel brands and get the best bang for your buck.
These credit cards also allow other redemption options, such as statement credits, gift cards, and cash back. But you’ll generally get the best value by redeeming points or miles for travel.
Airline And Hotel Credit Cards
Airline and hotel credit cards are typically co-branded between the card issuer and the airline or hotel chain. Here are a few examples:
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card
- United Quest Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
These cards are best suited for travelers who prefer to fly with a specific airline or stay at a certain hotel chain. Maybe you live near a hub airport, frequent a destination where a specific airline offers the most direct flight options, or you enjoy the perks of a specific hotel’s loyalty program.
Instead of flexible rewards points or miles, you’ll earn points or miles within the airline or hotel rewards program and get a boosted rewards rate when you spend directly with the airline or hotel. These cards often offer a faster path to elite status tiers within these programs as well.
You’ll typically get the best redemption rate when you use rewards for flights with the airline or stays at a hotel, but many programs offer other redemptions, too. Some airline and hotel rewards programs may even allow you to transfer your points and miles to other travel partners like you can with general travel rewards programs.
The added benefits of co-branded cards are designed to appeal to loyal airline or hotel customers. For example, your airline card may get you priority boarding, upgrades, free checked bags, and in-flight discounts. And your hotel card may offer early check-in or late checkout, annual free night awards, and on-site credits.
Co-branded travel cards aren’t for everyone, but they can add a lot to your travel experience if you have a strong airline or hotel preference.
What To Look For In A Travel Credit Card
Here are a few key details to look for in any new travel credit card:
1. Annual Fee
No matter your budget, there’s a travel credit card with an annual fee that fits. You can find solid no annual fee options, like the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature card. But there are also plenty of premium travel cards with steep fees — The Platinum Card® from American Express, for example, may set you back a significant amount per year but comes with an abundance of valuable benefits and perks that can potentially give you even more value back each year.
The most important thing to keep in mind when deciding whether an annual fee is worth it for you is whether you can get enough out of the rewards and benefits to outweigh the cost without spending more than you otherwise would or can afford.
2. Sign-Up Bonus
For new cardholders, a sign-up bonus can offer major first-year value. These bonuses may be worth anything from 10,000 to over 100,000 bonus points or miles which can translate to hundreds of dollars in rewards value.
However, you should compare the terms of the bonus to your own budget before you apply. For example, you may need to spend a certain amount within the first three months of opening your card before you can earn the 60,000 bonus points. If that’s not within your typical spending, be careful not to take on debt to meet the spending threshold. Accruing high interest on balances can quickly outpace even the best bonus.
One smart strategy is opening a new travel credit card when you’re booking a trip you’ve been saving for. You may already be prepared to spend more than usual, which can help you reach the bonus requirement faster. Plus, you can earn rewards on those travel purchases to put toward future trips.
Also look out for limited-time offers from top travel credit cards. Occasionally, issuers will increase the welcome bonus for a period of time if you see a promotional offer that fits within your budget, that could be a great time to apply for a new card.
3. Rewards
Rewards are one of the biggest reasons for many people to open a travel credit card.
Earning rewards with travel cards often works in one of two ways. You’ll either earn rewards on your everyday spending (groceries, gas stations, restaurants) to redeem toward future travel, or earn rewards on your travel spending to put toward future travel.
Some cards offer a combination of these rewards, but knowing which type of spender you are can be useful. If your monthly budget is largely dedicated to everyday spending, you may get more value from the former. But if you travel frequently and spend a lot of money on flights, hotels, and rental cars, you can quickly rack up more points with travel-based rewards categories.
4. Travel Perks And Benefits
Many travel rewards credit cards especially the most premium cards with high annual fees really shine when it comes to added perks and benefits. These benefits can help you offset the annual fee and save money each time you travel.
Take the annual fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example. Each year, you’ll get an annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and bonus miles on your account anniversary. Already, that’s enough to wipe out the annual cost before accounting for any rewards and other benefits.
Just remember: Choose a card with benefits that help you save on purchases you would still have made otherwise. If you tend to arrive shortly before takeoff and don’t care about airport lounge access, you won’t actually get the potential value from that benefit.
5. Travel Insurance And Protections
One unique aspect of travel credit cards is the protections you can get as a cardholder when you travel. Common protections offered by travel credit cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, car rental insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, access to emergency assistance services, and more.
As long as you pay for your travel expenses with the card (booking flights, hotels, tours, etc.) you can qualify for these travel protection benefits. Like any coverage, though, you should make sure to read the fine print of what your individual card offers. These benefits can vary greatly between different travel cards, so make sure to look for details in your card agreement.
Travel Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should I Open A Travel Credit Card?
Travel rewards credit cards can make a great addition to your wallet, even if you only travel a few times per year. Be sure to compare different travel card options to find the combination of annual fee, rewards, benefits, and sign-up bonus that works best for your travel plans and spending.
There may be a few reasons why a travel credit card isn’t right for you, though:
- You’re already in credit card debt. Avoid adding another card especially one with a potentially high annual fee to your wallet if you already have high-interest debt. Eliminating those balances will help you save a lot more in interest than any value travel rewards could offer.
- You don’t want to keep up with a rewards strategy. Travel credit cards can be most lucrative if you maximize how you earn and redeem rewards. If you don’t want to spend the time strategizing bonus categories and the best redemption options, a credit card with a simpler rewards structure may be better for you.
- You don’t have great credit. Travel credit cards generally require a good-to-excellent credit score to qualify for approval. If your credit isn’t in a great place right now, focus on improving your score before you apply for a new card.
If you are ready to open a travel credit card, time your application wisely. The spending thresholds to earn your welcome bonus can be high, so you may want to plan your application around your next trip. The money you’ve already saved can help you score the bonus when you book your travel, and you’ll also earn bonus points or miles for your next trip.
Which Credit Card Is Best For Travel?
If you’re new to travel credit cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great place to start you can earn miles on everything, and it’s easy to redeem your miles through Capital One’s travel portal.
Before you apply for any new travel card though, look at your frequent spending and travel to find the best one for
