Credit Cards With Incredible Bonuses for Travel

For frequent travelers, using a credit card while on the move is often essential. It helps avoid unfavorable exchange rates when withdrawing cash or converting currency. Additionally, it offers speed, convenience, and practicality, particularly in urgent situations. Plus, the security measures provided by credit cards are invaluable, especially in unfamiliar or exotic locales.

Recognizing this, credit card companies have introduced attractive travel bonuses for consumers who use their cards while traveling. Many of these bonuses come in the form of points programs, where you earn points with every qualified purchase. These points can then be redeemed for cash bonuses or credited toward travel-related expenses on your account.

Frequent travelers can accumulate rewards quickly, leading to significant savings and valuable bonuses. To aid in your search, we’ve evaluated numerous credit card travel bonuses and compiled a selection of the most appealing offers currently available. Here are our recommendations for the top travel rewards credit cards.

The American Express Platinum Card is ideal for frequent flyers. You earn 5x points on flights when booking directly with airlines or through American Express Travel reservation services. Additionally, you’ll earn 5x points on hotel stays booked directly on American Express Travel. Plus, with the opportunity to earn 60,000 welcome points by spending $5,000 in the first three months, the bonuses are enticing.

For Uber users, there’s an extra perk of $15 in Uber Cash per month for rides originating in the United States. Cardholders can also designate a preferred airline and receive up to $200 in credits annually for supplementary services offered by that airline, such as baggage fees and in-flight purchases.

Other notable features include hotel upgrades, airport lounge access, and reimbursements for expedited airport and passport screenings. Although the card carries an annual fee of $550, if used wisely, the accumulated rewards will more than offset this cost.

Recognized as the “Best Travel Rewards Card” in 2018 by CNBC, Capital One’s VentureOne Rewards card offers exceptional value. Cardholders can earn points at an impressive rate of 10x when staying at any of the thousands of participating hotels until January 2020. Everyday purchases earn 2x points. New accounts can earn a substantial bonus of 50,000 points by spending $3,000 within the first three months.

Unlike many similar cards, Capital One’s VentureOne Rewards card features a low annual fee of just $95, which is even waived entirely for the first year. Miles never expire, foreign transaction fees are always reduced to zero, and there are no blackout dates or redemption restrictions. This card provides reliable rewards for the frequent traveler.

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card offers generous rewards for everyday spending. Cardholders earn points at a rate of 3x on a wide range of purchases, including dining out, ordering food delivery, buying gas, purchasing public transportation tickets, using rideshare services, booking flights or hotels, using peer-to-peer homestay services, and renting cars. Plus, all other purchases earn points at a 1:1 ratio.

Looking for another incentive? You’ll receive 30,000 bonus points by spending $3,000 within the first three months, which can translate to up to $300 in additional rewards. Additionally, Wells Fargo offers an introductory 0% APR for the first year, and the card comes with no annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is Visa-branded, ensuring widespread acceptance, a boon for travelers. Following the redemption of your $300 annual statement credit, the card offers 3x points on worldwide travel and restaurant spending. This credit is automatically renewed once a year and can be applied to any eligible travel-related purchase.

Moreover, you’ll earn one point per dollar on all other purchases. Redeeming points for airline tickets, car rentals, cruises, and hotel stays can yield up to 50% more value. The card doesn’t impose blackout dates or other restrictions. However, its annual fee of $450 is partially offset by the generous $300 in automatic annual credits.

In essence, travel rewards cards are most beneficial for those who travel frequently, be it for business or leisure. If you’re someone who only takes one annual vacation and spends the rest of the time at home, these cards may not provide significant value, particularly those with substantial annual fees.

Speaking of fees, if you don’t use the card frequently enough to offset them, the annual fees can become quite costly. It’s crucial to conduct a thorough cost analysis to ensure that the rewards you earn justify the expenses. Avoid signing up for a card that doesn’t offer worthwhile benefits. Additionally, when calculating these costs, remember to account for interest rates by estimating your anticipated average monthly balance. If the card has a variable rate, use the lower end for your projections.