Discover the Best 10 Beginners Travel Credit Cards of 2025

Earning Rates

• 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• 3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
• 2x points on all other travel purchases.
• 1x points on all other purchases.

Redemption Options

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Transfer points to over 10 airline and hotel loyalty programs for potentially higher value.

Additional Perks

• Primary car rental insurance.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Complimentary access to DashPass for DoorDash for 12 months.

Best For

Travelers looking for flexible rewards, valuable travel perks, and affordable annual fees.

Earning Rates

• 2x miles on every purchase, every day.
• 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Redemption Options

• Redeem miles for travel purchases, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.
• Transfer miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs for potentially higher value.

Additional Perks

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit (up to $100).
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Travel accident insurance and 24-hour travel assistance services.

Best For

Frequent travelers who want a simple, flat-rate rewards structure with flexible redemption options.

Earning Rates

• 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 annually, then 1x).
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
• 1x points on all other purchases.

Redemption Options

• Redeem points for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses through Amex Travel.
• Transfer points to over 20 airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
• Use points for statement credits or gift cards.

Additional Perks

• Up to $120 in dining credits annually ($10/month at participating restaurants).
• Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually ($10/month for rides or Uber Eats).
• Access to exclusive events and entertainment offers through Amex Experiences.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best For

Foodies and travelers who spend significantly on dining and groceries and want premium rewards.

Earning Rates

• 1.5x Miles on every dollar spent on all purchases.

Redemption Options

• Redeem miles for travel purchases like flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Cash redemption as a statement credit or deposit to your bank account.
• No minimum redemption thresholds.

Additional Perks

• No annual fee.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Free Social Security number alerts to help prevent identity theft.
• FICO® Credit Score for free, updated monthly.
• 24/7 customer service based in the U.S.

Best For

Travelers seeking a simple and straightforward rewards structure with no annual fee and the flexibility to redeem miles for any travel expense.

Earning Rates

• 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases.
• No limit to the number of points you can earn.

Redemption Options

• Redeem points for statement credits to cover travel purchases, such as flights, hotels, vacation packages, and car rentals.
• No blackout dates when booking travel.
• Flexible redemption options for gift cards and cash back.

Additional Perks

• No annual fee.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 18 billing cycles, then a variable APR applies.
• Preferred Rewards clients earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase.
• Travel accident insurance and emergency assistance services.

Best For

Travelers looking for a no-annual-fee card with a flat rewards structure and flexibility to redeem points for travel expenses.

Earning Rates

• 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans.
• 1x points on other purchases.

Additional Perks

• No annual fee.
• Cell phone protection.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Best For

Beginners wanting strong bonus categories (travel, dining, gas, transit, streaming) with no annual fee.

Earning Rates

• 2X Miles on Delta purchases.
• 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Additional Perks

• No Annual Fee.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Pay with Miles flexibility.
• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

Best For

Casual Delta flyers who want to earn SkyMiles on dining and Delta purchases without an annual fee.

Earning Rates

• 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations.
• 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additional Perks

• No annual fee.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• 25% back on United inflight purchases.

Best For

Beginners looking to earn United MileagePlus miles on everyday spending like gas and transit, with no annual fee.

Earning Rates

• 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500 in spending).
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Additional Perks

• No annual fee.
• Automatically adapts to your spending.
• Access to Citi Entertainment®.

Best For

Beginners seeking high automatic cash back in one category each month with no annual fee.