Discover the Best 10 Travel Credit Cards of 2025
Compare top-rated travel credit cards, maximize rewards, and unlock exclusive perks for your next adventure. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, luxury traveler, or budget explorer, find the perfect card to suit your needs.
Top 10 Travel Credit Cards Comparison
| Card Name | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus Value | Rewards Rates | Best For | Apply / Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® TCI Rating: 8.4/10 | $95 | $750 | 5x travel (Chase UR), 3x dining, 2x travel | Beginners & budget travelers | |
| American Express® Gold Card TCI Rating: 8.8/10 | $250 | $900 | 4x dining/groceries, 3x flights | Foodies & frequent travelers | |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card TCI Rating: 8.2/10 | $95 | $500 | 2x miles on every purchase | Flat-rate rewards seekers | |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® TCI Rating: 9.2/10 | $550 | $900 | 10x hotels (Chase UR), 3x travel & dining | Premium travelers | |
| Citi Premier® TCI Rating: 8.1/10 | $95 | $600 | 3x travel, hotels, dining | Budget-conscious travelers | |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card TCI Rating: 8.3/10 | $250 | $700 | 3x Delta/hotels, 2x dining/groceries | Delta loyalists | |
| United℠ Explorer Card TCI Rating: 8.0/10 | $95 | $750 | 2x United, dining, hotels | United Airlines loyalists | |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card TCI Rating: 7.8/10 | $95 | $780 | 12x Hilton, 6x dining/gas/groceries | Hilton hotel enthusiasts | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® TCI Rating: 7.8/10 | $95 | $850 | 6x Marriott, 2x all else | Marriott enthusiasts | |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card TCI Rating: 9.0/10 | $395 | $750 | 10x hotels/rentals, 5x flights, 2x all else | Frequent travelers |
Featured Card Details
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
(Valued at $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards).
Earning Rates
- 5x points on travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x points on dining, including takeout and delivery
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Points worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Transfer points to airline/hotel partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt
- Primary rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption coverage
- No foreign transaction fees
Best For
Beginners and budget travelers wanting flexible rewards and strong travel/dining bonuses.
American Express® Gold Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in 6 months.
(Valued at ~$900 via travel partners).
Earning Rates
- 4x points on dining at restaurants
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year)
- 3x points on flights booked via Amex Travel
- 1x on all else
Key Features & Redemption
- Transfer points to 20+ travel partners (e.g., Delta, Hilton, Marriott)
- Redeem points for flights, hotels, or statement credits
- Up to $120/year in dining credits ($10/month at select partners)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Exclusive Amex Experiences
Best For
Foodies and frequent travelers who spend heavily on dining and groceries.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
(Valued at ~$500 for travel statement credits).
Earning Rates
- 2x miles on every purchase
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem miles as statement credits for travel purchases
- Transfer to airline/hotel partners for potential higher value
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Visa Signature travel and purchase protections
Best For
Flat-rate rewards seekers desiring simplicity and flexibility.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months.
(Valued at $900 via Chase Ultimate Rewards).
Earning Rates
- 10x on hotels & car rentals via Chase UR
- 3x travel & dining
- 1x on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Points worth 50% more for travel in Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Transfer to partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass lounge access
- Special benefits with DoorDash, Lyft, and more
Best For
Premium travelers seeking top-tier perks and flexible redemptions.
Citi Premier®
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 60,000 ThankYou® Points after $4,000 in 3 months.
(Valued at ~$600 for travel or gift cards).
Earning Rates
- 3x on travel, hotels, dining
- 1x on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Transfer to 15+ airline partners
- Redeem points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits
- $100 annual hotel credit on $500+ bookings via Citi Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
Best For
Budget-conscious travelers seeking strong category bonuses and flexible redemption.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 50,000 SkyMiles after $3,000 in 3 months.
(Worth ~$700 in Delta award flights).
Earning Rates
- 3x miles on Delta purchases and hotels
- 2x miles on dining and groceries
- 1x miles on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem miles for Delta flights, seat upgrades, SkyClub memberships
- Dynamic award pricing on Delta
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Companion certificate upon renewal (domestic main cabin)
Best For
Delta loyalists looking to earn extra miles and enjoy valuable travel perks.
United℠ Explorer Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 50,000 miles after $3,000 in 3 months.
(Worth ~$750 for United flights).
Earning Rates
- 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotels
- 1x miles on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem miles for United or Star Alliance flights
- No blackout dates on award travel
- Free first checked bag for you and a companion
- Two United Club passes annually
- Priority boarding
Best For
United Airlines loyalists wanting extra baggage, lounge perks, and miles acceleration.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 130,000 Hilton Honors points after $2,000 in 3 months.
(Valued at ~$780 for Hilton stays).
Earning Rates
- 12x points on Hilton purchases
- 6x on dining, groceries, gas
- 3x on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem points for Hilton stays, experiences
- Use points+cash for flexible bookings
- Complimentary Hilton Gold status
- Weekend night reward after $15,000 annual spend
- No foreign transaction fees
Best For
Hilton loyalists wanting to accelerate points and enjoy elite-like perks.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after $3,000 in 3 months.
(Valued at ~$850 for Marriott stays).
Earning Rates
- 6x points on Marriott purchases
- 2x on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem points for Marriott hotels, experiences
- Transfer points to 40+ airline partners
- Free annual night award (up to 35,000 points)
- Automatic Silver Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
Best For
Marriott enthusiasts wanting free nights and status benefits.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus
Welcome Bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months.
(Valued at ~$750 for travel).
Earning Rates
- 10x miles on hotels & rental cars via Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights via Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Key Features & Redemption
- Redeem miles for statement credits toward travel
- Transfer to 15+ travel partners for higher-value redemptions
- $300 travel credit through Capital One Travel
- Unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass
- Cell phone insurance coverage
Best For
Frequent travelers wanting luxury perks at a lower annual fee than other top premium cards.