The year is almost over, and you might be looking to take a vacation to improve your mental health or take a break from the stress of the year. StudyFinds is here to help you find the best travel credit card that can help make your travel dreams come true (and maybe earn you points towards your next vacation, too!)
The pandemic lull in travel has come to an end, with most countries opening their borders and easing restrictions within the last year. According to the US Travel Association, travel spending improved considerably in September and is now at its highest mark since the pandemic started at 6% above 2019 levels. Now, 32% of American travelers indicate leisure travel will be a high-budget priority in the next three months.
Combined with inflation and rising costs, it can be hard to figure out how to afford overseas trips. You might be looking at the best deals on flights and hotels. But for frequent flyers, applying for a dedicated travel rewards card might be your secret weapon when it comes to maximizing your savings. A Wells Fargo study reveals that 92% of Americans are concerned about rising inflation (59% very concerned, 33% somewhat concerned), and nearly half of rewards cardholders (49%) are leaning on their credit card rewards to help offset some of the costs of everyday purchases.
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StudyFinds has compiled a list of the best travel credit cards so you can spend more time making that itinerary. For our findings, we visited 10 of the leading travel and finance websites to see which cards were rated the highest. Our list of the best travel credit cards is ranked based on the most-recommended cards across these sites.
The List: Best Travel Credit Card, According To Experts
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Looking for a flexible travel card that can be used on all purchases for the same rewards rate? Look no further. The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a flat 2x miles on every purchase, with no need to worry about spending categories. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
“The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards on the market, primarily because of its two miles per dollar rewards rate, modest annual fee, and flexible redemption options,” writes US News.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is one of the top travel cards that offer a variety of benefits and flexible ways to spend your miles without a hefty annual fee. The $95 charge is low in comparison to other cards on the market.
“Double miles on every dollar you spend, a generous welcome bonus, and numerous redemption options can all go a long way to offset the card’s $95 annual fee — and help you save on future travel,” writes Time.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Not to be confused with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, this card’s $95 annual fee also makes it extremely accessible to the average person.
“Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee,” writes The Points Guy. “Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners.”
Cardholders can also enjoy other travel benefits like baggage or rental insurance when making purchases on their Sapphire card.
“The card stands out for its travel protections. You’ll enjoy insurance if your flight is delayed, if your baggage is delayed or lost, primary car rental insurance, and more if you book eligible travel and meet the benefit requirements,” Business Insider.
3. American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card offers the best rewards in two of the most popular spending categories – dining and groceries. Earn 4x points on both categories, as well as 3x points on flights booked directly with American Express.
“If you can stomach the annual fee, the American Express® Gold Card offers handsome returns at restaurants and on airfare, and its rewards for grocery spending are the best of any travel card,” writes NerdWallet.
The annual fee of $250 might be a bit hefty for some, but the card essentially pays for itself when you take the included dining and travel credits into account.
“One big perk for travelers to take advantage of is the annual statement credits. Cardholders get $120 dining credit to cover restaurant charges ($10 per month at Seamless, Grubhub, and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and $100 in hotel credits when you book rooms through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel,” writes CNBC.
4. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a step up from the Sapphire Preferred, with an annual fee of $550, but the fee is matched by an annual automatic $300 credit on travel purchases and $100 toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees.
“The Chase Sapphire Reserve may look expensive at first glance, but the credits and rewards can easily compensate for the cost for frequent travelers. Not only will you earn great travel rewards, but you’ll receive perks that save you time and energy during your journey,” writes CNET.
Cardholders can easily collect points on common purchases with 3x points on travel and dining purchases, 10x points on Lyft rides, and 10x points on hotel, flight, and car rental purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal.
“It’s incredibly easy to earn bonus points with the card, since “dining” includes almost every restaurant, fast food, and even food delivery services such as Seamless,” writes CNN.
Sources:
The Points Guy
US News
Time NextAdvisor
Business Insider
NerdWallet
Forbes
CNBC
CNN
GoBankingRates
CNET
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
