Learn more and apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card. What we like about the Capital One VentureOne: Usually when there are two versions of the same credit card — one with an annual fee and another without — you can expect the no-annual-fee one to be a fairly stripped-down offering. And like the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll also get bonus points at grocery stores from November 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021, with the Sapphire Reserve, but at an even higher rate of 3 points per dollar, up to $1,000 in purchases each month. You can redeem them directly for flights via Amex Travel at 1 cent each, but if you put in some extra effort and research, you can potentially get much more value from them by transferring them to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners, which include Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Marriott and many more. Where our benchmark card is better: The Citi Double Cash has no annual fee, an introductory rate on balance transfers and easy cash back. This card is right for: People who routinely stay at Hyatt hotels under normal travel conditions, especially those chasing Hyatt elite status. Card holders also get a complimentary DashPass subscription for at least one year, and for a limited time from November 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021, you can earn 2 points for every dollar spent at grocery stores using the Chase Sapphire Preferred, up to $1,000 in purchases each month. You’ll get 1.25 cents per point when redeeming points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, and can get potentially even more value when transferring points to one of Chase’s 13 travel partners. Earn 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, and on fitness club and gym memberships. Points can also be transferred to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners. Travel rewards credit cards used to be simple. Today, there are more types of travel credit cards available than ever before with rewards that include not only airline tickets, but also free nights at hotels and cash back toward general travel purchases like ride-hailing or train tickets. The Signature Visa is now one of BPI’s best travel credit cards to date. Get all the latest personal finance deals, news and advice at CNN Underscored Money. American Express® Gold Card: Best pandemic travel card. The biggest one is a $75 Southwest travel credit every year, which can be used toward any Southwest flight purchase — just pay for your flight or taxes on your Southwest card and you’ll receive a statement credit up to $75. Updated Where it beats our benchmark card: Luxury travel perks and travel credits, airline and hotel bonus categories, solid travel protections, extensive airline and hotel partners, and welcome bonus. But that’s not necessarily the case with the Capital One VentureOne. But to earn 5 points per dollar at hotels, you’ll need to book only prepaid hotels, and only through Amex Travel. What we like about the American Express Gold: Calling it our “best pandemic travel card” may sound odd, but the Amex Gold is a perfect choice if you want to earn as many travel points as possible during the pandemic, and then have lots of ways to use those points on trips after the pandemic ends. What could be better: While the high cost of the Chase Sapphire Reserve was easy to justify for the last several years, it increased its annual fee from $450 to $550 at the start of 2020, so you really need to be able to use all of the card’s perks for the price to make sense, which can be difficult given the current worldwide travel situation. In the end, the Amex Platinum isn’t really designed for everyday use. What we like about the Capital One Venture: Some people want easy-to-redeem travel rewards. The cherry on top is the 75,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $5,000 on the card in your first six months, which at the very least you should be able to redeem for a pair of domestic airline tickets for you and a companion, or even a trip to Europe in coach for yourself. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The Southwest Priority Card also offers four upgraded boarding certificates annually. In fact, the Ultimate Rewards program still features some of the best transfer partners, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Hyatt Hotels, and all Chase partners transfer at a 1-to-1 ratio. Again, these credits come in $10 monthly installments and can be used either for Uber rides or on Uber Eats orders. Up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. So take a few minutes to check out our list of the best travel credit cards in 2021 and think about which one might get you to that getaway when it’s safe to get back into the skies again. WHAT IS A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD? That’s where CNN Underscored’s list of the best travel credit cards for 2021 can come in handy. If you’re a frequent flyer, we’ve got you covered with Delta SkyMiles® Cards that help you earn miles. You’ll also get some truly great perks with the Southwest Priority Card. However, the chain announced those changes are delayed until sometime in 2021. Use your Amex Platinum bonus to score a pair of domestic airline tickets. To many road warriors, this benefit is worth the cost of the card all by itself. CNN Underscored is your guide to the everyday products and services that help you live a smarter, simpler and more fulfilling life. That’s a massive amount of flying on Southwest, which you likely aren’t doing right now. This means you can purchase an A1-15 boarding position at the gate (if available), giving you the opportunity to board the plane before most other passengers, and you’ll receive a statement credit for the amount charged. Most of the best travel credit cards require a good credit rating, especially those that offer great rewards or are packed with perks. Most of the features of the more expensive Capital One Venture remain intact on the VentureOne, including the same 1 cent per mile redemption value when using the card’s “Purchase Eraser” to wipe out any travel charge (as well as food delivery and streaming services between now and April 30, 2021), access to the same airline and hotel transfer partners at the same transfer ratios, the same travel and purchase protections, and even the same no foreign transaction fees. Use the credit every year and you’ve already recouped half of the card’s annual fee. The credits on the Amex Platinum can also be a challenge to maximize. This card is right for: People with larger than average travel and/or dining expenses (including food delivery) who want a low-fee card with basic transferable points. You'll get up to $10 each month in Uber Cash with the American Express Gold card. Earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. What could be better: The one big downside of the Amex Gold is that most of the annual credits come in monthly installments rather than annual chunks, so you’ll need to make sure you can take advantage of them each month to make the card worth it. Most food delivery services count as “restaurants” on this card, so that means the vast majority of your food purchases will earn 4x points, regardless of how you’re eating right now. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar when you book airfare directly with an airline, so if you’re looking to jump on any sales for flights later in the year, you can pay for them with the Amex Gold and earn extra points on those as well. When you make a purchase, we receive revenue. To complete your CNN profile and ensure you are able to receive important account information, please verify your email address. Where it beats our benchmark card: Easy-to-use travel credit, travel and dining bonus categories, excellent travel protections, solid airline and hotel partners, and sign-up bonus. Even with a card … A $60 annual DoorDash credit further adds to the card’s value, especially right now. Redeem miles for any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile. This card is right for: People who like the features of the Capital One Venture but are willing to exchange a lower everyday earning rate for no annual fee. Even better, for a limited time now through April 30, 2021, you can also use the Purchase Eraser on food delivery and streaming services along with travel purchases. Up to $100 credit when applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Other credit cards now offer bonus points or cash back in those same travel and dining categories, and in some cases at higher rates (though usually accompanied by higher annual fees). Sign-up bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months. Related: New redemption options added to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points — 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus 2 bonus points for every dollar you spend on purchases that earn 1 bonus point, up to $15,000 in the first six months of account opening. That’s because you’re only earning 1.25 miles per dollar with the Capital One VentureOne, and you only get 1 cent per mile when redeeming them using the “Purchase Eraser,” meaning you’re effectively getting a return of 1.25 cents per dollar spent, while the Citi Double Cash earns 2 cents per dollar spent. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months after opening the account. Your travel credit card miles can take you wherever you want to go. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. If you are planning to use a travel credit card on your next trip make sure you follow these golden rules. From flexible travel points to cruise rewards to vacation packages or air miles, we've got a travel or cruise line credit card that's right for you. But you’ll still get up to a $100 fee credit when applying for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and no foreign transaction fees. Best Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners American Express® Gold Card. Where it beats our benchmark card: Travel and dining bonus categories, excellent travel protections, solid airline and hotel partners and sign-up bonus. If you can utilize it along with the travel credit, you’re left with an effective annual fee of just $190. You're covered with the Wells Fargo Propel Amex if your cell phone is stolen or damaged. You’ll also find a 0% introductory interest rate on both purchases and balance transfers on the Wells Fargo Propel, though be sure to clear your debt within 12 months, because after that the rate jumps to a variable 14.49% to 24.99%, depending on your creditworthiness. The Southwest Priority card offers excellent perks for Southwest flyers. Those points are worth $113 on “Wanna Get Away” fares, so this card very easily pays for itself as long as you’re flying Southwest every year. Related: How to take advantage of your expensive travel credit card when you can’t travel. Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no limit. It’s strong when you’re booking airline tickets, since you’ll earn an impressive 5 points for every dollar you spend directly with airlines. Earn 4 points for every dollar you spend at Hyatt hotels. Some rewards are more sophisticated, and bundle premium perks such as access to posh airport lounges and comprehensive travel insurance to their package. For instance, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on dining with the CSR versus just 2 points with the Hyatt card (and you’ll have more options when it comes to redeeming Chase points). Rather, you need to be a regular traveler with a desire to be treated better during those long days on the road for the cost of the card to make sense in the long term. The points earned on this card are American Express Membership Rewards points, which are extremely useful. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Explore whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth the annual fee.Learn more and apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. What could be better: Unless you’re going to take advantage of Capital One’s transfer partners, you’d be better off with our benchmark Citi Double Cash card over the VentureOne. Earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel. Even the Saks Fifth Avenue credit is split in two, with $50 available in the first six months of the calendar year and the other $50 in the second half. Earn 3 points for every dollar you spend on dining purchases. The same goes for the added DoorDash annual credit and free DashPass membership, which are only valuable to folks who order food for delivery and have DoorDash service in their area. With Capital One’s travel rewards cards, you’ll earn unlimited miles on every purchase you make. The right credit card can earn you enough in travel rewards to make your getaway easier, or more enjoyable, or — dare we say it — even almost free. Why it’s great in one sentence: The American Express Gold card earns tons of valuable Amex travel points on practically all the food-related purchases you’re making while you’re not traveling, and the credits available on the card nearly offset its annual fee. Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. For folks who don’t want to deal with complex charts or award availability, you can use the Venture’s “Purchase Eraser” feature. Earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. This card is right for: People who want a card that offers elite perks when flying Southwest. Dive into the details of each card with us and see how they stack up. Even our benchmark Citi Double Cash card earns 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy, plus 1% when you pay it off) and not just on travel and dining, though you can get more value when redeeming your Sapphire Preferred points than you can with simple cash back. Capital One removed the first year annual fee waiver on the Venture card, so you’re paying $95 a year right from the start. Travel credit cards are credit cards for people who want the security of using a credit card when paying for goods and services abroad. What could be better: The major feature missing from the Wells Fargo Propel is the ability to transfer points to airline or hotel programs — instead, you can only redeem the points for travel using the issuer’s Go Far Rewards travel portal. You’ll also get automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status just from having the card, which is the lowest-level elite status but still gets you perks such as 10% bonus points on your Hyatt stays, elite check-in, premium internet and a late 2 p.m. checkout where available. So your miles can still be redeemed for the same value even while travel is halted. You can transfer miles to most of those partners at a 2-to-1.5 ratio (meaning for every 2 Venture miles you transfer, you’ll get 1.5 airline miles on the other end), while Emirates, Singapore Air and Accor Hotels transfer at a 2-to-1 ratio. To top it off, when travel resumes, you’ll be able to safely use the Sapphire Preferred overseas, since it has no foreign transaction fees on international purchases. 7,500 bonus points after your card holder anniversary each year. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. But if you don’t need or won’t use all those extra perks — especially right now with travel so limited — you may be better off with this significantly less expensive version. But if you can also take advantage of the card’s up-to-$200 annual incidental airline fee credit as well as the up-to-$200 annual Uber credit, plus the up-to-$100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit (which you can use to buy anything at Saks, either in-store or online), you’ll be scoring up to $500 worth of annual credits for a card that costs $550 a year. Or, if the annual fee increase on the Sapphire Reserve is too much to stomach, consider the cheaper Chase Sapphire Preferred with fewer travel perks but only a $95 annual fee. Why it’s great in one sentence: The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2 Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar you spend on travel and dining purchases, and the points can be redeemed for travel and other eligible categories at 1.25 cents per point, or transferred to the program’s airline and hotel partners for potentially even more valuable redemptions. That’s up to $240 in annual credits, which would leave you with an effective annual fee of only $10 if you can use them all. How do travel credit cards work? American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card 75,000 Aeroplan points. Why it’s great in one sentence: The World of Hyatt Credit Card features a solid set of bonus categories and earns points in the most valuable hotel loyalty program around while at the same time offering complimentary Hyatt Discoverist elite status and the ability to earn even higher levels of elite status even if you can’t travel at the moment. ️ Best travel credit card for: Low foreign transaction fee and special foreign exchange rates. #1 Don’t withdraw cash. The up-to-$200 annual Uber credit doesn’t come as one big credit but instead as a monthly series of $15 credits, with an extra $20 in December to get to the $200 total. American Express® Gold Card: Best Card for Foodies. You'll get primary car rental insurance with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It’s one of the most popular travel credit cards available, offering a generous sign-up bonus for new cardmembers, premium travel benefits, and a strong rewards program. Start planning your next trip by applying for a Bank of America® travel rewards credit card online today. Chief among its benefits is the $0 intro annual fee for the first year, and comparably low $95 per year thereafter. Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you make $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months. What we like about the Chase Sapphire Preferred: It may not seem like it, but at over 10 years old, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is practically the granddaddy of travel credit cards. Earn 2 points per dollar on all other Southwest purchases. Sometimes you can redeem those points for cash or a gift card… Where it beats our benchmark card: Sign-up bonus, purchase protections and travel protections. Read our complete Capital One Venture credit card review. The scoring formula takes into... Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist elite status and 5 qualifying night credits every year. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. We believe a good travel credit card (or a few) is a tool that all financially responsible travelers should be using. CNN News staff is not involved. Related: Use this credit card offer to fly your companion for free for an entire year. Others don’t mind more complicated redemptions that can increase the value of their miles. Where it beats our benchmark card: Bonus points for travel, dining and streaming services, travel protections, cell phone protection, an introductory rate on purchases and sign-up bonus. You can find out more about the biggest names in the travel credit card market with the Halifax credit card review, Nationwide credit card review, Post Office credit card review and Aqua credit card review and take a look at how they compare in our best and worst credit card providers. American Express Explorer® Credit Card Members are eligible for one Travel Credit of $400 per year. But if you think you’ll mix in some airline transfers, even down the line, the Venture card serves as a great beginner gateway to the world of transferable points. Why it’s great in one sentence: The hugely popular Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a high price tag but also a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, a $60 annual DoorDash credit in 2021, a massively increased earning rate when you use Lyft and 3 points for every dollar you spend on travel and dining. Complimentary travel insurance included when you use your credit card for your overseas travel can be a delightful free bonus – as long as it covers as much as a standalone travel insurance policy would. Where it beats our benchmark card: Sign-up bonus, decent bonus categories and travel perks at Hyatt. Verification email has been resent. Our range of American Express® Travel Credit Cards can help you earn rewards to put towards travel. Complimentary Preferred Elite status with Hertz, Avis and National Car Rental chains. You’ll get many enhanced travel protections — such as travel accident insurance, car rental damage coverage and lost luggage insurance — that will be useful when travel resumes. Also, like the Sapphire Preferred, Chase added its new “Pay Yourself Back” feature to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which allows you to redeem points on purchases beyond just travel. new redemption options to the Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review, Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth the annual fee, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, use the Purchase Eraser on food delivery and streaming services. Some even include premium perks like airport lounge access and hotel elite status. It uses miles you’ve accumulated to pay off any travel purchases that you make with the card at a rate of 1 cent per mile, making the 60,000-mile sign-up bonus worth at least $600 in travel. Subject to Travel Credit terms and conditions , to redeem the Travel Credit, you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. © 2021 Cable News Network. But for a limited time, the airline is including a Companion Pass valid through February 28, 2022, for all new card applicants who spend $5,000 on the Southwest Priority Card in the first three months after opening the account. Points can be redeemed for travel through Amex Travel at a rate of up to 1 cent per point. The current eligible categories are grocery stores, dining establishments (including delivery and takeout) and home improvement stores, and through April 30, 2021, you’ll get 1.5 cents per point when redeeming this way. Capital One VentureOne Rewards card review. Read CNN Underscored’s American Express Gold Card review.Learn more and apply for the American Express Gold Card. It’s a globetrotter’s must-have for seeing more of the world. Why did we select these cards as our best travel credit cards for 2021? This card is right for: People who want top-notch luxury travel perks, refundable travel credits and transferable travel rewards. Travel credit cards turn purchases into points or miles that can be redeemed for travel purchases, like flights and hotel stays. The Amex Platinum has access to literally thousands of airport lounges, including Amex’s own Centurion Lounges, which are considered some of the best domestic airport lounges in the US. Earn 3 points per dollar on gas stations, ride-shares and transit. This is the main downside for the best travel credit cards, you will need to spend a lot quickly to get that bonus. What could be better: While the bonus categories on the World of Hyatt Credit Card are useful, it’s important to remember that Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program includes Hyatt as a transfer partner, meaning that points you earn with cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve can be turned into Hyatt points as well as other airline or hotel points, making them more flexible than just regular Hyatt points. By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy. 0% interest on all purchases for the first 12 months (14.49% to 24.99% variable afterward). Compare travel rewards benefits and offers including dining perks and new cardmember bonuses for extra points or miles. Earn 2 points per dollar on dining and on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines. Points can also be transferred to any of Chase’s 13 airline and hotel partners. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases. Credit cards have various features that can make or break your travel savings. Receive 1 free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt each year after your first card holder anniversary. Why it’s great in one sentence: If you expect to be a regular Southwest flyer once travel resumes, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is an easy win, as its annual credits, perks and points can easily offset its annual fee. Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership. The best travel credit cards allow you to earn and redeem points on airfare, hotel stays, and other travel purchases, as well as offering protections while you’re on the road. However, knowing which travel credit card(s) to apply for can be confusing. What could be better: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a classic, but in some ways it’s starting to get long in the tooth. Success! Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. Up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline. Password reset email has been resent. This card is right for: People who spend significant money on dining, travel (including gas) and certain streaming services, and want to earn travel rewards for no annual fee. Read our complete Capital One VentureOne Rewards card review. The information for the Wells Fargo Propel Amex Card and the Wells Fargo Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. And if you plan to fly regularly once travel resumes, you’ll find solid value in the card’s Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, with access for you and up to two guests to over 1,200 lounges around the world. And when that happens, you’re undoubtedly going to want — no, you’re going to need — a well-deserved vacation. One of the keys to traveling the world for next to nothing is having the right credit cards. Some of the best travel credit cards in Canada offer complimentary travel insurance benefits (including medical emergency, trip cancellation, and delayed baggage insurance) that'll cover you for emergencies while abroad and save you the cost of having to pay for travel insurance out of pocket. Your IP: 139.59.59.164 But if you’re ready for that more advanced step, you’re probably better off starting with the more powerful Capital One Venture card anyway, especially since the $95 annual fee on that card is more than offset by its bigger sign-up bonus. What could be better: While Southwest flyers can get great value from the perks on the Southwest Priority Card, you probably won’t want to use it as your everyday spending card. While there's nothing inherently wrong with this, if you're worried about currency swings a Prepaid Travel Card might be a better option. Why it’s great in one sentence: It’s definitely not cheap, but the famous American Express Platinum card is a heavyweight when it comes to travel perks, with numerous annual credits; access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, including Amex’s own Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta; elite status with Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, Avis and National Car Rental; and many other luxury travel benefits. Earn 3 points for every dollar you spend on dining and travel. Earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases with no limit. With travel credit (or debit) cards, you get the rate when you spend or withdraw on the card – or to be completely accurate, the day the spend or withdrawal is processed, which could be a couple of days later. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The best travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. Success! If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. The Propel Amex is also missing a few high-end travel protections like trip delay and trip interruption coverage, but frankly, for a no-annual-fee card, these are minor omissions. Now through April 30, 2021, points can also be redeemed for purchases at grocery stores, dining establishments and home improvement stores at a rate of 1.5 cents per point.