The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2025
With so many card choices out there, it can be difficult to figure out the best travel credit card. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of options! How do you know which one is right for you? Or which one gives you the best rewards? Are the fees worth it? Which gives you the best perks?
For someone who isn’t deep into the credit card industry, it can be very confusing — and a bit nerve-wracking — to figure out which card to get.
But let me say this: there is no “best card.” The best travel credit card is the one that aligns with your travel goals.
Are you interested in loyalty to a brand, free rewards, or avoiding fees?
Do you want to milk the rewards and bonus system to get free flights, or do you just want a card that won’t charge you a fee for using it at that restaurant in Brazil?
You get the cards that match your goal.
I have an entire post on picking the best travel credit card that you can read to determine how to pick the card that is right for you. (Obviously, the airline and hotel cards you’ll pick are going to be based on those you use a lot.)
But some are better than others and bonuses and offers change all the time. In this post, I’m going to list what I think are the current top cards and offers!
MY TOP PICK: Bilt Mastercard®
Annual Fee: $0The Bilt Mastercard is the only credit card that earns you points when paying rent (up to 100,000 Bilt Points each year) without any transaction fees (really!). It’s an overall great card with plenty of category bonuses and over 19 transfer partners. It’s the main card I use for my day-to-day spending.
American Express® Gold Card
Annual Fee: $325 (See Rates and Fees.)100,000 Bonus Points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
This card offers lucrative rewards at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets as well as a lot of travel benefits that make it a great card if you travel and eat out a lot. Plus, it has a lot of statement credits options that can be used to offset its yearly fee.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee: $9575,000 Bonus Miles
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $750 in travel
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of my favorite credit cards, especially if you are looking for a card with a low minimum fee. It’s an easy-to-use card with a high earning rate on everyday purchases and comes with a lot of valuable transfer partners.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee: $695 (See Rates and Fees.)Up to 175,000 Bonus Points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount.
This is one of the best premium cards out there — if you take advantage of its luxury benefits. This card unlocks lounge access, elite status benefits (enrollment required), travel perks, special hotel discounts, and luxury goods and service credits. It’s my favorite premium credit card and, when the statement credits are used correctly, it more than pays for itself.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee: $9560,000 Bonus Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best all-around travel cards out there. It’s the “starter” version of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. This award-winning card is ideal for the occasional traveler or anyone who is determined not to pay a high yearly fee.
If you’re looking for something more specific, be sure to check out the lists of all my other favorite cards (I update them regularly):
The Best Hotel Travel Cards
The Best Airline Credit Cards
The Best Premium Travel Cards
The Best No-Fee Credit Cards
One thing to remember is that there’s not one card to use for all occasions. I use three or four cards for all my spending. Chase for travel and restaurants, American Express for groceries, Delta for travel perks on the airline, and Marriott for my hotel stays. That way, I always get the most points possible for every dollar I spend without spreading my points around too much.
So, if you’re looking for a travel credit card, pick one of the above. They are the best in my opinion.
Stop paying full price for travel!
Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:
- How to Pick a Credit Card
- How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
- How to Redeem Your Points
- And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for budget travelers)
- World Nomads (best for mid-range travelers)
- InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about The Chase Sapphire Preferred® has been collected independently by Nomadic Matt. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is no longer available through Nomadic Matt.
