The miles and points we’ve collected from travel credit cards have easily saved us over $20,000+ in travel expenses, and they have enabled us to enjoy luxurious experiences like business class flights and luxury hotel stays that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford.
We believe a good travel credit card (or a few) is a tool that all financially responsible travelers should be using. However, knowing which travel credit card(s) to apply for can be confusing.
Between restrictions like Chase’s 5/24 rule and some bonus offers only being available for a limited-time, it’s important to strategize the time and order in which you sign up for new credit cards. To help you prioritize your credit card sign-ups, we update this post every month to include what we believe are the top credit card offers on the market. Since we’re covering what we consider to be the best offers — not just limited time offers — some of the cards on this list may remain consistent from month to month.
If you still need help choosing a card after reading this post, we’d be more than happy to recommend a card (or two) for you! All you need to do is fill out this form.
At a Glance
Detailed Reviews
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Current offer: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first three months.
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of my favorite cards! Ultimate Reward points are very valuable, given their flexibility and ability to use to make an award booking. The points are worth more when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal, at 1.5 cents each. So your 60,000 bonus points are worth $750 in free travel! You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to the following airlines: United, Singapore, British Airways, Korean, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic. Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently netting card holders 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 3x points on streaming services, and 2x points on all other travel spending.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- No foreign transaction fees
- $50 credit on Ultimate Rewards Hotels annually
- $60 credit for Peloton Digital subscription
- 5x points on Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- Discounts on DoorDash with free DashPass subscription
- Car rental insurance
- Travel accident insurance
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Current offer: 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first three months.
Annual fee: $550
Why it’s great: The incredible travel rewards earned from this card more than make up for the high annual fee. One of the best perks is the $300 travel annual credit, which will include gas and grocery purchases until the end of 2021. You’ll also get up to $120 in food delivery credits with DoorDash over the course of 2020 and 2021. These credits all but lower your annual fee to $130. Our favorite reward from this card is the free Priority Pass membership that gets the card holder and up to 2 guests free access to over 1,000+ airline lounges around the world! If you’ve ever watched our Youtube videos, you know we put this benefit to use almost every time we fly. This is a service we would gladly pay $250 for every year!
*** Chase Bank only allows you to sign up for one Sapphire card, so you have to choose between the Sapphire Preferred (mentioned below) and the Sapphire Reserve (this card).
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- No foreign transaction fees
- 3x points on travel and dining purchases
- 10x points on Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- $120 credit for Peloton Digital subscription
- Complimentary year of Lyft Pink (must register by March 31, 2022)
- Discounts on DoorDash with free DashPass subscription
- Up to $100 application credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Car rental insurance
- Travel accident insurance
3. British Airways Visa Signature Card
Current offer: 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great: You can get so much value from of British Airways Avios if you learn how to strategically redeem them using British Airways’ distance based award chart. For example, if you wanted to fly from Nashville to Dallas on American Airlines (a Oneworld partner), you would only need to pay 9,000 Avios each way. So with the 100,000 Avios you’d earn from the sign-up bonus, you could fly from Nashville to Dallas 10 times!
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn a companion ticket after spending $30,000 in a calendar year
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Car rental insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip cancelation insurance
4. The Platinum Card from American Express
Current offer: 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 within the first six months.
Annual fee: $695
Why it’s great: The American Express Platinum Card offers some of the best perks available. The welcome bonus of 100,000 points is an excellent value, and the $695 is completely offset by spending credits. This card earns 10x the points on restaurants worldwide and on Shop Small spending in the US, for up to $25,000 of spending in the first six months after opening your card. This will also net 5x the points on select hotel and flight purchases. Of course, our favorite benefit from this card has to be entrance to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes access to the Centurion Lounge. Terms and restrictions apply to these fantastic benefits.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- No foreign transaction fees
- $200 credit for airline fees, after enrollment
- $200 credit on select hotel spending
- $240 digital spending credit for Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times, after enrollment
- $200 credit for Uber, after enrollment
- $300 credit for Equinox spending, after enrollment
- $179 credit for Clear membership annually
- Global Entry spending credit, after enrollment
5. United Club Infinite Card
Current offer: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,o00 in the first three months
Annual fee: $525
Why it’s great: We love the United MileagePlus program because the points are valuable and the awards are a breeze to redeem. This card is a great opportunity to earn a cache of United points, as well as to earn 4x the points on United spending and 2x on all other travel, restaurant and delivery spending. This card also includes a membership to the United Club, allowing you lounge access any time you fly.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- Up to $100 rebate on Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees
- Get 25% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
6. American Express Gold Card
Current offer: 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Annual fee: $250
Why it’s great: The American Express Gold card has great earning potential, including 4x miles on all restaurant, including take out and delivery, and US supermarket spending and 3x points on booked flights.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- Receive up to $120 in dining credits, $10 per month, after enrollment
- No foreign transaction fees
7. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Current offer: A total of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months
Annual fee: $95
Why it’s great: Capital One Rewards allow users to book travel or cover travel booked in the previous 90 days for one cent per mile. That means this card is would cover over $600 on travel, even retroactively! Capital One miles can also be transferred to a number of airline programs at a ratio of 2:1.5, allowing for true flexibility in booking the best reward flights.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- $100 rebate on Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees
- 2x the points on all spending
- No foreign transaction fees
8. United Explorer Card
Current offer: $0 intro annual fee
Annual fee: $95 after your first year
Why it’s great: This card is offering 60,000 miles as a welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months. This card will earn double the miles on spending on United, restaurants and hotels. It also comes with many valuable perks for those that fly United often, including two one-time passes to the United Club, your first checked bag free and priority boarding.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- $100 rebate on Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees
- Get 25% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
9. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Current offer: Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and a bonus Free Night Award after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Resort fees may apply. Terms apply. Offer expires 11/3/2021.
Annual fee: $450
Why it’s great: The Bonvoy Brilliant card is a great hotel card to pick up. The current bonus will net you 150,000 points, which can be used to book reward stays or can be transferred to a number of airline partner programs, usually at a 3:1 ratio. This card will earn you 6x points for eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points at U.S. restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points on all other eligible purchases. There is also up to a $300 statement credit each year for eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, a $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit, and a $100 credit on Global Entry application fees.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- Earns 6x points on purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- Priority Pass Select membership
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel accident insurance
10. IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Current offer: Get 150,000 IHG points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.
Annual fee: $0 annual fee the first year, then $89
Why it’s great: This card has a hefty bonus given its low annual fee. This is a great card to focus on for booking award hotel stays. This also comes with automatic Platinum elite status, plus an annual award night worth up to 40,000 points. You’ll also always get your fourth night free when you redeem points for stays of four or more nights.
Other benefits worth mentioning:
- Earn 25x points total for every $1 spent at IHG properties
- Earn 2x points total for every $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants
- Up to $100 rebate on Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees
- No foreign transaction fees
That wraps up our review of the top personal travel credit card offers for this month. If you found this post useful, we’d be super grateful if you used our links to start your next credit card application!
Cheers,
Nate (and Kara)
Hey Nate, what does the new transfer partners for Capital One do to your rankings and thoughts on the card? I never have been a fan of Capital One but to me, this changes the game. Thanks!
Hey Nate! I was looking at the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards earlier this week and noticed that it mentioned you can only get the sign on bonus if you haven’t received another sign on bonus. Do you know if that means you cannot receive the bonus if you have gotten a bonus from any Chase Card….or just any of the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards? Sincerely- someone who just signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Thanks for this information Nate! The Chase Sapphire Reserve is my go to card. I also have the Capital One Venture and United Explorer Cards. I am thinking about getting another one, but still trying to figure it out.
Happy Birthday to Kara!
Hi, i was wondering what you do with the cards after you spend the required amount and use the points. Do you cancel them? Presumably you would spend on other cards to receive the sign up bonus, and keep using different cards. Or is there a card you continually use? What does that do to your credit, opening up that man y cards and (maybe) cancelling them?
Thanks!!
Brooke