Disclaimer: I’ve partnered with CardRatings to help recommend my favorite travel credit card products. The Blonde Abroad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers if you choose to apply through these links. As always, my recommendations, opinions, and reviews are mine alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Have you ever heard people talk about traveling the world for free with ‘points?’ Using a credit card is an important step in building a strong credit history and score, so why not earn travel rewards while paying for everyday purchases?
I’ve put together this easy-to-use guide to help you pick a travel rewards credit card that’s perfect for you—whether you’re running a business, saving up for your first big trip, or flying all around the world!
My Favorite Travel Credit Card
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card_name has some of the best overall rewards for travelers. I recommend it for first-time cardholders and frequent travelers who who are newbies to "points" strategy! With 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs, it's easy to redeem whenever and wherever you want.
My Review : Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review
Find your perfect match!
There are countless credit cards that offer some pretty awesome perks—but how do you know which one to pick? I've compiled all of my favorite travel reward credit cards here.
Check out my favorite cards and their benefits below or use the icons to jump to a specific category!
Best “First Timer” Travel Credit Cards
There are a LOT of travel reward credit cards to choose from, all offering different perks. So how do you decide? Well, for a first-time travel credit card, I suggest starting with a card that makes it easy to earn points, has zero foreign transaction fees so you can use it abroad, a low annual fee, and makes it super easy to redeem points whenever you want (and for whatever you want!). These cards do just that! You won’t need any crazy strategies for these cards to pay off.
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card_name is what I consider an "easy to start" card and one I recommend to most newbie "points" travelers—with simple mile transfers and low fees, it’s the perfect first-time credit card for travelers that want minimal confusion and maximum benefits.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
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The card_name lets you earn miles on ANY purchase. There’s no limit on how many miles you can earn in a year or how you earn them, so it's perfect for those who just want to use one credit card for everything!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 2 Venture miles per $1 on every purchase, every day.
- Flexible redemption options for your miles—from vacation rentals, car rentals, and more
- Easily transfer Venture X miles for a 2:1.5 ratio to most of Capital One's travel loyalty partners, and a 2:1 ratio for others.
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through our Partner Lounge Network
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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- card_name Review
- How to Transfer Capital One Venture Miles to Partner Airlines
- How to Earn Miles on Everyday Purchases with Capital One Venture
My Review : Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review
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The card_name is a good “all-around” card — especially if you are a foodie! Why is that? Well, you earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants, including takeout and food delivery services…so you literally earn points for snacking. Now that’s something I can get behind!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S..
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
- You can earn up to$120 Uber Cash and $120 Dining Credit at participating locations. Enrollment required.
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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My Review : American Express® Gold Card Review
Best Cards for International Frequent Travelers
These travel reward credit cards are the BEST when it comes to earning points, miles, and overall travel perks! Overall, the card_name is great if you’re looking to rack up the miles, the card_name is great for travel credits and perks like lounge access, and the card_name is great for lounge access and hotel status.
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The card_name is the next step up for frequent travelers and those looking to step-up their rewards credit card—and the card I personally use most often! The annual fee is a lot more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, but the credits and perks you receive cover the cost (and then some!), in my opinion!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full.
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R).
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement on travel expenses of airfare, hotels, rental cars and more.
- Free Priority Pass membership (worldwide airport lounge access), and other Premium Benefits, like Peloton, Lyft, and $120 in food delivery credits with DoorDash!
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My Review : Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Review
card_name
card_name lets you earn miles on ANY purchase. There’s no limit on how many miles you can earn in a year or how you earn them, so it's perfect for those who just want to use one credit card for everything!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 2 Venture miles per $1 on every purchase, every day.
- Flexible redemption options for your miles—from vacation rentals, car rentals, and more
- Easily transfer Venture X miles for a 2:1.5 ratio to most of Capital One's travel loyalty partners, and a 2:1 ratio for others.
Learn More about benefits and information on rates and fees here.
Read More
- Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review
- How to Transfer Capital One Venture Miles to Partner Airlines
- How to Earn Miles on Everyday Purchases with Capital One Venture
My Review : Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review
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card_name is one of the best in regards to perks and benefits with over $1,000 in annual statement credits. Cardholders get access to Amex Centurion Lounges around the world, travel protection, and Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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Best Travel Reward Cards for Businesses
If you run a business, odds are you have a dedicated business credit card to keep expenses seperate—why not make it a travel rewards card too? Benefit from your business expenses! If you’re a small business owner with a lot of expenses and you’re looking to maximize your earning potential and unlock some serious rewards, these just might be the cards for you!
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I use the card_name for my small business! I love that my business expenses can help build up points for personal travel, and I can pool those points together with my other Chase travel credit cards to redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. It's a no brainer for me!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 3 points per $1 spent on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each year.
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases, with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- You can also redeem for travel, cash back, gift cards, experiences, and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- If you're more interested in getting cash-back for your business, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is a very popular option.
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My Review : Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Review
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This is a great business card from American Express's offerings—it's midrange in terms of annual fee, has an attainable sign-up bonus, and makes it easy to earn! I do want to point out that Amex is not always accepted internationally, so keep that in mind if you are traveling abroad often.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 4X Membership Rewards® points on the two select categories where your business spent the most each month.
- Book your flight with American Express Travel using Membership Rewards® Pay with Points and get 25% of those points back.
- Some trip delay insurance, luggage insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurances are included when you use your card to book.
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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card_name
card_name is great for business owners with high spending and frequent travel. I do want to point out that Amex is not always accepted internationally, so keep that in mind if you are traveling abroad often.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per year for eligible annual prepaid business plan purchases with Adobe on Creative Cloud for teams or Acrobat Pro DC.
- Enroll and get up to $120 in statement credits per year for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $10 back per month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus membership with up to $189 in statement credits per year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with your Business Platinum Card.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more lounge location options than any other credit card on the market. As of 3/2023
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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Best Credit Cards for Airline Loyalty
Are you a frequent flyer? If you prefer one airline strongly over others, or getting airline status makes you feel warm & fuzzy inside, then one of these travel credit cards might be for you!
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If you are loyal to Southwest Airlines, or frequently fly domestically, the card_name might be your ideal travel credit card!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Receive 7,500 bonus points each year after your Cardmember anniversary.
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- 25% back on inflight purchases.
- $75 Southwest® annual travel credit.
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The card_name is one of the best for overall airline rewards—if you're looking to get status with an airline, and you spend a decent amount on travel, this is your best opportunity.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Take a friend or family member when you fly Delta. Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that's an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and Hotel Stays instead of 1.5X).
- Delta Sky Club(R) Access - enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- With Status Boost(R), earn 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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Best Credit Cards for Hotel Stays
Who doesn’t love free hotel stays? While you can redeem most points from travel reward credit cards for accommodation, you won’t get status with specific hotel chains that way. If you stay in hotels frequently, prefer a certain hotel brand over others, or want to get status, one of these co-branded hotel credit cards might be for you!
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card_name is the best hotel rewards card, in my opinion! You get some great perks and can use your points on over 7,000 Marriott properties worldwide. Plus, you get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status with your Card.
Card Benefits
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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card_name
The card_name makes it easy to earn points and redeem for hotel stays—and you're not tied to a specific hotel brand! I love that it's flexible, which is key when I travel!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full.
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R).
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement on travel expenses of airfare, hotels, rental cars and more.
- Free Priority Pass membership (worldwide airport lounge access), and other Premium Benefits, like Peloton, Lyft, and $120 in food delivery credits with DoorDash!
Read More
My Review : Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Review
card_name
card_name lets you earn miles on ANY purchase. There’s no limit on how many miles you can earn in a year or how you earn them, so it's perfect for those who just want to use one credit card for everything!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 2 Venture miles per $1 on every purchase, every day.
- Flexible redemption options for your miles—from vacation rentals, car rentals, and more
- Easily transfer Venture X miles for a 2:1.5 ratio to most of Capital One's travel loyalty partners, and a 2:1 ratio for others.
Learn More about benefits and information on rates and fees here.
Read More
- Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review
- How to Transfer Capital One Venture Miles to Partner Airlines
- How to Earn Miles on Everyday Purchases with Capital One Venture
My Review : Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review
Best Cards for Getting Cash Back
Cash-back cards are a great way to maximize your rewards and benefit from expenses you have to pay for anyway! Maybe saving points for a future trip doesn’t sound right for you at the moment— a cash-back credit card might be the perfect alternative.
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The card_name is a great choice for new business owners looking for cash back, since there’s no annual fee. I recommend it for small businesses that make purchases at office supply stores and internet, cable and phone service providers.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
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card_name
The card_name is a great option for those who want an easy-to-use cash-back card! And it's especially awesome for those who already have a Chase travel credit card and want the option for cash-back, but would also like the possibility of redeeming their points! Plus there's no annual fee.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on all other purchases.
- Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards(R) and 3% on dining and drugstores.
- Redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards® for travel and more (doesn't just have to be cash-back!), if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
- And there are lots of other perks, like DoorDash and Lyft!
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card_name
The card_name is a great cash-back card — it's easy to use and redeem!
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
Learn More: See Rates and Fees
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Best Credit Card for Flexible Rewards
Who doesn’t like a little flexibility? If you don’t like to be confined into one category of spending, consider a card that lets you earn points on every purchase and redeem them for just about anything!
card_name
The card_name is a great option for those who want an easy-to-use cash-back card! And it's especially awesome for those who already have a Chase travel credit card and want the option for cash-back, but would also like the possibility of redeeming their points! Plus there's no annual fee.
Card Benefits
- bonus_miles_full
- Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on all other purchases.
- >Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards(R) and 3% on dining and drugstores.
- Redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards® for travel and more (doesn't just have to be cash-back!), if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
- And there are lots of other perks, like DoorDash and Lyft!
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