Having the right travel credit card can make your trips easier and more rewarding. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just love to travel once in a while, the best travel credit cards for 2025 offer amazing benefits. From cashback to miles, free lounge access, and more, these cards help you save while you explore the world.
This guide will take you through the top nine travel credit cards, with each card fitting a specific need, like earning miles, enjoying upgrades, or avoiding fees. You’ll also find details on how to maximize your rewards.
9 Best Travel Credit Cards for 2025
Here are the best travel credit cards based on different benefits. Each card is designed to offer specific rewards, making it easy to choose the one that matches your travel style.
Best for Lounge Access & Upgrades
Having lounge access and getting upgrades make travel much more comfortable. Some best travel credit cards provide access to exclusive airport lounges and free upgrades on flights or hotel stays. These perks give you a first-class experience, even if you didn’t buy a first-class ticket.
Amex Platinum Card
- Free access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide (Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs)
- Complimentary hotel room upgrades at participating properties through Fine Hotels + Resorts
- Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel
- Earn 90,000 Membership Rewards points with the Amex Gold Card, which can be used for travel, shopping, or other rewards by using the referral link.
Why Lounge Access Matters:
- Lounges offer free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and quiet places to relax while waiting for your flight.
- If you have long layovers, lounge access helps pass the time in comfort.
Other Examples:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Priority Pass membership grants access to over 1,300 lounges.
- Capital One Venture X: Access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges.
More Benefits:
- Free hotel upgrades when booking with participating hotels
- Early check-in and late check-out at select hotels
- Complimentary breakfast at some hotels
Best for Beginners & Frequent Flyers
If you’re new to travel rewards or frequently flying, you want a card that’s easy to use with simple earning structures. Best travel credit cards in this category are designed for people who want to accumulate points or miles quickly without complex rules.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months
- With Chase Sapphire Preferred Earn 2x points on travel and dining
- Transfer points to airline and hotel partners like United, Southwest, and Hyatt
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- It’s simple to earn points, and the redemption options are flexible.
- You can easily transfer points to airline and hotel partners for maximum value.
Other Examples:
- Capital One Venture Rewards: Earn 2x miles on every purchase, and no blackout dates when redeeming miles for travel.
- Discover it Miles: 1.5x miles on every purchase, and miles are matched at the end of the first year.
More Benefits:
- No annual fees for some cards, making them great for beginners.
- Transfer options to multiple travel partners for added flexibility.
Best for Cashback on Travel Purchases
If you prefer to get cashback for your purchases instead of earning points or miles, these best travel credit cards are ideal. Cashback cards allow you to earn money back on travel-related expenses like flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Discover it Miles
- Earn 1.5x miles on every dollar spent
- At the end of the first year, Discover matches all the miles you earned
- With Discover bank promotions, redeem miles as a statement credit for travel purchases
Why Cashback on Travel is Helpful:
- You get real money back that can be used to reduce your travel expenses.
- You don’t have to worry about redeeming points or miles, just get your cashback.
Other Examples:
- Capital One Quicksilver: Earn 1.5% cashback on all purchases, including travel.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: 5% cashback on travel booked through Chase, 1.5% on all other purchases.
More Benefits:
- Cashback redemption options are usually flexible—apply it as a statement credit or transfer it to your bank account.
- Some cards offer no minimum redemption amounts, so you can cash out your rewards whenever you want.
Best for No Foreign Transaction Fees
When traveling abroad, many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, usually around 3%. Beat travel credit cards without foreign transaction fees save you money when making purchases in other currencies.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- With Capital One promotions there is no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase using Capital One referral code
- Capital One Venture Credit Card transfer miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs
Why No Foreign Transaction Fees Matter:
- These fees can add up quickly when you’re making purchases in another country.
- Cards with no fees let you spend abroad without extra costs.
Other Examples:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: No foreign transaction fees and 2x points on travel.
- Amex Gold Card: No foreign transaction fees and 3x points on flights.
More Benefits:
- Great for international travelers who frequently shop, dine, and stay abroad.
- Most cards in this category also offer travel-related perks like rental car insurance and travel credits.
Best for Earning Airline Miles & Hotel Points
If you frequently fly with a specific airline or stay at certain hotels, using a co-branded travel card can maximize your rewards. These cards often offer exclusive perks like free checked bags and early boarding.
Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card
Why Airline Miles & Hotel Points are Valuable:
- These best travel credit cards allow you to earn free flights and hotel stays faster.
- Many co-branded cards come with special perks for frequent travelers, such as early check-in and free upgrades.
Other Examples:
- Amex Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card: Earn 2x miles on Amex Delta purchases, free checked bags, and priority boarding.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7x points on Hilton purchases, with free night rewards.
More Benefits:
- Free hotel stays and upgrades after earning enough points.
- Airline perks include free baggage, lounge access, and priority boarding.
Best for Travel Insurance & Protection
Travel doesn’t always go as planned. Cards with built-in travel insurance and protection can cover you in case of trip delays, lost luggage, or medical emergencies while traveling.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger
Why Travel Insurance is Important:
- It protects you from financial losses due to unexpected travel issues.
- Medical emergencies abroad can be costly, but insurance helps cover those expenses.
Other Examples:
- Amex Platinum Card: Trip delay insurance up to $500 and medical coverage through Global Assist.
- Capital One Venture X: Travel accident insurance and emergency assistance with Capital One Referral Bonus.
More Benefits:
- With these best travel credit cards, you can claim for things like canceled flights, missed connections, and lost bags.
- Rental car insurance is included, saving you from paying extra for coverage.
Best for Flexible Redemption Options
If you want the freedom to use your points or miles in different ways, cards with flexible redemption options are the way to go. These cards allow you to redeem rewards for travel, cashback, gift cards, and more.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Redeem points for travel, cashback, gift cards, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners
- 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 2x points on travel and dining
Why Flexibility is Important:
- You can use your rewards however you like, whether it’s for flights, hotels, or even shopping.
- Some cards give you more value when you redeem through their travel portal.
Other Examples:
- Amex Membership Rewards®: Transfer points to over 20 travel partners or redeem for travel, gift cards, and shopping.
- Capital One Venture Rewards: Use miles to erase travel purchases or transfer to multiple travel partners.
More Benefits:
- Flexible redemption options allow you to choose how to use your rewards.
- Some best travel credit cards offer extra value when you redeem for travel through their portal.
Best for Rental Car Insurance & Roadside Assistance
Renting a car while traveling can be expensive if you add extra insurance. Many best travel credit cards offer free rental car insurance, which can save you money. Some also offer roadside assistance if you run into trouble on the road.
Amex Gold Card
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- 24/7 roadside assistance when traveling
- Earn 3x points on car rentals
Why Rental Car Insurance is Helpful:
- It saves you from paying extra at the rental counter.
- You’re covered in case the car is damaged or stolen during your trip.
Other Examples:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Rental car collision damage waiver and roadside assistance.
- Capital One Venture X: Offers primary rental car insurance and travel assistance.
More Benefits:
- Saves you money on car rental insurance fees.
- Roadside assistance covers things like towing, flat tires, and battery jumps.
How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card for Your Needs
Choosing the best travel credit cards depends on your travel habits. Think about how often you travel, where you go, and what type of rewards are most valuable to you. Here are some tips to help you choose the right card:
- Travel Frequency: If you travel frequently, a card with airline miles and hotel points might be more valuable. If you travel occasionally, cashback on travel purchases may be better.
- Spending Habits: Look at what you spend the most on. If you spend heavily on dining and flights, choose a card that rewards those categories.
- Annual Fees: Some premium cards come with high annual fees, but the benefits can outweigh the cost if you maximize rewards like lounge access, travel credits, and insurance protections.
Key Points to Consider:
- Do you prefer earning points, miles, or cashback?
- How important are perks like lounge access and upgrades to you?
- Do you want flexibility in redeeming your points?
How to Maximize Rewards & Benefits on Travel Credit Cards
Once you’ve chosen the best travel credit cards for your needs, it’s important to use them wisely to maximize rewards and benefits. Here’s how you can get the most out of your cards:
- Use Your Card for Travel Purchases: Always use your travel card when booking flights, hotels, and rental cars to earn the most points or miles.
- Pay Attention to Bonus Categories: Some cards offer extra rewards on certain spending categories like dining, groceries, or travel. Use your card where it earns the most.
- Redeem Points for Travel: Many travel cards offer more value when you redeem points or miles for travel rather than for cash or gift cards.
More Tips:
- Set up automatic payments to avoid late fees and interest charges.
- Take advantage of sign-up bonuses by meeting the spending requirement in the first few months.
- Monitor promotional offers, as some cards offer additional bonuses during certain times of the year.
Conclusion
The best travel credit cards for 2025 offer a wide variety of rewards and benefits that can enhance your travel experiences. Whether you want to earn miles, enjoy free lounge access, or avoid foreign transaction fees, there’s a card that fits your needs.
Remember, choosing the right travel card depends on how you travel and what rewards matter most to you. Once you’ve picked the card that suits you, maximize its value by using it for your everyday purchases and redeeming your rewards for the highest value possible.
FAQ
Can I have more than one travel credit card?
Yes, many people have multiple cards to maximize different types of rewards. For example, you might have one card for earning miles and another for cashback on travel purchases.
Do travel credit cards have annual fees?
Many travel credit cards do have annual fees, but the rewards and benefits can easily outweigh the cost if you travel frequently.
What’s the difference between miles, points, and cashback?
Miles: Typically used for airline travel.
Points: Can often be transferred to travel partners or used for other purchases.
Cashback: Money returned to you for your purchases, usually as a statement credit or cash deposit.
Are there travel cards without foreign transaction fees?
Yes, many travel cards, like the Capital One Venture Rewards and Chase Sapphire Preferred, do not charge foreign transaction fees.
Can I earn rewards on non-travel purchases?
Yes, many travel cards also offer rewards on everyday purchases like groceries, dining, and gas.