Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2023

The best travel credit cards offer more than just great cash-back, points or miles incentives — they also come with a range of perks and upgrades that can take your next trip from basic to bougie without spending extra money.

To help you choose the best travel rewards card for your needs, CNBC Select analyzed over 35 popular travel cards using an average American’s annual spending budget and dug into each card’s perks and drawbacks to find the best of the best based on your consumer habits. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards.)

Some travel card features are nearly standard across the board: no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance and various travel credits. More premium cards take things up a notch by offering lounge access and credits for expedited airport security.

Where it gets interesting and confusing, is when you start to look beyond those features. Before you sign up for a new card, consider how you’ll use it and how you can best optimize the points so you’re getting the most out of the rewards program, especially if you’re paying a steep annual fee. It’s also important to make sure you can pay off your balance on time and in full each month because many of these cards also have high interest rates.

The good news: If you choose a card from this list, you could earn over $2,000 in rewards over the next five years based on our calculations

Who’s this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a smart choice for consumers who love travel and dining out due to its generous rewards rates. While the card comes with a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), it offers a number of luxury rewards that help offset the cost.

Standout benefits: One big perk for travelers to take advantage of is the statement credits. Cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credit to cover restaurant charges ($10 per month at Seamless, Grubhub and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and $100 in hotel credits when they book rooms through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel. There are also special travel perks, such as room upgrades at specific hotels and special travel discounts and amenities for those who enroll with The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group at no extra cost.

How to redeem rewards: American Express Membership Rewards® points value varies depending on how cardholders redeem them. You can use them in a variety of ways, from redeeming for gift cards and statement credits to booking travel through the Amex Travel Portal. To get a potentially bigger bang for your buck, transfer your Membership Rewards points to a variety of airline or hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Choice Privileges and more.

Who’s this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers no shortage of travel benefits. It’s especially valuable for those who want a straightforward way of earning rewards without having to juggle many bonus categories.

Standout benefits: Travelers going overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also get a credit of up to $100 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership and two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network. As an added plus, you can use your Venture Rewards card to get access to exclusive sporting and music events, plus premiere culinary experiences, including the New York City Wine and Food Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

How to redeem rewards: Miles can be redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars and other parts of your trip through Capital One Travel, or you can use them to offset recent travel purchases at a fixed value of 1 cent per point. Alternatively, you can transfer them to any of Capital One’s hotel and airline partners including Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest and others to get even more value from your rewards.

Who’s this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want a premium credit card at a lower price point than other high-end cards with similar benefits.

Standout benefits: This card is loaded with benefits, including an up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance, special perks on hotel stays book through the Premier Collection and access to Capital One Lounges as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. Every year, cardholders receive up to $300 back in statement credits each year for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel).

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

How to redeem rewards: As with the Venture Rewards Card, there are many ways to redeem your rewards, including transferring them to various airline and hotel partners.

Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a loyal following among travelers looking for a travel-centric rewards program and a robust suite of perks. What makes this card shine the most is its generous welcome bonus offer.

Standout benefits: This card comes with a number of helpful benefits, such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Sapphire Preferred card members can also benefit from a 10% points boost on each card anniversary and complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

How to redeem rewards: Chase has 14 airline and hotel partners cardholders can transfer their points to, such as United Airlines MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Otherwise, your points are worth 1.25 cents each through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal or 1 cent per point when redeemed for gift cards or cash back.

Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is enormously popular among frequent travelers for its luxe perks, including comprehensive travel protections, and a strong rewards program. While this card comes with a substantial annual fee of $550, the many statement credits help to offset the costs.

Standout benefits: To start, this card provides an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover everything from airfare and hotels to parking and tolls. Cardholders can also get a statement credit of up to $100 (every four years) to help cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees as well as enroll in Priority Pass Select, which gives them access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide with free amenities, such as Wi-Fi, snacks and beverages.

Other benefits include discounts and memberships with Instacart+, DoorDash, and GoPuff; elite-like benefits when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection; trip interruption/cancellation coverage; primary rental car coverage; lost luggage reimbursement; and trip delay reimbursement. Cardmembers traveling internationally also don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees.

How to redeem rewards: If you redeem points for cash and gift cards, each point is worth 1 cent. However, the value of points increases to 1.5 cents apiece when you redeem for travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This is a great way to maximize the value of your rewards and makes this card stand out from the pack. Of course, transferring your points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners is also an option.

Who’s this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for road warriors who want to make their travels more comfortable. It grants access to more airport lounges than any other card on the market and is loaded with lots of other travel and lifestyle benefits that help justify its high annual fee; (see rates an fees).

Standout benefits: Cardholders can enjoy a long list of benefits, including:

• Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
• Up to $200 annual hotel credit
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
• Up to $300 annual Equinox credit
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
• Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR®
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit
• Up to $200 annual Uber credit
• Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, providing benefits such as room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit (based on availability)
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Cell phone protection
• Terms apply.

How to redeem rewards: Membership Rewards points are best used when transferred to one of Amex’s various airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem them for statement credits, gift cards and when checking out at retailers like Amazon, though you’ll usually get a lower value for your points.

Who’s this for? The Discover it Miles card comes with a generous rewards program — all for zero annual fee — that makes it a standout among travel cards.

Standout benefits: Discover offers a welcome bonus that’s hard to beat: It will do a mile-for-mile match of all miles earned the first year (for new card members in their first year only). If you rack up 35,000 miles within the first 12 months, Discover will match you with 35,000 miles. That’s a total of 70,000 miles or $700 toward travel. (Based on our calculations, the average card user will earn around 32,777 miles in the first year.) Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

How to redeem rewards: With this card, there are no blackout dates when you pay for travel purchases using your card. And, you can easily redeem miles as a statement credit for travel, restaurant or gas station purchases, as well as a deposit to your bank account. The best part is, miles earned never expire even if your account is closed. (Discover credits your account with your rewards balance if your account is closed.)

Who’s this for? If you rent your home and don’t have the Bilt Mastercard®, you’re leaving points on the table. The Bilt Mastercard is the only card that lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments with no fees.

Standout benefits: Bilt makes it easy for even beginners to get maximum value from their points through a unique partnership with the award search engine point.me. With the BiltProtect feature, it also protects cardholders from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent every month. Other benefits include cell phone insurance; Purchase Assurance Plus, which covers your purchases for 90 days; exclusive discounts with brands like Lyft, DoorDash and ShopRunner; and access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which offers amenities like upgrades, free breakfast and property credits.

How to redeem rewards: Bilt Rewards points can be redeemed for travel either by transferring them to airline and hotel partners or by booking through the Bilt Travel Portal at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. Other redemption options include using them to shop online, book fitness classes, pay rent and even make a down payment on a home.

Who’s this for? If you’re looking for a card that also offers an introductory APR, you should consider the Choice Rewards World Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union. It made our list of the top travel cards for its unique rewards program and relatively low variable APR of 12.75% – 18.00%.

Standout benefits: In addition to offering 0% APR during the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers, the 12.75% – 18.00% variable APR rate is significantly lower than many other competitor cards (though we recommend that you pay off your card in full and on time each month). There are also no foreign transaction fees, which is a huge plus when traveling abroad.

Membership to First Tech Federal Credit Union is required, but anyone can join through affiliation with select organizations or employers, a relationship with a current member, working or living in Lane County, Oregon, attending Cogswell Poly Technical College or by joining the Community History Museum (CHM) or Financial Fitness Association (FFA). First Tech pays the membership fee for the CHM and FFA on your behalf.

How to redeem rewards: Rewards can be redeemed at a fixed rate toward cash-back, travel, merchandise, gift cards and experiences.

Who’s this for? The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a great choice for students who plan on studying abroad or traveling during breaks. The rewards program is geared toward travel, and cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases.

If you travel often and pay for purchases with cash or debit, you’re missing out on rewards and perks that can make travel more affordable. It can be in your best interest to get a credit card that awards high rewards rates on airfare, hotels, rideshares and other common travel expenses.

If you’re interested in submitting a travel credit card application, keep in mind that card issuers usually require you to have good credit or excellent credit (scores above 670). Therefore, it’s key to check your credit score before applying for a travel card.

There is a variety of travel credit cards available, from general to airline- and hotel-specific, and all the choices can make it hard to settle on one. In order to choose the best card for your needs, you should consider several factors. Here are some tips on how to choose a credit card.

Rewards should also play a part in your decision. Do some research to determine which card offers a rewards program more geared toward your spending habits. If you dine out a lot when you travel, consider the American Express Gold Card with 4X points on dining at restaurants. But if you want a competitive rewards rate on all sorts of purchases, the Discover it Miles has no annual fee and unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar of every purchase.

You can compare card benefits side by side to see if one card rates better than another. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers complimentary lounge access, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers cardholders a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

For instance, if you want both travel and dining rewards, the Amex Gold Card is a better choice than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card since the rewards rate is 4X versus 2X.

But if you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, the Venture Card is only $95 compared to the $250 you’ll pay for a Gold Card. (See rates and fees.)

In order to make the most of your travel card, you should familiarize yourself with the various credit card benefits and fees. Take note of any annual fees, foreign transaction fees and the APR associated with your account. Also consider the rewards rates and added perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you’re familiar with the terms of your card, you can start optimizing them. That may include setting reminders to use the annual $300 travel credit provided by the Chase Sapphire Reserve or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to take advantage of the up to $100 credit.

If you have multiple credit cards, you might want to have a plan for the best time to use each card. Let’s say you have the Discover it Miles and American Express Gold Card. Use the Amex Gold Card for dining expenses at restaurants to earn 4X points, then use the Discover card for all your other purchases to earn unlimited 1.5X miles.

Travel credit cards aren’t for everyone. If you travel infrequently, you should consider alternative credit card options, such as cards with dining, grocery or gas rewards. There are cards that can provide up to 6% back in those categories, allowing foodies, meal-preppers and commuters to benefit.

To determine which cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated over 35 popular travel credit cards offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

CNBC Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri. The company’s data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here.

Esri’s data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

We then estimated how much the average consumer would redeem over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee and assume that you are paying your credit card balance on time and in full each month so as not to incur interest charges.

It’s important to note the value of a point or mile varies from card to card and based on how you redeem them. When we calculated the estimated returns, we assumed that cardholders are redeeming points/miles for a typical maximum value of 1 cent per point or mile. (Extreme optimizers might be able to achieve more value.)

Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns, since it’s generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses.

While the five-year estimates we’ve included are derived from a budget similar to the average American’s spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your travel habits.

The editor’s choice card is independently chosen by CNBC Select’s editorial team. While it may not have ranked as the number-one card in any given category, it consistently ranks highly across multiple categories and we believe offers some of the best value overall for a stand-alone card. Its rewards, welcome bonus, APR, fees, ease-of-use and ongoing benefits were all taken into consideration.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students, Citi Simplicity® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.