While some people might be home avoiding the COVID-19 crisis with TV binges and copious amounts of ice cream, it’s important to remember that someday travel will again become safe. It's not clear when, and it will certainly look different than pre-COVID travel, but it will return eventually.
If you have the travel bug and are itching to get back out there when it’s safe to do so, here are some of the best travel rewards credit cards you can be using now, to reap the benefits later. Building up a balance of miles or points with any of these top cards will have you back on the road as soon as it’s safe, and at a fraction of the price — that’s what travel rewards are all about.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-rate travel rewards
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for Flat-rate travel rewards + no annual fee
Discover it® Miles: Best for Flat-Rate Travel Rewards with Miles Match
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks
United℠ Explorer Card: Best for Airline credit card
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Best for 0% intro APR and no annual fee
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for Cash back bonuses and no annual fee
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excellent for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus | $95 | N/A | 21.49%-28.49% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
Excellent for Flat-rate travel rewards | $95 | N/A | 19.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply Now on Bank of America's website, on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740 | Excellent for Flat-rate travel rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 18.24%-28.24% Variable APR | Apply Now on Bank of America's website, on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 211-3740 |
Excellent for Flat-Rate Travel Rewards with Miles Match | $0 | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers | 17.24%-28.24% Variable APR | Apply Now on Discover's website, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | |
Excellent for Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks | $550 | N/A | 22.49%-29.49% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
Excellent for Airline credit card | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | N/A | 21.99%-28.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
Hilton Honors American Express Card Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Excellent for | $0 | N/A | 20.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website | Excellent for 0% intro APR and no annual fee | $0 | 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening | 18.49%-26.49% Variable APR | Apply Now on American Express' website on American Express' website |
Excellent for Cash back bonuses and no annual fee | $0 | 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months | 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website |
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Points on dining.
Points on select streaming services.
Points on online groceries.
Points on all other travel purchases.
Point on all other purchases.
$95
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
$95
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
Miles on every purchase, every day.
$95
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
$95
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Points per $1 spent on all purchases.
$0
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
$0
UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.
$0
UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
$0
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Points on flights.
Points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Points on other travel.
Points on dining.
Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
$550
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$550
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases.
Mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24. Terms Apply.
Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants.
Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets.
Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. gas stations.
Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
$0
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24. Terms Apply.
$0
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
Cash Back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year.
Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
$0
Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.
$0
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores each account anniversary year.
Cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year.
Cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations each account anniversary year.
Cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at restaurants each account anniversary year.
Cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
$0
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
$0