5 Excellent Travel Credit Cards of 2023
Nerdy Tip: If you want to take advantage of a sign-up bonus, NerdWallet suggests getting a travel card at least 5 months before you plan to travel. That gives you enough time to get the card, earn and receive the bonus, and book travel early enough to get a good fare. Explore our picks below and start earning towards your next vacation.
Travel credit cards can be one of the best ways to lower the cost of travel, whether you're taking a trip to visit family in another state or boarding a plane for a luxurious vacation overseas. Regardless if you collect airline miles, hotel points, or flexible issuer-specific currency, they all perform the same function of making your future trip more affordable. Check out the travel cards on this page offering flexible rewards.
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NerdWallet's Excellent Travel Credit Cards of 2023
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-rate travel rewards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for Capital One Miles
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Cash-Back Pairing With Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for Big Rewards For An Unbeatable Price
Excellent Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus | $95 | 1x-5x | 75,000 | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
| Excellent for Flat-rate travel rewards | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Capital One Miles | $395 | 2x-10x | 75,000 | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Cash-Back Pairing With Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $0 | 1.5%-5% | Up to $300 | Apply Now on Chase's website on Chase's website | |
| Excellent for Big Rewards For An Unbeatable Price | $0 | 1x-3x | 20,000 | Apply Now on Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
Points on dining.
Points on select streaming services.
Points on online groceries.
Points on all other travel purchases.
Point on all other purchases.
1x-5x
$95
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
1x-5x
$95
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Primary rental car coverage
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Transfer partners
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Complicated rewards
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.
2x-5x
$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.
2x-5x
$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
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X 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 won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
- High rewards rate
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
Miles on all other purchases.
2x-10x
$395
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
2x-10x
$395
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- View Rates & Fees
- High rewards rate
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Lounge membership
- Anniversary perk
- Flexible rewards redemption
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
Cash back on drugstore purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.
Cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
Cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
1.5%-5%
$0
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
1.5%-5%
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
- Requires good/excellent credit
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Unlimited Points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.
Unlimited Points on other purchases.
1x-3x
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
1x-3x
$0
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- View Rates & Fees
- No annual fee
- Bonus categories
- No reward caps
- Cell phone insurance
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No free checked bags
- No free anniversary night
- No luxury perks
- Requires good/excellent credit
