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6 Excellent Travel Credit Cards of 2023
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 6 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
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for Cash-Back Pairing With Chase Sapphire Preferred®
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for Capital One Miles
- 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
Excellent Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit Card | NerdWallet rating | Annual Fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent for Airline Miles and a Large Bonus | $95 | N/A | 20.49%-27.49% Variable APR | Apply Nowon Chase's website | |
| Excellent for Flat-rate travel rewards | $95 | N/A | 20.74%-28.74% Variable APR | Apply Nowon Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Cash-Back Pairing With Chase Sapphire Preferred® | $0 | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers | 19.49%-28.24% Variable APR | Apply Nowon Chase's website | |
| Excellent for Capital One Miles | $395 | N/A | 21.74%-28.74% Variable APR | Apply Nowon Capital One's website | |
 Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply Nowon 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 18 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 17.49%-27.49% Variable APR | Apply Nowon 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 | 16.49%-27.49% Variable APR |
Excellent for
Airline Miles and a Large Bonus
Apply Nowon Chase's website
Annual Fee$95
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR20.49%-27.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 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.
Apply Nowon Chase's website
Excellent for
Flat-rate travel rewards
Apply Nowon Capital One's website
Annual Fee$95
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR20.74%-28.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- 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
- 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®
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
- 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
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Apply Nowon Capital One's website
Excellent for
Cash-Back Pairing With Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Apply Nowon Chase's website
Annual Fee$0
Intro APR0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR19.49%-28.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- 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 Ultimate Rewards®, 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 Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 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 19.49% - 28.24%.
- 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, real-time alerts, and more.
Apply Nowon Chase's website
Excellent for
Capital One Miles
Apply Nowon Capital One's website
Annual Fee$395
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR21.74%-28.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- 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 up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of 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
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- 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 your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for 2 and complimentary WiFi on every booking, plus other premium benefits like room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout when available
Apply Nowon Capital One's website
Excellent for
Flat-Rate Travel Rewards + No Annual Fee
Apply Nowon Bank of America's website
or call (800) 211-3740Annual Fee$0
Intro APR0% intro APR on Purchases for 18 billing cycles and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR17.49%-27.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
- 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.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Apply Nowon Bank of America's website
or call (800) 211-3740Excellent for
Flat-Rate Travel Rewards With Miles Match
Annual Fee$0
Intro APR0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR16.49%-27.49% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only 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.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
- View Rates & Fees
Apply Nowon Discover's website
or call 800-347-0264
