Best Travel Credit Cards

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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.
How We Chose the Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Travel rewards cards for travel statement credits Travel rewards cards for flexible point transfers Premium travel rewards cards No-fee travel rewards cards Small business travel rewards cards Travel rewards cards for restaurant spending
Best Travel Rewards Cards for Travel Statement Credits
If You Want a Travel Rewards Card for Travel Statement Credits: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
10x on hotel and rental cars and 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus double miles for all purchases Miles can be transferred to airline and hotel partners $300 annual travel credit and $100 credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application.
$395 annual fee Not many Capital One airport lounges yet 10x and 5x bonuses can only be earned when booking travel through Capital One
Best Travel Rewards Cards for Flexible Point Transfers
If You Want a Travel Rewards Card for Flexible Point Transfers: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 point new account bonus Double points for travel and dining Excellent airline and hotel partners
The Chase travel portal could be more user friendly No bonus on in-store grocery purchases $95 annual fee
Best Premium Travel Rewards Cards
If You Want a Premium Travel Rewards Card: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great airport lounge access Numerous statement credits Valuable point transfer options
High annual fee Few bonus rewards opportunities Most benefits are for frequent travelers
Best No-Fee Travel Rewards Cards
If You Want a No-Fee Travel Rewards Card: Bilt Mastercard®
Pay rent with a credit card with no fees Points transfer to airline and hotel partners No annual fee
Must make five transactions per month No new-account bonus Not as attractive to homeowners
Best Small Business Travel Rewards Cards
If You Want a Small Business Travel Rewards: Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Earn double miles on all purchases Miles can be transferred to airline partners $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Relatively small new account bonus Points transfer at less than 1:1 ratio $95 annual fee
Best Travel Rewards Cards for Restaurant Spending
If You Want a Travel Rewards Card for Restaurant Spending: American Express® Gold Card
Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets Earn 4x points on dining worldwide Valuable restaurant rewards
This card no longer offers a $100 annual travel fee credit Limits on bonus at supermarkets $250 annual fee
The Takeaway
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About the Author
Jason Steele has been writing about credit cards and award travel since 2008. One of the nation's leading experts in this field, he has contributed to dozens of personal finance and travel outlets and has been widely quoted in the mainstream media.
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