Best Travel Credit Cards in the US: From $0 to $795 a Year

The best credit card for travel for most people is a $95 card with transfer partners: the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Capital One Venture Rewards. Frequent flyers who want airport lounges should look at the Capital One Venture X ($395), and anyone avoiding annual fees can take the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card abroad. None of these cards charges a foreign transaction fee. Fees are as of September 2026; confirm them on the issuer's site before you apply.

What is the best credit card for travel?

The best travel card is the one whose rewards match how you book and how much you spend. For most people that is a $95 card that earns flexible points you can move to airline and hotel programs, with no foreign transaction fee.

Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you spend a lot on dining, gas and groceries ordered online. Pick the Capital One Venture if you want 2x miles on everything with no categories. Pick the Citi Strata Premier for 3x across air, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and gas. Pay more only if you will use lounges and credits, and pay nothing if you travel rarely.

Travel credit cards compared

All seven cards charge no foreign transaction fee. Fees, rates and credits are as of September 2026.

Do you need a travel card with transfer partners?

You need transfer partners only if you are willing to learn award charts in exchange for more value per point. The Sapphire Preferred, Venture, Strata Premier and Autograph Journey all let you move points to airline and hotel loyalty programs, where one point can sometimes buy more travel than it would as cash back.

If you would rather not, a card with fixed-value points is simpler. The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no transfer partners; you redeem its points against travel purchases. Our guides on how much a point is worth and cash back vs points vs miles show when transfers pay off.

Is a $95 travel card worth it over a no-fee card?

Usually yes if you travel at least once a year and would use the card's built-in credit. Several $95 cards return part or all of the fee through a single benefit:

• The Sapphire Preferred gives up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel.
• The Strata Premier takes $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more a year when booked through Citi Travel.
• The Autograph Journey pays a $50 annual statement credit after a $50 minimum airline purchase.

If you already book those trips, the fee is mostly or fully covered, and you keep the higher earn rates and lack of foreign fees. If you travel once every few years, the Bank of America Travel Rewards or a no annual fee card is the cheaper choice.

What changed for US travel cards in 2025 and 2026?

Several major cards were rebuilt over the past year:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: the fee rose from $550 to $795 on June 23, 2025, with new earn rates and a larger set of credits. Existing members pay the new fee at renewal.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: a June 2026 refresh kept the $95 fee and added 3x on gas and EV charging and on vacation homes at top brands, a hotel credit and a Global Entry credit.
• Capital One Venture X: the $395 fee is unchanged, but from February 1, 2026 free lounge guests and authorized-user lounge access require $75,000 or more in yearly spending.
• The Platinum Card from American Express: the fee rose from $695 to $895 in the September 2025 refresh. Compare it with other lounge cards in our guide to credit cards with lounge access.

The best travel cards, card by card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Sapphire Preferred suits people who want transferable points and strong everyday categories for $95. After the June 2026 refresh it earns 3x on dining, gas and EV charging, top streaming services and online grocery, and it adds a hotel credit and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years. It includes no lounge access, and approval depends on Chase's application rules, explained in our guide to the Chase 5/24 rule.

Capital One Venture Rewards

The Venture is the simplest travel card: 2x miles on every purchase, with 5x on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It has transfer partners and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $120. It does not include lounge access, and its perks are lighter than the Sapphire Preferred's.

Citi Strata Premier Card

The Strata Premier earns 3x in more everyday categories than any other $95 card here, including supermarkets and gas. It charges no foreign transaction fee and its ThankYou points transfer to travel partners. Its premium partner list is shorter than Chase's, and it has no lounge access.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

The Autograph Journey pays best if you book hotels and flights directly with the provider: 5x on hotels and 4x on airlines. The $50 airline credit takes a bite out of the fee. Its transfer partner list is relatively new, and there is no lounge access.

Capital One Venture X Rewards

For $395 you get a $300 credit for Capital One Travel bookings, 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary, Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges. If you use the credit, the net cost is similar to a $95 card. The 2026 change to guest access makes it weaker for families.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Reserve is for frequent travelers who will use Chase Sapphire Lounges, Priority Pass and a large share of its credits, including up to $300 a year for travel. At $795 it is hard to justify for most people. Authorized users now cost $195 each.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

The best no-fee option: 1.5 points per $1 everywhere and no foreign transaction fee. Bank of America customers with larger balances can earn more through its relationship rewards program. There are no transfer partners or travel credits.

How we picked

We compared the US travel cards in our catalogue on:

• Earn rate on travel and on everyday spending, including portal-only rates.
• Net annual cost after credits a typical traveler would use.
• Transfer partners and redemption flexibility.
• Foreign transaction fees; every pick here charges none.
• Recent changes to fees and benefits through September 2026.

Data comes from our card database and issuer websites as of September 2026. Always confirm current terms before applying.

Who should skip a travel credit card?

A general travel card is not the best fit for everyone:

• If you fly one airline or stay with one hotel chain, a co-branded card may pay more. See our guides to airline credit cards and hotel credit cards.
• If you rarely travel, plain cash back is worth more than points you never redeem. Start with our best cash back credit cards.
• If you carry a balance, interest will outweigh any points you earn.