Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Earn Rewards On Every Purchase With These Top Cards

If you're looking to turn your everyday spending into flexible rewards points or miles that can be used for discounted flights, hotels, lounge access and more, check out these top-rated travel cards from our partners below.
Last updated Aug. 15, 2025 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

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Limited-Time Offer
Earn 80,000 bonus points
after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.


Today's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards

New Offer
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2025 award winner Best Overall Travel Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

4.9
info

on Chase’s website

Welcome Bonus
75,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1X - 5X info
Points
Annual Fee
$95
Why We Like It
  • Popular travel card with perks like up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠ , bonus points each account anniversary equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year, and valuable travel protections

  • Amazing welcome offer valued at up to $1,125 when redeemed via Chase Travel℠, where points are worth up to 1.5x more

  • Solid rewards rate on travel, dining, select streaming services, and online groceries

on Chase’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

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2025 award winner Best for Simple Travel Rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.7
info

on Capital One’s website

Welcome Bonus
75,000 Miles info
Rewards Rate
2X - 5X info
Miles
Annual Fee
$95
Why We Like It
  • Generous welcome offer worth up to $750 towards travel

  • Excellent reward rate on everyday purchases with no cap

  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

on Capital One’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Excellent for easy travel rewards redemption

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

4.4
info

on Bank of America’s website

Welcome Bonus
25,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1.5X - 3X info
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards with up to 75% Bank of America Preferred Rewards® bonus potential.

  • Lengthy intro APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers, helpful for covering large purchases or paying down high-interest debt.

  • No annual or foreign transaction fee.

on Bank of America’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Limited-Time Offer
Excellent for travel + intro purchase and balance transfer perks

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

4.0
info

on Capital One’s website

Welcome Bonus
20,000 Bonus Miles + $100 Capital One Travel credit info
Rewards Rate
1.25X - 5X info
Miles
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Earn unlimited travel rewards with $0 annual fee

  • Long intro APR period to help fund your next purchase or tackle debt

  • Access to great prices on thousands of flights, hotels, and more through Capital One Travel

on Capital One’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Limited-Time Offer
Excellent for everyday rewards

Citi Strata℠ Card

4.5
info

on Citi’s website

Welcome Bonus
30,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1X - 5X info
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Generous rewards for everyday purchases.

  • $0 annual fee.

  • Intro APR period for balance transfers and purchases.

on Citi’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

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2025 award winner Best for Dining Out

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

4.7
info

on Chase’s website

Welcome Bonus
$200 info
Bonus
Rewards Rate
1.5% - 5% info
Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • Solid flat-rate rewards on most purchases, with elevated rates on select travel, drugstore, and dining purchases

  • Impressive intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, great for covering large purchases or paying down debt

  • Good purchase protections and coverage, all for no annual fee

on Chase’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

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2025 award winner Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

4.4
info

on Wells Fargo’s website

Welcome Bonus
20,000 info
Bonus Points
Rewards Rate
1X - 3X info
Points
Annual Fee
$0
Why We Like It
  • High unlimited reward rate on common spending categories with no cap

  • Flexible reward redemption, including statement credits, gift cards, and transfers to select travel partners

  • No annual or foreign transaction fee

on Wells Fargo’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details

Financebuzz awards badge

2025 award winner Best Premium Travel Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.9
info

on Capital One’s website

Welcome Bonus
75,000 info
Miles
Rewards Rate
2X - 10X info
Miles
Annual Fee
$395
Why We Like It
  • Premium travel benefits like access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide and hard-to-get restaurant reservations in major cities across the country

  • Yearly perks such as a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles every year

  • Access to premium benefits when booking through Capital One Travel, including room upgrades, late checkout, and more when available

on Capital One’s website

Recommended Credit info
Excellent (740 - 850)
Card Details

Limited-Time Offer
Excellent for travel and restaurant rewards

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

4.8
info

on Citi’s website

Welcome Bonus
80,000 info
Points
Rewards Rate
1.5X - 12X info
Points
Annual Fee
$595
Why We Like It
  • Generous rewards for travel and restaurant purchases.

  • Up to $300 annual hotel benefit with a hotel stay of two or more nights booked through cititravel.com.

  • Lower annual fee than comparable luxury travel cards.

on Citi’s website

Recommended Credit info
Good to Excellent (670 - 850)
Card Details


Bottom Line

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card(Rates and fees) is a great choice if you're looking for a card that offers great perks with a low annual fee. Take advantage of a strong welcome offer, up to 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and a range of ongoing benefits including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and primary auto rental collision damage waiver.

  • Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Rewards: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees: No need to worry about foreign transaction fees while you are traveling around the world!
  • Additional benefits: Cardholders can enjoy complimentary auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection.
  • Low annual fee: Take advantage of all these amazing perks for a low annual fee of $95.
Recommended Credit Score info
Good
670-739
Excellent
740-850

» Click here to apply now and start earning travel rewards

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2025 award winner Best Overall Travel Credit Card

Benefits

Card Details

  • Generous welcome offer valued at up to $1,125 when redeemed via Chase Travel℠
  • High rewards on dining and bookings via Chase Travel
  • Up to 1.5x more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel
  • Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
  • Receive valuable travel protections like trip delay reimbursement and primary rental car insurance
  • Apply Now
  • Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • 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
  • Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
  • 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Member FDIC
Chase Sapphire <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>Preferred<sup>®</sup></span> Card
4.9
info
Apply Now

on Chase’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee

$95

+

Why we like it



Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about travel credit cards? We've answered the most common ones below to help you choose the right card.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you make an eligible purchase. The typical earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, typically within travel categories.

The value of a point (or mile) depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal, but instead of paying cash, you can pay with your points or miles. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel directly from your airline or hotel of choice, then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Is a travel card better than a cash back card?

While cash back cards offer a straightforward reward system, travel rewards cards often provide greater flexibility and value. With travel rewards, you can redeem points or miles for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. This can lead to significant savings on your vacations and trips. Additionally, travel rewards cards often come with exclusive perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, and priority boarding. By choosing a travel rewards card, you can turn your everyday spending into unforgettable travel experiences.

How often do I need to travel to make a travel card worth it?

Even if you're not a frequent traveler, a travel rewards card can still be a valuable asset. Many cards offer generous welcome offers that can be redeemed for hundreds of dollars worth of travel. Those rewards don’t generally expire while your account is active, so you can save them for the holidays or a big trip. Additionally, you can earn points or miles on everyday purchases like groceries and gas, which can add up quickly and offset any annual fee.

How do I earn the most travel points?

To maximize your travel rewards, consider these strategies:

  • Utilize welcome offers: Many travel cards offer substantial welcome bonuses when you meet a minimum spending requirement within a certain timeframe.
  • Maximize bonus categories: Look for cards that offer bonus points or miles on spending categories where you make regular purchases, such as dining or groceries.
  • Use your card for everyday purchases: By using your travel rewards card for regular expenses, you can accumulate points or miles over time.
  • Consider a premium card: Premium travel cards often offer higher earning rates and exclusive perks, but they may also have annual fees. Weigh the benefits against the cost to determine if it's worth the investment. It’s not uncommon for frequent travelers to get more value from a premium card than casual travelers.
  • Transfer points strategically: Some travel rewards programs allow you to transfer points to airline or hotel loyalty programs. This can be a great way to redeem your points for specific travel experiences.



How we chose these cards

FinanceBuzz evaluated a selection of cards from our partners, looking at various criteria including the annual fee, travel benefits, and bonus offers. We did not review all cards in the category and compensation was considered when evaluating and ordering the cards.