Best Travel Credit Cards for Honeymoons [2024]: Save on Flights and Hotel Stays

CREDIT CARDS - TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS
A travel credit card could help you earn valuable rewards and benefits that help you make the most out of your honeymoon.
Updated May 1, 2024
Fact checked
A couple on a honeymoon trip

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We recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as one of the best travel credit cards for honeymooners. You can redeem the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn with the Sapphire Preferred toward your honeymoon travel plans, whether that means booking premium flights or staying at a fancy hotel.

We also recommend the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card(Rates and fees) as a useful credit card that earns travel rewards with a $0 annual fee.

Let’s explore the best travel credit cards for honeymoons so you can find the right credit card to help you plan your special trip.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • We recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred as an excellent credit card for honeymoon travel because Chase Ultimate Rewards points can help cover certain expenses, such as flights and hotel stays.
  • The best credit cards for honeymoon travel that provide airport lounge access include the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

  • Most of our top credit cards for honeymoon travel have no foreign transaction fees, making them great options for international travel.

7 of the best credit cards for honeymoon travel

  1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  2. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
  3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  4. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  5. The Platinum Card® from American Express
  6. Citi Premier® Card
  7. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Compare the best credit cards for honeymoon travel

Card name Rewards rate Welcome offer Annual fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

4.9

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 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening $95
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

4.7

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $200 cash redemption value) $0
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.9

Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening $395
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

5.0

Earn 14X points on eligible purchases within the Hilton portfolio, 7X points on qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines/select car rental companies or Amextravel.com, 7X points at U.S. restaurants, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months $550 (Terms apply)
The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

5.0

Earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months $695 (Terms apply)
Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card

4.9

Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024 $95
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

4.5

Earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening $69

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by FinanceBuzz.


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel
  • Points on this card are worth 25% more toward Chase Travel℠ travel redemptions
  • Offers up to $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays purchased through the Chase Travel℠ program
  • Doesn’t have foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $95 annual fee
  • Doesn’t offer premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access or elite statuses

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: 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.

Why we like the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Sapphire Preferred has a relatively low $95 annual fee. You can help offset this annual fee with benefits such as earning up to a $50 annual statement credit each year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠.

For a special honeymoon trip, you can take advantage of the annual credit, as well as a 25% bonus when redeeming your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. Considering you can book flights, hotel stays, and rental cars through Chase, your points can help you reduce some honeymoon expenses.

You can also transfer your points to over a dozen Chase travel partners if you have a specific redemption in mind. This includes Air Canada, Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, and more.

What we don’t like about the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Even though the $95 annual fee is relatively low, it’s still a cost you have to worry about each year. Additionally, the Sapphire Preferred doesn’t provide any premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access or elite status with hotels or airlines.

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review for more details

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Pros
  • Has a $0 annual fee
  • Has a welcome offer and elevated rewards rates on everyday categories
  • Offers cell phone protection
  • Doesn’t have foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Doesn’t offer premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access or elite statuses

Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $200 cash redemption value).

Rewards rate: Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases.

Why we like the Wells Fargo Autograph

The Wells Fargo Autograph has a $0 annual fee and provides opportunities to earn more travel rewards on honeymoon spending because of its common bonus categories.

You can also take advantage of benefits such as cell phone protection while at home or traveling. The Wells Fargo Autograph also offers auto rental collision damage waiver, a type of travel insurance that helps cover the cost of theft or damage to a rental vehicle.

If you’re worried about covering large wedding planning and honeymoon expenses, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph’s intro APR offer on purchases:

  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable)

What we don’t like about the Wells Fargo Autograph

The Wells Fargo Autograph doesn’t have any premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access or elite statuses.

Apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | Read our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review for more details

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer and a simple rewards rate
  • Offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Provides airport lounge access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges
  • Rewards 10,000 anniversary miles
  • Doesn’t have foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $395 annual fee
  • Travel credit only works through the Capital One Travel portal

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

Why we like the Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X is a premium travel credit card that can help you plan your honeymoon in style. For your newlywed trip, take advantage of benefits such as airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

The annual travel credit can be used for flights, hotel stays, and car rental bookings made through Capital One Travel. The airport lounge benefit provides access to you and up to two guests, depending on availability, to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges.

What we don’t like about the Capital One Venture X

The Venture X can provide more than enough value to offset the $395 annual fee, but it’s still a high cost. Earning a $300 annual travel credit is limited to bookings you make through Capital One Travel, which restricts how you can use this benefit.

Read our Capital One Venture X review for more details

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer
  • Offers an annual Free Night Reward
  • Offers up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually at participating Hilton Resorts
  • Offers up to $200 back per year ($50 in statement credits each quarter) on eligible flight purchases
  • Provides complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
Cons
  • Has a $550 annual fee (Terms apply)

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 14X points on eligible purchases within the Hilton portfolio, 7X points on qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines/select car rental companies or Amextravel.com, 7X points at U.S. restaurants, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card can help you plan a luxury honeymoon with its many perks and benefits. These include:

  • An annual Free Night Reward that can be redeemed at most Hilton properties worldwide, subject to availability
  • Up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually that can be used at participating Hilton Resorts worldwide
  • Up to $200 back per year ($50 in statement credits each quarter) on eligible flight purchases on a qualifying airline
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status that can provide space-available room upgrades, daily food and beverage credit, and more

It’s hard to beat the value you could receive with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which is why we consider it one of the best hotel credit cards.

What we don’t like about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

You have to pay a $550 annual fee. It’s a high cost, but the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provides many benefits that could provide more than enough value to offset the fee.

Read our Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review for more details

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer
  • A variety of perks and benefits (select benefits require enrollment)
  • Provides airport lounge access through Priority Pass, Escape Lounges, The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, and more (enrollment required)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
Cons
  • Has a $695 annual fee (Terms apply)
  • Isn’t great for earning rewards on everyday spending

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like the Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum has loads of benefits that could be useful for travel and daily life. For your honeymoon, consider these specific perks:

  • Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year to help cover incidental airline fees
  • Up to $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Amex Travel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay)
  • Up to $240 ($20 back per month) annual digital entertainment credit to keep you entertained while traveling
  • Up to $200 ($15 monthly plus $20 in December) annual Uber Cash to use on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders (Terms Apply)
  • Up to $189 annual CLEAR Plus credit. Plus, up to $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years, or up to $100 credit for Global Entry every four years. These memberships can potentially reduce airport wait times
  • Up to $100 ($50 semi-annually) annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit to help buy clothing or accessories to use on your trip
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status to potentially improve the quality of your hotel experiences
  • Airport lounge access to The Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass, Escape Lounges, and more so you can relax at the airport.

Remember that select benefits require enrollment. It’s worth ensuring you’re enrolled in a benefit before you use it.

What we don’t like about the Amex Platinum

The $695 annual fee is one of the highest for travel cards, but the Amex Platinum’s many perks and benefits can help you offset this annual cost.

Learn how to apply for the The Platinum Card® from American Express | Read our Amex Platinum review for more details

Citi Premier® Card

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer and elevated earning potential on common bonus categories
  • Offers an annual $100 hotel savings benefit off a single hotel stay valued at $500 or more and booked via thankyou.com
  • Doesn’t have foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $95 annual fee
  • Doesn’t offer premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access or elite statuses

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Rewards rate: Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Why we like the Citi Premier

The Citi Premier provides excellent earning potential on common spending categories, including areas where you might have some honeymoon expenses. You can also take advantage of the card’s annual $100 hotel savings benefit off a single hotel stay that costs $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, through thankyou.com.

What we don’t like about the Citi Premier

You have to pay a $95 annual fee, which isn’t high, but it’s still something to worry about. The Citi Premier also doesn’t provide any premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access or elite statuses.

Apply for the Citi Premier® Card(Rates and fees) | Read our Citi Premier Card review for more details

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Pros
  • Has a welcome offer
  • Can help you earn the Southwest Companion Pass
  • Rewards 3,000 anniversary points
  • Rewards 10,000 annual Companion Pass qualifying points boost
Cons
  • Has a $69 annual fee
  • Has a 3% foreign transaction fee

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases.

Why we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

On its own, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is a decent travel card for frequent Southwest customers. The $69 annual fee isn’t steep, and you also receive 3,000 anniversary points each year.

But the real value for many people comes from the fact that this card can help you earn a Southwest Companion Pass. The Southwest Companion Pass lets you choose someone to fly with you on Southwest flights, and they only have to pay certain taxes and fees. This could be a huge money saver if you’re planning your honeymoon trip.

What we don’t like about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

You have to pay a $69 annual fee, though the card’s benefits can help offset this cost. You also have to pay 3% foreign transaction fees on applicable purchases, making the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus a poor choice for international trips, including destination weddings in other countries.

Read our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus review for more details

How to choose the best travel credit card for honeymoon travel

Consider these five factors to help you choose the best travel credit card for honeymoons:

  1. Welcome offer: Earning a generous welcome offer or sign-up bonus could help you cover large honeymoon expenses, such as flights and hotel stays. You might choose one travel card over another depending on how many rewards you could earn through a new card welcome offer.
  2. Rewards rate: A card that earns more rewards on travel or dining purchases may make more sense for a honeymoon. It’s also worth considering applying for a card that has bonus categories that align with your everyday and upcoming spending, so you could turn wedding expenses into credit card points.
  3. Travel benefits: Airport lounge access, elite statuses with a loyalty program, and other types of travel benefits could help elevate your travel experience.
  4. Annual fee: An annual fee might not make sense if you’re already worried about other wedding-related expenses. But if you think you’ll get enough value from a card’s rewards and benefits to offset its annual fee, it could be worth applying.
  5. Foreign transaction fees: If you’re planning a honeymoon to another country, you likely want a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on purchases.

FAQ

What is the best way to pay for a honeymoon?

These methods can help you pay for a honeymoon trip:

  • Set up a honeymoon fund with your wedding registry.
  • Use travel credit cards to earn points and miles for flights and hotel stays.
  • Save money and apply your savings toward travel expenses.
  • Use a credit card with a 0% intro APR offer on purchases to help you pay your honeymoon expenses over time without accruing heavy interest charges.

Is it better to use foreign currency or a credit card while abroad?

Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees could help you earn valuable rewards on eligible purchases you make while traveling abroad. This is also typically safer than carrying around large amounts of foreign currency.

When you use a credit card abroad, you might be asked to choose whether to pay for your foreign purchase with the local currency or the home currency. In most cases, you want to choose the local currency to avoid currency conversion fees.

Should I take cash in local currency before going abroad?

It helps to have some local cash on hand for emergencies or situations where certain merchants might not accept credit cards. But you can also typically get local currency from an ATM after arriving in a new country. Just remember to use a debit card from a bank with no international ATM fees. Also, keep in mind that credit cards might not be ideal for ATM withdrawals since many credit cards come with cash advance fees.

What is the most accepted credit card for international travel?

Visa credit cards and Mastercard credit cards are accepted just about anywhere credit cards are used, which includes over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Some of the best credit cards for international travel include options from a few different card issuers:

Best credit cards for honeymoon travel: bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is our overall recommendation as one of the best credit cards for honeymoon travel because it’s easy to use, has a relatively low $95 annual fee, and provides opportunities to earn and redeem valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You could easily use these points to help book flights or hotel stays for your post-wedding trip.

If you want premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access, we recommend looking into cards like the Capital One Venture X and the Amex Platinum.

For credit card offers to help cover purchases on your big day, check out the best credit cards for wedding expenses.

Methodology

To determine the best credit cards for honeymoon travel, we evaluated various credit cards based on several factors that are important for honeymooners. These factors included rewards rates, annual fees, welcome offers, and travel-specific perks such as airline lounge access, elite statuses, and more.

We kept in mind that every honeymoon traveler is unique, with their own preferences and requirements. Therefore, we identified the top credit cards that offer significant value to various honeymoon travelers. We researched each card to better identify its main features, benefits, and drawbacks.

It's worth noting that our list doesn’t follow any certain order and is not meant to be a complete list of all available options. Instead, our recommendations aim to provide a useful starting point for couples looking to research credit cards that meet their honeymoon preferences and needs.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • Earn 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
  • Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
  • Longer intro APR on qualifying purchases and balance transfers
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Apply Now
  • 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 as long as your account remains open.
  • 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% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America 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.
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card
4.1
Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

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Intro Offer

Earn 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

Annual Fee

$0

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