Best travel credit cards in 2023

Here are the 3 best travel credit cards in 2023

Travel credit cards are a fantastic way to earn rewards and perks while exploring the world. With so many options on the market, it can be challenging to choose the best one. In this article, we’ll discuss the three best travel credit cards and why they’re worth using.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Benefits:

• Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Points earning: Earn 2x points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide.

• Redeeming points: Points can be redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for 25% more value. For example, 100,000 points can be redeemed for $1,250 in travel.

• Travel protection: The card offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance.

• No foreign transaction fees: This is a huge benefit for travelers as many other credit cards charge foreign transaction fees.

• Lounge access: Cardholders can access more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass membership.

• Transfer partners: Points can be transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, providing flexibility in how they are used.

Why Use It this travel credit card?

Generous welcome bonus: The welcome bonus of 100,000 points is one of the most generous on the market, providing substantial value to new cardholders.
Great points earning potential: With 2x points on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases, cardholders can quickly accumulate points.
Flexible redemption options: The ability to redeem points for 25% more value through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and the ability to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners, provides cardholders with a range of redemption options.
Travel protection: The card offers a range of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance, providing peace of mind to travelers.
No foreign transaction fees: The lack of foreign transaction fees makes this card an excellent option for international travelers.
Priority Pass membership: The complimentary Priority Pass membership provides access to airport lounges worldwide, offering a comfortable and convenient travel experience.
Additional benefits: Cardholders also receive purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and other valuable benefits.

Drawbacks:

Annual fee: This travel credit card has an annual fee of $95, which may not be worth it for infrequent travelers.
Limited lounge access: While the Priority Pass membership provides access to many lounges worldwide, some airports may not have a Priority Pass lounge.
Not ideal for cashback: While the card does offer cashback as an option for redemption, the value of the points is reduced compared to using them for travel.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Benefits:

• Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

• Points earning: Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.

• Redeeming points: Points can be redeemed for any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile, or transferred to airline and hotel partners.

• Travel protection: The card offers travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.

• No foreign transaction fees: This is a huge benefit for travelers as many other credit cards charge foreign transaction fees.

• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: Receive up to $100 statement credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Why Use It this travel credit card?

Valuable welcome bonus: The 100,000-mile welcome bonus is one of the most valuable on the market, and the minimum spend requirement is lower than some other cards.
High points earning potential: With 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a high earning potential for rewards.
Flexible redemption options: Points can be redeemed for any travel purchase, giving cardholders flexibility in how they use their rewards.
No foreign transaction fees: The lack of foreign transaction fees makes this card an excellent option for international travelers.
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: The statement credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry can save travelers time and money.
Simple rewards structure: With no categories to track or limit on how much you can earn, this card offers a straightforward rewards structure.

Drawbacks:

Annual fee: The card has an annual fee of $95, which may not be worth it for infrequent travelers.
Limited travel protection: The card does not offer as many travel protections as some other cards on the market, such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Limited transfer partners: The card only has a few transfer partners, limiting the flexibility of redemption options.
No lounge access: The card does not offer complimentary lounge access.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Benefits:

• Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the card in your first 6 months of card membership.

• Points earning: Earn 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.

• Redeeming points: Points can be redeemed for travel through the American Express travel portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners.

• Travel protection: The card offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage loss and delay insurance.

• No foreign transaction fees: This is a huge benefit for travelers as many other credit cards charge foreign transaction fees.

• Lounge access: Cardholders can access more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass membership and access to Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and more.

• Additional benefits: Cardholders also receive complimentary elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, as well as access to exclusive events through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Why Use It this travel credit card?

Valuable welcome bonus: The welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards points is one of the most valuable on the market, providing substantial value to new cardholders.
High points earning potential: With 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and hotels booked directly with American Express or through American Express Travel, cardholders can quickly accumulate points.
Flexible redemption options: The ability to redeem points for travel through the American Express travel portal, or transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners, provides cardholders with a range of redemption options.
Travel protection: The card offers a range of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage loss and delay insurance, providing peace of mind to travelers.
No foreign transaction fees: The lack of foreign transaction fees makes this card an excellent option for international travelers.
Complimentary lounge access: The complimentary Priority Pass membership and access to Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and more, offers a comfortable and convenient travel experience.
Additional benefits: Cardholders also receive complimentary elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, as well as access to exclusive events through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Drawbacks:

Annual fee: The card has a high annual fee of $695, which may be difficult to justify for some travelers.

Limited acceptance: American Express cards are not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard, which may limit its usefulness in some areas.
Higher spending requirements: The higher spending requirement of $6,000 in the first 6 months to earn the welcome bonus may be challenging for some cardholders.

Conclusion:

Choosing the best travel credit card depends on your travel needs and spending habits. The three cards discussed in this article are some of the best travel credit cards on the market and offer a range of benefits for travelers.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for those who want a low annual fee and flexible redemption options. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a simple rewards structure and high points earning potential. Lastly, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wide range of benefits, including travel protection, complimentary lounge access, and a valuable welcome bonus, but comes with a high annual fee.

Consider your travel goals and spending habits when selecting a travel credit card and remember to always use credit responsibly.