I’ve earned over 10 million miles using credit cards, allowing me and my family to travel often. Credit cards can help you start traveling well for less. Why stay home when you can travel for free?
You can travel for free using travel rewards points. The fastest way to earn a lot of airline miles and points is through credit card signup bonuses.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. Traveling Well For Less has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Read my disclosure policies.
Credit Cards
Travel Rewards Cards
How to Travel for Free Using Travel Rewards Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points
What’s Great About The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
- Earn 2X points on travel and dining
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a 1:1 basis to 13 participating partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest
- No foreign transaction fees
I’ve used Chase Ultimate Rewards points to get a $26,000 trip to Australia for $208.
LEARN MORE HERE
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Sign-up Bonus: 50,000 points
What’s Great About The Chase Saphire Reserve Card:
- $300 annual travel credit each year
- Earn 3X points on travel and dining
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Free airport lounge access
- Redeem points for 1.5 cents each on travel purchases
- Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a 1:1 basis to 13 participating partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest
- No foreign transaction fees
You can use Ultimate Rewards points to get a trip to Hawaii for practically free.
LEARN MORE HERE
American Express Platinum Card (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 60,000 points
What’s Great About The American Express Platinum Card:
- $200 Airline fee credit per calendar year
- 5X points on flights booked directly with the airlines
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Free airport lounge access
- $15 free Uber rides in US and Uber VIP status ($20 in December)
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE HERE
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Venture Rewards Card:
- 2X miles on all purchases
- 10X miles on hotels
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card (learn more)
Sign-up Bonus: 30,000 points
What’s Great About The Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card Card:
- Earn 3X points on travel and dining
- 3X points on gas stations, rideshares, and transit
- 1 point on everything else
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Capital One® VentureOne ® Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus: 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Venture Rewards Card:
- 1.5X miles on all purchases
- 10X miles on hotels
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
American Express Gold Card (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 35,000 points
What’s Great About The American Express Gold Card:
- 4X points at restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets
- 3X points on flights booked directly with the airlines
- 1 point on everything else
- Earn up to $10 in statement credit at US restaurants
- Get $100 hotel credit and a room upgrade when booking through The Hotel Collection
- $100 airline fee credit
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Compare all Travel Rewards Card Offers Here
Cash Back Cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Sign-up Bonus: $150
What’s Great About The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card:
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee
- Transfer points to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred
LEARN MORE HERE
Chase Freedom
Sign-up Bonus: $150
What’s Great About The Chase Freedom Card:
- Earn 5% bonus points on rotating categories each quarter
- No annual fee
- Transfer points to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred
LEARN MORE HERE
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus: $150 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card:
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus: $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Savor Card:
- Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 2% cash back at grocery stores
- 1% cash back on everything else
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: $250 statement credit
What’s Great About The Blue Cash Preferred Card From American Express:
- 6% cash back at US supermarkets and US Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Spotify, Pandora, and more)
- 3% cash back at US gas stations
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Credit Card (learn more)
Sign-up Bonus: $150
What’s Great About The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Credit Card:
- Unlimited 1.5% cash rewards
- Earn 1.8% cash rewards on mobile wallet purchases during the first 12 months of account opening
- Up to $600 cell phone protection against damage or theft
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Compare all Cash Back Cards Here
Small Business Cards
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Sign-up Bonus: 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points
What’s Great About The Chase Ink Business Preferred Card:
- Earn 3X points on up to $150K in spend in select categories
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Redeem points for 1.5 cents each on travel purchases
- Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a 1:1 basis to 13 participating partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest
LEARN MORE HERE
Chase Ink Business Cash
Sign-up Bonus: $500 Bonus
What’s Great About The Chase Ink Business Cash Card:
- Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores, internet, cable, and phone services
- 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Transfer points to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred
LEARN MORE HERE
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Sign-Up Bonus: $500
What’s Great About The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card:
- Earn Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee
- Transfer points to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred
LEARN MORE HERE
The Business Platinum Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: Up to 75,000 points
What’s Great About The Business Platinum Card From American Express:
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1 point per $1 spent on everything else
- Free airport lounge access
- 50% more points on each purchase of $5,000 or more
- 35% airline bonus when use points to pay for your flight
- 35% points back for First Class and Business Class flights with American Express Travel
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus: 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Spark Card:
- Earn unlimited 2x miles on all purchases
- Free employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business (learn more)
Early Spend Bonus:
Early Spend Bonus: $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
What’s Great About The Capital One Spark Cash Card:
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
American Express Business Gold Card (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: up to $500 in statement credits on FedEx purchases – offer ends November 6, 2019
What’s Great About The American Express Business Gold Card:
- 4X points on the first $150,000 each calendar year on 2 chosen categories
- 25% points back when using all or part on flights booked with Amex Travel
- 1 year subscription to G Suite Basic and ZipRecruiter Standard
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Compare all Small Business Card Offers Here
Airline Cards
Southwest Rapid Reward Performance Business Card
Sign-up Bonus: 80,000 points
What’s Great About the Southwest Performance Business Card:
- 3X points on Southwest tickets, hotels and car rentals with Southwest partners
- 2X points on internet, cable, phone, social media, and search engine ads
- 1X point on everything else
- 4 upgraded boarding passes each year
- Inflight Wi-Fi credit
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- 9,000 points on card anniversary
LEARN MORE HERE
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card
Sign-up Bonus: Up to 60,000 points
What’s Great About The Southwest Premier Card:
- 2X points on Southwest tickets and hotel and car rentals with Southwest partners
- 1X points on everything else
- 6,000 point bonus on card anniversary each year
- Earn a Companion Pass after earning 110,000 points a calendar year
Here’s how to fly free for two years
LEARN MORE HERE
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card
Sign-up Bonus: 60,000 points
What’s Great About The Southwest Premier Business Card:
- 2X points on Southwest tickets and hotel and car rentals with Southwest partners
- 1X points on all other purchases
- 6,000 point bonus on card anniversary each year
- Earn a Companion Pass after earning 110,000 points a calendar year
LEARN MORE HERE
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Sign-up Bonus: Up to 60,000 points
What’s Great About The Southwest Plus Card:
- 2X points on Southwest tickets and hotel and car rentals with Southwest partners
- 1X points on everything else
- 3,000 point on your anniversary every year
- Earn a Companion Pass after earning 110,000 points a calendar year
LEARN MORE HERE
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card
Sign-up Bonus: Up to 60,000 points
What’s Great About The Southwest Priority Card:
- 2X points on Southwest tickets and hotel and car rentals with Southwest partners
- 1X points on everything else
- $75 annual travel credit on Southwest
- 4 upgraded boarding passes each year
- 7,500 point bonus on card anniversary each year
- Earn a Companion Pass after earning 110,000 points a calendar year
LEARN MORE HERE
Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 60,000 miles and $50 statement credit – Offer ends October 30, 2019
What’s Great About The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express:
- 50% rebate (up to $300 cash back) on Delta purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- 2X miles on Delta purchases
- 1X mile on all purchases
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 30,000 miles and $50 statement credit – Offer ends August 15, 2019
What’s Great About The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express:
- 50% rebate (up to $300 cash back) on Delta purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- 2X miles on Delta purchases
- 1X mile on all purchases
- Free first checked bag
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Platinum Delta Skymiles Business Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 35,000 miles and 5,000 MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) + $100 statement credit
What’s Great About The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Card from American Express:
- 50% rebate (up to $300 cashback) on Delta purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
- Free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- Companion Certificate each year upon card renewal
- Earn 10,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after $25,000 in purchases during a calendar year; double it with $50,000 in purchases
- 2X miles on Delta purchases
- 1X mile on all purchases
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 10,000 miles
What’s Great About The Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express:
- 2X miles on Delta purchases
- 1X mile on all purchases
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
British Airways Visa Signature
Sign-up Bonus: Up to 100,000 Avios
What’s Great About The British Airways Visa Signature Card:
- Companion travel together certificate after spending $30,000
- 3X Avios on British Airways purchases
- 1X Avios on all other purchases
- 10% discount on British Airways flights
- No foreign transaction fees
LEARN MORE HERE
United Explorer Card
Sign-up Bonus: 40,000 miles
What’s Great About The United Explorer Card:
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club passes each year
- 2X miles on restaurants, hotels, and United purchases
- 1X miles on everything else
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
LEARN MORE HERE
United Explorer Business Card
Sign-up Bonus: up to 100,000 miles
What’s Great About The United Explorer Business Card:
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club passes each year
- 2X miles on restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, and United purchases
- 1X miles on everything else
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees
LEARN MORE HERE
Compare all Airline Card Offers Here
Hotel Rewards Card
Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express (learn more)
(formerly the Hilton Ascend card)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 125,000 points
What’s Great About The Hilton Surpass Card from American Express:
- Earn 12X points at Hilton hotels
- Free weekend night after spending $15,000 a year
- 12 points at Hilton hotels
- 6X points at US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3X points on all other purchases
- Hilton Honors Gold Elite status; spend $40,000 and earn Hilton Diamond status
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Hilton Honors Credit Card from American Express (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 75,000 points
What’s Great About The Hilton Honors Credit Card from American Express:
- Earn 7X points at Hilton hotels
- 5X points at US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3X points on all other purchases
- Free Silver status
- No annual fee
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (learn more)
Welcome Offer/Bonus: 125,000 points
What’s Great About The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card:
- Earn 12X points at Hilton hotels
- 6X points on select business & travel purchases
- 3X points on everything else
- Free Gold status
- 10 free airport lounge visits
- Free weekend night after spending $15,000 a year
- Hilton Honors Gold Elite status; spend $40,000 and earn Hilton Diamond status
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (learn more)
Welcome Bonus: 75,000 points
What’s Great About the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card (learn more):
- Free award night each year (posts after card anniversary)
- 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 4X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, on US wireless phone services, and US shipping
- 2X points on everything else
- Free Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status (free Wi-Fi and late checkout)
LEARN MORE HERE
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Signup Bonus: 100,000 points
What’s Great About the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card:
- 6X points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2X points for every $1 spent everywhere else
- Free Night award every year on account anniversary
- Get free Silver elite status. Get Gold status after spending $35,000 a year
- 15 elite night credits every year
LEARN MORE
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Signup Bonus: 30,000 points
What’s Great About the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card:
- 3X points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2X points for every $1 spent on travel
- 1X point on everything else
- Get free Silver elite status. Get Gold status after spending $35,000 a year
- 15 elite night credits every year
- No annual fee
LEARN MORE
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Sign-up Bonus: 80,000 points
What’s Great About The IHG Rewards Club Premier Card:
- Free night each card anniversary
- Platinum elite status for free
- 25X points per $1 spent at IHG hotels
- 2X points for every $1 at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 1X point spent on everything else
- 5th night free when using points
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
LEARN MORE HERE
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Sign-up Bonus: up to 50,000 points
What’s Great About The World of Hyatt Credit Card:
- Earn 9X points at Hyatt hotels
- 2X points at restaurants, on airline tickets bought from the airlines, local transit, and fitness/gym memberships
- 1X point on all other purchases
- 1 free Category 1 to 4 night each cardmember year
- Free Discoverists status and 5 elite qualifying night
- Earn 2 elite qualifying nights with every $5,000 you spend
- Additional free night after spending $15,000 a year
