Top 5 Travel Rewards Cards You Should Have in Your Wallet

There are so many travel rewards cards choosing the right card can be confusing. These are the top 5 travel rewards cards you should have in your wallet.

Top 5 Travel Rewards Cards

These are my favorite travel rewards cards. If you had to only choose 5 credit cards, these are the cards you should get. The rewards you earn from most of these cards are transferable to many airlines and hotels. This means you have more options for free flights, hotels, and more!

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt and stay for free at hotels like the Park Hyatt Maldives

If you want to earn points that can be used for free flights and hotel rooms, consider the card_name.

I’ve transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United to fly First Class on Lufthansa. I’ve also transferred them to Hyatt to stay at various hotels during my Quasi-Round the World Trip.

The card_name gives you:

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
• $300 annual travel credit
• 10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through the Chase travel portal (3x points when booked direct)
• 5x points on airfare booked through the Chase portal (3x points when booked direct)
• 1x points on every $1 spent on all other purchases
• $100 application fee credit for Global Entry
• Free Priority Pass Select membership (free airport lounge access)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer on a 1:1 ratio to participating airlines and hotels
• No foreign transaction fees
• $550 annual fee (not waived the first year)

If you want similar benefits but a lower annual fee ($95) you should get the card_name.

With the card_name you can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase travel portal (2X booked direct), 3x on dining, earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer on a 1:1 ratio to participating airlines and hotels, and no foreign transaction fees.

Check out my post on how to get into every airport lounge.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Transfer Membership Rewards points and fly First Class on Etihad

You can earn Membership Rewards points with card_name.  These points can be redeemed for airline tickets and hotel rooms.

Transfer Membership Rewards points to Etihad and you could shower on your flight.

With card_name you get:

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of opening your account
• 5x Membership Rewards points on up to $500,000 a year in purchases of flights booked with the airline or through American Express Travel
• 5x Membership Rewards points when you prepay and book hotels through American Express Travel
• 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
• $200 yearly statement credit when booking hotels through Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts (free breakfast, upgrades, and more)
• Free entrance to Centurion Lounges
• $200 airline fee credit each year*
• Free Priority Pass Select membership (free airport lounge access)*
• $200 yearly Uber Cash and Uber VIP status*
• Free Marriott Gold elite status*
• $189 CLEAR Plus credit each year
• Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Free Hilton Honors Gold elite status*
• $240 yearly credit for digital subscriptions like The New York Times, Audible, Peacock, and SiriusXM*
• $300 Equinox credit ($25 a month)*
• $100 yearly Saks credit ($50 every 6 months)
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
• $695 annual fee (not waived the first year) (see rates and fees)
• Terms apply

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

If you have a business, you can also get the card_name. Many of the benefits are similar to the Platinum Card from American Express. But you get a higher welcome offer/bonus, $400 Dell credit, and $150 Adobe credit. Enrollment is required for select benefits. You don’t get the Uber and Saks credits, and the annual fee is $695. (see rates and fees)

You can earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of having the card_name. Terms Apply.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

American Airlines miles can be used to fly on Cathay Pacific

If you fly on American Airlines or one of their many partner airlines like Cathay Pacific, Etihad, and British Airways, you should consider getting the card_name. Search for airline rewards cards.

You can use American Airlines miles for a free trip to Hawaii.

With the card_name you’ll earn:

• 50,000 American Airlines miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
• 2x miles on American Airlines flights
• 1x mile on every $1 spent
• Free checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions
• Priority check-in and priority boarding for up to 8 travel companions
• Free Admirals Club membership
• $100 application fee credit for Global Entry
• Earn 10,000 Loyalty Points after spending $40,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• No foreign transaction fees
• $450 annual fee (not waived the first year)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Redeem your miles from your Capital One Venture Rewards card to pay for travel expenses like snorkeling
Photo courtesy: Pixabay

Confused by which points transfer to what airlines or hotels? Want a card that’s easy to get free travel? Then you should get the card_name.

With the Capital One Venture Rewards card using your miles for free travel is simple and convenient. Make a travel-related purchase then use your miles for statement credit. This means your activities in cities like Vienna will be free! You can also redeem your miles for cashback.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United Airlines, then book a flight on Lufthansa

If you’re looking for a card that doesn’t charge an annual fee, you should get the card_name.

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt hotels and stay for free in Hawaii.

With the card_name you get:

• Unlimited matched cash back on all purchases your first year
• 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, restaurant dining including takeout and delivery
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer on a 1:1 ratio to participating airlines and hotels when you transfer to your card_name or card_name account
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee
• Member FDIC

Conclusion

Just starting out with travel rewards cards? Not sure which cards to get? These are the top 5 travel rewards you should have in your wallet:

• card_name
• card_name or card_name
• card_name
• card_name
• card_name

You can use the points you earn from these cards to get free flights and hotels rooms. With some of these cards, you can get free airport lounge access.

Which are your top 5 travel rewards cards?

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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.

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You can earn 75,000 points from all three personal Southwest cards: Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card, card_name, and card_name when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card is one of the easiest ways to travel more and spend less.  You can earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 4 upgraded boarding each year, 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on internet, cable, phone, select streaming, ride share, hotel and car rental partners , $75 yearly Southwest credit, and no foreign transaction fees.

 

Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Priority Credit Card and how to apply

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card_name

The is an easy way to fly free.  You can earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on internet, cable, phone, select streaming, ride share, hotel and car rental partners, and no foreign transaction fees.

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply

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card_name

The card_name is the least expensive way to earn a Companion Pass from a credit card.  You can earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning the 2 EarlyBird Check-ins every year, 2X points on Southwest purchases, internet, cable, phone, select streaming, ride share, hotel and car rental partners, and the lowest annual fee among all the Southwest credit cards .

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply

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card_name

card_name is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply

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card_name

The card_name is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of unlimited matched cash back on all your purchases your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout), 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the card_name, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about the card_name and how to apply