Travel credit cards
Travel credit cards can come with high annual fees, but that upfront cost shouldn’t always scare you off. Consider how your spending matches up with a card’s bonus categories, how often you’ll use the card’s perks and how often you’re likely to redeem your points for travel. In many cases, getting a card with a higher annual fee can be the smarter financial decision.
The best travel credit cards offer clear value for your spending, whether via rewards or perks. We looked at bonus rates, perks and the overall value of each rewards program to determine which cards offer the most features for the annual fee. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Rewards rate
1.5xPoints per dollarWelcome bonus
25,000PointsEditors' bonus estimate
$250Annual fee
$0
1.5x Points per dollar
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
$250
$0
- 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.
- 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.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Rewards rate
1% - 4%Cash backAnnual fee
$0
1% - 4% Cash back
$0
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rewards rate
2%Cash backWelcome bonus
$200Annual fee
$0
2% Cash back
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
$0
- Approval odds are statements made by Credit Karma and may not reflect Wells Fargo’s underwriting criteria
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Allegiant World Mastercard®
Rewards rate
1x - 3xPoints per dollarWelcome bonus
15,000PointsAnnual fee
$59
1x - 3x Points per dollar
15,000 Bonus Points online offer – equal to $150 off a future Allegiant trip, after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
$59
- 15,000 Bonus Points online offer – equal to $150 off a future Allegiant trip, after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Buy one, get one free airfare — anytime you use your card to purchase a vacation package from Allegiant with 4 or more hotel nights or 7 or more rental car days on the same itinerary.
Citi Premier® Card
Rewards rate
1x - 3xPoints per dollarWelcome bonus
80,000PointsAnnual fee
$95
1x - 3x Points per dollar
For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
$95
- For a limited time, earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
World Of Hyatt Credit Card
Rewards rate
2x - 9xPoints per dollarWelcome bonus
Up to 60,000PointsAnnual fee
$95
2x - 9x Points per dollar
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
$95
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
Discover it® Miles
Rewards rate
1.5xMiles per dollarAnnual fee
$0
1.5x Miles per dollar
$0
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
Rewards rate
1x - 2xMiles per dollarWelcome bonus
10,000MilesAnnual fee
$0
1x - 2x Miles per dollar
Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
$0
- Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- No Annual Fee
Discover it® chrome
Rewards rate
1% - 2%Cash backAnnual fee
$0
1% - 2% Cash back
$0
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn cash back on your next road trip with 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Rewards rate
1x - 3xPoints per dollarWelcome bonus
50,000PointsEditors' bonus estimate
$675Annual fee
$149
1x - 3x Points per dollar
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
$675
$149
- New Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.