1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for frequent travelers who want to earn rewards and enjoy valuable travel benefits. With a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and ongoing earning rates of 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining and select streaming services, and 2x points on all other travel purchases, it’s a great card for racking up rewards quickly. Plus, the card comes with a number of valuable travel benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.

Pros:

Generous sign-up bonus
High earning rates on travel, dining, and streaming services
Valuable travel benefits
No foreign transaction fees

Cons:

Annual fee of $95
Not as comprehensive travel insurance as some other cards

Card Details:

Rewards: Ultimate Rewards® points
Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing earning rates: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining and select streaming services, and 2x points on all other travel purchases
Annual fee: $95
Foreign transaction fees: None

2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel rewards card that offers a generous sign-up bonus, unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, and a variety of travel benefits, including up to $300 in annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee reimbursement.

Why We Picked It:

Generous sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase
Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Priority Pass Select membership and access to Capital One lounges
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee reimbursement
No foreign transaction fees

Pros:

Highly valuable sign-up bonus
Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase
Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Variety of travel benefits

Cons:

High annual fee of $395
Not as flexible as some other travel rewards cards

Card Details:

Rewards: Capital One miles
Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
Ongoing earning rates: Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase
Annual fee: $395
Foreign transaction fees: None

3. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards card that offers a generous sign-up bonus, high earning rates on travel and dining, and a variety of valuable travel benefits.

Why We Picked It:

Generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
High earning rates of 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining and select streaming services, and 3x points on all other travel purchases
Valuable travel benefits, including a $300 annual travel credit, primary car rental insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and airport lounge access

Pros:

Highly valuable sign-up bonus
High earning rates on travel, dining, and streaming services
Comprehensive travel insurance
Airport lounge access

Cons:

High annual fee of $550
Not as flexible as some other travel rewards cards

Card Details:

Rewards: Ultimate Rewards® points
Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing earning rates: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining and select streaming services, and 3x points on all other travel purchases
Annual fee: $550
Foreign transaction fees: None

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card that offers a variety of exclusive benefits, including airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and travel credits.

Why We Picked It:

Wide range of exclusive benefits
High annual fee is offset by valuable credits
Great for frequent travelers and luxury enthusiasts

Pros:

Comprehensive travel benefits
Annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and streaming services
Access to Centurion Lounges and other premium airport lounges
Automatic hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton

Cons:

Very high annual fee of $695
Not as flexible as some other travel rewards cards

Card Details:

Rewards: Membership Rewards® points
Sign-up bonus: None
Ongoing earning rates: 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, on car rentals booked with American Express Travel
Annual fee: $695
Foreign transaction fees: None

4. American Express® Green Card

The American Express® Green Card is a rewards card that offers a generous sign-up bonus, high earning rates on travel and dining, and a variety of valuable travel benefits.

Why We Picked It:

Generous sign-up bonus of 15x points on eligible spending up to $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
High earning rates of 3x points on travel and transit, and 1x points on all other eligible purchases
Valuable travel benefits, including access to Priority Pass Select lounges, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee reimbursement

Pros:

Highly valuable sign-up bonus
High earning rates on travel and transit
Comprehensive travel insurance
Airport lounge access

Cons:

Moderate annual fee of $150
Not as flexible as some other travel rewards cards

Card Details:

Rewards: Membership Rewards® points
Sign-up bonus: 15x points on eligible spending up to $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Ongoing earning rates: 3x points on travel and transit, and 1x points on all other eligible purchases
Annual fee: $150
Foreign transaction fees: None

5. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why We Picked It:

Unparalleled luxury travel benefits
Generous annual statement credits
Access to exclusive Centurion® Lounges

Pros:

Airport lounge access
Hotel elite status
Travel credits
Premium benefits and services

Cons:

High annual fee
Not for budget travelers

Card Details:

Rewards: Membership Rewards® points
Sign-up bonus: None
Ongoing earning rates: 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, on car rentals booked with American Express Travel
Annual fee: $695
Foreign transaction fees: None