Best US Credit Cards for Travel in 2023

What’s the difference between a vacation and a great vacation? A travel credit card!

The best travel credit cards in the US don’t just offer bonuses or miles but also offer exclusive benefits that can turn your next trip into a dream vacation.

While some benefits are universal, some credit cards offer unique perks to use to your advantage, such as room upgrades and airport lounge access.

Here is our pick of the ten best travel credit cards for 2023:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (Winner)

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is arguably the most travel-friendly credit card, with a generous welcome bonus. Its perks and benefits are ideal for frequent travelers who can earn ample points through different purchases. It also offers unique benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, which comprises over 1,000 luxury properties worldwide.

Highlights:

Welcome bonus of 60,000 points on spending $4,000 during the first three months
5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels booked through Chase Ultimate® Rewards
3X points on other travel and dining
1X point for all other purchases
$300 annual credit for travel bookings
Access to over 1,000 VIP lounges in over 500 cities

Annual Fee: $550

American Express® Gold Card (Runner Up)

The American Express® Gold Card offers generous points on dining out and charges no fee on transactions outside the US. The points earned can be used to book trips through the Amex Travel portal. Membership Rewards can also be transferred to partner airlines and hotel programs for savings on tickets and rooms.

Highlights:

Welcome bonus of 60,000 points on spending $4,000 in the first six months
4X Membership Rewards points on restaurants in the US
3X Membership Reward points on flights (amextravel.com)
No foreign transaction fee
Room upgrades at select hotels

Annual Fee: $250

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Although expensive, the American Express Platinum Card® brings the most perks for travelers who like to travel with comfort and style. It offers access to lounge access at 1,400 lounges in 140 countries (the Global Lounge Collection), including Denpasar (Bali), Changi (Singapore), and Incheon (Seoul). But there are many other benefits, including hundreds of dollars in credit.

Highlights:

80,000 points as a welcome bonus for spending $8,000 in the first six months
5X points on flights and hotels booked with the Amex travel portal
No foreign transaction fee
Hundreds of dollars in annual credit perks
Hotel Elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy

Annual Fee: $695

United ClubSM Infinite Card

The United ClubSM Infinite Card from Chase Bank is ideal for frequent travelers in the US. It grants access to United Club lounge locations across the US and abroad (Star Alliance member airline lounges).

Highlights:

80,000 bonus miles on spending $5,000 in the first three months
No foreign transaction fee
Free luggage (first and second bag) for the cardholder and a companion on United-operated flights
Priority check-in
Miles on dining and purchases

Annual Fee: $525

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can earn you miles on many purchases. Booking flights and hotels through Capital One Travel can earn 5X and 10X miles, respectively. Other perks include complimentary rental car upgrades and insurance.

Highlights:

2X miles on all eligible purchases
5 miles for every dollar on flight bookings
75,000 miles in welcome bonus on spending $4,000 in the first three months
$300 in travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
No fee on foreign transactions
Free access to over 1,300 lounges

Annual Fee: $395

Discover it® Miles Card

The Discover it® Miles Card has no annual fees and offers some of the same benefits as other credit cards on this list. Plus, its welcome bonus offer is like no other. It will match the miles you earn in the first year.

Highlights:

1.5X miles on every dollar
No foreign transaction fee
Mile-for-mile match for the first year
No limits on miles earned

Annual Fee: No fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Card

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee. You can earn unlimited points with no expiration. It also offers low introductory APR, which many travel credit cards don’t.

Highlights:

25,000 bonus points on the purchase of $1,000 in the first 90 days (worth $250 statement credit for travel and dining)
No foreign transaction
1.5X points for every dollar purchase

Annual Fee: No fee

Choice Rewards World Mastercard®

The Choice Rewards World Mastercard® from First Tech Credit Union offers a low APR, including zero percent APR for the first 12 billing cycles. Points can be earned from a variety of everyday purchases. Also, there’s no annual fee, so it’s one of the most affordable travel credit cards.

Highlights:

2X points on everyday purchases
20,000 bonus points on spending $3,000 in the first 60 days
Low introductory APR
No foreign transaction fee
No balance transfer fee

Annual Fee: No fee

Bilt Mastercard®

The Bilt Mastercard® can turn your rent into discounts on travel. It offers points on rent transactions without any fee. You can also earn points on travel, dining, and other purchases. Plus, there’s no annual fee, making it an affordable choice.

Highlights:

1X points on rent transactions
2X points on travel
3X points on dining
No foreign transaction fee
Trip cancelation and interruption protection (up to $5,000)

Annual Fee: No fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers significant cash back on everyday purchases, but you can also use it for traveling. You can earn a 5 percent cash back on travel purchases through Chase. However, it does charge foreign transaction fees.

Highlights:

5 percent cash back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards 1.5 percent cashback
3 percent cash back on dining, takeaways, and deliveries
1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases

Annual Fee: No fee

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