The 5 Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026
Whether you’re jet-setting to Europe, booking a luxury suite on your favorite cruise line, or planning a romantic weekend escape, the right travel credit card can unlock serious perks, such as lounge access, hotel credits, free flights, and even travel insurance, which you should always have (see my post on travel insurance here).
This curated list of the top 5 travel credit cards for 2026 is complete with everything you need to know to make the best decision for your own travel needs, including annual fees, reward values, and travel-specific benefits is you. Plus, a few personal tidbits from myself, your personally travel guru.
Top 5 Travel Credit Cards
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee: $95
Reward Value: 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 2x on all other travel purchases, 3x on groceries, streaming, and dining, and 1x on all other purchases
Best Travel Perks:
- 75,000-point welcome bonus (after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months)
- $50 annual hotel credit
- Travel insurance coverage and rental car insurance
- 1:1 point transfer to leading travel loyalty program
- No foreign transaction fees
Why it’s great: Exceptional value at a modest annual fee, with flexible and transferable points.
2. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee: $895
Reward Value: 5x points on flights booked directly through airlines or the Amex Travel portal, 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through the portal, and 1x points on all other purchases (1–2¢/pt with transfers)
Best Travel Perks:
- Welcome bonus can be as high as 175,000 points when you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months (Welcome offers vary depending on your card application)
- Access to over 1,500 airport lounges including Centurion Lounge + Delta + Priority Pass
- $200 airline fee credit (cover incidental fees charged by your choice airline)
- $600 hotel credit (through partners)
- Credit for CLEAR® Plus, TSA PreCheck®, and Global Entry
- $200 Uber Cash and $120 Uber One credit
- Car rental insurance and trip delay, cancellation and interruption insurance
- Complimentary premium status at Avis, Hertz and National car rental
- $400 Resy credit and global dining access through Resy
- Concierge access + luxury partner benefits
Why it’s great: Ideal for experienced, luxury travelers who want VIP access and ultra-premium service.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee: $395
Reward Value: Earn unlimited miles, 2x points on all purchases, 10x on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel (~1¢/mile, more with transfers)
Best Travel Perks:
- 75,000-mile welcome bonus (after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months)
- $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles annually (starting year 2)
- Unlimited Priority Pass + Capital One Lounge access
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit worth $120
- Complimentary PRIOR subscription worth $149
- 1:1 point transfer rates at 15+ travel partner loyalty programs
- 1:2 point transfer rates at I Prefer Hotel Rewards
Why it’s great: This is the card I use, and I have had nothing but positive experiences with it. However, there has been a stir due to a recent change in policy around lounge access for guests and non-primary card holders who have to pay around $35 a head. Still, this is a top-tier travel card with luxury benefits and a much lower fee than competitors like Amex Platinum or Chase Reserve.
4. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Annual Fee: $795 (plus $195 for each additional user)
Reward Value: 8x points on travel booked through portal, 4x points on travel booked directly through partners, 3x points on dining, 1x points on all other purchases (~1.5¢/mile, more with transfers)
Best Travel Perks:
- Currently 125,000 points welcome promo (after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months)
- $300 annual travel credit,
- $300 annual dining credit, $120 DashPass membership + $300 in promo credits, $300 StubHub credit, $250 value Apple TV + Music membership, $120 Peloton credit + 10x points on purchases, $120 Lyft credit + 5x points
- Priority Pass lounge access pass worth $469; Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges with 2 complimentary guest passes
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit worth $120
- IHG® One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through 12/31/27)
- Strong travel insurance coverage
- 1:1 point transfers to leading travel loyalty programs
Why it’s great: Perfect for experienced travelers who want flexible, high-value rewards with premium perks. The highest transfer rates are with Wyndham Hotels.
5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee: $95
APY/Reward Value: Earn unlimited miles, 5X point on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2x points on all other purchases (~1¢/mile, more with transfers)
Best Travel Perks:
- 75,000 bonus miles (after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months)
- Miles transferable to airline/hotel partners
- 2 complimentary Capital One Lounge visits/year
- Complimentary Hertz® Five Star status
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit
- Limited travel insurance and car rental insurance coverage
Why it’s great: Great for travelers who want point earning and redeeming simplicity with low annual fees, and a solid rewards program and minimal maintenance.
Bonus Tip: Bank Cards Built for Travel
It’s essential to travel with a reliable bank card that works seamlessly at ATMs around the world. I personally use cards from Charles Schwab and Fidelity Cash Management—two banks that not only waive foreign transaction fees but also reimburse any ATM fees charged by other institutions, typically by the following month. This allows you to withdraw local currency wherever you are, in just the amount you need, without worrying about hidden costs. It also eliminates the need to carry large amounts of cash, which can pose safety risks no matter your destination.
A quick personal example: While traveling in Thailand in 2013, I lost my Charles Schwab debit card in Bangkok. I was supposed to be moving on the northern city of Chaing Mai the next day and was totally stressed out. One call to their 24/7 customer service line was all it took—within three days, a replacement card was delivered directly to my hotel in Chiang Mai. The process was smooth, fast, and stress-free, exactly what you want when you’re on the road, especially in a foreign country.
Final Thoughts on the Best Travel Credit Cards
There’s no one-size-fits-all credit card, so choose based on how you travel. Some prefer to hold an airline or hotel chain specific card, which does offer status benefits. I personally recommend one of these 5 cards which allow ample point earning potential and transfer programs, which increase travel flexibility.
- Want luxury? Amex Platinum, Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve each offer elite benefits and lounge access at varying annual rates.
- Need flexibility? Chase and CapitalOne cards both make points easy to use or transfer, sometimes at a more than a 1:1 ratio.
- Prefer simplicity? CapitalOneVenture or Venture X keep things easy with flat-rate earning and valuable credits.
- On a Budget? CapitalOneVenture and Chase Sapphire Preferred each offer solid point earning potential and travel benefits with a low annual fee.
