Your Ultimate Guide to Travel Credit Cards in 2025
Travel credit cards quite literally changed my life. They are the reason I’ve been able to travel more, fly in business class, fly in any class for nearly free, and stay in hotels around the world without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars.
And trust me, I was scared before I started using them because I didn’t want to dig myself into a hole of credit card debt (spoiler alert: I actually DID do that when I first started using them… which I wanted to mention because you should ONLY start using them if you can be sure to be financially responsible!)
BUT if you are ready to keep track of your finances and pay off your cards every month — using travel rewards cards can truly unlock the world for you with just your normal, every day spending!
Let’s talk about some of my faves and what they can do for you below…
The MVP: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
This card is literally the GOAT of travel credit cards. It’s the “starter” version of the ultra-fancy Chase Sapphire Reserve® (which is another fave of mine). If you’re not about that high annual fee life, this one’s for you—it’s just $95 a year! Even my mom has this card, so you know it’s a winner.
What you’ll get:
60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (hello, free flights!)
2x points on travel
3x points on dining, online groceries, and select streaming services
5x points on travel booked through Chase TravelSM
5x on Lyft rides (until March 31, 2025!)
A 10% anniversary points boost
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass (because who doesn’t love free delivery?!)
$50 Annual Chase TravelSM Hotel Credit
No foreign transaction fees (so go ahead, book that European vacay!)
The Everyday Queen: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This is THE card if you want simple, no-fuss travel points on literally everything you buy. No complicated categories, just straight-up rewards.
✨ What you’ll get:
75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months
2x miles on every dollar spent
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Transfer miles to 15+ travel partners
Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (so you can breeze through security!)
No foreign transaction fees
Annual fee? $95. Simple, easy, effective. Love it.
The Rent-Payer’s BFF: Bilt Mastercard®
Okay, listen up—if you’re paying rent, you NEED this card. It’s literally the only one that gives you points for paying your rent (without fees!!). Plus, it’s the only card that transfers to Alaska Airlines, which is a big deal if you love unique flight options.
✨ What you’ll get:
1x points on rent (up to 100,000 points per year!)
2x points on travel
3x points on dining
5x points on Lyft (just link your Bilt account)
Bonus: Rent Day perks on the 1st of each month (extra points, giveaways, and more!)
No annual fee (!!)
For My Luxury For Less Besties: American Express® Platinum Card
This is THE card for luxury travelers who want premium perks like lounge access, hotel benefits, and top-tier rewards. The annual fee is high at $695, but the perks can more than make up for it if you travel frequently!
This card offers:
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x).
5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.
$200 airline fee credit per year (for incidental fees with a selected airline).
$200 Uber Cash annually ($15 per month, $35 in December) for Uber rides or Uber Eats.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit ($20 per month for services like The New York Times, SiriusXM, and more).
Access to Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges worldwide.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit for expedited airport security.
No foreign transaction fees.
If you love travel perks and luxury, this is the card for you!
Cashback Life: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you want a card with NO annual fee but still want great rewards (especially if you’re new to points & miles), this is your girl. It earns Chase points, so if you ever decide to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred® later, you can combine your points for even better value!
✨ What you’ll get:
No annual fee (yay!)
1.5% cashback on everything
5% cashback on travel booked through Chase TravelSM
3% cashback on dining and drugstores
Extra 1.5% on everything in your first year (up to $20,000 spent!)
Final Thoughts: Pick the Right Card for YOU!
The truth is, there’s no one perfect card (even though some come pretty close!). I personally use a mix of cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® for travel and dining
Amex Platinum for business (because food is life)
Bilt for paying rent (hello, free points!)
Capital One Venture for everyday purchases!
👉 CHECK OUT ALL MY FAVORITE CARDS HERE
That way, I’m maximizing my points without spreading them too thin. So, if you’re ready to start traveling smarter and getting free flights, pick the card that works best for YOU!
Happy travels, bestie! ✈️