KEY POINTS
If you love to travel, you're probably either going to start making your 2025 travel plans soon, or you've already done so. Even if you're not booking anything quite yet, it's good to have an idea of where you'd like to go and when.
Another consideration is how you'll pay for it. Travel can get expensive -- Pacaso puts the average cost of a vacation for two at $3,971 per week. But it gets much cheaper if you find a travel rewards card so you can pay for vacations in points, not cash.
I love travel cards, and I've used over a dozen of them. Below, you'll find three top options to check out, depending on the features you want.
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
$300 Chase Travel℠ Credit + 60,000 bonus points
We strongly believe this is one of the best welcome incentives Chase has offered for the Sapphire Preferred in a while. Valued at up to $1,050, you get 60,000 miles and a $300 travel credit—a bonus credit comparable to some premium travel cards! The value of the credit alone offsets the first three years of annual fees, and is 6x higher than the standard travel credit in your first year.Bonus travel and dining rewards, along with an annual $50 hotel credit, make this card worth the (very reasonable) annual fee. Chase points are both valuable and easy to use, offering 25% more value for bookings through Chase Travel, which simplifies the experience compared to other travel cards. Not to mention it provides robust travel protections, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Read Full Review
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can quickly help you save on travel. It has a huge limited-time welcome offer. Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
Chase has announced that this offer is ending on Nov. 14, so you don't have much longer to take advantage.
This Chase card is affordable, with just a $95 annual fee. It also has several bonus categories where it earns 2X to 5X points per $1. I consider it one of the best credit cards in terms of overall value, and it's a card I use regularly.
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rates & Fees
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rates & Fees
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express is all about the high-end perks. It has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). But it also has over $1,500 in spending credits every year and arguably the best airport lounge access of any travel card. You'll get complimentary access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide, including American Express® Centurion Lounges. Select enrollment required and terms apply.
This American Express card isn't right for everyone. The benefits need to be a good fit for your lifestyle and spending habits to get the most out of it. Those benefits are pretty amazing if you can use them, though. If you're looking for a card that can upgrade your travel experience with luxury air travel and hotel perks, this one could be a perfect match.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
On Bank of America's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Rewards 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 as long as your account remains open.
1.5 points per dollar
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 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
25,000 points
This is a good starter travel card thanks to its simplicity and no annual fee. It offers a strong welcome bonus worth $250, unlimited 1.5% points on all purchases, and no foreign transaction fee. Simply redeem points as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases. The generous 0% Intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles might come in handy if you want to pay-off an expensive trip over time without interest. It’s a particularly good fit for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members, who can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase (depending on your tier). Read Full Review
Don't want to commit to paying an annual fee right now? Most travel cards charge one, but there are exceptions. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a no annual fee card that works well for saving on the occasional trip.
This card is easy to use, earning a flat rate of 1.5 points per $1 on purchases. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, you get a credit card rewards bonus of 25% to 75%. That can bring the rewards rate as high as 2.62 points per $1, which is hard to beat.
You can redeem rewards at $0.01 per point toward travel and dining purchases. There's also a welcome offer of 25,000 points (worth $250) after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
No matter what your travel plans are for 2025, the right credit card could help. Any travel card, including those with no annual fee, earn rewards that you can use to cover the cost of travel bookings. The more expensive cards also offer premium perks for a more enjoyable experience.
Want to see even more options? Check out our full list of the top travel rewards cards with big bonus opportunities and all kinds of valuable benefits.
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