Tiger Brokers

3 Top Credit Cards for Families Who Like to Travel

Motley Fool
10 Dec 2024

KEY POINTS

  • The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 3x points on travel and dining, with a large welcome bonus.
  • Citi Double Cash® Card keeps it simple with 2% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee.
  • The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2X miles on purchases, plus a valuable welcome bonus paid in miles.

Planning the ultimate family getaway? Whether you're dreaming of sandy beaches or theme park thrills, the right travel credit card can make those dreams a reality without draining your bank account.

But with so many options out there, how do you choose the one that works best for your family's travel style? Don't worry -- we've got you covered. Let's dive into the top three travel credit cards for families.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Ratings Methodology

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score:Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit ScoreCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

RewardsCircle with letter I in it. Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.

Annual Fee

$550

Welcome OfferCircle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

  • All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review

    • Travel credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Travel and dining rewards
    • Welcome offer
    • Flexible travel points
    • Annual fee
    • Limited-time benefits
    • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
    • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
    • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
    • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
    • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
    • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
    • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
    • Member FDIC

If your family loves to splurge on vacations (but not necessarily pay for the splurge), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is calling your name. This card is a superstar for travel perks, making it one of the best options for families wanting to make the most of every trip.

Why it's great for families:

  • You earn 3x points on travel and dining, perfect for families who rack up dining out bills (because who has time to cook on vacation?). Plus, you get 1x points on everything else.
  • Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, that family trip to Disney just got 50% closer.
  • With perks like a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry reimbursement, you'll feel like a VIP even if you're traveling with sticky-handed kids.

But the best part? You'll score a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That's like getting a free trip just for using your card to pay for stuff you would buy anyway.

Click here to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, and enjoy perks such as travel insurance.

2. Citi Double Cash

Ratings Methodology

Citi Double Cash® Card

Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score:Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees

Credit ScoreCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months on Balance Transfers

Regular APR

18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

RewardsCircle with letter I in it. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, as a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.

2% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome OfferCircle with letter I in it. Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

$200

  • This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so you'll need to pay those off in full every month if you want to avoid interest charges. Read Full Review

    • High cash back
    • 0% intro APR balance transfer offer
    • No annual fee
    • Free credit score monitoring
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • No 0% intro APR on purchases
    • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
    • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.

      Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
    • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
    • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
    • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
    • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Traveling with kids is complicated enough -- your credit card shouldn't be. Enter the Citi Double Cash® Card, which keeps things refreshingly simple with its straightforward rewards program.

Why it's great for families:

  • Earn 2% cash back on everything: 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay off those purchases. Whether it's gas for the family road trip, groceries for the Airbnb, or last-minute souvenirs, you're earning cash back every step of the way.
  • There is no annual fee, which means you can spend your hard-earned dollars on more important things, like bribing your kids with snacks while waiting in TSA lines.
  • For a limited time, you can earn 5% total cash back on select Citi travel bookings by getting an extra 3% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal (until Dec. 31, 2025). This is perfect for families who want to get more bang for their buck in the next year.

Click here to apply for the Citi Double Cash® Card, which can keep family travel affordable and stress free.

3. Capital One Venture Card

If your family likes to keep things spontaneous (you know, booking a last-minute weekend getaway because, why not?), the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be your new best friend.

Why it's great for families:

  • Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Yes, that's right, every single purchase. From plane tickets to snacks in the airport gift shop, your miles are adding up quickly.
  • With 75,000 Miles (worth $750 in travel) after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, you could see a significant chunk of your next family trip covered.
  • There are no foreign transaction fees, which is a big plus if your family likes to explore international destinations.

Even better, you can use your miles to erase any travel purchases -- flights, hotels, rental cars, you name it -- no need to worry about blackout dates or complicated rewards charts. Just spend, earn, and go!

Click here to learn more about how the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can help your family travel more for less.

Family travel can be hectic, but with the right credit card, you can at least make it more affordable (and maybe even a little luxurious). Whether you're looking for top-notch rewards, no-hassle cash back, or an easy way to earn free flights, there's a travel credit card out there for you. So, why not let your family's everyday spending help fund your next vacation?

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

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