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Feb 25, 2025
Best Travel Credit Cards for 2025 💺🥂✈️ 🌎
After reviewing over 150 cards from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and more, these are the very best travel credit cards in 2025.
Imagine booking a dream trip to Tokyo or a relaxing stay in Bali without having to dip into your own savings for airfare or hotels. That’s the power of the right travel credit card. By turning your everyday spending into valuable miles or points, you can unlock free flights, hotel nights, and premium perks—all for expenses you’re making anyway. Below, we’ve curated the best travel credit cards for 2025, starting with our number-one pick and runner-up from Capital One, followed by several other contenders that may fit more specialized needs.
1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best Overall
Why We Picked It
Capital One Venture X delivers premium travel benefits at a surprisingly affordable net cost. Although the annual fee is $395, you receive a $300 travel credit through Capital One each year and 10,000 bonus miles (worth about $100) on your account anniversary. These two perks effectively drop your annual cost to around $95. Meanwhile, you gain lounge access at 1,300+ airports worldwide, get reimbursed for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and enjoy robust travel insurance.
You also earn two miles per dollar on nearly every purchase, plus higher rates when booking through Capital One Travel. Consider a frequent traveler or busy professional who charges $3,000 a month in everyday expenses—groceries, streaming services, online shopping. That’s $36,000 a year, translating to around 72,000 miles just from ordinary purchases. It’s enough to cover multiple domestic flights or significantly reduce the cost of an international trip.
Why It May Not Be for You
If you rarely travel at all, many of these perks—like lounge access—won’t be as beneficial. Still, for those who fly a few times a year or more, Venture X is hard to beat for its blend of rewards, perks, and manageable net fee.
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2. Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card – Best Credit Builder
Why We Picked It
Not everyone has an established credit history or excellent credit. If you need a more accessible option, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a foothold into the world of rewards while you build (or rebuild) your credit. Although this card isn’t a traditional travel card—because it earns cash back instead of miles—the unlimited 1.5% back on purchases can still help fund your next flight or hotel stay when you redeem your rewards as statement credits, which frees up cash for travel.
This card requires a refundable security deposit, which becomes your credit limit. Over time, responsible use (paying on time, staying under your limit) may lead to upgrades or an unsecured line of credit—paving the way for a premium travel card like the Venture X down the road.
Why It May Not Be for You
As a secured card, it doesn’t offer miles or a direct link to Capital One’s travel portal. If you already have decent credit and want to earn travel rewards right away, another card on this list may better suit your needs.
3. Capital One VentureOne Rewards – Best No Annual Fee
Why We Picked It
Not everyone wants (or qualifies for) a premium card, which is why Capital One VentureOne for Good Credit is our favorite no-annual-fee option. You earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, and the miles can be redeemed just like with Venture X—either as a statement credit against travel costs or transferred to participating airline partners. That means you’re still earning flexible, travel-focused rewards without paying anything out of pocket for the card.
If you’re someone who spends around $1,500 a month on this card, you could accumulate around 22,500 miles a year, which might cover a domestic flight or reduce the cost of a hotel stay. Once your credit profile improves, you can even upgrade to the Venture or Venture X without losing any of those miles.
Why It May Not Be for You
Unlike Venture X, you won’t get lounge access or premium travel credits here, so it’s best for those comfortable traveling without extra perks or for folks just starting out in the travel rewards game.
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🏆 See Official Score on CardRatings.com
4. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why We Picked It
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has built a reputation as a traveler’s starter card for good reason. You earn bonus points on travel (when booked through Chase) and dining, and you can redeem your points for 25% more value through the Chase Travel(sm) Rewards portal. There’s also the flexibility to transfer points to airline and hotel partners like United or Hyatt, which can lead to top-notch redemptions if you’re willing to do a bit of research.
Why It May Not Be for You
If you value simplicity above all else, you may not love using Chase’s portal to get the best rates. You also won’t find lounge access with this card. For travelers who don’t want the extra step of checking the portal or managing transfer partners, a flat-rate earning system like Venture X is less work for better rewards.
5. American Express® Gold Card
Why We Picked It
Although the Amex Gold isn’t explicitly a travel card, it can still turn your grocery and dining bills into award flights. Earning up to 4X points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets means racking up Membership Rewards quickly if you spend heavily on food. Those points can then be transferred to various airlines for some excellent redemptions.
Why It May Not Be for You
If you mostly want straightforward travel perks—like lounge access or an annual travel credit—this card won’t provide them. You also have to commit to using the monthly dining and Uber credits to offset its fee. Frequent flyers who want an all-in-one travel suite might find better value in a more dedicated travel card.
6. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Why We Picked It
Frequent travelers often rely on the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its wide range of travel insurance protections and the luxury of Priority Pass lounge access. You’ll also get 1.5 cents per point in value when redeeming flights and hotels through Chase’s portal, which can turn your points into serious savings if you prefer booking that way. The $300 annual travel credit helps defray the hefty $550 annual fee, making it less intimidating if you fly or book hotels regularly.
Why It May Not Be for You
If you aren’t planning to take advantage of lounge access or the annual travel credit often, paying $550 might not be worthwhile. And like with the Sapphire Preferred, maximizing point value usually involves the Chase portal, which some people simply don’t want to navigate.
7. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Why We Picked It
For travelers who crave high-end lounge access, The Platinum Card is a good option. It unlocks entry to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and a Priority Pass membership. Frequent flyers who can take advantage of its many monthly and annual credits—ranging from airline fee reimbursements to Uber Cash—might find enough overall value to offset the high fee.
Why It May Not Be for You
If you don’t enjoy juggling a long list of specialized credits (or you don’t travel frequently enough to justify premium lounges), the annual fee can feel extremely excessive. Points earnings also concentrate heavily on airfare booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, leaving everyday spending less rewarded compared to a card like Venture X.
8. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
Why We Picked It
Some travelers just want a simple, no-fee way to earn points. Bank of America Travel Rewards offers a flat rate on every dollar spent, with those points redeemable as a statement credit toward travel expenses. There’s no foreign transaction fee, making it decent for international use.
Why It May Not Be for You
You lose out on potential airline or hotel transfer partners, so your points remain locked into Bank of America’s fixed-value system. If you ever want lounge access or premium travel perks, you’ll have to consider a different card down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a travel credit card if I only travel once or twice a year?
Even occasional travelers can benefit. A card like Capital One VentureOne charges no annual fee, so there’s zero risk in carrying it. Over time, you’ll still accumulate miles that can reduce the cost of your yearly vacation—sometimes covering flights entirely.
2. Which is better: miles, points, or cash back?
Miles and points generally provide more value for booking flights and hotels—especially if you learn to optimize transfer partners. Cash back is simpler but often won’t stretch as far if you plan to travel. Fixed-value systems like Capital One’s strike a balance by offering straightforward redemptions while allowing optional transfers for bigger wins.
3. Can I get a premium card if my credit isn’t perfect?
Most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit. If you’re still building credit, start with a no-fee card like VentureOne. You’ll earn miles and improve your score, positioning yourself for a future upgrade to Venture X.
4. How do I know if the annual fee is “worth it”?
Compare what you’d realistically use—like lounge access, travel credits, or insurance—to the fee you’re paying. For instance, Venture X’s $395 fee is effectively lowered to around $95 after the $300 travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles. If you’re sure to use those benefits, you could come out ahead.
5. Is it smart to have more than one travel credit card?
It can be if you can manage multiple payments and fees. Some people hold a premium card for lounge access and insurance, plus a secondary card for specialized rewards (like dining). But if you prefer simplicity, stick with a single all-purpose travel card until you’re sure you want more complexity.
Final Thoughts
A travel credit card isn’t just about freebies—it can transform your entire travel experience. From airport lounge comfort to the joy of booking flights on points, the right card helps you explore the world for less. For 2025, Capital One Venture X is our best overall choice: it combines a generous rewards structure, premium perks, and an unbeatable net annual cost once you use its travel credits. If you’re not ready for a big annual fee—or if you need to build credit first—Capital One VentureOne for Good Credit offers the same flexible miles system without costing you a dime. The other cards on this list cater to specific needs—flexible points transfers, dining rewards, luxury lounge access—but whichever you choose, make sure it aligns with your spending habits and travel goals. Then you can start turning everyday purchases into memorable adventures worldwide.
