The Best Travel Credit Cards For 2022

With literally hundreds of choices out there, it can be fairly difficult to choose the best travel credit card. So how do you know which one is right for you? Or which card gives you the best rewards? Are the fees even worth it? What are the perks of one card in comparison to another?

For someone who is fairly new to traveling, it can be very confusing figuring out which card to get.

So I’ll say this, there’s not a singular “BEST” travel credit card. Each travel credit card is unique, so what’s best for you may not be what’s best for someone else. Thus, I always recommend choosing the one that aligns with your travel goals.

For example:

Are you loyal to a particular brand?

Do you want to use card to rack up points to get free flights, or do you just want a card that won’t charge you an outrageous fee for using it abroad?

Do you want points you can use like cash to purchase anything?

These are only a few of the questions you must ask yourself before you can decide on which travel credit card is best for you.

However, for those general points credit cards, some are WAY better than others. So for those of you who don’t have any specific goal in mind and are just looking for a travel card you can use in your day-to-day life, here’s a list of what I’ve found to be the best travel credit cards, their features, and why you should have them.

MY #1 PICK: Chase Sapphire Reserve

When you think of the gold standard of travel credit cards, this is it.

When you sign-up for this card, you’ll receive:

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months.
$300 in annual travel credit.
5x points on flights purchased through Chase.
3x points on dining.
10x points on car rentals and hotels booked through Chase.
1 point per $1 on everything else.
A statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application.
Free Priority Pass lounge access (1300+ VIP airport lounges).
No foreign transaction fees.
10x points on Lyft, free DashPass from DoorDash, and $120 Peloton credit.
$550 annual fee.

While this card does carry a high annual fee, when you factor in the $300 travel credit, you’re really only paying $250 a year. Plus, when combined with the other perks, lounge access and the DoorDash savings, this easily makes this card my all-around favorite travel credit card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Not ready for the Chase Sapphire Reserve just yet? No worries, we have the “starter pack” here for you with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. While you don’t get as many perks, you are also not paying a high yearly fee (only $95 a year with this card), so that makes this card perfect for those starting out on their travel journeys.

When you sign for this card, you’ll receive:

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months.
$50 annual hotel stay credit.
5x points on travel.
3x points on groceries, restaurants, and streaming services.
1 point per $1 spent on everything else.
5x points on Lyft.
Free DashPass from DoorDash.
No foreign transaction fees.
$95 annual fee.

For only $95 a year, you have so many perks that will get you those bonus points quick, fast and in a hurry!

The Platinum Card from American Express

I want to LOVE this card, I really do, but I can only like it. I travel abroad frequently and many countries do NOT accept American Express, but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t an amazing travel credit card for so many other reasons.

When you sign up for this card, you’ll receive:

100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months
5x points on flights and hotels booked through the airlines or with American Express Travel
1x point on all other purchases
$200 hotel credit per year on hotels booked through American Express Travel
$200 airline fee credit per year for incidental fees (checked baggage, in-flight refreshments)
$200 Uber cash
Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application
Fee credit for Clear
Book with confidence knowing you’ll get the lowest prices on international flights
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status (complimentary room upgrades)
Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status (complimentary room upgrades)
Free Global Lounge Collection access (1400+ VIP airport lounges)
Transfer miles to any of their travel partners
No foreign transaction fees
$695 annual fee

While the card does come with a steep annual fee, you can easily offset that cost by taking advantage of this card’s many perks.

Capital One Venture

When it comes to ease of use + rewards value, Capital One Venture Rewards is the ideal choice for travel credit cards.

When you sign up for this card, you’ll receive:

75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months
Unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Transfer miles to any of their 15+ travel partners
A statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application
Book with confidence with price matching on flights and hotels (even after the fact for a partial refund)
No foreign transaction fees
$95 annual fee *(I’m told it can been waived after your first year if you call and ask. Worth a shot!)

The price matching alone makes this card worth the initial $95 fee to get started.

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has all the perks you’d expect of a top-tier travel credit card.

When you sign up for this card, you’ll receive:

75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months
Unlimited 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Unlimited 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
Transfer miles to any of their 15+ travel partners
A statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application
Book with confidence with price matching on flights and hotels (even after the fact for a partial refund)
Free Priority Pass lounge access (1300+ VIP airport lounges)
10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
No foreign transaction fees
$395 annual fee

At $395, it’s not a cheap card, but it does undercut some of the more expensive competitors. Add in the extra 10,000 bonus miles every year on your accounts anniversary and this card makes a very strong case as to why it should be the #1 travel credit card.

One thing to remember is that there’s not one card to use for all occasions. Each card has its perks, so you’ll want to find those that work best for you and stick with them to maximize your point earning potential and benefits.

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