Best Travel Credit Cards For Beginners September 2024

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By Jaiden Hart - Writer & Content Manager, Credit Cards + 1 other

Reviewed By Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times

Travel credit cards allow you to earn points, miles, or cash back on your purchases. If you’re a frequent road-tripper or world traveler, it makes sense to have a card that will reward you on those expenses and allow you to save up for free hotel stays, flights, rental cars, and more.

If you’re starting your travel reward-earning journey, you may wonder which credit cards are best. No need to fret, we’ve done the work for you. Whether you’re interested in a low-fee card with manageable benefits or a premium card with high-end perks and valuable sign-up bonuses, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites.

Keep reading to learn which travel credit cards we recommend for beginners.

Our top picks for the best travel credit cards for beginners

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simple rewards + low annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Best for flexible rewards + low annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited^®: Best for no annual fee
The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Best for statement credits + premium rewards
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for uncomplicated perks + premium rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve^® : Best for redemption value + premium rewards

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Our top picks for travel credit cards for beginners

Best for simple rewards + low annual fee

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Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays, vacation rentals or rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.

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$95

75,000 miles

19.99% to 29.99% variable

Good/Excellent (670 - 850)

Why we like it

For simple reward earning and redemption, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card shines. It earns 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other purchases. This card also comes with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit and no foreign transaction fees.

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Card Details

Miles don’t expire for the lifetime of the account plus there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Up to a $120 credit to use toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Use miles for reimbursement on any travel purchase—or use them to book a trip through Capital One Travel
Enhance every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a range of cardholder benefits, such as $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs of your choice

Travel insurance protections incuded
Earn flexible rewards for travel
Reasonable $95 annual fee

Requires good or excellent credit
No everyday spending bonus categories
High APR

Best for flexible rewards + low annual fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card

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Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.

$95

60,000 points

21.49% to 28.49% variable

Good/Excellent (670 - 850)

Why we like it

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is our favorite travel credit card, and for good reason. It comes with a high reward-earning rate on travel through Chase Travel (5X points per dollar!), a $50 annual hotel credit, and a higher-than-average redemption rate (25% more value through Chase Travel!). Cardholders can also benefit from a 10% yearly points bonus, a spectacular welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to transfer points to one of Chase’s 13 travel partners. Its low $95 annual fee is certainly another perk— a manageable cost for beginner and seasoned travelers alike.

Best for no annual fee

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Up to 6.5% Reward Rate

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

20.49%-29.24% variable

Good/Excellent (670 - 850)

Why we like it

The Chase Freedom Unlimited shines as an overall cash-back card, with 1.5% back on all purchases and elevated rewards in various bonus categories. It’s also an exceptional no-annual-fee travel card, earning 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, travel through the Chase Travel portal, gift cards, and more. And if you eventually upgrade to another Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, you can pool your Chase Ultimate Rewards points together for additional value. However, if you spend a lot of time outside the U.S. you may want to pair this with a no foreign transaction fee card, since Freedom Unlimited has a hefty 3% foreign transaction fee.

Best for statement credits + premium rewards

The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express

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Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.

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$695

80,000 points

See Pay Over Time APR

Good/Excellent (670 - 850)

Why we like it

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the most highly acclaimed travel credit cards on the market, with over $1,500 in yearly statement credits available, airport lounge access, exclusive event access, and more. The catch— a $695 annual fee. This card isn’t for the faint of heart but can provide tremendous value to frequent travelers.

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Card Details

$200 Hotel Credit: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when paying with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Receive up to $20 back in statement credits every month when you make eligible purchases with your Platinum Card®. This offer applies to Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
Escape the hectic nature of the airport with the American Express Global Lounge Collection®. With complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries, you can enjoy more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Maximize savings on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership using your Platinum Card^® and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one eligible airline and then get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you are charged incidental fees by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Receive Uber VIP status and get up to $200 annually ($15 per month, plus a $20 bonus in December) in Uber Cash on Rides or Eats orders in the U.S. Uber Cash and VIP status are only available to Basic Card Members. To receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. This benefit may only be used in the United States. Terms apply.
$199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Get to your gate faster at over 50 airports nationwide with CLEAR^® Plus and receive up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership when you use your card. Subject to auto-renewal. CLEARLanes are available at over 100 airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Enjoy either a $100 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee every 4 years or a statement credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck^® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also get access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Use your Platinum Card^® to receive up to $100 in statement credits for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com annually (Up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually). Enrollment is required.
Add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile and enjoy access to exclusive reservations and unique dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy
Terms Apply.

Excellent rewards rate for travel purchases
Qualify for $1,500+ in statement credits
Very generous welcome offer

High annual fee of $695
Many statement credit offers are too specific and hard to use
Non-travel-perks aren’t spectacular

Best for uncomplicated perks + premium rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare and vacation rentals purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

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$395

75,000 miles

19.99% to 29.99% variable

Excellent (740 - 850)

Why we like it

A level up from the Venture Rewards Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with a higher reward-earning rate and more generous perks. Cardholders can benefit from a yearly $300 travel credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, airport lounge access, and more. These additional perks come at a cost, though. The annual fee of this card rings in at $395 per year.

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Card Details

Get a $300 annual credit for booking trips through Capital One Travel
Enjoy 10,000 bonus miles every year, which is equivalent to $100 towards travel, starting on your first anniversary
Unlimited complimentary access to over 1,300 lounges, including Capital One lounges and the partner lounge network, for you and two guests
Use Venture X miles to cover the cost of travel expenses, such as flights, hotels and rental cars; you can even transfer miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs of your choice
Enhance every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collection with a range of cardholder benefits, such as experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases, transfers to international airlines, and more
Can qualify for hundreds of dollars in credits each year
Huge welcome offer

$395 annual fee
Large spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus
Excellent credit required

Best for redemption value + premium rewards

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Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, 3X points on non-Chase travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending.

$550

60,000 points

22.49% to 29.49% variable

Excellent (740 - 850)

Why we like it

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® card is ideal for travelers looking to earn and redeem high-value rewards. With up to 10x points on eligible travel purchases through Chase Travel and generous reward-earning opportunities on non-travel purchases, it’s easy to rack up a mountain of points with this card. Possibly the best part of the deal is that points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel, helping to elevate the value of your rewards. On top of that, cardholders can benefit from an annual $300 travel credit. An important thing to note is that rewards on travel don’t roll in until you’ve spent the entirety of your annual travel credit. The first $300 spent on travel automatically goes toward the travel credit. This card also has a hefty $550 annual fee.

What to consider when looking for a starter travel credit card

There are a lot of travel credit cards on the market, so choosing the right one may feel daunting. To help whittle down your options, consider the following factors.

1. Annual fee

How much are you willing to pay for an annual fee? Some travel credit cards have no annual fee while others have fees over $600 per year. We tend to recommend low-annual-fee travel cards for beginners, but you may find that a premium credit card is more up your alley.

No matter how much you’re willing to spend, make sure you can utilize enough of the benefits to offset the yearly cost.

2. General travel or brand-specific card

All the cards mentioned above are general travel credit cards, meaning they’re not branded with a specific airline or hotel. If you’re loyal to a certain brand like United, Southwest, Delta, or Marriott, you may find that a co-branded hotel credit card or airline credit card makes more sense than a general card.

3. Additional benefits

Some of the best travel credit cards come with generous benefits to help offset their annual fee. Perks like TSA PreCheck or CLEAR Plus fee credits, airport lounge access, travel credits, and partner benefits can be incredibly valuable if you can utilize them.

If you don’t spend more than $300 per year on travel, a card with a $300 yearly travel credit won’t be worth it. Or if you’re not a fan of flying, a TSA PreCheck membership won’t be useful.

Closely examine a card’s benefits and see which perks can help enhance your travels.

How to maximize your travel rewards

Plan for the welcome offer. Apply for your chosen travel credit card shortly before you’re planning on spending a significant amount to ensure you earn the welcome bonus.
Keep track of bonus categories. Some travel credit cards have specific bonus categories that earn rewards more generously than other purchases. Make sure you’re utilizing these categories to speed up your reward-earning endeavors.
Use additional benefits. Does your card have a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry? Or perhaps it has a free membership for Instacart or DashPass. Check your card’s benefits to learn what perks are available to you.
Pay off your balance every month. Any time you carry a balance from month to month, you begin accruing interest, effectively eating away at your rewards earned.

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^{For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, please visit this page.}

FAQ: Beginner travel credit cards

What should I look for in a first travel credit card?

When looking for your first travel credit card, it’s important to consider the annual fee, the card’s bonus categories, and what additional benefits are available to make sure the card aligns with your spending habits and lifestyle.

What is the best travel credit card?

The best travel credit card for you depends on your goals and spending habits, but our top pick is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

What is the easiest travel credit card to get?

No travel credit card is easy to get, as they tend to require high credit scores to qualify. You may have an easier time getting a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or a low-annual-fee card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Is it hard to get a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards often require good to excellent credit scores (670 to 850 FICO score) to qualify. If you have a solid credit history and a great credit score, you likely won’t have a hard time getting a travel credit card.

What credit score do you need for a Chase Travel card?

Chase travel credit cards require good to excellent credit scores to qualify for. We recommend having at least a 700 credit score before applying for one of these cards.

About the Author

Jaiden Hart Writer & Content Manager, Credit Cards

Jaiden Hart serves as a credit card writer and content manager at LA Times Compare. Beginning her career as an intern on the Compare team, she has since amassed considerable expertise and passion in the credit card industry.

Jaiden’s primary objective is to simplify the process of choosing and managing a credit card through engaging and honest content so individuals can more effectively maximize their benefits and meet their financial goals.

About the Reviewer

Blake Esken Los Angeles Times

Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.

As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.

He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards For Beginners