Traveling for free is the best!
I have traveled with my family around the world and visited places that others can only dream about…and we did it for almost nothing.
Travel rewards credit cards are a great way to earn points.
Travel rewards have allowed us to visit more than 40 countries and territories. All travel cards are not created equal.
These cards offer rewards that are difficult to match.
Want to travel the globe with rewards points? Discover my top travel reward cards to get started!
Table of Contents
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture Card
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Citi Premier
Last thoughts on Traveling with Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred has to be my favorite travel rewards credit card for newbies. It’s the best credit card for beginners because the points are flexible and the rewards are great.
This card currently offers a huge signup bonus that earns you Chase points worth 60,000 for spending $4,000 within the first three months.
When you book your travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, those points are worth up to $750.
Chase Sapphire offers a number of benefits, including travel insurance and a 1:1 transfer to loyalty programs.
Transferring points can be a great benefit to travelers. In many cases you can use your points more efficiently than redeeming through a portal.
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Air France are just a few of the many partner programs available.
What else can you redeem points for?
Chase allows you to redeem your points for gift cards from Home Depot, Amazon and Kohl’s.
It’s great to never be stuck with points that you don’t intend to use. You’ll lose some value if you choose this option, however.
It’s easy to earn rewards. Earn 2x points for travel and dining with your card, and 1x points for everything else.
You also won’t pay foreign transaction fees, and you’ll get complimentary trip cancellation/interruption insurance coverage whenever you use your card or points to pay for travel.
The card does charge a $95 annual fee. However, the benefits of this card will more than make up for that.
Capital One Venture Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Card, another of my favorite travel credit cards, is also a great option.
The card is popular with both novices and seasoned reward junkies alike because of its simple method for earning and redeeming rewards points.
Spend $3,000 in the first three months to receive 50,000 points, which is equivalent to $500 worth of travel.
After earning the sign-up bonus, you’ll earn 2 points for every dollar spent. Capital One offers 10X points for booking travel through their portal. This will help you earn more quickly.
You can get up to $100 off the Global Entry or TSA preCheck application fees if you’re a traveler.
No blackouts apply to the miles. They can be redeemed at any time for any airline or hotel.
Transferring your miles is also possible to other airline loyalty cards, but – based on my experience – I don’t think the options or transfer rates are as good as with the CSP card.
Capital One waives the $95 annual charge for the first year.
This card is flexible and I can attest to that. You’ll appreciate the simplicity of earning and redeeming your points.
If you are new to rewards travel, the fact that the annual fee is waived for the first year can be a big bonus.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card
Consider the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card. Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months after opening your account and you’ll receive 30,000 bonus points, worth $300.
But the sign-up bonus is just the beginning. This card does not charge an annual fee, unlike other cards on this list.
Spend on gas, restaurants, rideshares, hotels, streaming, streaming services and more to earn 3x the rewards.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express waives foreign transaction charges and gives you even cell phone coverage, making it the perfect card for domestic or international travel.
The rewards are flexible and there is no limit to the number of points you can earn. You can use the points to redeem for free flights.
Spend your rewards on concert or new clothing, for example.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is a great way to save money on flights.
Spend $1,000 within the first three months to receive 40,000 bonus points, or enough for two round-trip flights to the Caribbean.
You can also earn 20,000 additional points if you spend $12,000.
The card makes it easy to earn miles. Spending with Southwest (or select hotels and car rental partners), you get 2 points for every dollar, and everything else gets 1 point.
Southwest rewards cardholders with 3,000 bonus miles each year at the anniversary of their card.
Southwest allows you to check your first two bags for free. This will save you money on your trip. Southwest’s airline card is different from other cards in that the points you earn are based on your actual fare.
You will earn more points for those discounted flights. It comes with an annual fee of $69, but the savings are worth it.
I travel Southwest frequently and I get great value out of the points that I earn. If you travel to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, or the Continental U.S. often, this card will be a great benefit for you.
Citi Premier
Citi Premier offers some of the most generous travel bonuses, from Vegas to Venice.
After you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, the signup bonus will be 50,000 points. You get 3X more points for gas station purchases, travel, restaurants, and entertainment.
Citi ThankYou Points are worth a lot. When you book your flight through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center, your 50,000 bonus points can be worth up to $625.
It does have an annual fee of $95 but this is waived the first year.
Transferring your points in a 1:1 ratio across 10 loyalty programs gives you the ultimate flexibility for rewards travel.
Last thoughts on Traveling with Rewards
The best way to travel the world is by using rewards. You can do this without spending a lot of money. You can save thousands of dollars on travel by using travel rewards credit cards.
The best travel rewards credit cards for you will depend on your individual travel goals. You should also keep in mind that credit card bonuses and offers are always changing.
The best card to use for your trip can change at any time. Keep your eyes open for the best offers and seize them when you see one.
If you enjoy traveling, a credit card with travel rewards can be used for everyday purchases. Pay off your monthly balance in full.
You want to travel cheaply, not get into debt. You can travel the world in no time if you follow the right steps.
What’s your favorite travel rewards credit card? What is your favorite credit card for travel rewards? Tell us in the comments!
Are you looking for more information on how to save money? You might also enjoy these articles:
How to succeed with money: Personal Finance 101
Pay yourself first: A simple concept to start saving money
