Best Travel Reward Credit Cards For Beginners

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Ahhh, travel. Just the thought of jet-setting to a tropical paradise can turn a gloomy day into a joyful one.

But this trip you’re dreaming about likely isn’t cheap! So instead of starting to plot and plan your next excursion, you might be tempted to avert your gaze to more humdrum tasks, devolving back into a hardened realist.

Well, turn that frown upside down! Because the truth is that travel rewards cards can allow you to take epic trips for little to no money. That trip (like Beyonce’s love) might not cost you a dang thing.

6 Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners

We talked about cheap and free travel with Brian Kelly (aka The Points Guy) in episode 571 of the How To Money podcast. The prospect of jet-setting for nearly free inspired us to share some of the best travel credit cards for beginners.

Here are they are:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The card_name is the best all-around travel rewards card – and it has been for quite some time. And while some of the best travel cards come with exorbitant annual fees, this one will only cost you annual_fees.

You might retort, but aren’t fees against the HTM ethos? Typically, yes. But not if the price of admission is less than the value you’re going to receive from that card- the “ROI” could easily make it worth it.

First things first, the sign-up bonus is amazing right now: bonus_miles_full Not too shabby!

If you travel on the reg, the other benefits you’ll get from this card will more than cover that annual fee too. If you are a habitual rideshare user, 5x points on Lyft rides is pretty sweet. You’ll also net 3x points when you use the card for eating out. Plus, you snag 5x Ultimate Reward Points on travel booked through Chase Travel Portal.

Want more no-cost benefits? card_name charges no foreign transaction fees. You’ll also get free trip cancellation insurance and primary rental car insurance which help make this card a slam dunk.

Because of the value that this card provides, most folks really should have this credit card in their wallet, including reward card newbies.

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Card

The card_name is easily one of the top credit cards for travel reward beginners. This card also comes with an annual fee of annual_fees. Although you’ll be able to bonus_miles_full!

And you don’t need to be a habitual traveler who is on the road every month in order to maximize the rewards this card has to offer. Instead of unlimited airport lounge visits, you only get two per year in one of the 100+ Capital One airport lounges. That’s perfect for someone who is just getting started! And it helps keep the annual fee to a minimum.

Other perks include 2x miles for every dollar you spend. That might sound basic, but it’s pretty generous considering it applies to every single purchase you might make! So rather than shuffling through all your different credit cards to optimize your points, keep it simple with a standard 2x travel card. (Plus, nobody wants an exploding wallet!)

You’ll also get a $100 credit that will cover your fee for Global Entry & TSA Precheck. The more you travel the more valuable that time-saving benefit gives you.

This credit card is definitely in contention for the top travel reward credit card out there.

The card_name is definitely in contention for the top travel reward credit card out there.

3. Citi Premier Card

The card_name is in the vein of the two cards we just talked about, albeit with slightly fewer perks. You will bonus_miles for spending $4,000 over the course of the first three months, which is pretty great.

The best feature of this card is the plethora of categories for which you can earn 3x Citi points when you spend with it. You’ll score that 3x Citi point perk at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and, of course, hotels and airlines. If those are your top spend categories this card can make a whole lot of sense for you.

Learn more and compare the best travel cards over at CardRatings.com

4. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

In our recent conversation with Brian Kelly (aka The Points Guy) we talked about the massive benefits that the card_name can provide for folks who like to travel domestically. The thing is, Southwest is an incredible airline known for their low costs and top-notch customer service.

But you won’t typically get very far on a Southwest flight. They don’t fly to Europe, Asia, or Australia. Southwest does serve some markets outside the US including Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas and Jamaica, but that’s not their bread and butter.

bonus_miles_full

If regular domestic travel on Southwest fits your travel lifestyle, it can be a worthwhile card to have in your wallet. And that SW Companion Pass can be worth it’s weight in gold if you’re traveling regularly with a partner!

5. American Express® Gold Card

The card_name is the first card we’ve recommended where the annual fee creeps into triple digits. It’s annual_fees on this card. That’s not cheap! But, with the ability to earn 4x on groceries and at restaurants, it could still be worthwhile for you.

This card also has a great welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Some of the coolest secondary perks that the card_name offers are no foreign transaction fees, extended warranty protection, which gives you a full year of additional coverage on items you buy, and purchase protection, which means that damaged or stolen items you bought within the last 90 days are fully covered.

One random perk for you style-conscious folks is that you can opt to get this card in an adorable rose gold color. But please don’t pick this card for that reason alone. 🤣

6. The Platinum Card® from American Express

card_name is the flashier, slightly more expensive twin to the card we mentioned above. And my little sister has sworn by this one for years. My personal hesitation has always been that it comes with a annual_fees annual fee, which is way more than the other cards on this list.

Sounds shocking, right!? But the truth is this card can be well worth that annual fee because of the secondary perks it comes with. That is, if you use them properly.

So let’s list out some of those fabulous perks! card_name comes with a $200 annual hotel credit, a $240 digital entertainment credit (aka streaming), a $155 Walmart+ credit, access to hotel lounges via Priority Pass, and 100% reimbursement for Clear membership (a $189 value). There’s also a significant Uber Eats credit and an airline fee credit. If you end up getting value from just half of the secondary perks that American Express offers on this card it’ll be well worth forking over that annual fee.

Many travelers also covet the access they receive to the American Express global lounges which exist across more than 1,400 airports around the world. If you like to get out and see the world often, this perk will make your time in the airport a little more comfortable. It’s hard to put a price tag on this benefit but dedicated travelers are likely to enjoy it heartily.

Last but not least, there’s a hefty welcome offer: bonus_miles_full. Seriously, this can be an awesome card if you use it right!

What About The Dozens of Other Travel Reward Credit Cards?

There are, of course, other travel credit cards in existence that will suit folks well too. Some come with even richer rewards and higher annual fees. Others will garner you rewards points for specific hotel chains or airlines. And some of those might be a perfect fit for you!

If you’re interested in finding cards tailored to your membership rewards preference, check out our new Credit Card Search Tool! It looks like this:

Best Travel Cards for Beginners Search Tool

Still, it’s our belief that for travel reward credit card beginners, it makes sense to stick to some of the pieces of plastic that we’ve mentioned above because they offer the most flexibility when it comes to earning and redeeming those perks across a wide range of travel providers.

Or, if you’re traveling for work (and can use your personal card to pay for reimbursable work expenses), you might like to check out these posts:

Important Caveats Before Beginners Apply For a Travel Reward Credit Card

These travel cards can be a boon for your ability to see the world while paying less money. But here are the rules you’ll want to abide by before you start applying willy nilly.

Read the fine print. There are minimum spend limits on many of these cards in order to get the headline sign-up bonus. If you can’t spend that much money in the allotted time, don’t apply for the card. Running the math on the likely benefits you’ll receive based on how you spend before you sign up for one of these cards would be wise.
Don’t spend extra just to accrue points. If getting one of these cards is going to cause you to spend more than you should, don’t do it. We don’t want you to buy things that you don’t need just to bank points for future travel. That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!
Pay attention to your credit score. Do you have a good enough credit score to qualify for one of these cards? You’ll want to make sure before you submit an application. The truth is that signing up for a new credit card will ding your credit score just a bit. But that minor damage doesn’t last long. Plus, having more credit available to you will actually boost your credit score over time. Still, be careful because that new credit card could be too costly- especially if you’re applying for a mortgage.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Dip your toe in by signing up for one of these cards that will offer you the most substantial rewards points based on your spending patterns. It’s possible to go too hard too fast which could sour you on the whole idea. Remember, the tortoise wins the race. Starting small increases your chances of success. Plus, these bonuses and rewards aren’t going anywhere.
Consider the overall value of that card in your life. Paying for goods and services you would normally buy via a tool that offers substantial perks makes sense to us. But it’s important to consider your own money goals and spending habits before jumping in with both feet. Will the hassle of accruing rewards outweigh the benefits? The answer to that depends on your specific situation.

Are Travel Rewards Cards Worth It?

It is possible to nerd out on the best travel credit cards too hard. And in order to optimize the rewards you’re accruing, it’s important to do your research. Whether you redeem rewards through the portal of your credit card provider or through an airline directly depends on a few factors. And the route you choose will have a direct impact on the value you get from them.

Depending on which card you get, the difficulty level for redeeming points can vary. But the cards we’ve recommended in this article offer the simplest and broadest accrual and spending options.

If travel isn’t your thing or you find the whole travel rewards credit card game to be a bit complex, simple cash back credit cards can still offer 2x on every purchase you make, allowing you to partake in the rewards bounty without getting a migraine. Oh, and don’t forget to make sure you have a travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees!

But, if you don’t mind doing a little extra work, adding the right credit cards that specialize in travel rewards can be a boon to the disciplined spender, allowing you to make the most of your travel budget, take incredible trips at a fraction of the cost you’d otherwise pay.

Enjoy your trip and don’t forget to send us a pic from your exotic destinations!