I get asked some version of the same question all the time: what’s the best travel credit card to actually keep in your wallet?
For me, the answer has changed over time. As my travel habits have evolved, so has the mix of cards I rely on. Some help me earn points quickly, others offset travel costs with built-in credits, and a few simply make traveling more comfortable.
While getting outsize value from a travel credit card often means paying an annual fee, I’ve found that the right perks can more than justify the cost. And one of the cards I’m looking to add to my wallet next doesn’t charge an annual fee at all.
These are the travel credit cards I keep coming back to — and in some cases, the ones I’m planning to add next — based on their earning potential, flexibility and benefits I actually find useful.
How I chose these travel credit cards
I chose these cards based on the value they can provide travelers. In particular, I considered:
- Earning potential: How rewarding the card is for both travel and everyday spending.
- Rewards flexibility: How many useful options cardholders have for redeeming their rewards.
- Travel benefits: Whether perks like lounge access, elite status and travel credits can meaningfully improve the travel experience.
- Ease of use: How straightforward it is to maximize the card’s benefits and statement credits.
- Long-term value: Whether the card offers enough ongoing value to justify its annual fee, if it has one.
I’ve also included cards for different types of travelers, from beginners and those seeking premium perks to airline and hotel loyalists and travelers who don’t want to pay an annual fee.
Comparing my top picks for travel credit cards
| Card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | Welcome offer value* | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see ) | $795 | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
|
$2,050 |
Purchases that qualify for the $300 annual travel credit will not earn points. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see ) |
$95 | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
$1,538 |
*Welcome offer value is an estimated value based on TPG’s November 2026 valuations and is not provided by the issuer.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Best for: Premium travel perks
The newest premium travel card in my wallet is the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and after just a few months, it’s already become one of my favorites.
While the $795 annual fee is steep, I’ve been getting plenty of use out of the card’s travel perks. One of my favorite benefits so far has been the up to $500 in annual credits for The Edit, Chase’s curated hotel booking platform (issued as two credits of up to $250 per calendar year for stays of two nights or more).
I recently used one of those credits for a luxury stay at At Six in Stockholm, where I also enjoyed some of the other perks when you book with The Edit, such as complimentary breakfast for two and a $100 property credit. The hotel’s impressive breakfast spread was a particular highlight, and I was able to use the property credit to cover a couple of dine-in meals.
Lounge access has also been a major benefit. I frequently fly through Dulles International Airport (IAD) when visiting family on the East Coast, and the Etihad Lounge, which is part of the Chase Sapphire Lounge network, has become one of my go-to spots to relax before a flight.
I’ve also booked other hotel stays through Chase Travel, where the card earns 8 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases. Between the hotel benefits, lounge access and $300 annual travel credit, I’ve found plenty of ways to put the Reserve to work in a short period of time.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 100,000 valuable points
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Best for: Beginner travel rewards
The Sapphire Preferred was the first travel card in my wallet — and that goes for a lot of us here at TPG. It’s also the card I recommend most often to beginners or casual travelers who want flexible points without a sky-high annual fee.
With beginner-friendly perks like a $100 annual hotel credit and strong travel protections, it delivers real value without overwhelming complexity.
The card also makes it easy to get quick, upfront value. After earning the welcome offer and maximizing bonus categories — like 3 points per dollar spent on dining and 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchased outside the Chase Travel portal — I was able to build a sizable stash of points within a few months.
I ultimately redeemed those points for a trip through four European countries, which felt like a pretty great return for my first year with the card.
I’m also particularly excited about the card’s newer earning category for vacation rentals. As someone who’s stayed in more than 60 Airbnbs, I love that I can now earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible vacation home rentals, including Airbnb bookings.
It’s the travel card I recommend over and over again to friends and family because of its ease of use, strong earning potential and outsize value relative to its modest $95 annual fee.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Related: 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner
Capital One Venture X
Best for: Straightforward premium rewards
Another top contender in the premium space — and one that’s firmly earned a place in my wallet — is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card. For me, its biggest selling point is how easy it is to get value from the card without having to overthink my spending.
Part of the reason I added the card was to diversify my points and miles beyond Chase Ultimate Rewards. Up until recently, I’d been almost exclusively earning Chase points, but as I’ve gotten deeper into the points and miles world, I’ve realized how valuable it is to have access to multiple transferable currencies and transfer partners.
At the same time, the Venture X fits naturally into my everyday spending habits. Cardholders earn a flat 2 miles per dollar on nearly every purchase, which removes the need to track bonus categories or optimize every swipe. It’s become my go-to catch-all card and the one I reach for whenever a purchase doesn’t neatly fit into a bonus category on another card.
I’ve also gotten great use out of its travel benefits. I recently used the card’s $300 annual Capital One Travel credit toward a three-night stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton London Marble Arch, bringing the cost down from $1,096 to $796. I also appreciate being able to relax in Capital One Lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges when I travel.
For me, the Venture X works because it combines straightforward everyday earning with travel benefits I actually use, making its $395 annual fee easier to justify.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Related: 5 reasons why I’m applying for the Capital One Venture X
United Quest
Best for: Frequent United flyers
For travelers who regularly fly a single airline — especially those based near one of that carrier’s hubs — a cobranded airline card can make a lot of sense.
That’s been true for me with United, but I think the same general strategy applies to frequent Delta and American Airlines flyers as well. If you consistently fly one carrier, the right airline card can make your travel experience cheaper, smoother and more comfortable through perks like travel credits, free checked bags and priority boarding.
Despite its $350 annual fee, the United Quest offers several easy-to-use benefits that help offset the cost. The $200 annual United travel credit, for instance, has helped offset flights home to visit family. And the two free checked bags for me and a travel companion have already saved me a significant amount in baggage fees.
The card also offers award flight discounts, anniversary bonus miles, priority boarding and improved award availability, which make the card feel like a keeper for the long term.
That said, I do wish it included lounge access — especially at this price point.
Still, the Quest has made flying United more affordable and convenient for me, which is exactly what I want from an airline credit card.
To learn more, read our full review of the United Quest.
Related: I just changed my airline loyalty — here’s how the United Quest Card sealed the switch
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Best for: No-annual-fee rewards
Not every worthwhile travel rewards card needs to charge an annual fee. The Freedom Unlimited is one I’m interested in adding to my wallet because it could fill an important gap in my Chase strategy without adding another annual fee.
On its own, the Freedom Unlimited earns cash-back rewards. But when you pair it with an eligible Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, you can combine your rewards and potentially get more value by redeeming them for travel or transferring them to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
That’s particularly appealing to me because I’m working toward building the Chase Trifecta, a strategy that combines multiple Chase cards to maximize earnings across different types of purchases.
With no annual fee, the Freedom Unlimited could give me another way to earn rewards on everyday spending while letting my Sapphire cards handle travel purchases and unlock more valuable redemption options.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Related: The best beginner Chase card combo for travel rewards
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Best for: Hilton perks without the premium price tag
The Hilton Surpass is the newest addition to my wallet — and my first hotel credit card.
For years, I’ve prioritized flexible rewards over hotel-specific points because I didn’t want to commit to a single hotel program. But as I’ve started traveling more and spending more nights in hotels, I realized I was leaving some valuable perks on the table.
After comparing several hotel cards, I ultimately chose the Hilton Surpass because it struck the right balance between cost and benefits. One of the biggest draws for me is automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which gives me meaningful hotel perks without requiring me to earn status through stays.
I’m also a fan of the card’s up to $200 in Hilton statement credits each calendar year, issued as up to $50 each quarter. And Hilton’s large footprint means I’m much more likely to find a property where I can actually put those benefits to use when I travel.
For me, the Surpass is a relatively approachable way to test-drive hotel loyalty while getting useful benefits from the start. As I spend more nights with Hilton, I’ll be able to see whether a hotel card deserves a permanent place in my travel strategy.
To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Surpass.
Related: How I chose my first hotel credit card — and the 4 cards I considered
Bottom line
Choosing the right travel credit card ultimately comes down to how you travel, where you spend your money and which perks you’ll actually use.
For beginners, the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains one of the strongest entry points thanks to its balance of value, flexibility and simplicity. Frequent travelers looking for a more premium experience — especially when it comes to lounge access and travel perks — may get more value from the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture X is a great fit for travelers who want premium benefits without overcomplicating their rewards strategy, and the United Quest offers a strong value proposition for frequent United flyers who prioritize convenience and United-specific perks.
For travelers who don’t want to add another annual fee, the Chase Freedom Unlimited can be a useful complement to a Sapphire card, particularly if you’re building a Chase trifecta. And for travelers who want hotel-specific perks, the Hilton Surpass offers a relatively accessible entry point to hotel loyalty with automatic Hilton Gold status and useful Hilton credits.
You certainly don’t need all six cards on this list to get good value from travel rewards. But whether you’re looking for your first travel card or considering adding another to your wallet, I’d start by thinking about which benefits you’d use most often — and whether they’re worth the annual fee.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Apply here: United Quest
Apply here: Freedom Unlimited
Apply here: Hilton Surpass
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, please click .
