Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card photo

Apply

This card earns Rapid Rewards Points (Rapid Rewards program by Southwest Airlines)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

1-2 points per $1 spent

$99

$600

40,000 points

$1,491

We estimate as

Card Details
40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Terms apply.
Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines® purchases, and 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Receive 6,000 bonus points after your cardmember anniversary.
No foreign transaction fees.
You'll earn 1 point for each $1 of the first $15,000 of balance transfers made during the first 90 days from your original account open date.
Unlimited points that don't expire as long as your card account is open.
With Rapid Rewards®, if we've got a seat, it's yours.
Free 1st & 2nd checked bags.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
High rewards rate
Sign-up bonus
No foreign transaction fees
Anniversary bonus
No Penalty APR
Security & Benefits

Cons
Excellent credit needed
Has annual fee

Our Take

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card can significantly improve to your travel. It comes with a relatively high $99 annual fee, but this shouldn’t be a deal breaker for those who can put all the card’s benefits to use. First, you’ll get a 40,000-point sign-up bonus, enough for a round-trip flight. Even more enticing, the card can earn you 1,500 tier qualifying points.

The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express photo

Apply

This card earns Starpoints (Starwood Preferred Guest program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

5.4%

2-6 points per $1 spent

$95

waived first year

$2,025

75,000 points

$6,501

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first 12 months, then $95.
Use your Card and earn 6 Starpoints® for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels.
Earn 2 Starpoint for all other eligible purchases.
Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at a participating hotel. Select hotels have resort fees.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Receive complimentary Silver Elite status with your Card. Earn Gold Elite status after spending $30,000 or more in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Receive free in-room, premium Internet access while staying at participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards ® hotels.

Pros
Generous signup bonus
High rate of rewards
No foreign transaction fees

Cons
Has annual fee
Good to excellent credit score required

Our Take

Whatever aspects of The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express you might consider, the only one that really matters is the incredible value of Starpoints®. Earning two of them per dollar is one of the best travel card offers that ever existed.

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

+ up to 5% restricted

$3,285

We estimate as

Card Details
No annual fee.
Earn 5% cash back in new bonus categories each quarter like gas, restaurants, Amazon.com, Sam's Club and more on up to $1,500 in purchases every quarter you activate.
1% cash back or more on all other purchases.
Only Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
0% Intro APR for 14 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Redeem your rewards for cash in any amount, any time. Your cash back never expires.
Paying late won't raise your APR. No late fee for your first late payment.
Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch on either the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases.

Pros
5% cash back
No annual fee
0% Intro APR for 14 months

Cons
No sign-up bonus
3% fee for each balance transfer

Our Take

The card has no annual fee, a little tolerance to late payments and an attractive 14-month long balance transfer offer with zero APR. An equal promotional period of zero APR on purchases makes it possible to you to earn rewards while paying down your debt without pitfalls (just mind the gap when APRs differ).

Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card photo

Apply

This card earns Ultimate Rewards Points (Chase Ultimate Rewards program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

2.1%

1-2 points per $1 spent

$95

waived first year

$1,050

50,000 points

$2,674

We estimate as

Card Details
50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants - from airfare and hotels to fine dining and cafés.
Plus, 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, after that $95.
1:1 Point Transfer to leading frequent travel programs.
Travel & purchase coverage.
24/7 Access to a Customer Service Specialist.

Pros
High rewards rate on travel
No Foreign transaction fees
Sign-up bonus
Get more points on travel and dining at restaurants
Security & Benefits

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card is, perhaps, the best way to participate in Chase Ultimate Rewards® loyalty program. The introductory bonus is huge, redemption value is above average, and the earn rate is reasonable.

Apply

This card earns Hilton Honors Points (Hilton Honors program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.8%

3-12 points per $1 spent

$95

$750

125,000 points

$2,539

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each $1 of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 6X Hilton Honors bonus points for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors bonus points on all other eligible purchases.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status with your Hilton Honors Ascend Card.
No foreign transaction fees.
Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Pros
Generous signup bonus
High rate of rewards
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
Has annual fee

Apply

This card earns ThankYou Points (Citi ThankYou program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.7%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$95

waived first year

$850

50,000 points

$2,374

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.
50,000 points are redeemable for $625 in airfare on any airline, anytime with no blackout dates when booked through the ThankYou® Travel Center, or $500 in gift cards redeemed from the ThankYou® Rewards collection.
3 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on travel including gas stations, airfare, hotels, cruises, car rental agencies, travel agencies, railways, public transportation, tolls, taxis, parking and much more.
2 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on dining out and entertainment.
1 ThankYou Point on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
No expiration and no limit on the number of points you can earn.
Points Transfer allows you to transfer your qualifying and available ThankYou® Points to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
16.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness, for transfers completed within 2 months from date of account opening.
No foreign transaction fees on purchases.
Travel & Purchase protection.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
No foreign transaction fees
Travel & Purchase protection

Cons
Needs excellent credit

Our Take

The Citi ThankYou® Premier Card is worth getting. It may become a nice companion on your trip, especially if you are a frequent traveler. If you’re fine with surfing the ThankYou® Rewards program, you may find plenty of nice redemption options.

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.8%

1-4 points per $1 spent

$95

$720

40,000 points

$2,249

We estimate as

Card Details
40,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases with the Hyatt Credit Card in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, an additional 20,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.
4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases at all Hyatt hotels and resorts with your Hyatt Credit Card.
2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships.
1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on purchases anywhere else you use your card. Points don't expire as long as your Hyatt Credit Card account is open.
Receive a free night award every year after your cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 hotel or resort.
No Foreign transaction fees.
Redeem for free nights with as few as 5,000 points.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
High rewards rate
Sign-up bonuses
No Foreign transaction fees
1 free night annually
Travel & purchase coverage

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required
Has annual fee

Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns Barclay Reward Points (Barclay Premier Rewards program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

2.1%

Miles per $1 on all purchases per $ spent

$89

waived first year

$630

60,000 miles

$1,964

We estimate as

Card Details
Enjoy 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee - that's enough to redeem for a $600 travel statement credit toward a qualifying travel purchase.
Redeem your miles for travel statement credits starting at 10,000 for $100 toward all or a portion of your travel purchase of $100 or more made within the past 120 days
Earn 2X miles on all purchases.
Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption every time you redeem.
Enjoy a 0% introductory APR for 12 months for each balance transfer made within 45 days of account opening.
To qualify for participation in the Rewards Program Your Account cannot have been inactive for 6 billing cycles in a row (representing approximately 6 months). “Inactive” means you have no balance, no payments, and no transactions.
No foreign transaction fees on anything you buy while in another country.
Travel accident and trip cancellation insurance.
$0 fraud liability protection means you're not responsible for unauthorized charges you report to bank.
MasterCard World Elite concierge and luxury travel benefits.

Pros
Generous sign-up bonus
Earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases
Get 5% miles back every time you redeem
0% APR for 12 months balance transfers offer
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
Annual fee of $89

Our Take

Do you strive to get to your next travel destination as soon as possible? Stop right here and apply for the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®. No doubts, this card will bring you closer to free travel with each purchase you make.

Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus credit card photo

Apply

This card earns Marriott Rewards Points (Marriott Rewards program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.8%

2-6 points per $1 spent

$95

$675

75,000 points

$1,945

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 75,000 Bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening with your Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus credit card.
Earn 6 points for every $1 spent at over 6,500 participating Marriott Rewards® and SPG® hotels.
Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases and your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your credit card every 24 months.
Receive a Free Night Stay in a Category 1-5 hotel each year after your account anniversary. Free Night Stays start at 7,500 points.
No foreign transaction fees.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rewards rate
No foreign transaction fees
Free night stay every year

Cons
More valuable if you frequently stay at Marriott properties
Has annual fee

Our Take

In our opinion, the Marriott Rewards® Premier credit card is one of the best premium hotel credit cards. It provides extremely lucrative benefits on expenses, list of complimentary services, opportunity to move towards Elite status and great redemption options for hotel stays. However, this card is designed especially for customers who often stays at Marriott and SPG properties.

Apply

This card earns Ultimate Rewards Points (Chase Ultimate Rewards program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

2.1%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$450

$1,050

50,000 points

$1,817

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3X Points on travel and dining at restaurants - from airfare and hotels to fine dining and cafés, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
No Foreign transaction fees.
Get 50% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
No Blackout Dates or Travel Restrictions.
Premium travel benefits.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
50,000 bonus points
$300 Annual Travel Credit
High rewards rate
No Foreign transaction fees
50% more in travel redemption

Cons
Excellent credit needed
Has annual fee

Our Take

Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ is a premium credit card that provides you with extremely lucrative rewards. With $450 annual fee, this card is quite expensive to maintain, but if you obtain it, you get an access to luxury services and a great bonus and rewards program, which are especially worthwhile for travelers.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns AAdvantage Miles (AAdvantage program by American Airlines)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.4%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$99

waived first year

$700

50,000 miles

$1,661

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases. Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
Fly to great destinations on American Airlines operated flights and save your AAdvantage® miles for another trip. Terms Apply.
Receive a 25% savings on eligible inflight food and beverage purchases.
Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines domestic flights.
Travel & Purchase protection.
Citi® Cards with Apple Pay®.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
Double miles
No Foreign Transaction Fees
First checked bag is free
Preferred boarding

Cons
Annual fee is waived for the first 12 months, then $95

Apply

This card earns SKYPASS Miles (SKYPASS program by Korean Air)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.7%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$95

$510

30,000 miles

$1,633

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 30,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 within first 90 days.
2 Miles on Korean Air ticket purchases, Gas Station and Hotel purchases.
1 mile for every $1 you spend in eligible net purchases.
2,000 Bonus Miles at renewal.
No cap on miles you can earn.
$50 Off coupon for Korean Air ticket purchase each year,
Two KAL Lounge coupons each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Redeem miles for reward travel and upgrades on Korean Air and SkyTeam partners.
SKYPASS Visa miles can be combined with your SKYPASS flight miles.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
Bonus reward points
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
Has annual fee

Apply

This card earns Mileage Plus Miles (Mileage Plus program by United)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.4%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$95

waived first year

$560

40,000 miles

$1,580

We estimate as

Card Details
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, an additional 25,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at restaurants and on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
No Foreign transaction fees.
You can use MileagePlus miles toward travel on United®, currently starting as low as 12,500 miles for a one-way Saver Award within the continental U.S. and Canada.
No miles limit or expiration as long as your credit card account is open.
Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $100 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Priority boarding.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
Generous signup bonus
2X miles on tickets purchased from United
No foreign transaction fees
Free first checked bag
Priority boarding

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

The United Explorer Card is a co-branded rewards card that earns MileagePlus® miles and steers you towards flying United. While there is a long list of various minor benefits, conditions, and drawbacks, the balance of the card’s worth hangs on two things only. One, an annual fee of $95, which comes into force from the second year. Two, a free checked bag on each United flight you take.

British Airways Visa Signature® card photo

Apply

This card earns Avios (Executive Club program by British Airways)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$95

$750

50,000 points

$1,545

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $3,000 on purchases with the first 3 months of account opening.
Plus earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios after you spend $10,000 on purchases within your first year of account opening, plus a further 25,000 Bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 total on purchases within your first year from account opening.
3 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases.
1 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
Automatic enrollment in the Executive Club for new members.
No foreign transaction fees.
Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa Signature card, you will earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
No foreign transaction fees
Sign-up bonus
Annual bonus
High rate of rewards
Automatic enrollment in the Executive Club

Cons
Has annual fee
Better option for those who fly British Airways or oneWorld partners frequently

U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$85

$450

30,000 points

$1,545

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 30,000 bonus FlexPoints worth $450 on airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and more. Just spend $2,000 in eligible Net Purchases (purchases minus credits and returns) on your card within the first four months of account opening.
Earn 3X points at restaurants and 2X points at gas stations and at airlines - which will help you reach your next travel experience that much quicker.
Earn 1 FlexPoint for every $1 spent on all other eligible net purchases. Terms Apply.
$25 Airline Allowance.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi.
Smart Chip Technology.
Enjoy an automatic statement credit reimbursement on the application fee for whichever program you apply for first.

Pros
High rewards rate
No Foreign Transaction Fees

Cons
Has annual fee

Apply

This card earns Hilton Honors Points (Hilton Honors program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.8%

3-14 points per $1 spent

$450

$900

150,000 points

$1,494

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 14X Hilton Honors bonus points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors bonus points for flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals, and U.S. restaurants. Terms apply.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors bonus points on all other eligible purchases.
Complimentary Diamond status.
Enjoy one weekend night reward with your new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and every year after renewal.
Plus, earn an additional night after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Enjoy up to $250 in statement credits each year of Card Membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts.

Pros
Generous signup bonus
High rewards rate
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
High annual fee

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns Miles&More Miles (Miles&More program by Lufthansa)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.4%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$89

$700

50,000 miles

$1,441

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 20,000 bonus miles when you make an initial purchase and payment of the annual fee, then earn an additional 30,000 award miles after you make $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
Earn 2 award miles per $1 spent on ticket purchases directly from Miles & More integrated airline partners.
Earn 1 award mile per $1 spent on all other purchases everywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Convert award miles earned on purchases into status miles. Once each year, you can convert 5,000 to 25,000 award miles at a 5 to 1 ratio. For example, 5,000 award miles converts to 1,000 status miles.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Receive a discount code for up to 15% off hotel and car rental redemptions at milesandmore.com/hotelandcar.
Redeem miles for flight awards and upgrades on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Star Alliance Airlines and other partners.
0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
Two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers annually.
Receive a companion ticket annually.

Pros
High rewards rate
Sign-up bonus
No Penalty APR
0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening

Cons
Has annual fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card photo

Apply

This card earns Preferred Rewards Points (Bank of America Preferred Rewards program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

1.5-3 points per $1 spent

$250

25,000 points

$1,438

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points. Terms Apply.
25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening - which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. Terms Apply.
No Annual Fee.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Introductory 0% APR for your first 12 billing cycles for purchases. After that, a Variable APR that's currently 16.99% - 24.99% will apply.
Get a 10% customer bonus every time you redeem your cash back into a BofA® checking or savings account. If you're a BofA Preferred Rewards client, you could increase that bonus to 25% - 75%.
Redeem points for a travel credit or cash reward starting at 2,500 points; gift card redemptions start at 3,125 points.
Enjoy Security & Benefits: Online Shopping Security, Overdraft Protection, Digital Wallet Technology and more.
Free monthly access to FICO® Score.

Pros
High rewards rate
Sign-up bonus
No Annual Fee
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Intro 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles

Cons
Has interest charges

Our Take

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has a number of things going for it. It’s free, there is a sign-up bonus, and it has the potential of earning rewards at a rate above market average.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns AAdvantage Miles (AAdvantage program by American Airlines)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.4%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$95

$700

50,000 miles

$1,423

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee.
Earn 2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1X miles on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
Get 10% of your redeemed miles back. Note, 10,000 miles maximum per calendar year.
Earn $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars after spending $25,000 on purchases each calendar year.
First checked bag free. Terms Apply.
Preferred boarding for the primary cardmember and up to 4 companions on your reservation when traveling on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines.
No foreign transaction fees.
Receive 25% inflight savings on food and beverages.
0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
10% of your redeemed miles back
No foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening

Cons
Has annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express photo

Apply

This card earns Memership Rewards Points (American Express program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.9%

1-5 points per $1 spent

$550

$1,140

60,000 points

$1,405

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
Up to $200 Uber Savings Annually.
$200 Airline Fee Credit. Receive up to $200 a year in baggage fees and and other incidental fees at one airline. Terms Apply.
$100 Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PRE✓®.
Receive complimentary benefits of up to $550 at over 975 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels & Resort. Learn More. Terms Apply.
As a Platinum Card Member, you can enjoy access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations across 120 countries.
No interest charges because you pay your balance in full each month.

Pros
No foreign transaction fee
High rewards rate
Sign-up bonus

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

For anyone travelling full time, part time, or at least somewhat frequently, the card’s annual fee should be no issue at all. The travel credit alone covers the most of it, and whatever is left you can easily make up with rewards points and additional travel perks.

Wyndham Rewards® Visa® Card from Barclaycard photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.2%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$180

15,000 points

$1,390

We estimate as

Card Details
Get 15,000 bonus points after your first purchase enough to redeem for up to 1 free night.
No Annual Fee.
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases for every participating hotel stay, Wyndham Vacation Rental North America properties, and on-property spend and maintenance fees at Wyndham timeshare properties.
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, utility and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®).
No Foreign transaction fees.
0% APR on all Wyndham Timeshare Purchases for six billing cycles.
0% Intro APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
Protection against unauthorized use of card.
Global assistance services 24/7.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees
No Penalty APR

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

1-2 points per $1 spent

$49

waived first year

$400

$1,382

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn $400 of value redeemable for airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals. Just spend $2,000 in eligible Net Purchases on your card within the first four months of account opening.
Earn 2X FlexPoints at grocery stores.
Earn 2X FlexPoints at qualifiying charitable contributions.
Earn 1 point/mile for every $1 of eligible net purchases.
12 Complimentary Gogo® Inflight Wi-Fi passes per year.
Use your mobile device to instantly redeem points for almost any purchase.
Redemption starts at just 1,000 FlexPoints for merchandise, gift cards, cash back and more.
$25 airline allowance for airline award tickets.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
No Foreign Transaction Fees

Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express photo

Apply

This card earns Memership Rewards Points (American Express program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

$195

waived first year

$950

50,000 points

$1,381

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines. Terms and Limitations Apply.
Earn 2X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, and at US supermarkets. 1X points on other purchases. Terms and Limitations Apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$100 Airline Fee Credit. Receive up to $100 a year in baggage fees and other incidentals at one airline.
Get 2X Membership Rewards® points per eligible $1 spent, in addition to a $75 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities at participating properties, at americanexpress.com/hc. Terms apply.
No interest charges because you pay your balance in full each month.
$00 intro annual fee for the first 12 months of Card Membership, then $195.

Pros
Hight rewards rate
Sign-up bonus
No Foreign Transaction Fees
No interest charges

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

The card is as close as you can get to a top-tier travel card without having to pay a $400+ annual fee. It has a generous bonus offer, solid earning and redemption rates, and a few somewhat useful travel perks. Its ideal user is someone who is already flying with American Express airline partners and staying at the Hotel Collection properties.

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.3%

1-4 points per $1 spent

$95

$325

25,000 points

$1,350

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 25,000 Expedia+ bonus points after $2,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $350 towards your stay at a +VIP Access™ hotel.
4 Expedia+ bonus points per $1 spent on eligible Expedia purchases including flights, hotels, activities and travel packages.
2 Expedia+ bonus points per $1 spent on purchases for dining out and entertainment, including tickets to concerts, movies and sporting events.
1 Expedia+ bonus point per $1 spent on other purchases. Terms Apply.
$100 Annual Air Travel Fee Statement Credit can be used toward airline incidentals on qualified airlines, Wi-Fi carriers or for either the Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fee.
Anniversary Bonus of 5,000 Expedia+ bonus points after you spend $10,000 in the prior year.
Expedia+ gold status is complimentary for as long as you are a cardmember.
Citi customers enjoy special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events annually.
Travel & Purchase protection.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
No Foreign transaction fees

Cons
Needs excellent credit

Priceline Rewards™ Visa® Card from Barclaycard photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.25%

1-5 points per $1 spent

$62.5

5,000 points

$1,323

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 5X points on eligible priceline.com purchases, and 1X points per $1 spent on purchases everywhere Visa is accepted. Terms Apply.
No Annual Fee.
5,000 bonus points after first purchase. That's enough to redeem for a $50 statement credit.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Get 10% points back every time you redeem for statement credits toward eligible priceline.com or travel purchases of $25 or more made in the last 120 days.
0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
No limit on the number of points you can earn.
$0 Fraud Liability protection.
Concierge service provides personal assistance via telephone, including recommendations and reservations for dining, travel, hotels, entertainment and sporting events.

Pros
High rewards rate
No Annual Fee
Sign-up bonus
No Foreign transaction fees

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns Barclay Reward Points (Barclay Premier Rewards program)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

2.1%

Miles per $1 on all purchases per $ spent

$150

waived first year

$262.5

25,000 miles

$1,212

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn up to 25,000 loyalty bonus miles each year, spend $15,000 on purchases, get 15,000 miles.
Spend an additional $10,000 on purchases, get an additional 10,000 miles, for a total of 25,000 miles after $25,000 in purchases.
Earn Unlimited 2X miles on every purchase.
Redeem your miles for travel or cash back statement credits, gift cards and merchandise. Redeeming miles for travel statement credits offers the best value.
Miles don't expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing.
$0 intro annual fee for the first 12 month.
Global Entry - Expedite your Re-entry with a $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of one Global Entry application fee every five years.
No foreign transaction fees.
Travel perks & benefits.

Pros
2X miles per dollar on every purchase
Generous annual bonus
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

The Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® is for big spenders who are willing to build a long-term relationship with the issuer. Coming with no signup bonus, the card still offers you a substantial bonus for your loyalty, provided you meet the spending requirements.

Apply

This card earns TrueBlue Points (TrueBlue program by JetBlue)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.2%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$120

10,000 points

$1,200

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
3X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
No annual fee.
50% inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases.
No foreign transaction fees.
No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights.
$0 Fraud Liability protection.
Points awarded to your TrueBlue account don't expire. Redeem anytime.
Redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights. Terms Apply.
Earn and share points together with your family.

Pros
High rate of rewards
No Annual Fee
Sign-up bonus
No Foreign Transaction Fees
No Penalty APR

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

+ up to 4% restricted

$100

$1,180

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn $100 after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days.
4% back on restaurants, takeout, and bars, including UberEATS.
3% back on airfare, hotels, and vacation home rentals.
2% back on online purchases including Uber, online shopping, video and music streaming services.
1% back on all other purchases.
Up to a $50 credit for online subscription services after you spend $5,000 on your card per year.
No foreign transaction fees.
No annual fee.
Up to $600 in mobile phone protection including damage and theft when you use your Uber Visa Card to pay your monthly mobile phone bill.
Receive invites to exclusive events and offers in select U.S. cities.

Pros
4% cash back
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Generous signup bonus

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

+ up to 3% restricted

$50

$1,094

We estimate as

Card Details
$50 Amazon.com Gift Card will be instantly loaded into your Amazon.com account upon the approval of your credit card application.
Earn 3% Back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% Back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, and 1% Back on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
No annual fee.
No foreign transaction fees.
Redeem for millions of items at Amazon.com.
Service & protection.

Pros
$50 Amazon.com Gift Card
Cash Back rewards
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees

Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.5%

unlimited cash back

$1,080

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Redeem your cash rewards anytime using your mobile device or computer.
There's no limit on the amount you can earn.
No foreign transaction fees.
No annual fee.
Special Benefits for Military.
Security, Travel and Retail Benefits.

Pros
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees
1.5% cash back on all purchases

Cons
No signup bonus
Good to excellent credit score required

City National Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.25%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$400

$625

50,000 points

$1,045

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 City National Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $5,000 or more within the first 90 days after account opening.
Open your account between September 17, 2018, and December 17, 2018, and earn 25,000 additional Bonus Points, for a total of 75,000 Points, when you spend $5,000 or more within the first 90 days after account opening.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on gas, grocery, airline, hotel, taxi, limousine, rental car, train, bus, restaurant, fast food and takeout food and dining purchases.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
Receive a statement credit of up to $250 per card per calendar year for Qualifying Airline Purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Save $100 on air travel when you use your Crystal Visa Infinite Card to book a qualifying U.S. domestic round-trip coach airline itinerary for 2 to 5 travelers.
Receive a statement credit of up to $550 per account per calendar year with $50,000 yearly spend – for any airline lounge club worldwide.
No annual cap on Points and Points don't expire as long as your account is open and the Rewards program has not ended.
Access to over 900 airport VIP lounges in more than 120 countries and 400 cities worldwide.

Pros
Generous signup bonus
High rewards rate
Low interest rate
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
Has annual fee

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns Hawaiian Miles (HawaiianMiles program by Hawaiian Airlines)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.2%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$89

$420

35,000 miles

$1,017

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 35,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
2X miles on eligible purchases made directly from Hawaiian Airlines, and 1X miles on all other purchases with no mileage caps. Terms Apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Complimentary 1st checked bag for the primary cardmember on eligible ticket purchases.
One-time 50% off companion discount for round trip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.
Enjoy a intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 16.74%, 20.74% or 25.74% based on your creditworthiness.
Get $100 off a companion ticket for round trip coach travel between Hawaii and North America at each account anniversary.
No blackout dates, plus access to discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines.
ShareMiles allows Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard cardmembers to receive HawaiianMiles from friends and family online at HawaiianAirlines.com.

Pros
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Sign-up bonus
Low intro APR on balance transfers
No Penalty APR

Cons
Has annual fee

USAA Rewards™ American Express® Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1-3 points per $1 spent

$1,008

We estimate as

Card Details
3X points for dining out, 2X points for gas and groceries, 1X points on all other purchases.
Pay no annual fee, no Penalty APR and no over-the-limit fees.
You're not liable for any unauthorized purchases.
No foreign transaction fees.
Special benefits for military.
Security, travel and retail benefits.
There's no expiration date or caps on any points earned.
Redeem points for cash, merchandise, gift cards, travel or donations to the military affiliate group of your choice.

Pros
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees
3X points per $1 spent on dining

Cons
No signup bonus

Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

+ up to 5% restricted

$918

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 5% cash back on your first $3,000 in gas and military base purchases annually on these categories combined. After that, earn 1% for the remainder of the year.
Earn 2% cash back on your first $3,000 on supermarket purchases per year. After that, earn 1% for the remainder of the year.
Plus, unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
No Annual Fee.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Special Benefits for Military.
Security and Convenience.

Pros
Cash back rewards
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required
No signup bonus

Carnival® World Mastercard® from Barclaycard photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1-2 points per $1 spent

$100

10,000 points

$892

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 10,000 bonus Funpoints after you use your card for the first time — that's enough to redeem for a credit of up to $100 toward your next cruise purchase on Carnival and the World's Leading Cruise Lines.
Earn 2X FunPoints on Carnival Cruise Line and World's Leading Cruise Lines purchases.
Earn 1X FunPoints on purchases everywhere else.
No Annual Fee.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Earn a 10% ReFUNd when you book a Carnival shore excursion on carnival.com prior to your cruise.
Protection against unauthorized use of card.
Enjoy personal assistance via telephone, including recommendations and reservations for dining, travel, hotels, entertainment and more.
0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening.

Pros
No Annual Fee
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Sign-up bonus
High rewards rate
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

Princess Cruises Rewards Visa® Card from Barclaycard photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1-2 points per $1 spent

$100

10,000 points

$892

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 10,000 bonus points after you use your card for the first time - that's enough to redeem for a statement credit of up to $100 toward your next cruise purchase.
2X points on Princess purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases. Terms Apply.
No Annual Fee.
No Foreign transaction fees.
Redeem points for cruise rewards, onboard credits, special on board amenities and discounted air fare.
Free online access to FICO® Credit Score.
Receive alerts when we learn that your score changes.
Access to future credit line increase reviews.
$0 Fraud Liability protection.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
High rate of rewards
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

Apply

This card earns Mileage Plus Miles (Mileage Plus program by United)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

2.1%

1.5-2 miles per $1 spent

$450

$700

50,000 miles

$862

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Terms apply.
United ClubSM membership – up to a $550 value per year.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United, and 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
No miles limit or expiration as long as your credit card account is open.
No foreign transaction fees.
Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $240 per roundtrip.
Travel & purchase coverage.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
No foreign transaction fees
Free first and second checked bags
Travel & purchase coverage

Cons
Has annual fee

Our Take

If you are the owner of United MileagePlus® Club Card, you can access any United Club lounge for free, enjoy Premier access to travel services and never have to pay for checking your first two bags.

Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card from Barclaycard photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1-2 points per $1 spent

$50

5,000 points

$842

We estimate as

Card Details
2X points per $1 spent on all Holland America purchases including onboard purchases.
Plus 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases everywhere Visa is accepted. Terms Apply.
No Foreign transaction fees.
No Annual Fee.
Earn 5,000 points after first purchase enough to redeem for a $50 onboard credit.
Redeem points for discounts toward Holland America Cruises when you use your Holland America Visa to book the cruise.
Also, redeem points for onboard amenities and credits, along with gift cards and merchandise.
$0 Fraud Liability protection.
Use points for statement credits toward airfare.
0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles
High rewards rate
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees

Cons
Good to excellent credit score required

USAA Rewards™ Visa Signature® Credit Card photo

Apply

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1-2 points per $1 spent

$828

We estimate as

Card Details
Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase.
Earn 2X points on dining and gas and 1X points on all other purchases.
Redeem your points for cash, merchandise, gift cards, travel or donate to your favorite military affiliate group.
Redeem easily for cash on your mobile device.
No annual fee.
No foreign transaction fees.
Get free collision damage waiver coverage to pay for physical damage and theft to most vehicle rentals.
Extend your manufacturer's or U.S. store-brand warranties.
Pay no annual fee, no Penalty APR and no over-the-limit fees.
Special Benefits for Military.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
Reward points
No Annual Fee
No Foreign transaction fees

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® photo

Apply

This card earns AAdvantage Miles (AAdvantage program by American Airlines)

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.4%

1-2 miles per $1 spent

$450

$700

50,000 miles

$358

We estimate as

Card Details
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Admirals Club® membership for you and guests with you.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
You will earn 10,000 AAdvantage® Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year.
First Checked Bag Free.
Receive a 25% savings on eligible in–flight purchases on American Airlines flights.
Travel & Purchase protection.
Citi® Cards with Apple Pay®.

Pros
Sign-up bonus
Double Miles on American Airlines Purchases
No Foreign Transaction Fees
First Checked Bag Free
Admirals Club® Membership

Cons
Needs excellent credit

Our Take

Get high-end benefits from the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard. It’s a co-branded rewards credit card designed for American Airlines frequent flyers. If you fly on American Airlines-operated flights several times a month, this card definitely has something valuable to offer.

Apply

This card earns ThankYou Points (Citi ThankYou program) See transfer options

Rewards Rate

Annual Fee

Estimated bonus

Savings over 3yrs

1.7%

1-3 points per $1 spent

$450

$241

We estimate as

Card Details
3X points on Air Travel and Hotels, 2X points on Dining at Restaurants and Entertainment and 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on other purchases.
Complimentary 4th night stay at any hotel of your choice after a minimum 4-consecutive night booking through ThankYou.com or the Citi Prestige Concierge.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Each year a $250 Air Travel Credit will automatically be applied to flight-related expenses charged to your card, including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more.
Points are redeemable for flights on any airline, anytime with no blackout dates when booked through the ThankYou® Travel Center, or gift cards redeemed from the ThankYou® Rewards collection.
Points Transfer allows you to transfer your qualifying and available ThankYou® Points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Travel & Purchase protection.

Pros
No Foreign Transaction Fees
High rate of rewards

Cons
Needs excellent credit
Has annual fee

Our Take

A travel credit card should match your lifestyle and not the other way around. Which means that the Citi Prestige® Card is a good fit for someone who flies frequently, books longer stays, and finds it absolutely necessary to up the comfort of airport visits.

No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards