Travel credit cards have become an increasingly popular way for thrifty travelers to earn points or miles that can be redeemed for free travel or other rewards. With so many options available, the question of picking which is the best travel credit card for you can seem a daunting proposition. Here we will try to boil down your options and make the decision as simple and painless as possible. After combing the internet and comparing numerous reputable sites, the clear top two choices for the average traveler seem the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Here we will discuss the pros and cons of each so that you can make the best informed decision and start taking advantage of your best travel credit card today.
Best Travel Credit Card Option 1
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Highlights:
- 80,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 2x points on other travel
- 3x points on dining and certain online grocery orders (excluding target, walmart, wholesale stores)
- 3x points on certain streaming services
- 1x points on everything else
- 25% more value when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (i.e. 80,000 points are worth $1,000)
- No international transaction fees
- Trip Cancellation and interruption insurance included
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Trip delay reimbursement
Best Travel Credit Card Option 2
Capital One Venture Rewards Card
Highlights:
- 75,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- 2x points on all purchases
- 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
- 2 complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or Partner lounges per year
- No internal transaction fees
- Travel accident insurance included
- Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver
When comparing these two cards, both have comparatively large sign-on bonuses, $95 annual fees, and no international transaction fees. The main difference is in the rewards structure. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has 3x points on dining, 2x on travel and 1x on all other purchases, whereas, Capital One Venture Rewards has 2x points on everything. Chase Sapphire Preferred does also have the advantage of a 25% added points bonus (so 1 point becomes 1.25 points) when redeeming these points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, a benefit Capital One Venture Rewards does not have.
With this in mind, my final recommendations are as follows. If you are someone who goes out to eat frequently, already takes advantage of included Chase Sapphire perks (such as certain streaming services, door dash, or instacart), and MOST IMPORTANTLY, typically uses the preferred partners through Chase Ultimate Rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred is your best option. If you are looking for a more generalist card with 2x points on all purchases and aren’t really going to benefit from the more specific benefits of Chase, then the Capital One Venture Rewards Card is likely your best travel credit card option.
For more ideas and topics on how to save money on travel, check out our budget travel page HERE!
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