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If you're interested in earning points or miles, there are plenty of travel rewards credit cards to choose from. Many come with welcome bonuses, travel protections, access to booking portals and partnerships with top airlines and hotels.
Many top travel rewards cards have annual fees, but you can easily get your money's worth with all the benefits they include.
Below, CNBC Select has compiled the best beginner travel rewards credit cards to help you get started with earning points and miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals and more. (See our methodology for more on how we choose the best travel rewards cards for beginners.)
Best starter travel credit cards
- Best for everyday expenses: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for flexible rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (See rates and fees)
- Best for frequent travelers: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Best for earning rewards: Citi Strata Premier® Card
- Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (See rates and fees)
- Best for average credit: Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
- Best for welcome offer: Discover it® Miles
- Best for earning rewards with no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Best for students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Best for everyday expenses
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? If you're someone whose budget consists mainly of travel, dining and grocery expenses, the American Express® Gold Card might be an ideal choice.
Standout benefits: The Amex Gold Card provides a range of travel and dining benefits including up to $120 worth of Uber Cash each year (up to $10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit) and up to $120 worth of annual dining credits (up to $10 in statement credits monthly) when you use the card to pay for dining through participating partners like Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder (enrollment required).
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Min balance to open = $0
1.00% APY as of 06/24/2024
Min balance to open = $0
Best for flexible rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great choice for those just starting with points and miles because of its wide range of travel benefits and redemption opportunities — and for a modest $95 annual fee.
Standout benefits: Perks include a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, a 10% points boost on your card anniversary, auto rental collision damage waivers, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and special discounts on purchases made through DoorDash. You'll also never have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees for using the card outside the U.S.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
$0
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
$0
Bank from anywhere with access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs, more than 4,700 Chase branches, the Chase Mobile® app and Chase.com.
Best for frequent travelers
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
Highlights
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? If bonus categories confuse you and you want a more straightforward earning structure, look no further than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which gives you 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, as well as 5X miles per dollar whenever you book rental cars or hotels through Capital One Travel.
Standout benefits: This card offers a statement credit of up to $120 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. There are no foreign transaction fees and cardholders receive MasterRental Insurance*, Travel Assistance Services* and access to additional perks through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment.
*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
Best for no annual fee
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is a stand-out benefit for a no-annual-fee card.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? Paying an annual fee doesn't make sense for everyone, especially if you're new to the world of travel rewards. If you're in that boat, consider the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Standout benefits: Many benefits are similar to its sibling, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, including no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waiver, access to exclusive events and experiences, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
Best for earning rewards
The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.
- Unlocks point transfers to all of the Citi ThankYou® partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges, Flying Blue and more
- Generous bonus spending categories include dining, supermarkets, hotels and flights
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
- Car rental coverage is secondary, not primary
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Who's this for? Anyone interested in a generous welcome bonus and an easy way to pick up points should consider signing up for the Citi Strata Premier® Card, which is currently offering 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Standout benefits: There are no transaction fees for using the card outside the U.S. You'll also receive a $100 annual hotel savings benefit, which can be used when booking a single hotel stay of at least $500 through CitiTravel.com. It also offers various travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost or damaged luggage and car rental coverage.
Best for cash back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Who's this for? If you prefer to earn cash-back rewards rather than save up points and miles to use for future travel, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great card to go with, especially since there's no minimum amount required to redeem your points.
Standout benefits: Cardholders have access to travel benefits and protections such as auto rental collision damage waivers, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
Best for average credit
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
Rewards
10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5% cash back rewards on eligible dining, gas, & travel purchases. 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74%* Variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair to Good credit
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Great return on travel purchases
- Available to those with average credit
Cons
- High APR
- No welcome bonus
Who's this for? If your credit isn't perfect, the Credit One Bank Wander Card is likely one of your best options for travel spending. It earns 5% cash back rewards on eligible travel, restaurants and gas purchases. In addition, you'll earn a stunning 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotels and rental cars booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site and all other purchases earn 1% cash back rewards.
Standout benefits: The card has no foreign transaction fees, so it's a good option for your next overseas trip. Cardholders also enjoy automatic account reviews for opportunities to increase their credit line.
Best for welcome offer
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Miles is an easy-to-use travel credit card with a unique welcome offer. Discover will match all the miles new cardmembers earn in their first year, meaning you're effectively earning 3X miles everywhere for a year. For example, if you earn 30,000 miles in your first 12 months of having the card, you'll get another 30,000 miles on top of that, and there's no limit to how many bonus miles you can earn with this offer.
Standout benefits: Cardholders receive an intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers, after that a variable 17.49% - 26.49% APR applies. Eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer. (After that, the standard balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred.)
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
From 2.00% to 4.05% APY
1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.
Best for earning rewards with no annual fee
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- No annual fee
- Excellent bonus spending categories
- Intro-APR for purchases
- No travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card has an exceptional number of 3X-point bonus categories, including restaurants, travel, at gas stations, transit, phone plans and popular streaming services. All other purchases earn 1X points. When you include this card's intro bonus, that's a lot of points you could potentially earn.
Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card has a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter. It also has no foreign transaction fees, cell phone coverage, roadside assistance, travel and emergency assistance and rental car damage and theft coverage (secondary).
Best for students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students credit card
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
Welcome bonus
25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account.
Regular APR
17.49% to 27.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
3% of each transaction intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Who's this for? It's never too early to start getting involved with travel rewards programs and applying for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a great way to get started. It's very beginner-friendly thanks to a straightforward points-earning structure — you'll earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend.
Standout benefits: The card has no foreign transaction fees or annual fees. Additional benefits include a generous 0% intro APR for purchases for your first 15 billing cycles and for balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening (after, 17.49% to 27.49% variable), and complimentary monthly access to your updated FICO® Score via Bank of America's Mobile Banking app or Online Banking features.
Shop for travel insurance
More on our best travel credit cards for beginners
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card offers a stellar return for several popular spending categories, as well as statement credits that can almost entirely offset its annual fee (see rates and fees). Plus, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with this card are incredibly valuable.
Rewards
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
- 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee
$325 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The Amex Gold allows cardholders to receive up to $120 in annual credits for dining (up to $10 in statement credits monthly; enrollment required) when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder and up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 a month; you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States; enrollment required). An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
Anyone who maximizes these perks can easily justify this card's annual fee (see rates and fees).
This card has a variety of build-in insurance coverages*, including:
- Baggage insurance (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Extended warranty (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Purchase protection (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Trip delay insurance (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
- Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary) (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)
* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Cardholders also receive access to special perks when booking stays through The Hotel Collection; Preferred Seating and exclusive access to shows, concerts and sporting events through American Express Experiences; and additional limited-time perks with SiriusXM, Panera Bread and the Entertainment® app. Terms apply.
How to redeem rewards
Membership Rewards® points can be redeemed through a variety of things, including gift cards, statement credits, travel and more, but you'll generally only get between 0.5 cents and 1 cent in value per point this way. To get around 2 cents per point or more, you can transfer your points to American Express' various airline and hotel loyalty program partners, such as Delta SkyMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Etihad Guest, Emirates Skywards, Avianca LifeMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and more.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers valuable travel perks and protections for a reasonable annual fee. Beyond the generous welcome bonus, you'll be well on your way to free (or nearly free) travel in no time, as the card lets you earn elevated rewards in various useful bonus spend categories.
Rewards
- 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027
- 3X points per dollar on dining
- 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
- 3X points per dollar on select streaming services.
- 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
Cardholders receive a 10% bonus every account anniversary year based on the points they've earned that year. To help offset the card's annual fee, there's an annual Chase Travel hotel credit of up to $50, which applies to hotels you book through the Chase travel site.
The Sapphire Preferred also stands out because of the exceptionally long list of insurance protections you'll get. These coverages include:
- Primary rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Roadside dispatch
How to redeem rewards
The biggest reason to have this card is its travel rewards. You can get more value when transferring your points to one of Chase's many hotel and airline partners, such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Airlines MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and World of Hyatt. Rewards experts generally value Chase points at 2 cents each when transferred to travel partners
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns versatile rewards with valuable redemption options and offers convenient benefits for travelers.
Rewards
- 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
Cardholders can earn an application fee credit of up to $120 to cover a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. This card also has no foreign transaction fees and extended warranty protection*, Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*
*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
How to redeem rewards
Redeeming the miles is as easy as it is to earn them. First, you can redeem them at a fixed value of one cent per point to offset recent travel purchases or cash them in toward flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel activities through Capital One Travel. Or, to stretch the value of your miles, you can transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Etihad Guest, Accor Live Limitless and more.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is an amazing benefit to find attached to a no-annual-fee card.
Rewards
- 5X miles per dollar on hotel, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.25X miles on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The VentureOne Rewards card has no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
How to redeem rewards
The miles you earn with this card can be transferred to Capital One's roster of airline and hotel partners, allowing you to potentially book expensive flights and hotel stays for fewer miles. Alternatively, you can use miles to offset recent travel purchases or toward booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel activities through Capital One Travel at a rate of one cent per mile.
Citi Strata Premier Card
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is one of the best options for earning Citi ThankYou® Points, which are incredibly valuable travel points.
Rewards
- 10X points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
- 3X points at restaurants
- 3X points at supermarkets
- 3X points at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 3X points on air travel
- 3X points at hotels
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
In addition to this card's generous spending categories and large intro bonus, you'll receive $100 off one hotel stay of at least $500 you book through CitiTravel.com each year. The card also has no foreign transaction fees and travel protections such as trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost or damaged luggage and car rental coverage.
How to redeem rewards
The points you earn with the Citi Strata Premier® Card can be redeemed for travel, gift cards or cash-back rewards through Thankyou.com, online shopping via Amazon or PayPal and statement credits when shopping with eligible retail partners. Points are generally worth up to one cent per point on these types of redemptions, meaning 60,000 points would be worth $600.
However, you can also transfer your ThankYou® Points to one of Citi's airline or hotel partners, such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards. As with the other programs, you could easily double the value of your points by taking this route.
Learn more: What are Citi ThankYou® Points worth?
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a no-annual-fee cash-back card with generous rewards on everyday spending.
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Cardholders can take advantage of a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 18.24% - 27.74% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The card also offers six free months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with reduced fees when you activate on or after February 1, 2025. (Must activate by 12/31/27 to be eligible).
How to redeem rewards
Rewards earned with this card can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards and more. However, as you're starting in the world of points and miles, you should save your rewards until you have another Chase-Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), since you'll be able to convert the cash back into transferrable Ultimate Rewards® points, which opens up a world of redemption opportunities with the issuer's 14 airline and hotel partners.
Learn more: How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
If you're credit needs some work and you want to earn rewards while you rebuild it, you'll have a tough time finding a better option than the Credit One Bank Wander Card.
Rewards
- 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
- 5% cash back rewards on eligible travel, dining and gas purchases
- 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers travel accident insurance.
How to redeem rewards
The cash back rewards you earn mean you'll get 5% to 10% back on lots of common travel purchases.
Discover it® Miles
The Discover it® Miles packs a lot of value into a no-annual-fee travel card and offers a unique welcome bonus.
Rewards
- 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no limit on how much you can earn.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it® Miles has no foreign transaction fees and new cardholders can take advantage of an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, then a 17.49% - 26.49% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms).
How to redeem rewards
The miles you earn with the Discover it® Miles function like cash-back rewards. You can redeem them for statement credits, bank deposits or use them to offset travel purchases. These miles are worth one cent each regardless of how you redeem them.
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is loaded with valuable features and generous bonus spending categories, especially for a credit card with no annual fee.
Rewards
- 3X points at restaurants
- 3X points on travel
- 3X points at gas stations
- 3X points on popular streaming services
- 3X points on transit
- 3X points on phone plans
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Cardholders enjoy cell phone protection when they pay their monthly cell phone bill with the card. This coverage has a $25 deductible and covers up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per year.
The card has a handful of travel protections that could be useful such as rental car theft and damage coverage (secondary), roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees making it useful when overseas.
How to redeem rewards
You can redeem Wells Fargo points for travel, gift cards, statement credits and more at a value of one cent per point. However, with the Wells Fargo Autograph Card, you also have the option to transfer points to any of Wells Fargo's travel partners, including British Airways, Iberia, Air France/KLM and Choice Hotels.
Being able to transfer points is an amazing perk for a no-annual-fee travel credit card and can dramatically boost the value of the rewards you earn. For example, you could redeem 34,000 points for $340 in cash rewards or you could transfer 34,000 points to Iberia and book a one-way off-peak business class award from several U.S. cities to Spain, a flight that could cost several thousand dollars.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students stands out for its generous return on everyday purchases, which compares favorably to many standard non-student travel cards.
Rewards
- 1.5X points on all purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
New card members receive an intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and eligible balance transfers, after that a variable 18.24% to 28.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening. The standard balance transfer fee is 4% of the amount of each transaction.
The card also has no foreign transaction fees.
How to redeem rewards
Although the rewards earned with this card can't be transferred to airlines or hotels, they can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including toward any flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, vacation packages, baggage fees and dining (including takeout) you've used the card to pay for. Points have a fixed rate of one cent per point.
Things to consider before applying for a new card
Keep in mind that card issuers usually require you to have good credit or excellent credit (scores above 670). Therefore, it's key to check your credit score before applying for your first travel rewards card.
Also, credit card issuers will be looking closely at the number of cards you currently have or have recently applied for. Chase in particular is known for its strict 5/24 rule, which prevents anyone who has applied for five cards within the last 24 months from being approved for a new one with them, so be aware that you may be rejected for that reason.
Finally, it's a good idea to do the math and make sure you'll be able to use enough of your desired card's included benefits to rationalize paying its annual fee, especially if it's a steep one. As always, keep an eye on your budget to ensure you can hit any minimum-spending requirements responsibly and stay on top of your credit score to get a more realistic idea of where you'll stand in terms of approval.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
FAQs
What makes a good starter travel credit card?
When you're just beginning to earn travel rewards having more options is always better. So try to focus on cards that allow basic redemptions such as statement credits and always provide a path to transferring rewards to different airlines or hotels.
Does opening a travel credit card hurt your credit score?
Whenever there is a hard pull on your credit report, you'll see a temporary dip in your credit score. However, over the long haul, it's possible to improve your credit score or maintain a high credit score after opening a credit card by paying your balance in full and on time consistently.
What's the easiest travel credit card to get?
The easiest type of travel credit card to get is generally going to be a secured credit card that requires an upfront deposit to open. However, this type of credit card typically has fewer benefits or weaker rewards.
Bottom line
With a little planning and thoughtful spending — especially if your chosen credit card earns extra rewards points for certain categories of expenses such as dining, travel, grocery shopping or gas purchases — you could be well on your way toward enjoying a well-deserved vacation with most or all of your flights, hotels or car rentals covered by flexible, transferable points and miles thanks to travel rewards credit cards.
Alternatively, if you're a stickler for status and prefer to only fly with certain airlines or stay at specific hotel chains, it might be worth adding an airline credit card or hotel credit card. Instead of providing transferable rewards points for you to redeem with several travel partners, this kind of card would let you rack up rewards through the brand's loyalty program, climb the status ladder and have access to special perks such as late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast or room upgrades.
Just remember that rewards credit cards often require good or excellent credit (scores above 670), so check your credit score before applying for one of these cards.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best beginner travel rewards credit cards.
Read more
Our methodology
To determine which travel rewards cards offer the best value for beginners, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cashback).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
When choosing the best travel cards, we focused on relevant features, like cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, are widely accepted internationally and provide consumers with bonus rewards on travel spending. We prioritized cards that offered the strongest returns on travel purchases, but also considered additional perks that may be useful when traveling, such as travel protections, baggage allowances, airport lounge access and elite status benefits.
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Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
