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If you're a frequent road warrior, credit cards that offer travel rewards are worth looking into. Typically, card users are given points or cash back for purchasing gas or airline tickets with their card, while some cards even reward users for eating out at restaurants. In order to determine which card is best for your lifestyle, you should calculate how much you usually spend annually on these types of purchases, and then look for a card that best matches your anticipated expenditures. To learn more about travel reward programs values, take a look at our Travel Rewards Program Analysis. You can learn more about credit cards by visiting our FAQ.
Travel Credit Card Reviews & Prices
Updated 05-18-2013
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Travel Rewards | Annual Fee | Credit Needed:
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Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Barclay Arrival™ World Mastercard® - Earn 2x on All Purchases |  | 0% for 12 months, then 14.99%-18.99% | Earn 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases; 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in first 90 days | $0 intro for first year; $89 after that | Excellent/ Good | Our Rating: Travel rewards card winner with a value of $2 for every $100 spent, extra bonuses for travel redemptions, 0% intro APR & 40k bonus miles |
| Capital One® Venture℠ Rewards Credit Card |  | 13.9% - 20.9% variable | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in 1st 3 months | $0 intro for first year; $59 after that | Excellent/ Good | Our Rating: Terrific all-around travel card with easy rewards redemption, no blackout dates or restrictions |
| Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express |  | 15.24%-19.24% (Variable) | 4-5 points per $1 spent on qualifying Starwood Preferred Guest® hotels and resorts, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65 | Excellent | Our Rating: Great travel card with high hotel redemption value of $2.61; 25K bonus point opportunity |
| BankAmericard Travel Rewards® |  | 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 14.99% - 22.99% variable | Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases; 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 in first 90 days | None | Excellent | Our Rating: Great value of 1.5 points for every $1 in purchases plus an Introductory APR offer; no foreign transaction fees |
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Travel Rewards | Annual Fee | Credit Needed:
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Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Card from Chase |  | 15.24% | 2 points per $1 spent on all Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, and Southwest Hotel & Car Rental Partner purchases; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | $99 per year | Excellent | Our Rating: A great option for those who like to travel on Southwest Airlines and earn unlimited points |
| United MileagePlus® Explorer Card |  | 15.24% | 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in first 3 mos., 2 miles per $1 spent on United flights, 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases | $0 first year; $95/year thereafter | Good | Our Rating: Good choice for United flyers who want to earn free flights with great perks; flight redemption value of $1.75 |
| Blue Sky from American Express® |  | 0% for 12 months, then 17.24%-22.24% Variable | 7,500 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within 3 months; 1 point per $1 spent | $0 | Excellent | Our Rating: Unlimited travel rewards with no blackout dates or restrictions; $1.33 flight & hotel redemption value |
| Citi® Platinum Select®/AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card |  | 15.24% variable | 30,000 bonus miles opportunity, earn 2 miles per $1 spent on American Airline flights and 1 mile for each $1 spent on all other purchases | $95, waived for first 12 months | Good | Our Rating: Best for those who like to fly American Airlines, with perks like priority boarding and first checked bag free |
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Travel Rewards | Annual Fee | Credit Needed:
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Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Capital One® VentureOne℠ Rewards Credit Card |  | 0% until May 2014, then 11.9% - 19.9% (V) | 1.25 miles per $1 spent on all purchases; earn 10,000 miles (equal to $100 in travel) once you spend $1,000 in first 3 months | $0 | Excellent/ Good | Our Rating: Unlimited travel rewards combined with 0% introductory APR and no annual fee makes this a solid choice |
| Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card |  | 15.24% variable | 2 free nights after spending $2,500 in first 4 months, earn 10 points for each $1 spent at participating hotels, 5 points for each $1 spent on airline & car rentals, 3 points for each $1 spent on all other purchases | $95 | Good | Our Rating: Great card for travelers who stay at Hilton HHonors hotels, 2 free nights after spending $2,500 in first 4 months, HHonors Gold status and no foreign transaction fees |
| Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card |  | 14.24% variable | 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in first 4 months, earn 6 points for each $1 spent at participating hotel, 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations, 2 points for each $1 spent on all other purchases | $0 | Good | Our Rating: Great card for travelers who stay at Hilton HHonors hotels, free hotel stays after spending $1,000 within first 4 months, includes bonus points for non-travel purchases |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred℠ |  | 15.24% variable | 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, plus additional points on eligible airfare purchases and other online purchases made through Chase | $0 first year; $95/year thereafter | Good | Our Rating: Earn unlimited 2x points on travel and dining; 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in first 3 months; annual 7% dividend bonus |
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Travel Rewards | Annual Fee | Credit Needed:
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Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Chase Sapphire℠ |  | 15.24% | 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, plus additional points on eligible airfare purchases and other online purchases made through Chase | None | Good | Our Rating: Unlimited reward points; 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 in first 3 months; redeem for cash or merchandise |
| Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase |  | 15.24% | 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months; 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott locations; 2 points for every $1 spent on qualifying airline, dining, and rental car purchases; 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | $0 first year; $85/yr thereafter | Good | Our Rating: Great for Marriott regulars who want to earn 5 for each $1 spent at Marriott; free night upon account approval; 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months |
| Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express |  | 15.24 -19.24% Variable | 30,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in 3 months; 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta flights, 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 | Excellent | Our Rating: Best for those who want to earn free Delta flights and upgrades; flight value of $1.26; annual fee waived first year |
| U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® |  | 0% for first 12 months then 13.9% - 23.9% (V) | 3 points per $1 spent on charitable contributions, 2 points per dollar spent on most cells phone purchases, 2 points per $1 spent on the category you spend the most (gas, groceries or airline travel), and 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases | $0 first year; $49/year thereafter | Good | Our Rating: Nice choice for those interested in flexible redemption options; earn up to 18,500 bonus points |
| Name & Card | Purchase APR | Travel Rewards | Annual Fee | Credit Needed:
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Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Virgin America Visa® Signature Card Credit |  | 15.99% or 24.99% (Variable) | 10,000 bonus points after first purchase; 3 points for every $1 spent on Virgin America; 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | $49 | Good | Our Rating: Best for frequent Virgin America flyers; 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15,000 bonus point opportunity |
| US Airways® Premier World MasterCard |  | 15.99% or 24.99% (Variable) | 30,000 bonus miles after first purchase; 2 miles per $1 spent on US Airways purchases; 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | $89/yr | Good | Our Rating: Good pick for frequent US Airways flyers; 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 40,000 bonus point opportunity. |
| American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card |  | N/A | 3 points per $1 spent on airfare; 2 points per $1 spent at U.S. gas stations and supermarkets; 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175 | Excellent | Our Rating: High annual fee but includes unique Gold card benefits; 40,000 bonus point opportunity |
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