# Best Travel Credit Cards _CompareFairly · en/US · neutral comparison, cited sources, no paid placement_ **Category:** finance › credit cards › travel rewards **Our pick**: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (76/100) · **Cheapest**: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card · **Best value**: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card ## Comparison table | Criterion | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | The Platinum Card® from American Express | Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Welcome Bonus Value (USD) | 1100 | 850 | 750 | 400 | 600 | - | | Points Earning Rate (Travel) (%) | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 5% | | Redemption Value (Travel) (USD) | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | - | | Points Earning Rate (General) (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | | Transfer Partners (count) | 10 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 10 | - | | Foreign Transaction Fees (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | | Annual Fee (USD) | 95 | 895 | 95 | 395 | 795 | - | | Annual Travel Credits (USD) | 50 | 600 | 300 | 300 | 300 | - | | Lounge Access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | | Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit (USD) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | - | | Travel Insurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | | Purchase Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ## 1. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Best for beginner travelers, this card is an easy choice for anyone starting their travel credit card journey with a low annual fee. **Best for:** beginner travelers _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 2. The Platinum Card® from American Express Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment, this card has a high annual fee but offers significant benefits for frequent travelers. **Best for:** premium travel perks and digital entertainment enthusiasts **Pros:** - No foreign transaction fees - Up to $600 hotel credit - Up to $300 digital entertainment credit - Earns transferable Membership Rewards points **Cons:** - $895 annual fee _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Best for earning miles, this card is a good lower-fee option with many perks. **Best for:** earning miles _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Best for premium travel, this card offers perks similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve at a lower fee. **Best for:** premium travel _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Best for travel and dining combined, this card offers additional annual benefits for frequent travelers. **Best for:** travel and dining combined _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 6. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ## 7. United℠ Explorer Card Good for frequent United flyers, offering miles, checked bag benefits, and lounge access. _Source (estimate): [https://www.chase.com/credit-cards/united-explorer-card](https://www.chase.com/credit-cards/united-explorer-card)_ ## 8. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Best for occasional Delta flyers, this card offers benefits tailored for those who fly with Delta. **Best for:** occasional Delta flyers _Source (verified): [https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/](https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/travel/)_ ## 9. American Express® Gold Card ## 10. Bilt Palladium Card ## In short This comparison covers 10 travel rewards across 12 criteria: Welcome Bonus Value, Points Earning Rate (Travel), Redemption Value (Travel), Points Earning Rate (General), Transfer Partners, Foreign Transaction Fees. Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes first with 76/100, driven by Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit (100/100) and Lounge Access (100/100). The Platinum Card® from American Express follows at 74/100 and beats it on Annual Travel Credits. The cheapest option is Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Sourced data: 6/10 options; the remaining values are estimates, flagged as such. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best travel credit cards to get in 2026?** The top travel credit cards in 2026 include the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express, based on their travel rewards and benefits. **How do Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum compare for travel rewards?** The Chase Sapphire Reserve® excels in travel redemption value and earning rates, while The Platinum Card® from American Express offers strong welcome bonus value and extensive transfer partners. **Are there any travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fees?** Yes, both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express typically do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travel. **How is your travel credit card ranking determined?** Our ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of key criteria like welcome bonus value, points earning rates, and redemption value, with all data sourced transparently; our position is neutral and not influenced by payments. --- _Generated by CompareFairly - neutral universal comparator. Ranking not for sale, data sourced._ --- _CompareFairly · https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-travel-credit-cards — citation with a link is allowed; bulk extraction/redistribution is prohibited._