Must Have Travel Credit Cards

If you’re a travel enthusiast like me, you know that the right credit card can turn your adventures into rewarding experiences—both in terms of savings and perks. With so many options out there, it can be tough to narrowdown the best ones for your wallet. After plenty of research, travel hacking, and personal experience, I’ve landedon three favorites that stand out for their value, flexibility, and benefits: the Capital One Venture X RewardsCredit Card, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Each of these cards brings something unique to the table, and depending on your travel style and spending habits, one (or even a combo) might be the perfect fit for you. Let’s dive into why these cards are our top picks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X is a relatively new player in the premium travel card game, but it’s quickly become a favorite for its balance of luxury benefits and a reasonable annual fee. Priced at $395 per year, it’s significantly cheaper than competitors like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550) or the AMEX Platinum ($695), yet it still delivers a ton of value. The most impressive part is you can easily get your annual fee back in the $300 annual travel credit and 10k point anniversary bonus.

Why We Love It

• Generous Travel Credit: You get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal. This effectively knocks the annual fee down to just $95 if you use it fully—pretty easy for frequent travelers.

• Anniversary Bonus: Every year, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary, which is worth $100 in travel. That alone can offset most of the remaining fee.

• Lounge Access: Unlimited access to Capital One Lounges (which are expanding) and Priority Pass lounges for you and up to two guests is a game-changer for airport downtime. Plus, authorized users (free to add!) get their own lounge access too.

• Simple Earning Structure: Earn 2X miles on every purchase, 5X miles on flights, and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It’s straightforward and rewarding, especially for everyday spending.

• Welcome Offer: As of now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months—equivalent to $750 in travel. Here is the link to my welcome offer: https://i.capitalone.com/JODuIcIox.

Who It’s For:

The Venture X is perfect for travelers who want premium perks without the premium price tag. If you value lounge access, travel credits, and a flat earning rate that doesn’t require category juggling, this card is a no-brainer. It’s also great for families or couples since adding authorized users is free, and they get many of the same benefits.

American Express® Gold Card: The Foodie Traveler’s Dream

The AMEX Gold Card sits in a sweet spot between entry-level and ultra-premium cards with its $325 annual fee (up from $250 recently, but still justifiable with its credits). It’s not as travel-heavy as the Venture X or AMEX Platinum, but it shines for those who spend big on dining and groceries while still offering solid travel rewards.

Why We Love It

• Stellar Earning Rates: You’ll earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X), plus 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or through AMEX Travel. This makes it a powerhouse for food-focused spenders.

• Statement Credits: Up to $120 in annual dining credits ($10 monthly) at places like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, and more, plus up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 monthly) for U.S. rides or Uber Eats. That’s potentially $240 back if you max them out, bringing the effective fee down to $85.

• Flexible Rewards: AMEX Membership Rewards points are incredibly versatile. Transfer them to over 20 airline and hotel partners (like Delta, British Airways, or Hilton) or redeem them for travel through AMEX Travel at 1 cent per point.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first six months—worth around $600-$1,200 depending on how you redeem. With my Welcome Link you can earn up to 90,000 points instead! (offer may change at any time).

Here’s my Amex referral link. Check out offers and Card benefits. https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/gold-card?ref=KIMBEJQ41J&XLINK=MYCP

Who It’s For:

The AMEX Gold is ideal for travelers who also love to dine out or cook at home. If your regular spending leans heavily toward food and you can take advantage of the credits, this card offers incredible value. It’s less about luxury travel perks (no lounge access here) and more about maximizing everyday rewards that can fuel your next trip.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The All-Around Go-To

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often hailed as the best starter travel card, and for good reason. With a modest $95 annual fee, it punches above its weight with flexible rewards, solid travel protections, and a robust points system that’s hard to beat.

Why We Love It

• Boosted Point Value: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, giving you 25% more bang for your buck compared to standard 1-cent-per-point redemptions. Transfer them to Chase’s excellent partners (like United, Southwest, or Hyatt) for even more value—sometimes up to 2 cents per point.

• Versatile Earning: Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3X on dining (including takeout and delivery), 3X on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and 2X on other travel. Everything else gets 1X.

• Travel Protections: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per trip), primary rental car coverage, and baggage delay insurance make this a standout for peace of mind. We had our return flight cancelled while at an all inclusive in Mexico - since we had used this card they covered our extra night in full and the price difference between our return flight home.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months—worth $750 through Chase Travel℠ or potentially more with transfers. Here is the link to my welcome offer: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19q/BRWAVXEZH4

Who It’s For

This card is perfect for beginners or anyone who wants a low-fee card with high-end rewards potential. It’s also a great companion card if you already have other Chase cards (like the Freedom Flex® or Unlimited®) since you can pool points and redeem them at the Sapphire Preferred’s higher rate. Frequent travelers who book directly with airlines or hotels will also appreciate the flexibility

Pairing Them Up: The Ultimate Travel Strategy

Here’s a pro tip: you don’t have to choose just one. These cards complement each other beautifully if you’re willing to juggle multiple annual fees. For example:

• Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred for dining and travel bookings (especially through Chase Travel℠) to rack up points with top-tier protections.

• Lean on the AMEX Gold for groceries and restaurant spending to maximize those 4X categories.

• Tap the Venture X for everything else (2X on non-bonus spending) and enjoy its luxe travel perks like lounge access and credits.

Together, they cover nearly every spending category and travel need, giving you a well-rounded rewards ecosystem. Just make sure you can hit the minimum spend requirements for those welcome bonuses and use the credits to offset the fees.

Final Thoughts: Which One’s Your Favorite?

Picking a favorite depends on your lifestyle. If you crave premium travel benefits without breaking the bank, the Capital One Venture X is tough to beat. If you’re a foodie who wants to turn everyday spending into trips, the AMEX Gold is your go-to. And if you’re after flexibility, value, and a low entry cost, the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains a classic for a reason.

For me, the ideal setup might just be a combo of all three —luxury perks paired with versatile rewards. But no matter which you choose, these cards can help you travel smarter, farther, and more comfortably.

What’s your favorite travel credit card? I’d love to hear your take! Safe travels! ✈️

Use my Referral Links:

Capital One Venture X: https://i.capitalone.com/JODuIcIox

Amex Gold: https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/gold-card?ref=KIMBEJQ41J&XLINK=MYCP

Chase Sapphire Preferred: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19q/BRWAVXEZH4