Focused card guide

Best credit cards for travel

Compare five personal travel cards in Cardwell’s focused catalog, from moderate-fee points cards to premium travel options.

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card
Chase · personal

Sapphire Preferred

1x–5x rewards$95 annual fee

5x through Chase Travel; 3x on dining, gas and EV charging, select streaming, online grocery, and eligible vacation-home rentals; and 2x on other travel.

Why it made this list: Transferable travel points and useful everyday categories at a moderate annual fee.

Review on Chase
Citi Strata Premier credit card
Citi · personal

Strata Premier

1x–10x rewards$95 annual fee

3x on air travel, other hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas or EV charging; 10x on eligible Citi Travel bookings.

Why it made this list: Broad everyday and travel categories with transferable points.

Review on Citi
Capital One Venture X credit card
Capital One · personal

Venture X

2x–10x rewards$395 annual fee

2x miles on every purchase, 10x hotels and rental cars plus 5x flights and vacation rentals through Capital One Travel, with lounge access.

Why it made this list: Premium travel perks paired with straightforward 2x earning.

American Express Amex Gold credit card
American Express · personal

Amex Gold

1x–5x rewards$325 annual fee

4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets with caps, 5x prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, and 3x eligible flights.

Why it made this list: High earning on food spending for users who value Membership Rewards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card
Chase · personal

Sapphire Reserve

1x–8x rewards$795 annual fee

8x through Chase Travel, 4x on direct airline and hotel bookings, 3x dining, plus premium travel benefits.

Why it made this list: Premium travel earning and benefits for users who can realistically use them.