Traveling the world can be expensive but, with a great credit card, you can get where you need to be now and pay later. “But how do I pick the right one?” you ask. There are so many options out there, which can make finding the perfect credit card for you overwhelming. This is where we come in. This post aims to highlight the best travel credit cards focusing on those with zero annual fees and great benefits. Think travel points, cashback rewards, and other exclusive perks that will set you up for the best trip possible. Ready to find your new favorite travel companion? Read on!
Bank of America Travel Rewards
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is a great, straightforward travel credit card to start your travel card exploration with. It offers 1.5 points back on all purchases. Points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, baggage fees, and other travel expenses with zero blackout periods.
It starts you off on the right foot with 0% APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles as well as on balance transfers made within the first 60 days. Plus, you get a 25,000-point bonus after you spend at least $1000 in the first 90 days AND you won’t encounter any foreign transaction fees. Sounds pretty ideal, right?
The main downsides are that you are limited to redeeming your points on travel and dining expenses and that you have to have a pretty high credit score to join the club.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Card does a great job of rewarding you for spending on travel. They offer 3X points back on purchases made toward travel, restaurants, transit, and more, and 1X points back on all other purchases. Wells Fargo will even award you a 30,000-point bonus after you spend 1,500 in the first 3 months. There’s no limit set to the amount of points you can accrue and those points can be redeemed on travel, gift cards, and even purchases. That adds up! Plus, they offer a 0% ARP for the first 12 months and no foreign transaction fees. Wow!
One downside of the Wells Fargo Autograph card is that you need good/excellent credit to qualify and it doesn’t offer you access to higher-end travel perks, such as free checked bags and lounge access.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The handy VentureOne Rewards Card starts you off strong with 0% APR on all purchases and balance transfers for your first 15 months as well as a bonus of 20,0000 miles when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Spend those points on any travel expense you can think of from hotels to rental cars to airfare and more. On top of that, you’ll earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every single purchase you make and 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars (so long as they’re booked through Capital One). And there aren’t even any foreign transaction fees. Take this credit card with you wherever your international travels carry you.
One downside of the VentureOne card is that the APR increases drastically after the first 15 months. So, if you know you’re sometimes late to pay off your credit card, this might not be the right pick for you
Discover it® Miles
Looking to keep your travel within the USA? The Discover it® Miles card makes it to the top of our list for domestic travel. With this card, you’ll earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases plus Discover will double all of the miles you earn during your first year. Worried you won’t get a chance to use those miles in time? Don’t. They don’t expire and they come with zero blackout dates.
To put the icing on the cake, Discover it® Miles cardholders enjoy additional perks such as free FICO credit scores, 24/7 customer service, and no foreign transaction fees.
The downside of the Discover it® Miles card is that it isn’t widely accepted outside the USA.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
This handy Chase card not only offers trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance but it offers a whole 5% cash back on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining, and 1.5% cash back on everything else. Wow! That’s a lot of cash back. Chase is accepted pretty much anywhere so it’s a great choice for those of you looking travel the world with one reliable card in your back pocket.
One downside of Chase Freedom Unlimited is that it carries a 3% foreign transaction fee. So this might be one you use at home to book travel and so forth and then take the cash back to stick in your wallet and spend on your journey.
Delta Sky Miles® Blue American Express Card
Delta Sky Miles® gets you 2 miles back for every dollar you spend on purchases made through Delta as well as on restaurants worldwide. You even get a nice little 10,000-mile welcome bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 6 months. Pay for your next flight with miles (so long as you book through Delta) and never encounter a foreign transaction fee. Oh, you’ll also receive 20% in the form of statement credit for in-flight purchases through Delta as well as insurance on rental car loss and damage.
One thing to look out for is that not everyone worldwide accepts American Express. So sure to carry a backup credit card just in case. This card is also pretty biased toward Delta spending. So you really want to be sure you’re a Delta fan before signing up.
Choosing the right travel credit card can be a daunting task but we hope we’ve made it a little easier for you. Each of these credit cards offers its own unique set of advantages. Mull it over for a bit before you decide which one best aligns with your spending habits and travel needs. Be sure to take into consideration your spending habits, credit score, and how you prefer to use the rewards.
Keep in mind that the goal is to maximize your rewards and get the most value out of every dollar you spend. Keep in mind that the key to getting the most out of your no annual fee travel credit card is to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid those pesky interest charges.
