The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Friday, October 4, 2024

7 Best Credit Cards for Domestic Travel (Oct. 2024)

Best Credit Cards For Domestic Travel
Matt Walker

Writer: Matt Walker

Matt Walker

Matt Walker,

Copywriter and credit card strategist Matt Walker leverages his 15-plus years of experience to cover the finance industry through comprehensive consumer guides and in-depth features. His vast knowledge of the ins and outs of finance allows him to translate complex financial topics into readable articles suited for credit newbies and the most seasoned, tech-savvy investors alike. Matt’s straightforward language highlights the latest developments in the industry — from credit cards to credit unions — and informs consumers on how they can benefit from them.

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Lillian Guevara-Castro

Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro, Senior Editor

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.

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Ashley Fricker

Reviewer: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker, Senior Editor

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Everyone has different travel goals — but not every travel credit card can help you reach those goals. If you’re interested in seeing more of what the U.S. has to offer, you’ll do well with one of the best credit cards for domestic travel.

Our team of intrepid travelers researched many of the cards on the market and narrowed down our top choices to help you vacation like a pro. Whether you’re looking for free or discounted flights, hotels, or something else for your trek across the U.S., the cards below won’t disappoint.

Overall | Flights | Hotels | Car Rentals | Travel Insurance | Premium | FAQs

Best Overall Cards for Domestic Travel

Whether you’re going cross-country or exploring a nearby city, you’re going to need some backup from your credit card to make your adventure more memorable, enjoyable, and affordable. Our top choices for domestic travel credit cards give you all of that — and some extra benefits you may not have known you needed.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a do-it-all companion for domestic travelers. If you’re a regular airline passenger, you’ll appreciate the ability to receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Capital One also provides regular signup bonuses for new applicants. These deals can help you earn a lot of points quickly for meeting certain spending thresholds.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn an unlimited miles on every purchase — and you can transfer your miles to more than a dozen leading travel loyalty programs to increase their value.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can quickly make up the cost of the annual fee by taking advantage of its annual travel credit reimbursement as well as the application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. You can use your earned points through the Chase portal or you can do a 1:1 transfer to many leading travel loyalty programs. Cardholders also receive access to more than 1,000 worldwide airport lounges.

Best Air Miles Cards for Domestic Travel

Although America has so many wonderful sights to see, sometimes you want to get to your destination faster than a car can take you. If you’re a regular flyer — or you want to be one — a good miles card can lower your costs and increase your airfare options. Get started by checking out our top choices below.

Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.74% - 27.74% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

The Discover it® Miles card pays out miles for every dollar charged to the card. You can redeem those miles as a statement credit to reimburse your airfare costs or any other travel-related expenses. With moderate card use, you can easily earn enough miles to pay for a domestic round-trip ticket just from the match alone.

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders earn miles for every dollar charged to the card, which can quickly add up to a nice reward. You can redeem your miles for statement credits that work to reimburse you for travel expenses, including airfare. Plus, the card comes with the ability to receive credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, which gets you out of those long airport security lines and to your destination much faster.

6. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This card is currently not available.

Travel Rating

★★★★★
N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can get closer to your next trip just by making your everyday purchases. That’s because the card offers a signup bonus for new cardholders that pays out bonus points after you meet a purchase threshold during your first three months with the card. That bonus equals 25% more in travel credits when you redeem it through the Chase platform. That could buy you round-trip airfare to just about anywhere in the U.S.

Best Hotel Rewards Cards for Domestic Travel

Sometimes, you just have to get away. But every busy day of traveling deserves a good night’s sleep. With one of our best hotel rewards credit cards for domestic travel, you can save money on your hotel stay without skimping on your accommodations. That means you may save a little extra money for an extra night or an added adventure or two.

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

Unlike some travel credit cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card doesn’t restrict or limit which hotel brand you book with. That’s because cardholders can redeem their miles up to six months after a trip and use them as statement credits toward their balance. The only restriction is that you have to use them toward a travel expense.

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card doesn’t impose blackout dates or hotel restrictions, meaning that you can stay wherever you want, whenever you want. Plus, you can transfer your miles to more than 12 travel loyalty programs to give your earnings an extra boost.

9. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card rewards you with up to 12X points on your Hilton purchases, but still pays a healthy 6X and 3X points on all other purchases. Plus, cardholders instantly become Hilton Honors Gold Members.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

  • Earn 12X points per dollar for Hilton purchases, 6X points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, 3X points for all other purchases
  • $95 annual fee

Gold members receive guaranteed discounts

, 80% more reward points during stays, complimentary breakfast at all Hilton-owned hotels, and several other key benefits that make this card a winner if you’re a Hilton loyalist.

Best Rental Car Rewards for Domestic Travel

Nothing kills those vacation vibes like a trip to the mechanic because your car couldn’t handle the cross-country trek. Instead of risking your own engine or tires, why not rent a car and ride with a little extra peace of mind?

Our best cards for renting a car can have you on the road faster, and cheaper, than depending on travel websites to find you the best deals.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

You won’t pay an annual fee with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card, but you will have the opportunity to earn a whole lot of rewards that you can redeem for free car rentals and other travel perks. Your earned points can be paid out in the form of statement credits that can reimburse you for rental car fees and other travel costs.

11. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This card is currently not available.

Chase® Rating

★★★★★
N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Chase makes it super easy to redeem your miles for free rental cars, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top choice for earning points that can be redeemed in the Chase platform. You can redeem your points for free car rentals and you’ll also get rental car insurance when you charge the rental fees to your card.

This saves you money when you don’t have to purchase the inflated insurance prices at the rental counter.

The Platinum Card® Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

CATEGORY RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
  • $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
  • Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
  • Choose among three card designs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.74% - 28.74% Pay Over Time
$695
Excellent

The Platinum Card® from American Express

is like a key to an exclusive car rental club. Cardholders receive instant access to complimentary memberships in multiple premium car rental programs. These memberships also include special upgrades and discounts.

The card’s rental car insurance covers you if your rental is damaged or stolen. You automatically activate the coverage when you use your card to reserve and pay for your vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the counter.

Best Cards for Domestic Travel with Insurance

Many credit cards recently added travel insurance to their list of benefits — but not many cardholders know it. Whether it’s trip interruption protection, lost baggage allowance, or any other travel-related insurance, our top-rated cards below have you covered from doorstep to destination and back again.

13. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This card is currently not available.

Chase® Rating

★★★★★
N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card members receive insurance of up to $10,000 per covered trip. This insurance pays for your travel expenses when, for example, you experience an accidental injury or sickness, you receive a jury duty summons, or severe weather interrupts your trip.

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best travel insurance packages in the credit card space. The card’s primary rental car insurance covers your vehicle for up to $75,000 when you pay your rental fees using the card. There’s also a $10,000 per-trip cancellation reimbursement, a $500 trip delay reimbursement that kicks in after six hours of delays, a $100-a-day delayed luggage reimbursement, and $100,000 in emergency evacuation insurance.

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card comes with $250,000 in travel accident insurance when you pay for your fare using the card. There’s also a comprehensive rental car insurance package and roadside assistance coverage that can pay for the cost of a tow truck or other emergency vehicle while you’re on the road.

Best Premium Cards for Domestic Travel

Vacations are a time to rest, relax, and get away from everyday life. So, if you’re going to unplug from the real world, why not do it in style? With our best premium cards for domestic travel, you can gain airport lounge access, concierge services, and improved accommodations among other perks and benefits that will turn your trip from memorable to unforgettable.

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers several premium benefits that include an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Frequent flyers also appreciate access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through a Priority Pass™ Select membership. But it’s the annual travel credit that makes this card a winner.

The Platinum Card® Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

CATEGORY RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
  • $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
  • Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
  • Choose among three card designs
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.74% - 28.74% Pay Over Time
$695
Excellent

The Platinum Card® from American Express sports a hefty annual fee, but savvy cardholders can turn this card into a profitable piece of plastic. The annual airline fee and hotel credit reiumburses a good bit of the annual fee in the form of a statement credit. And that’s just the start of the perks.

Cardholders receive reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fees, as well as the benefits of a Fine Hotels & Resorts® membership. You can also use your card to unlock access to more than 1,200 premium luxury airport lounges thanks to the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

All travel cards work a little differently, but each can make your travel plans more affordable.

Your travel needs and habits will help define which card works best for you. If saving money is your main objective, then an all-purpose travel credit card — such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Discover it® Miles — may work best for you.

That’s because those two cards allow you to travel however you choose, with no restrictions, and redeem the miles and points you accrue from all of your purchases for statement credits. Those credits essentially reimburse you for any travel-related expenses you incur.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another great option, thanks to the robust Chase Ultimate Rewards program. You can turn your points into free hotel stays or airfare, upgraded accommodations, car rentals, or any combination of the many choices the program offers directly on the Chase Ultimate Rewards website. You can apply your points for a discount on travel accommodations even if you don’t have enough points to cover the total cost.

If vacation time means pampering and luxury to you, you may want to check out the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Both cards make it easier to earn high-end hotel upgrades.

The Platinum Card also offers an annual airline fee credit, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fees, and a $15 monthly credit to cover your Uber Platinum membership.

What Credit Score Do I Need for a Travel Rewards Card?

You don’t need perfect credit to obtain a good travel rewards credit card — but the cards with the biggest perks will generally require a good or better credit score.

FICO Score® Ranges

Our top choice in this category, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, doesn’t limit itself to applicants who have excellent credit. One cardholder reported receiving the card — and a $15,000 credit limit — with a 662 credit score. That score falls in the “Fair” range on FICO’s credit wheel.

Our second choice, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, offers slightly lesser rewards but doesn’t charge an annual fee, and may be more forgiving toward past credit mistakes. In fact, one cardholder claimed in a review to have been approved with a 600 credit score.

The Discover it® Miles card is best for applicants with good to excellent credit, which starts at a 670 FICO Score.

All of those cards offer competitive interest rates and flexible rewards that you can redeem as statement credits to reimburse travel-related expenses that you charge to your card.

Other cards on our list, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express are more exclusive and require a higher credit score for approval. Both cards roughly require at least a minimum credit score of 720 for consideration — and even that won’t always guarantee your approval.

Is it Worth Getting an Airline Credit Card?

If you’re a frequent flyer, you can combine a good airline credit card with your preferred loyalty program to double your rewards and maximize your savings and upgrades. These cards are a must-have if you spend a lot of time on airplanes (or if you aspire to travel more).

But, if you prefer to mix up your travel plans with a little air travel and a little driving, you’re better served with an all-purpose travel credit card that won’t restrict how you redeem your rewards earnings.

For example, most airline-branded credit cards allow you to rack up rewards to spend on future flights and upgrades. But you’re out of luck if you want to splurge and use your savings on a fancy hotel or rental car.

An all-purpose card — like those named in our list above — gives you various ways to redeem your rewards. You can spend them on airfare, rental cars, hotels, ride-sharing service fees, or several other travel-related expenses.

And some cards, like those issued by Chase, won’t limit your redemptions only to travel. With the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform, you can spend your earned points on travel, merchandise, experiences, and several other popular categories.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Screenshot

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program provides great options and flexibility for your rewards.

So, if you’re planning a big trip, you can bank your miles until you’re ready to book. If you know you’ll have a while until you have some time off, you can splurge and use some of your points on a day trip, spa day, or tickets to a concert or sporting event.

That type of flexibility makes Chase one of the most sought-after credit cards on the market.

And the best part about all these cards is that they’re built for domestic travel. With them, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees or merchants who don’t accept your payment.

See the U.S. for Less with Travel Rewards

The U.S. is filled with so many wonderful travel destinations. Whether you’re looking for great food, history, culture, or nature, a great vacation is just a short flight or drive away. And, if you pack one of the best credit cards for domestic travel, you’ll be ready for adventure without worrying about the hassles that sometimes come with overseas travel.

Just remember that there are many kinds of travel rewards credit cards. The best rewards for you will complement your travel plans without limiting you to certain travel dates or service providers.

After all, it’s your vacation — and you should plan it in any way you want to experience it.

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