Best travel credit cards for beginners

If you are new to the world of travel credit cards, the sheer number of terms you’ll need to learn can prove overwhelming. In simplest terms, these cards earn either rewards points or airline miles that you can redeem for flights, hotel stays, and other perks to reduce your travel costs. While every travel card has different offerings, a few stand out as ideal first choices if you’re a beginner entering the world of travel rewards.

Comparing the best travel credit cards for beginners

If you’re looking for your first rewards credit card that earns miles or points, here are a few solid options:

Save on your next vacation

Explore Bankrate’s picks of travel cards to help you earn points and miles for your next trip

View all travel cards

Top travel credit cards for beginners

Here are a few of the best credit cards to ease you into the world of travel rewards and perks.

Best for beginner travelers

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5

4.8

• Bankrate’s view

  The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best choices for your first travel card due to its flexibility and ease of use. You can earn significant rewards in multiple categories and get a generous welcome offer you can redeem for various travel purchases or with Chase’s transfer partners. For a modest annual fee, you’ll also get an excellent set of travel benefits and protections and an annual $50 hotel credit.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You’ll get top-of-the-line travel benefits and protections to cover any potential issues.
  • Flexible redemption options and transfer partners allow you to use your points for practically any travel need.

  

  Cons

  • You’ll need to pay an annual fee, which might prove daunting if you’re new to travel cards.
  • Other cards offer better reward rates in commonly used categories.

Best for perks

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5

• Bankrate’s view

  The Capital One Venture X offers premium travel perks at a lower annual fee than many of its competitors. It comes with a simple flat rate of 2X miles on eligible purchases, and bonus earnings through Capital One Travel of 5X on flights and vacation rentals and 10X on hotels and car rentals.

  While the large fee may look scary, you can easily offset this cost by using the annual travel credit and taking advantage of the anniversary bonus points. You’ll also have the flexibility to use your miles to cover travel expenses or transfer them to any of Capital One’s travel partners.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • The annual travel credits and bonus points can offset the annual fee even if you only travel occasionally.
  • The flat rate earning structure is among the highest available for a rewards-earning card.

  

  Cons

  • The high annual fee may make this card too expensive for occasional travelers.
  • There are no bonus categories outside of booking travel through Capital One.

Best for no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

• Bankrate’s view

  Offering a decent set of benefits and a simple reward structure for no-annual-fee, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards is a great starter card. It earns a straightforward 1.25X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can redeem your miles for travel expenses or transfer them to one of Capital One’s partners, which gives the card additional flexibility for when you grow more comfortable with handling your rewards.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • The intro APR offer can help with large purchases and consolidating debt.
  • Only a few no-annual-fee cards can access travel transfer partners, which provides this card with excellent value.

  

  Cons

  • You can earn better flat-rate rewards on other no-annual-fee cards.
  • If you like the Capital One ecosystem and travel semi-regularly, the Venture X is often a better choice.

Best for everyday spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

4.5

• Bankrate’s view

  The Citi Strata Premier earns solid rewards in numerous everyday bonus categories, making it easy for beginner travelers to quickly rack up Citi ThankYou points. It comes with a substantial welcome offer for a mid-tier annual fee and works well with other Citi rewards cards to form the Citi Trifecta for maximum earnings. You can also easily offset the annual fee by earning rewards from spending or using the annual hotel benefit, which makes the card a comfortable fit for most wallets.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • This card is an excellent choice for a standalone card as it covers many everyday spending categories.
  • You can combine earned points with other Citi cards to boost the value of rewards and provide more redemption options.

  

  Cons

  • The annual hotel benefit requires $500 of spending to earn, which may not be ideal for some beginner travelers.
  • There isn’t an intro APR offer to help manage debt or large purchases.

How to choose the best travel credit cards for beginners

Figure out what rewards you need and what card gives you the most of it.

There are several factors to consider when picking a travel credit card. Here are some of the most important:

Determine whether you want a flexible or co-branded card

Several airlines and hotels offer co-branded credit cards. These cards earn miles and points for their specific brand (though some will let you transfer to partners). If you always fly with a particular airline or stay at the same hotel chain, an airline credit card or hotel credit card would be the most efficient choice. But looking for a general travel card may make more sense if you don’t have a preferred airline or hotel. These cards allow you more flexibility with how you can earn and use your rewards.

Determine what issuer works best

Once you’ve figured out what rewards you want to earn, you want to find out how best to earn those miles and points. The issuers of the top travel cards all have different sets of transfer partners and redemption options. Look at the redemption options and list of partners for each issuer and examine if they fit your needs. Remember that points earned with certain airlines can be used to book awards on other airlines in its partner network.

Also, issuers of co-branded cards may offer several card options for the same brand. You might find cards with no fee, a mid-tier fee or a premium annual fee. Consider the welcome offer and bonus categories to determine what price point suits your needs.

Additional benefits

When choosing a travel rewards card, perks are a major contributor to its value. Some cards give you a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, which can help you skip the long security lines at airports. Others offer airport lounge access or let you check bags for free. Hotel cards may offer perks like elite status, room upgrades or late checkout. These perks can provide outsized value as you travel more frequently.

Other factors to consider

Before you apply for a travel rewards card, consider the following:

• Annual fee: You’ll need to assess whether the card’s reward and perk value is enough to justify the annual fee.
• Credit score: Consider what kind of credit score you’ll need to increase your approval odds for the card you want. If you have no credit history, you may not be able to get what you want until you build your credit.

Frequently asked questions

• What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

  While each card has different requirements, you’ll generally be eligible for approval with a good credit score. That means a FICO Score of 670 or higher or a VantageScore of 661 or higher.

• Which travel card is best for international travel?

  Ideally, you’ll want a travel card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Those fees can quickly add up and wipe out the value of any rewards earned while traveling abroad.

• Is booking travel through an issuer’s travel portal better than transferring points to travel partners?

  You’ll want to compare cash and point rates based on your needs. Our points and miles valuation guide can help you determine the value of your points and the best method for your specific trip.

What’s next?

Check out the resources below to find a card that matches your travel needs and to help budget for your next trip.

The bottom line

The best cards for beginner travelers offer easy ways to earn and redeem points and give the flexibility to use your rewards based on your spending and travel habits. You’ll want to determine what type of miles and points you need the most and which card enables you to accumulate them the quickest.