Best Family Travel Credit Cards 2025
Karl says, “For family travel, you need a credit card that makes it easy and rewarding. My top pick is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which offers great rewards on every purchase and flexible redemption options for family adventures! The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is also a fantastic choice, providing valuable travel benefits, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer excellent rewards and travel protections for unforgettable family trips.”
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Key offer
Simple and Flexible Rewards:
– Earn 2X miles on every purchase with no spending categories to track. Miles can be redeemed for a variety of travel expenses including flights, hotels, and more.
Exclusive Travel Perks:
– Receive a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, Hertz Five Star Status, and essential travel protections such as lost luggage reimbursement and travel accident insurance.
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit to use during your first cardholder year—equal to $1,000 in travel.
Annual fee
$95
The Capital One Venture offers the perfect combination of flexibility, family-friendly benefits, and straightforward rewards that make it ideal for family travel. The ability to earn and redeem miles simply, combined with valuable travel protections, makes it our top choice for busy parents.
Card Rewards
• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• 2X Miles on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
– Simple Rewards Structure:
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, with no special spending categories to monitor.
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– Travel Redemption Flexibility:
Redeem miles on flights, hotels, and more without blackout dates.
– TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Credit:
Get up to $120 every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.
– Hertz Five Star Status:
Enjoy elevated car rental benefits like upgraded vehicles (when available) and faster service.
– Travel Protections:
Includes coverage for lost luggage, travel accidents, and secondary rental car insurance.
– Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection:
Extended coverage on eligible purchases and reimbursement for stolen or damaged items.
– Price Protection:
Receive reimbursement if you find an identical item at a lower price within 60 days of purchase.
Foreign Transaction
None
Key offer
– Earn 3X ThankYou® Points** on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and EV charging stations.
– Access top-tier airline transfer partners** for flexible and valuable point redemptions.
– Get an annual $100 hotel discount** on a stay of $500 or more booked through CitiTravel.com.
Welcome offer
For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Annual fee
$95
Card Rewards
• 10X total ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attraction bookings on CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596).
• 3X ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
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• 1X ThankYou Point for each $1 spent on all other purchases.
• You will earn the 10x bonus ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions (excluding air travel) when booked through the CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596)
• The booking must be posted to your account during the promotional period to qualify.
• This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled.
• For bookings made with a combination of points and your Citi Strata Premier® Card, only the portion paid with your card will earn points.
Premium Benefits
– 3X points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and EV charging stations.
– Access to top-tier airline transfer partners, allowing flexible point transfers.
– $100 discount on a hotel stay of $500 or more booked through CitiTravel.com, once per calendar year.
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– Comprehensive travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage, trip delay protection, and lost or damaged luggage reimbursement.
– Car rental insurance through MasterRental Coverage.
– Purchase protection for damaged or stolen items within 90 days, with a maximum of $10,000 per claim.
– Extended warranty coverage on eligible purchases, adding up to 2 years beyond the manufacturer’s warranty.
– Broad redemption options for ThankYou® Points, including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and cash back.
Foreign Transaction
0%
Key offer
– Points Flexibility: Transfer points to over 20 travel partners, allowing families to find the most convenient and cost-effective flights and accommodations.
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– Valuable Redemptions: Earn points that are worth more when redeemed through Chase Travel, helping families stretch their travel budget.
– Comprehensive Travel Protections: Enjoy trip cancellation coverage, primary rental car insurance, and baggage delay reimbursement, ensuring peace of mind during family trips.
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Card Rewards
• 5X points on travel purchased through chase travel portal (excluding the $50 annual hotel credit).
• 5X points on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025.
• 5X points on Peloton gear over $150, up to 25,000 points until Mar. 31, 2025.
• 3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
• 2X points on all other travel purchases.
• 1X point on all other purchases
Premium Benefits
– 3X points on dining, ideal for family meals and dining out during trips.
– 2X points on all other travel purchases, letting families earn more on everything from flights to hotels.
– Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person, safeguarding family travel plans from unexpected disruptions.
– Lost luggage reimbursement up to $3,000 per person, ensuring coverage if any family member’s bags are misplaced.
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– Baggage delay reimbursement of $100 per day for up to five days, helping families cover essential purchases during delays.
– Primary rental car coverage, offering security and savings when renting vehicles for family road trips.
– $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel, which families can use to reduce the cost of their stays.
– Complimentary DashPass and Instacart+ memberships for reduced delivery fees and credits, making life easier both at home and during trips.
Minimum Qualifications
Chase won’t approve you for this card if you have the Sapphire Reserve or if you have opened this card in the last 48 months. If you want to apply for this card and currently have the Sapphire Reserve, you can call Chase to downgrade it to a Freedom Unlimited. After three days, you can apply for this card.
Foreign Transaction
$0
Key offer
– Simple, Flexible Rewards for Families:
Earn unlimited miles on every purchase without worrying about spending categories, making it easy for families to quickly build miles for family trips. Plus, miles can be easily redeemed for flights, hotels, or travel expenses with no blackout dates.
Read more
– Family-Friendly Lounge Access and Travel Comfort:
Enjoy unlimited complimentary lounge visits for you and authorized users, plus up to two guests, at over 1,300 lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass™, and Plaza Premium. This premium access makes family travel relaxing, comfortable, and convenient.
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
Card Rewards
- • 10X miles for each dollar spent on Capital One Travel hotel and rental car bookings.
• 5X miles for each dollar spent on Capital One Travel flight bookings.
• 2X miles for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
– Annual Travel Credit:
Receive $300 annually as a credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, lowering costs for family trips.
– Free Additional Cardholders:
Authorized users receive full lounge benefits at no extra cost, extending travel perks to family members.
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– Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit:
Get up to $120 in statement credits for expedited security screening programs, making airport experiences smoother for the whole family.
– Comprehensive Travel Protections:
Enjoy primary rental car coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement—providing peace of mind for family trips.
– Cell Phone Protection:
Coverage for damaged or stolen phones when monthly bills are paid with the card, helpful for busy families relying on mobile devices.
– Annual Anniversary Bonus:
Receive 10,000 bonus miles ($100 toward travel) every year after your first anniversary, providing extra value to put toward family travel plans.
Foreign Transaction
None
Family-Specific Benefits Comparison
| Benefit | Capital One Venture Rewards | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Citi Premier℠ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards on Family Spending | 2X on everyday purchases, 5X on hotels/rentals via Capital One Travel | 1X on everyday purchases, 2X travel, 3X dining, 5X Chase Travel | 1X everyday, 3X air, dining, supermarkets, gas, EV charging, 10X CitiTravel hotels |
| Family Travel Insurance | Travel accident, rental coverage | Trip cancellation, baggage delay, trip delay, rental coverage | Trip cancellation, interruption, rental protection, lost luggage |
| Special Family Perks | $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit | $50 hotel credit, 10% bonus points, 25% more via Chase Travel | $100 off hotel stays $500+ when booked through CitiTravel |
| Points Sharing | Free between accounts | Free within household | Free to other Citi accounts, capped at 100,000 points/year |
| Transfer Partners | 15+ travel programs | 10+ travel programs | 15+ travel programs |
Pro Tips for Family Travelers
Maximizing Value with Kids
- Book travel through Capital One portal for best value
- Use miles to cover peak season travel when cash prices are high
- Consider transferring points to airline partners for family seating
- Stack rewards with hotel family programs
During Adventure
Hotels
- Book hotels with free breakfast
- Look for properties with pools/kids’ activities
- Use points for suite upgrades
- Consider vacation rentals for more space
Car Rentals
- Use card’s primary insurance coverage
- Book larger vehicles with points
- Check for car seat policies
- Compare off-airport locations
Filing Claims
- Book entire family’s travel with the card for coverage
- Keep documentation for all family members
- Register trips in advance for emergency assistance
- Save medical information for quick access