Best General Travel Credit Cards 2025
Karl says, “For general spending and travel, you need a credit card that offers great rewards and benefits. My top pick is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which gives you a $300 annual travel credit, 10X points on hotels and rentals, and access to over 1,300 airport lounges. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is also a strong choice with a fantastic welcome offer and unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card combines a low annual fee with high rewards on travel and dining. For everyday spending, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers impressive cashback rates on groceries and streaming subscriptions, making it an excellent option for everyday expenses.”
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Key offer
– Receive a $300 annual travel credit that effectively offsets the $395 annual fee, plus enjoy a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year.
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– Earn accelerated rewards: 10X points on hotels and rental car bookings and 5X points on flights through Capital One Travel, plus 2X on everyday purchases.
– Enjoy premium perks like complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status for you and additional cardholders, and access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
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
The Capital One Venture X Rewards offers the best combination of premium benefits and straightforward rewards, making it ideal for general travel. The card’s simple earning structure, valuable transfer partners, and premium perks justify its annual fee for most travelers.
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
– Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months.
– Earn 10,000 bonus miles annually (equal to $100 toward travel) on your card anniversary.
– Receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
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– Get up to a $120 statement credit every 4 years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
– Earn 10X points on hotels and rental car bookings and 5X on flights (via Capital One Travel), plus 2X on all other purchases.
– Enjoy comprehensive travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
– Benefit from no foreign transaction fees and miles that never expire.
– Additional cardholders can be added at no extra cost, and their spending helps boost your rewards balance.
Foreign Transaction
None
Key offer
• Enjoy a strong welcome offer that gives you 75,000 bonus miles plus a $250 travel credit in your first cardholder year—providing an immediate boost to your travel rewards.
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• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel—maximizing rewards on both everyday and travel spending.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit – Receive up to a $120 credit every four years to expedite your travel process.
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
Card Rewards
• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• 2X Miles on all other purchases.
Premium Benefits
• $250 Annual Travel Credit – Offset travel expenses when you book through Capital One Travel.
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• Accelerated Rewards – Earn unlimited 2X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on travel bookings, ensuring fast accumulation of miles.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit – Receive up to a $120 credit every four years to expedite your travel process.
• Flexible Redemption – Use your miles for travel, cash back, gift cards, or transfer to loyalty programs for even greater value.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees – Shop abroad without incurring extra charges.
• Additional Perks – Enjoy premium benefits like a $50 experience credit on Lifestyle Collection hotel bookings and other exclusive offers for dining and entertainment.
Foreign Transaction
None
Key offer
• Low $95 annual fee effectively offset by a $50 annual hotel credit, a 10% anniversary points bonus, and no foreign transaction fees — making this card a high‑value choice for both everyday and travel spending.
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• Elevated earning rates on core categories — 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel (redeemable for 25% more value), 3X points on dining, and 2X on all other travel purchases — ensure rapid point accumulation.
• Flexible redemption options and robust travel protections — points transfer 1:1 to leading airline and hotel partners, and the card includes primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage protections.
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
• Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3X on dining, 2X on other travel, and 1X on all other purchases
• Receive a $50 annual hotel credit for prepaid bookings via Chase Travel
• Earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases each account anniversary
• Redeem points for 25% more value when booking travel through Chase Travel or transfer to 13 airline and 4 hotel loyalty programs
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• Primary (in new york it’s secondary) auto rental collision coverage (up to $60,000)
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person; $20,000 per trip)
• Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket)
• Lost luggage coverage (up to $3,000 per person) and baggage delay reimbursement (up to $100/day for 5 days)
• Purchase protection (up to $500 per claim) and extended warranty coverage
• No foreign transaction fees
• 24/7 customer service and concierge support
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
– 6% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and 6% on select streaming subscriptions.
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– Receive a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months, boosting your rewards early on.
– Enjoy additional shopping protections like Return protection and extended warranty coverage, giving you peace of mind with every purchase.
Welcome offer
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$0 for the first year, then $95 per year
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Card Rewards
• Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1% thereafter)
• Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• Earn 3% cash back on transit expenses (including taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, and buses)
• Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases, with Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit (for example, at Amazon.com)
Premium Benefits
– Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually; 1% thereafter).
– Benefit from an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months.
– Receive an $84 Disney Bundle Credit when enrolled, enhancing your everyday entertainment savings.
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– Enjoy an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months
– Enjoy added benefits such as purchase protection and Return Protection (refunds up to $300 per item, with a maximum of $1,000 per year) and extended warranty protection (adding one extra year on eligible warranties).
Foreign Transaction
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Rewards Program Comparison
| Program | Key Transfer Partners | Point Value | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Miles | 15+ airlines and hotels | 1-2 cents per point | Simple redemption, no blackout dates |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 14 travel partners | 1.25-1.5 cents per point | 25-50% travel portal bonus |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 20+ partners | 1-2 cents per point | Frequent transfer bonuses |
Pro Tips for Travelers
Category Spending
- Use bonus categories strategically (travel, dining)
- Book through card portals for extra points
- Stack rewards with airline/hotel programs
- Combine with no-annual-fee cards for gaps
Value Optimization
- Transfer to partners during bonuses
- Compare portal vs transfer redemptions
- Pool points with authorized users
- Look for sweet spot redemptions
Filing Claims
- Report incidents within 20 days
- Gather all documentation
- Keep copies of medical reports
- Take photos of damaged gear