Best Credit Cards For Travel And Cash Back Of November 2024

A Forbes Advisor favorite, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has just about everything you could want in a travel and cash-back card. If your priority is cash back, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for one cent per point. But you can also use your points to book travel through the Chase portal, at a 25% increase in value. Or you can transfer your points to partner travel loyalty programs like United Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France/KLM to reap even better value.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months, plus up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within the first year from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: A $50 annual statement credit for any hotel purchase made through Ultimate Rewards is an easy-to-use benefit that helps offset the annual fee. Combine this with a comprehensive suite of travel and purchase protection benefits and a modest annual fee and you’ve got a winner.

The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® card has a plethora of perks and benefits as well as a generous earning structure. Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for one cent each as cash back but you’ll get 50% more value when you book travel through the Chase portal. You can also transfer your points to any of Chase’s air or hotel transfer loyalty partners which often provides the best return.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $550

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit and up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® application fee credit (every four years) help to justify its pricey annual fee. Plus, the included complimentary airport lounge access to both the luxe Chase Sapphire lounges and the Priority Pass lounge network can make travel a lot more comfortable.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has arguably the best credit card travel coverage in the industry, offering primary car rental insurance coverage and extensive trip protection coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption, trip delay insurance, lost and delayed baggage insurance. Other benefits include two years of complimentary Lyft Pink membership when activated by 12/31/2024 and a minimum one-year DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by 12/31/2027. One drawback is the $75 fee for each authorized user.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card earns solid and simple cash-back rewards on travel and dining purchases and a higher-than-usual flat rate everywhere else. Cash back is easily redeemed at one cent per point for a statement credit or direct deposit to your eligible Bank of America account. Bank of America customers with Preferred Honors status get a bonus of 25% to 75% more on reward earnings.

Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 online bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Bank of America Premium Rewards card provides impressive travel benefits for its moderate annual fee including an annual airline incidental credit and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit (once every four years) and travel insurance. It also comes with purchase protection and secondary car rental coverage.

The Chase Freedom Flex® packs an earnings punch with its 5% quarterly rotating category bonuses on common spending areas. Add its year-round bonus rewards on travel, drugstores and dining and you’ve got a fast-earning cash-back card with no annual fee. It also provides useful travel benefits such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: You can get more oomph out of the Freedom Flex by pairing it with one of the Chase Sapphire cards or the Ink Preferred card. This instantly gives you a redemption bonus for Ultimate Rewards bookings as well as the option to transfer points to Chase’s air and hotel travel loyalty partners.

The Navy Federal More Rewards American Express® Card earns generous cash-back rewards on dining, transit, gas and groceries. You can redeem your points for cash, travel, gift cards or merchandise. The card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and offers a variety of travel-related benefits including up to 25% off car rentals, secondary car rental loss and damage insurance and roadside assistance.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants and on food delivery, at supermarkets, on gas and transit and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. Plus, a one-time $98 statement credit after paying $49 or more for an annual Walmart+ membership using your card. Offer available from 7/1/2024 - 1/1/2025.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Only Navy Federal Credit Union members are eligible to apply for this card. To join, you must be an active duty or retired member of the armed forces or a civilian employed by the Department of Defense or a family member of either of the aforementioned groups.

For those who meet NFCU’s eligibility requirements, the card is more accessible than most rewards-earning cards since those with average credit may be eligible for approval. However, the card does not provide any travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation or trip delay coverage.

The Titanium Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card*, issued by Andrews Federal Credit Union, earns cash back quickly, since it offers bonus rewards on gas and grocery expenditures and a strong earning rate everywhere else. It also includes a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver and extended warranty coverage in the U.S.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on qualifying gas and grocery purchases and 1.5 points on all other qualifying purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days of card opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: In order to apply for the card, you must be a member of the Andrew Federal Credit Union. Their membership criteria is fairly broad including active or retired members of the military and their families, residents of Washington D.C., employees of various corporations and members of the American Consumer Council (which is free to join).

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card pays out extra rewards on travel, dining, gas stations and more. Points can be redeemed for one cent each toward statement credits and travel, among other things. Perks include cellphone protection and a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver. However, there is no travel insurance.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, 1 point per dollar on other purchases

Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Autograph card comes with a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. A variable APR of 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% applies for purchases after the intro period ends and for balance transfers. The card has a balance transfer fee of up to 5%, minimum $5. That could come in handy if you need extra time to pay for your trip.

If you’re eligible for Navy Federal Credit Union membership, then the Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card is an option for you. Although there’s a minimal annual fee, it might just be worth it if your spending is significant enough to benefit from the higher earning rates on purchases. The card also offers a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees (once every four years) and travel accident insurance.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel and 2 points per dollar on everything else.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points (a $400 value) after spending $3,500 within 90 days of opening your account, plus a free year of Amazon Prime worth of $139 value, offer available from 7/1/2024 – 1/1/2025.

Annual fee: $49

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders receive a complimentary Amazon Prime membership for a year. That could easily justify the card’s annual fee for the first year if you are a regular Amazon shopper.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) is a good fit for those who like to spend their free time out and about, whether at home or at a far away destination. It earns elevated rewards on dining and entertainment, while also offering extra cash back on travel bookings through the Capital One Travel portal.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a $250 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Savor comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, a 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR applies after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you. It lacks some travel protections but does provide an extended warranty for purchases made on the card.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card* combines extra rewards on travel and gas with a lucrative welcome bonus. Travel-focused benefits include four Priority Pass airport lounge visits, a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every four years) and trip cancellation/interruption and delay insurance.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center, 4 points per dollar on travel and at gas and EV charging stations on the first $1,000 each quarter, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, dining and streaming services (excluding discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs) and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders receive cellphone protection up to $600 when they pay their monthly phone bill with the card. There’s also an annual $30 streaming credit after 11 consecutive months of payments to an eligible streaming service. However, the card doesn’t provide any auto rental insurance coverage.