My Favorite Travel Credit Cards for Earning Free Trips
Last updated: June 15, 2023
Think, for a moment, about that dream trip. That one you think you can’t afford. Now, what if I told you that you could get a $500 discount on that trip? How about a $1,000 discount? Does it seem more affordable now? Those discounts come in the form of travel points, and they’re how I’ve traveled all over the world for free! With travel credit cards, you can earn points on your everyday purchases. Many of these cards have big bonus point offers that will get you earning that free trip in no time! Different cards have different perks, uses, and costs, so it’s important to decide which option will benefit you the most before applying.
These are the travel credit cards I actually use to earn free trips, and this easy guide can help you decide which one is right for you.
This post contains referral links. This means I could earn travel points when you apply and are approved for one of these cards at no additional cost to you. I only link to the cards I personally use and recommend, and my opinions have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these organizations. Thank you for your support!
My Favorite Travel Credit Card
If I had to pick one travel credit card, this would be it! Points redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards are unbelievably valuable, and when you consider that along with other redemption benefits (like United’s Excursionist Perk or the ability to combine points within your household), this card becomes extremely advantageous.
CURRENT OFFER: 60,000 pts
BONUS VALUE: ~$750
ANNUAL FEE: $95
CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED
This card offers maximum benefits with minimal restrictions and a low annual fee, making it my favorite card in my wallet. Getting the most out of your rewards does require digging into the details a bit, and there are some limitations on transfer partners. However, Chase points are incredibly valuable in the travel world and are simple to redeem. They’re also currently offering their highest bonus ever!
CARD BENEFITS
- 2x points per dollar on travel, 3x points on dining & groceries, and 1x point per dollar on other purchases.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards!
- $50 annual ultimate rewards hotel credit.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Trip cancellation insurance, car rental insurance, and lost luggage insurance.
Best Travel Credit Card for “First Timers”
This is the card that’s perfect for those just entering the points-earning game. It offers simple, straightforward benefits and points can be redeemed for any type of travel with no partner limitations. This means you can use your points for any airline, accommodation, train, car rental, etc., regardless of the company or website you purchase from. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
CURRENT OFFER: 75,000 pts
BONUS VALUE: $750
ANNUAL FEE: $95
CAPITAL ONE VENTURE
This is one of the easiest and most flexible travel cards available. With its low annual fee, great bonus offer, and ease of use, this is the card that I recommend to friends who just want to earn their first free trip without having to strategize or think much about it.
CARD BENEFITS
- 2x points per dollar on every purchase.
- Redeem points for any travel booked through any website.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- 2 free visits per year to Capital One lounges.
- Travel accident insurance, car rental insurance, and lost luggage insurance.
Best Travel Credit Card for Road Trippers
While some travel cards have a set number of points for every dollar spent, others offer a higher point value for certain types of purchases. If you’re someone who’s often hitting the road, this card might give you the most bang for your buck.
CURRENT OFFER: 75,000 pts
BONUS VALUE: $750
ANNUAL FEE: $95
CITI PREMIER
This card is similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred with a high bonus offer and easy points transfer to major travel partners. Although it doesn’t have the same transfer power, there is one benefit that stands out, and that’s its extra point-earning ability for travel, food, AND gas purchases.
CARD BENEFITS
- 3x points per dollar on travel, restaurant, supermarket, and gas purchases, 1x point per dollar on all other purchases.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Annual $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more.
Best Travel Credit Card for Hotel Rewards
Loyalty to a particular travel company has its perks, especially with a branded credit card. A hotel card will often kickstart your Guest Status, earn you free nights, and offer enormous point value for bookings. If you’re a frequent or even just annual traveler, a branded hotel card can be quite beneficial.
CURRENT OFFER: 75,000 pts
BONUS VALUE: $750
ANNUAL FEE: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
This card pays for itself with the annual Free Night Award. For each card anniversary, you’ll receive a free night at a property with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points (Marriott’s Classic and Distinctive Select properties).
CARD BENEFITS
- Up to 17x points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2x points per dollar on all other purchases.
- Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary.
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year and automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, and trip delay insurance.
Disclaimer: The Marriott card I personally own is the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card, which is no longer available. This new card has the same benefits and cost as the one that’s in my wallet.
Best Travel Credit Card for Airline Loyalty
Just like hotel loyalty programs, airlines have special perks for their loyal customers as well. My favorite airline rewards program for domestic flights is Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards. Not only does Southwest offer free bags and no change fees for every customer, but their Rapid Rewards program can also get seriously valuable.
CURRENT OFFER: 60,000 pts
ANNUAL FEE: $69
SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS
Rather than assigning a blanket point value to all domestic flights, point redemption for Southwest flights is directly tied to the monetary cost of the ticket. This means you can often get more free flights out of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards points than you could with other airline loyalty programs. The real value of this card, though, is that the bonus points count toward Southwest’s Companion Pass – the holy grail of airline benefits. A Companion Pass lets a friend fly with you free of airline charges for a year! Additionally, there are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for point redemptions – a perk not often found with other airline programs.
CARD BENEFITS
- 2x points per dollar at Southwest Airlines, local transit, rideshare, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services.
- 1x point per dollar on all other purchases.
- 3,000 points every year after your account anniversary.
- Points count toward Companion Pass (including bonus points)!
Keep in mind that free points are only free if you’re earning them on purchases you would be making anyway. You don’t want to fall into the trap of spending money just to get points or of making purchases you can’t afford. The value of “free” points earned on these purchases is never worth it in those scenarios. Before you apply for any travel credit cards, be sure to pay attention to the minimum requirements for each bonus offer to make sure you can meet these with your everyday purchases.
As long as the card fits your needs, start earning and take that dream trip – FO’ FREE!
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Comments (1)
Mohit Kumar
July 11, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Thank you for sharing such an insightful and well-crafted post.