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There are so many travel credit cards out there right now, it can be overwhelming to chose one (or even multiple) for yourself. Each has its pros and cons—some may be simple to use, others might have plenty of bells and whistles. It can be challenging to get your feet wet in the world of traveling with points and miles, but nothing makes you believe in a card's worthiness for a spot in your wallet like a good ol' fashioned personal recommendation.
That's why I've asked my colleagues about their own favorite travel credit cards. For some, it's about airline loyalty; for others, it's getting maximized points on everyday spending. Whatever the case may be, we highlighted the perks most important to us: travel insurance, lounge access, zero foreign transaction fees, and more. It's these little benefits that add up to something greater: a less-stressed, more enjoyable journey no matter where we go.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
American Express® Gold Card
“I first applied for the Gold Card in 2013, and I won’t sugar coat this: I had no idea what I was doing. It took a full year of having the card to realize that I should be using it on groceries—a category where it earned, and still earns, bonus points (officially: four points per dollar spent at supermarkets and restaurants). A year after that, I closed my account because I didn’t want to pay the annual fee, which today sits at $250. Thankfully, after some serious points and miles education, I now know better—much, much better—and at this stage of the game, the Amex Gold is an integral part of my credit card rotation. It’s now my go-to card for groceries and dining out, and the points I’ve earned with it have been put toward award tickets to Hawaii, Amsterdam, and beyond.” —Carly Helfand, contributing writer
Read our full review here.
JetBlue Plus Card
“JetBlue is my preferred airline, so it made sense to sign up for the corresponding credit card. I originally signed up for the standard card, which has no annual fee, but a little over a year ago I upgraded to the JetBlue Plus Card. I find the $99 annual fee to be worth it when factoring in the free checked bag I get on any JetBlue flight, plus the higher points-earning potential on travel (6x points on JetBlue purchase). While I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred for most day-to-day purchases, I'll often put larger buys on this card to accrue points. I typically earn enough for at least a few one-way domestic tickets a year without much thought. Plus, in-flight purchases are 50 percent off, which means I can pay less for things like snack boxes, drinks, and headphones, when I inevitably forget to bring a pair for the entertainment system.” —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
“Trying to understand credit cards is incredibly boring to me, but I signed up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve years ago after one person after another (who had done the card comparison research I can't bring myself to do) advocated for it. I've stuck with this one for a number of reasons. The welcome offer points were hearty enough to take at least one long-haul trip on, and year after year I get perks with tangible value to me—free Lyft Pink access (which includes free Citi Bike rides), Priority Pass lounge entry (they aren't always the best lounges, but it's sure better than no lounges!), and a $300 travel credit. Plus, I take multiple flights a year on the points I rack up. I'm hooked.” —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Read our full review here.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
“As a loyal Delta customer, the Amex Platinum card has boded very well for the several years I have been using it. Though regulations are changing in the coming months to only allow a limited number of Delta Sky Club visits per year for cardholders, and booking with Basic Economy will no longer grant club access, there are ways for the seasoned fliers to work with these new rules. Delta aside, this card offers a sizable amount of membership points for new cardholders, hotel perks (and credits) when booking through Amex’s website, unlimited access to all Centurion Lounges, and credit for TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry, as well as popular retailers nationwide. While this card comes in at an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), it truly serves as an all-in-one card for frequent travelers, and practically pays for itself when accounting for its considerable benefits.” —Emily Adler, associate manager of planning and operations
American Express® Green Card
“The Green Card is, I believe, the under-sung hero of the Amex portfolio. With an annual fee of $150, it has the lowest fee of all the Amex charge cards and it has credits that easily negate the cost: a yearly statement credit worth $189 that can be used for Clear membership, and a $100 yearly credit toward lounge access via Loungebuddy. It also offers trip delay and baggage insurance, and earns three points per dollar spent on dining and transportation—that includes airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, trains, taxis, rideshares, parking, subways, and more. The Gold will get you more at restaurants, and the Platinum on airfare, but the Green is a great way for a credit card newbie to get their feet wet with the ol' Centurion, as well as all its points-transfer travel partners like Air France-KLM, Avianca, Delta, and Singapore Airlines.” —Matt Ortile, associate editor
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
“The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often billed as the best entry-level travel credit card, and it’s served me very well in the last several years. I’ve waffled on upgrading to the Reserve from time to time, but the much lower annual fee keeps me loyal to the Preferred. With the card, I earn 3x points on dining and 2x points on travel, and get a $50 hotel credit once a year on my card anniversary. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to partners like JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and Marriott, which is especially nice when I need to top off my JetBlue points to book a flight.” —M.F.
Read our full review here.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
“This is a reliable card with a simple earnings structure, lucrative rewards, and perks that any traveler would enjoy—all for just a $95 annual fee. With the Venture, you getup to a $100 credit toward the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Plus, cardholders also get two free visits to Capital One Lounges—or to 100+ other locations in the partner lounge network—each year. This is a great way to test out lounges if you are not ready to commit to a card like the Capital One Venture X and enroll in Priority Pass. When it comes to earning points, the Venture shines with its simplicity: Cardholders earn two miles per dollar spent on all purchases, any category. (When booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, however, cardholders earn five miles per dollar.) Other than that, there’s not much strategizing you can do or bonus categories you need to worry about. The only real con you might find is in the pro itself—there aren’t any bonus categories to maximize your earnings. However, I didn’t find this to be a significant deterrent in applying for the card, as other cards can fill these gaps.” —Harrison Pierce, contributing writer
Read our full review here.
United Quest Card
“All right, I admit: I just got this card last week. But already I'm reaping the benefits. I have an upcoming trip to San Francisco in February; thanks to the United Quest Card, I can check not just one, but two pieces of luggage on my economy flight, round trip. This free-checked-bags perk nets me a savings of at least $140—already more than half of the card's annual fee of $250. (My trip is over a long weekend, but I may bring two empty suitcases just to ‘cash in’ on the benefits.) As for the other half of the fee, the card comes with a $125 annual credit for any United purchase, whether it's in-flight Wi-Fi or another plane ticket. For what it's worth, I'm going to SFO for a long-awaited second date (wish me luck!), so fingers crossed I get to use this card more often in the future—and bag those savings, if nothing else.” —M.O.
Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Platinum Card, Gold Card, Green Card
